The Second Death of Locke

An hour after leaving the military encampment of Mecketer, the retinue heads north under Attis’s instructions, with Kier in command. Grey misses her military armor. The group travels with Grey and Kier in the lead, while Ola and Brit flank the prisoner and Eron takes the rear. Kier fits the prisoner with magical cuffs that will harm her if she strays. 

When Grey demands the prisoner’s name, the girl stats that it is Maryse, but Grey dismisses this. When pressed, the prisoner chooses the name Sela instead. Brit jokes, suggesting that they consider the endeavor a quest and assign roles to each person. Kier indulges them. Grey is labeled the healer, while Kier is the leader and Ola the navigator. Brit reveals a hidden arsenal, making them weapons master, while Eron tentatively volunteers to cook.

Later, Eron privately questions whether Maryse of Locke could have survived. Kier explains that the letter from Severin is now believed to have been forged. Hearing this, Grey recalls that in the aftermath of Locke’s destruction, when she was living with her foster mother, soldiers from the Scaelan army searched the town twice for survivors. Grey confessed her identity to Kier and his brother Lot, lying and claiming that Severin was the true heir.