Tris felt a rush of wind, heard the scuff of leather on stone. Carina gasped and Vahanian cried out as something lunged for them in the darkness. Gabriel moved faster than sight, blocking the creature that grabbed for Tris. Tris sent fire to flare in the torches on the walls around them. A door at the end of the corridor opened, and more torchlight flooded into the corridor. Framed in the doorway stood Riqua, and behind her, dozens of vayash moru.

"Hail, Riqua," Gabriel said, making a low, courteous bow. "I have brought you the Lord of the Dead and the new Lord of Dark Haven. We seek sanctuary for the night."

Reluctantly, Tris and the others followed Gabriel into the next room, a large vault with a catafalque in one corner. Although the crypt was freezing cold, it was otherwise appointed like a fine salon, with comfortable chairs, rich tapestries, and fine furnishings in the most current fashion. Riqua returned Gabriel's bow, and held out her hand in greeting to Tris. Without hesitation, he took it and kissed the back of her ice cold hand, making a courtly bow.

"Our deepest gratitude, Lady Riqua, for your welcome and sanctuary," Tris said. The deference seemed to please Riqua.

"Hail, Lord of the Dead," she said in a tone that walked an indistinguishable line between true respect and sarcasm. "And which of you, might I inquire, is the Lord of Dark Haven?"

"I am," Vahanian answered, stepping up behind Tris, his hand still near his sword. The move seemed more for Tris's defense than as an indication of comfort with his new title.

"Well, well," said Riqua as she circled Vahanian, taking his measure. "A long way from Chauvrenne and Nargi, aren't you, Lord Vahanian?"

"It's been an interesting road."

Riqua exchanged glances with Gabriel. "So it is always with the will of the Lady."

She looked at the others, who stood in silence, alert and still braced for an attack. Riqua paused for a moment in front of Kiara, staring intently at the Isencroft princess. Even Jae seemed to shrink at the inspection. "I knew your mother in the court of Eastmark," Riqua said, watching for Kiara's reaction. "Her spirit was as wild as the stallions she rode. Welcome, Viata's daughter. You'll be safe here."

Whatever Kiara's misgivings, her court training served her well. She made a gracious courtesy. "Your hospitality is most appreciated, m'lady Riqua." Kiara's hand never strayed far from the pommel of her sword.

Riqua's attention moved to Carroway. "I've seen you in Bricen's court," Riqua said with a faint smile. "You're far from home, Bard Carroway."

"Thank Jared," Carroway replied. "Until Tris takes back the throne, I'm where I should be—at his side."

Riqua looked at Carroway a few seconds more in silence, and Tris wondered again whether Gabriel had told him the whole truth about vayash moru's ability to read mortal minds. While he suspected that his own power as Summoner afforded him unique protections and Vahanian seemed to have unusually good shielding for a non-mage, Tris wondered if the same was true for the others.

"When this is over, Bard Carroway, look again to Glynnmoor, and your lands. The plague that took your family is gone. My brood has watched over the manor house, as a favor to your father these ten years past. It is free to be claimed again by mortals."

Carroway tried and failed to cover his astonishment at Riqua's knowledge of his past, something Tris himself had not heard Carroway speak of in years. But before he could say anything, Riqua's attention turned to Carina.

"And who are you, lady healer?" Riqua asked.

"Carina Jesthrata," Carina replied.

Riqua's eyes narrowed as she struggled to place her. "King Donelan's court healer, yes? I heard some time ago that you went to the Sisterhood to find a cure for Donelan's sickness. Yet here you are."

Carina gave Riqua a defiant look. "Foor Arontala is the cause of the king's illness. Until Arontala is destroyed, Donelan won't fully recover. This is my proper place."

"Well, well, well," Riqua said, directing her comment this time to Gabriel. "You've certainly assembled the players. I can say we've not seen the like here, at least, not alive. You are most welcome here. These are my lands. In better days, I would have received you in the manor house, but it burned. So here we are."

"Is it true, that you are a spirit mage?" a young man barely out of his teens asked Tris. When Tris met the eyes of the vayash moru, he saw centuries, not decades, in the dark gaze.

."A Summoner," Gabriel replied. "The Blood Council itself promised him sanctuary among our kind."

"All but Uri." Tris turned to see Elana, the blond vayash morn who had been with Riqua at the Council meeting.

A faint glimmer of annoyance crossed Gabriel's face. "As usual, our esteemed colleague takes a somewhat different view of circumstances. But the Council has ruled." Together, they walked into the midst of the other vayash moru, who watched Tris and the others with barely concealed hunger.

"You may rest here until nightfall," promised Riqua. "I give my word you'll be safe."

Although none of his companions spoke, Tris knew that they shared the same skepticism. Riqua's offer looked good only compared to the certain dangers outside.

"Thank you," Tris replied with a slight bow. "We're grateful."

A cold smile touched her lips. "If you can stop Arontala, it is we who will be in your debt, son of Bricen." Riqua turned abruptly. "Kolin," she said to the young man behind her, "bring extra cloaks to warm them. Fetch wine from the casks. Make them comfortable." She turned back to Tris, clearly acknowledging him as the group's leader. "We have no need of your food here," she said, her sharp, white teeth clear in her smile. "But there is old wine in the cellar you might find acceptable."

Tris nodded. "We brought provisions with us."

"Elana," Riqua called.

"At your service, m'lady." The blonde vayash moru might have appeared demure had it not been for the complete lack of innocence in her blue eyes.

"Show our guests to the inner chambers. They've traveled far. We must make them as comfortable as we can."

"Of course," Elana answered. "Follow me."

She led them down a narrow corridor, from which branched dozens of rooms filled with shrouded and mummified dead. The corridors of the necropolis reeked of decay. Carina put a hand to her face, covering her nose and mouth with part of her shawl.

"These look like the tunnels underneath Isencroft's palace," Kiara said.

"You've been there?" Elana inquired.

Kiara and Carina exchanged glances. "Yes, many times."

Elana glanced back at Kiara over her shoulder. "I've taken refuge there more times than I can count. It is a well-known sanctuary."

"I never knew," Kiara murmured.

"There's much your kind does know about us." Elana opened the doors to two empty crypts that branched off the corridor. Carved into the stone, they were furnished as comfortable bedrooms, with stone slabs where beds might have been. "Here are your rooms."

"For the ladies." Elana gestured to the smaller crypt off the main hall. "It was built for two," she said with an unsettling smile. She turned to the men, "And you may sleep here." She pointed to the larger crypt across and down the corridor. "We have no other rooms that are not... occupied."

Her gaze lingered a moment longer than necessary on Tris. "Kolin will bring anything you need. You won't be disturbed. We too, will rest until nightfall. Then, we go hunting." And with that the vayash moru left them, no longer troubling to move at mortal speed, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

"If we ever travel together again," Carroway mumbled, "I'm choosing where we stay." He moved to the doorway of the second crypt, and shuddered. "Forgive me for not being grateful, but this wasn't what I had in mind when I thought of a safe place to sleep."