Breland.

'In case you hadn't noticed,' Ashara said, 'the Treaty of Thronehold isn't holding up so well these days. I hear Breland has sent troops into the Reaches to make sure Aundair doesn't overstep its bounds.'

'Indeed,' Mauren said. 'And Queen Aurala and King Boranel of Breland will have to answer for their actions. But my concern is with Jorlanna.'

'She's broken the Korth Edicts,' Cart said, 'but you can't do anything about that. Too many of the Houses are stretching the provisions of the Edicts already.'

'To say the least,' Mauren said. 'I wouldn't say there's nothing we can do, though. It's the goal of my House to bring all the other Houses back into full compliance with the Edicts.'

Cart nodded. 'So now you're looking for a different crime you can blame her for, something that will turn popular opinion against her.'

'And the opinion of the other Houses,' Ashara added.

'What we're looking for,' Ossa growled, 'is an answer to the question. What's Jorlanna up to in the Blackcaps?'

'You know Jorlanna won't incriminate herself,' Ashara said. 'So what makes you think I would tell you anything-if we were in violation of the treaty?'

Mauren smiled. 'Didn't I hear that you weren't exactly in the baron's good graces?'

'True enough.'

'Well, it's simple, really. If you-either of you'-Mauren acknowledged Harkin for the first time-'can provide me with useful information about the baron's activities, I can ensure that you're rewarded for your cooperation.'

'I'm sorry to disappoint you, Sentinel Marshal,' Ashara said, 'but our project in the Blackcaps had nothing to do with the creation of warforged, nor did it violate any other provision of the Treaty of Thronehold.'

Cart wasn't sure that was entirely true, since the Dragon Forge had been used to launch an attack on a sovereign nation recognized by the treaty. But he wasn't about to contradict her.

'You speak of it in the past tense,' Ossa observed.

'Yes,' Ashara said. 'The project was not successful, and it now lies in ruin. Jorlanna holds me responsible for the failure, and thus she has cast me out of the family.'

'In ruin?' the dwarf asked. 'A catastrophic failure, then.'

'Thank you for rubbing it in.'

What's the dwarf getting at? Cart wondered. Why is she even here?

Mauren rubbed her chin. 'So there's no evidence left.'

'There was never any evidence you could use against Jorlanna,' Ashara said. 'I told you, it was nothing more than a failed experiment.'

Cart clenched his jaw. Ashara was not exactly lying outright, but if she told the truth about the Dragon Forge, she would give the Sentinel Marshal what she needed: the dragonmarked houses would rise as one to condemn Jorlanna for daring to steal Gaven's Mark of Storm. Why not just tell them?

'I see,' Mauren said. 'So you do not wish to assist us in bringing Jorlanna to justice for her crimes?'

'I would if I could, but I have no information to give.'

'And you, Harkin? Can you offer us any further insight?'

Harkin merely smiled and shrugged.

'I see. Then I will be forced to treat you both as willing accomplices when I do bring charges.'

'As I said, I would help if I could,' Ashara said.

'Well, if you think of anything you might have forgotten to mention, do let me know. I'm staying at the Scarlet Bastion, in Chalice Center.'

'I hope you enjoy your stay in Fairhaven, Sentinel Marshal.'

Mauren stood up and frowned down at the three of them. 'I had hoped we could be allies in this just cause. I am a dangerous adversary.'

Ossa brought her face close to Cart's again and whispered so only he could hear her. 'Don't think I fell for your innocent act. I'm watching you, Cart. I'm watching all of you.'

With a lingering last glance, Mauren made her way out of the bakery, Ossa trailing along behind her.

Ashara let out a long sigh and put her head on the table. 'That was unpleasant,' she said into her arm.

'I'm confused,' Cart said. 'Why didn't-?'

Harkin interrupted. 'What was that project in the Blackcaps, anyway?'

'A weapon,' Ashara said, looking up. 'It brought the siege of Varna to a quick close.'

Harkin whistled. 'Doesn't sound like a failed experiment to me.'

'Well, it did what it was supposed to do at Varna. But there were flaws in the design.'

'So why not tell-?' Cart began.

'Flaws?' Harkin interrupted again, and Cart thought he caught a sidelong glance that suggested he did it on purpose, trying to irritate Cart. Ashara didn't seem to notice. 'What kind of flaws?'

'Central to the design. It drew on unstable sources of power-sources we shouldn't have been dealing with at all.'

Harkin smiled. 'Now you have me intrigued.'

'I don't want to talk about it.'

'You know you can talk to me-you always could.' He shot another glance at Cart. 'Remember how we used to talk through projects together?'

Ashara's face flushed bright red and she avoided Harkin's gaze. 'Stop,' she said.

Harkin turned to Cart, a broad smile on his face. 'It's remarkable, really,' he said. 'You can find flaws in a weaving so much more easily if it's traced on your skin.'

'Harkin, stop,' Ashara said again.

'What's wrong? Are you afraid the warforged will get jealous? Can it even do that?'

Cart stood. He could almost hear Havrakhad's voice in his mind, reminding him to float above the tumult of emotions he was feeling, but he didn't want to. He wanted to be caught up in his rage, to give Harkin the pummeling he so richly deserved, to show Ashara that he wouldn't let an oaf like Harkin upset her.

'Oh, are you leaving?' Harkin said.

'No,' Cart said, 'you are.'

'Not yet. Ashara and I have matters to discuss. Why don't you get some fresh air-stand outside and make sure the Sentinel Marshal doesn't come back?'

That sealed it. Cart seized a handful of Harkin's coat and shirt in one metal-bound fist and heaved him to his feet.

'Unhand me!' Harkin yelped.

Cart's eyes fell on Harkin's dragonmark, a small pattern on his left temple, and he almost obeyed the Cannith heir's command out of pure reflex. 'No,' he said. He lifted Harkin off the ground, carried him to the door of the bakery, and tossed him out.

Harkin landed on his feet, stumbled a few steps, and drew himself up, his face livid with fury. 'You should not have done that, warforged. My House gave you life, and my hands have the power to take your life away.'

'I was birthed in a Cannith forge, it's true,' Cart said, folding his arms across his chest. 'But that doesn't make you my father. Aundair's army gave me my training, my discipline. Haldren gave me my post and taught me much about the world. Ashara restored me to health when an assassin's blade might have killed me. Havrakhad gave me my first glimpse of real understanding. I owe much to many people, but to you… your family name alone does not command my respect.'

'So you are Haldren's Cart.' Harkin sneered. 'You'll pay for this, war-forged, and so will Ashara.' He spun and stormed down the street as Cart observed the cresting wave of rage that had surged in his chest subsiding, replaced by a growing feeling of dread.

Aunn appeared in the doorway, breathless and disheveled. 'I'm so sorry,' he panted. 'It's gone.'

'I know.' Gaven lowered Senya's body to the ground and tried to arrange her in a position of dignity, painfully aware of the eyes of the assembled elves boring into his back.

'Another Thuranni,' Aunn said. 'She can't be far. If we hurry-'

'It doesn't matter.' Senya's hands were so cold that they seemed to sap the warmth and life from his own as

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