Chapter 32 — The Crown's Sword
They came up the valley road in the last of the light, four hundred royal horse in double column, and they did not look like an escort.
They looked like an army that had been told to hurry.
"Two days early means they rode through the Hollow Pass," Cole said, watching from the wall. "In this season. That's a nine-hour climb with ice on it."
"That's not the interesting part." Kade's eyes hadn't left the column. "Look at the horses."
Cole looked. It took him a moment. "...They're fresh."
"Every one. Four hundred fresh mounts eleven days out from the capital." Something in Kade's face closed like a door. "He's been changing them at pack stations along the road. That means he sent riders ahead to arrange it, which means he planned to arrive early before he e
