"Out. All of you out!!" Valdr roared.

The Lords pushed their seats back from the large table and fled from the room. She'd taken a step when he called her back. "You will remain, sister."

Dacian shot her a look, hesitating until she gave him a small nod. His shoulders sank as he trudged toward the door, throwing a last look over his shoulder as the doors closed behind him. Ravol remained in his spot behind Valdr, and she moved forward so that she was in Valdr's sight, coming to stand beside Dacian's empty seat.

"Sit down," he commanded quietly.

She obeyed, slipping soundlessly into the seat as Valdr studied her. His face was unsettlingly calm but she could feel the rage trembling beneath the surface. His leg bounced beneath the table, and his hand was curled into a tight fist.

It was not possible he knew of Dacian's proposal. Ravol, who also watched her intently, knew nothing either. Anything else she could answer to and defend. She took a deep breath and released it slowly, trying to settle her thundering pulse. It had waned certainly, but the Dresyth still swam in her blood, helping settle her a little.

"Tell me what you know of Theodan of Teredia's intentions in Azura," Valdr said.

She almost laughed. Nerves and relief making her head feel light. "How on ethis should I know?"

Valdr's gaze sharpened, rage flaring his nostrils.

"Gods, Valdr, how many times must I say it? I am no Leoth Spy. In your heart, you know that." She threw a pointed look at the male next to him. Ravol looked satisfied with himself, as he always did.

Valdr sat forward in his chair, studying her harder.

"You were in his possession," he spat the word, "for several moons and you knew nothing of what he planned? Just as you brought the Leoth here knowing nothing of his plan to execute Torrik?" He sounded as though he had never heard anything more absurd.

She stared back at him, defiant. "Then you imply what, exactly? That the Leoth commander and I planned this coup together?" This time she did laugh. A small empty thing. "You think I conspired with the Leoth who murdered my husband and claimed me as a spoil, to take Azura back from Zybar? Gods, it is preposterous, surely you see that. I knew nothing of Elyon's plans for Torrik, but I have already told you that I am glad that brute is dead. But if you think I have this much power over Leoth warriors and their commanders, then perhaps it is I who should be leading your armies in Panos' stead."

He appeared to see some reason in her argument, for his mouth softened, though doubt and suspicion still swam in his eyes. He stared at her a few beats more before pushing his seat back, rising, and pacing towards the large oval window that looked out over Prissia's inner courtyard. She flicked her gaze to Ravol, who glared at her with such fervent hatred she could taste it bitter and hot on her tongue.

The advisor gave her a look of intent before going to Valdr, leaning close to speak something into his ear. She strained to hear it, but they were too far and the crackle and snap of the fire behind her too loud. As Ravol stepped back, Valdr turned to look at her, contemplation swirling on his face. Some horrible knot of dread loosened and tightened in the pit of her stomach the longer he looked at her. Finally, deciding upon something he strode toward her, then past her to the doors of the solar.

"Come," he said over his shoulder.

Tentatively, she rose and followed, Lord Ravol falling into step behind her.

***

The guards stationed at the door kept their heads down, their upper bodies dipped into a short bow. It smelled of earth and damp, the walls slick and briny from the sea which thrashed behind its walls.

"You wanted to see Elyon of Lethane," Valdr said. "Your wish is granted."

She looked from the steel door to Valdr and back again, unease crawling up her spine. She'd wanted to run as soon as she'd realised where it was he was taking her. But how would that aid Elyon, or her? She wanted to free him. She wanted them both, with Dacian, gone from this place. If she saw him and knew how he fared then she could better plan their escape, if he was unharmed and well then she could draw hope from it.

But Valdr had not brought her here because she asked it of him. He brought her here because he saw it as a strategy.

"Open it," Valdr ordered the guard.

"The Irhith majesty, she is inside."

Her unease grew, stealing her breath.

Valdr only glared at the guard who then moved forward to obey. The door was not locked, she noted, secured only by a large steel handle slid across the frame, though no doubt it was guarded at all times. The Nati slid the bar backwards and lifted it, then pulled open the door.

"Wait here, Ravol."

"Yes, majesty."

The heat hit her first, which she couldn't understand until she followed Valdr inside and saw four large brazier's burning at each corner of the moderate-sized room. Her heart clenched as she saw Elyon fixed to a rack on the furthest wall, bound at his ankles and upper arms, his hands hanging loosely by his sides. She noted his claws were retracted, which seemed odd. He had not tried to claw his way out? Had not fought the witch at all? His head hung low and his eyes were closed but his chest rose and fell gently.

He wore nothing but a thin scrap of fabric across his manhood. Startling though, was the female figure who knelt at his feet. A steaming basin was placed beside her on the floor, and she dipped into it a swathe of cloth which she then smoothed almost tenderly over Elyon's feet. She appeared lost in the task, humming faintly.

"Wake him," Valdr commanded her. The female froze, unmoving for some moments, before she put the cloth in the basin, stood, and carried it to a small table on the opposite wall. She returned and reached out to take Elyon's hand in hers, lowering her head to press her mouth softly to the inside of his wrist. Elyon gasped awake, breathing fast and laboured. Then snatched his hand from the Irhith's grip. His eyes flew open and when he saw Fara a look of such abject desperation moved over his face that she felt her legs weaken.

"Princess," he managed, panting heavily. "I dreamt... Gods, I dreamt you were... That he..." he flicked his eyes to the female and let out a low growl but it died in his throat almost instantly before he whimpered. It was an awful sound. An animal in pain. Finally, the female turned to face them and Fara saw the witch for the first time.

