Ethan stretches his hand out, and the silver axe rips from the tree trunk and flies into his hand. With a collective gasp, the suhoshins each drop to one knee and bow their heads to Ethan. “Your Highness.” Ethan’s gaze flies to me as I stagger back from the group. Before I can respond to the plea in his eyes, he turns back to the bowed heads of the guardians. He fists his hands at his sides and swallows. “You may rise.”
