The letter arrived at dawn.
Iva had passed it through the chain three days before. Senna had handled the parchment, read the binding, sent it south through the boundary stone. Now it was back. A reply thread. An answer.
Cale carried it up to the war room.
Aria was already awake she hadn’t slept much since the night Senna told her about two binders. She rose from the chair by the window when he came in, the silver ring catching the first light, her braid loose at her back.
“My queen.”
“Read it.”
“The seal belongs to your sister. The parchment is southern. The hand inside isn’t hers.”
Vael stood in the doorway. She hadn’t spoken. Her silver eyes were fixed on the letter.
“Read it out loud,” Aria said.
Cale broke the seal. He unfolded the parchment, cleared his throat, and began.
He
