Tis Vanth's cage. You can just move it out of the way." "I already have," he grumbles. "With my shin.

He barks out a laugh. "My little rebel.

I am a handmaiden of Death. I walk in His dark shadow and do His bidding. Serving Him is my only purpose in this life.

People hear and see what they expect to hear and see.

And so it is with us; we serve as handmaidens to Death. When we are guided by His will, killing is a sacrament.

If you are not careful, soon you will have men locking themselves in dungeons so that you can rescue them.

When he laces his fingers through mine, my heart does its now familiar panicked flight, bumping painfully against my ribs. My shoulder twitches as if to pull my hand back, but my heart overrules it.