Kaya had spent the day being the perfect captive.
She smiled at the servants who brought her meals. She ate without complaint. She took the bath they'd prepared in the small adjoining room, washing away days of grime and blood. She changed into the clean clothes they'd provided—soft pants and a tunic that actually fit reasonably well.
She was polite. Docile. Cooperative.
And she watched.
Through the small window in her luxurious prison, she observed the preparations happening outside. A wedding ceremony, from what she could gather from the snippets of conversation that drifted up. The eagle clan was celebrating something, decorating the courtyard with ribbons and flowers, preparing food, setting up what looked like an altar.
Perfect. A distraction.
The sun set. The celebration began in earnest. Music drifted up from below—drums and some kind of stringed instrument, creating rhythms that echoed off the stone walls.
