Chapter 6 — What the Capital Still Wants

Two riders came up the mountain road before the snow had fully melted from it, wearing no crest at all — which told Tadanori more than any crest could have.

'We are not here for you,' the elder rider said, which was the second lie of the conversation. The first had been the bow, too shallow for a man addressing a former commander.

Tadanori set down the blade where they could see it, and let the silence answer for him.