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the wizard named to be king. He’d been young and with a kind face and wise eyes. He’d shown her more respect than most of the Kings of the past, spoken to her as he would one of his own guards. It had filled her with hope that he might bring about a shift in how changelings were viewed.
    “You practice alone.” As if summoned by her thoughts, Thestian was suddenly there, at her side, causing her to start. It surprised her that she’d not sensed him before he approached. She let the hand holding the sword fall to her side as she knelt respectively.
    Thestian waved her back to her feet, the movement causing his white robe to ripple impressively around him. “I could have Diato give you a challenge.” The young wizard flicked his wrist and Diato instantly stepped forward from the shadows causing Fiona’s jaw to tighten.
    “I need no challenge, sir.” Fiona glared at Diato who smiled smugly back at her.
    “But it would please me to see exactly who is responsible for bringing me my sword,” Thestian insisted in a soft voice. “I’ve heard you are one of the best of the Serpentines. I’d like to see if that rumor holds truth.”
    Fiona’s frown deepened but she inclined her head. She didn’t dare go against the wishes of the wizard who was to be king. Diato moved forward.
    “This was your suggestion?” She didn’t bother lowering her voice or hiding her irritation when Diato placed himself across from her. His sword slid loudly through the air as he unsheathed it. But he was a guard, Fiona told herself nearly smiling, and not a warrior. He had to know that he was at her mercy the moment the wizard had motioned for him to practice with her.
    “It was not.” Diato shook his head as the wizard backed out of the way. “This does not please you? This chance at swinging that sword of yours at my head? I could feel your hatred for me, Fiona. I am hurt by it.”
    “Save your feigned pain for women who have yet to know how you function, Diato. And if I wanted to cut off your head, I would have done it six months ago when I found you rutting about with Saline like the mammal you are.” She knew it injured his pride for her to mention his habit in front of the wizard and she smiled with the shift of power that her words claimed. She channeled all of her pain and resentment into the words the followed.
    “Perhaps it is she you should be challenging, Diato. As I have heard, she gave you a bit of run that night anyway.” She cut her eyes to Thestian to find him looking back and forth between her and Diato as they spoke.
    “Bite me,” Diato growled, obviously irritated with her words. A dark stain crept over her body. Ink black with an adder’s zigzag pattern of a gold and yellow along her back, arms and legs. Her eyes glittered as they narrowed to yellow slits and her long locks transformed into tiny silver scales that made shiny circles around her eyes and features.
    Thestian’s breath sucked in sharply as Fiona’s forked tongue flicked from between her full red lips, tasting the scent of fear in the air. “Bite you?” She drew in a long, slow breath, then let it out just as slowly. “With pleasure.”
    Then the beautiful but deadly creature leapt forward.
     

Three
     
    When Keegan urged his horse to halt, Ronan frowned deeply. Over the past seven days, he’d learned well enough that Keegan Yore would never stop until called to from one of the others. That part of the horseman’s pride had often angered Ronan because he knew that Keegan was doing it just to prove his point of Ronan’s leadership over the other two. He’d proven his words as truth and it forced Ronan to speak for Ula and Arien when they needed to relieve themselves or rest. Now, Keegan’s broad shoulders stiffened before he turned to look back at them. His eyes met Ronan’s and dread knotted in the blacksmith’s stomach. Something was wrong.
    “Culley,” Keegan called.
    “ Sir Culley,” Arien corrected with an irritated voice for