Blackfeather Woods Draw me not without reason; sheath me not without honour.

Okay, so not Rowan; that was ruled out rather quickly, although Maegi still didn't fully believe him. The two boys had been at odds—

What? she blurted, not a second after the word life had passed. She paused a moment, the sentence sinking in, and repeated, What?

This was why she had wanted Venamis nearby, when Midar had come. This was why she'd kick herself now, having not sought out the boy's knowledge of the man. Of course, there was a possibility that this was some sort of bluff. . .but why? What was to be gained?

Maegi fixed a gimlet stare on Venamis, ears pinning low. What do you know? she demanded softly, steel in her voice.