She gasped. For she was... Leoth. Smaller than any Leoth she had ever seen, but Leoth without a doubt. Her skin was not the pale moonlight of the other Leoth Fara had seen, but a grey colour that reminded her of the flesh of a lupine fish. Delicately featured, her eyes shone black as night. Her gaze crawled over Fara and she felt it on every inch of her body. When it reached her stomach, the Irhith paused, then sucked in a quiet breath of wonderment. Fara's hand went over her stomach and she took a half step back. Then she heard it. A voice speaking from the very depths of her mind.

Worry not, princess, your secret is safe with me.

She wanted to turn and run, run far from this Leoth female who knew too much, but the fear seeping from Elyon held her there. She had never seen him afraid. Always, he had been confident, arrogant almost, and though she could not see a single mark upon his body she felt his torment. It frightened her.

Valdr wandered towards where Elyon strained against his binds. The Irhith bowed to Valdr and moved aside, though Fara sensed it was with reluctance, as though she did not want to leave Elyon's side. How strange.

"Elyon of Lethane is the second in command to Theodan of Teredia," Valdr said. "It is why I fought so hard to keep him here.  So that he could be of some use to me before the Zybarian's take his head. At first, I sought only to know how to defeat Leoth, of their strengths and weaknesses, of how their commander thinks, how their army fights. But now I think I shall see how loyal to that realm and their beasts you truly are, sister. For it troubles me." He reached inside his robe and withdrew the dagger she knew intimately. The flame from the brazier bounced across its blade so that it looked to be made of fire. "You tell me you are no Leoth spy, and yet I wonder how deeply you would feel it were I to wound this one." He stepped closer and held the dagger against the flesh of Elyon's thigh, atop the vein she knew ran beneath the skin.

"We have spies everywhere, human," Elyon hissed. "But I assure you none are in this room."

Valdr drew his hand back and thrust the dagger into the muscle of Elyon's thigh. He growled in pain as Fara cried out.

"Valdr, stop!" She moved toward him but he threw a look over her shoulder and she felt a strong pair of arms come around her. "Let me go! How dare you!" She said to the guard as she kicked and fought. "Valdr, do not do this."

"You will address me as a king, Leoth," Valdr spat.

He turned, fixing her with a cold stare. He had a look in his eye she had not seen since her return. Frantic and wild.

"Tell me why the Leoth commander would join forces with a group of shepherds and weavers to reclaim the Golden City? A city he helped destroy."

She looked at Elyon whose teeth were clenched but who looked surprised at Valdr's words. So then he had not known of Theodan's plan.

"The Mountain Tribes are far more than shepherds and weavers," she said, still struggling against the guards' hold. She'd heard Lord Aerion's assertion before the council and had wanted to correct him. But any information given to Valdr or his lords would surely weaken Theodan's position. Now, she had no choice. As it seemed Valdr knew.

"You will finally tell me all that you know of this commander, sister, and leave nothing out."

She hesitated and Valdr reached for the blade still protruding from Elyon's thigh, twisting it. Elyon whimpered again.

"I swear that I will tell you all that I know, but not here, not like this. Please, Valdr. You gave me your word you would not harm him."

Valdr glared at her, unmoved, while he considered. She saw Elyon shake his head slightly, desperately pleading, and she tried to tell him with her eyes to hold on a little longer. The Irhith remained still and silent, her head fixed on the floor as she clutched at the fabric of her gown.

"Please, Valdr," she begged again, gentler.

It took too long for his expression to soften, but it did. She was glad that Ravol was outside, unable to reach him. Finally, without looking away from her, Valdr reached down and pulled the dagger from Elyon's thigh. The Leoth clenched his teeth against the pain but made no sound. Blood poured down his sweat-slicked thigh and the heat of the room pushed it toward her nose. It smelled sweet and almost familiar.

"Take my sister to her chamber and ensure she does not leave it," he commanded the guard.

Valdr stared after her as was dragged from the cell. When they reached the servant's passage she addressed the guard.

"You may release me, I am not going to run."
The Guard set her down. When she looked at him he looked apologetic, casting his eyes at the floor.

She let herself be marched past the ballroom and the sounds of music and laughter and up towards the royal apartments. Her mind was a stampede, loud and wild. Would Valdr hurt Elyon further? He would not kill him, she was certain of it. Not at the risk of displeasing Zybar, but he had no aversion to harming him. As she had been shown. Except surely he would have wanted her to bear witness to it, to solidify this threat?

Would the Irhith reveal the truth to Valdr about her child? No, she did not think so. She did not know what reason she had to trust the witch, or why the witch would make such a promise to begin with, but she believed her secret was safe with her.

Inside her chamber with the Nati posted outside, she tore off her jewellery and threw it on the dressing table. Then she pulled open the small drawer of the cabinet to retrieve the remaining vial of Dresyth. She stared at it some moments before slotting it into the neckline of her dress, snug between her breasts.

Then she sat down to think.

Theodan had risked everything to keep his promise to her, Elyon had risked everything to see it done. Dacian risked everything now with his proposal. A proposal she knew now she would accept. There was no other option open to her. She would unite Theodan's army of Mountain warriors with the greatest sea army Ethis had ever seen.

She would do exactly as Theodan commanded: she would not be cowed or diminished. She would not let others weaken or command her. She was more than the sister of a king and the wife of a prince. She was a princess of the blood, she was born to rule. So rule she would.

But first, she would survive this final battle with Valdr.