Ottilie burst through the clinic door without knocking.
"Riders from the south," she said. "Not Marrow Ridge colors. Something else entirely."
Kane was on his feet before she finished. "How many."
"Six. Moving slow, no weapons drawn. But Kane, one of them's flying an Ashbourne banner."
The name landed heavy in the room. Talyn straightened against the wall. Senna looked up from the bandages she'd been changing on Reeve's shoulder.
"Ashbourne," Reeve said, voice still weak but sharp with attention. "Your bloodline."
"My father's council," Kane said. "They haven't sent anyone in six months. Why now."
"Only one way to find out," Ottilie said.
They walked out to the south gate together, Kane flanked by Talyn and Ottilie, Joren trailing a few steps back, still favoring his wounded side.
