Chapter Nine Summary

Talia decides to take her investigation of Hulda further and discovers Hulda has immigrated to the Kingdom from another land. She convinces Skif to steal the immigration records from the Collegium so she can find out who sponsored Hulda into the Kingdom.

Talia realizes that Skif is in trouble and heads straight to the Palace to find him. Sure enough, he is being questioned by the Queen and Orthallen, and Talia hastily makes up a story about asking Skif to find the records of her Hold so she can get some revenge on them for refusing to claim her. The Queen and Dean Elcarth believe her and Skif is forgiven. Orthallen is very disappointed to hear that Skif is not going to be punished, and Talia can see that Orthallen does not like Skif.

Talia is frustrated about this turn of...