Enfri tried to appear nonchalant. She sat with legs folded beneath her on a thick rug in front of a truly enormous hearth. The logs crackled faintly with tiny flames dancing over them. The firewood was pine and lent a calming scent to the room.

Princess Manon knelt in front of her. Though Enfri still wore her gown from the gala, Manon had changed into her nightdress. Her minders pointed out often and at length that it was long past the time she should have retired to her own chambers, but Manon was insistent she get to stay up for as long as her favorite cousin was in the Deep Palace.

Enfri helped Manon take down her hair and hummed softly as she swept a brush through the length of it. The princess had such fine hair, like threads of black silk. Enfri considered it a true pleasure to brush it for Manon and was honored to be asked to do it.

Accompanied by a chorus of creaking joints and soft sighs, King Fen lowered himself to sit in the largest armchair Enfri had ever seen. It was practically an upholstered throne, and Enfri couldn't help but feel like she was receiving royal judgement. It was Jin's presence, sitting in a much smaller armchair at Enfri's back, that made it feel less like she was being put on trial.

A silver cat lay curled in Jin's lap and purred in time with Jin stroking her fur. From what Enfri had seen, cats were everywhere in Drok Moran, from the alleyways to the noble manors. They were something of a precious commodity for their rat-catching skills. While she danced the night away with Jin, Enfri frequently caught sight of this silver beauty lurking along the boundaries, as good as invisible. When she followed along in their wake after leaving the hall, no one had thought it unusual. In fact, other than Manon commenting about not recognizing this particular cat, nobody had reason to suspect Deebee wasn't, in fact, a cat.

Besides Enfri, the three Algaras, and a disguised dragon, there were a number of servants flitting about the conservatory and seeing to their comfort. All were men wearing cerulean and silver livery, a uniform consisting of a starched blazer and long kilt. Each had one of their eyes covered by patches in the Nadian fashion, though one used a black-glass monocle attached by a gold chain to an ear piercing. What struck Enfri most about the servants was their horns. Fey servants seemed to be the norm within the Deep Palace.

With the gala all but over and the dance hall empty save for a few stragglers who had had too much wine, Fen had invited Enfri and Jin to the Algara residence within the Deep Palace where they might speak with some privacy. It was strange to walk through rooms and hallways that had nothing in the way of windows. Beneath the mountain, there was nothing to see beyond the walls but stone.

Enfri thought it would be hard to forget the untold tons of rock pressing down over her head, but save for the lack of windows, the Deep Palace felt like any other. Now and again, she would see support pillars that were far larger than any she'd seen above ground and be reminded. Otherwise, the subterranean nature of the palace was obscured to the point where it was barely noticeable at all.

King Fen's conservatory was richly appointed, and Enfri had thought she knew what the word "richly" meant. It was dimly lit at this late hour by gaslight. The furniture was upholstered with cerulean velvet, and the marble floors were draped with brocade rugs. There was gold everywhere, on the fixtures, the stonework, the furniture, and the displayed artwork. A bust of the Queen Founder, the original Algara and first osteomancer, sat on a plinth over the hearth and was sculpted from solid gold.

Looks familiar, Yora said halfway to himself as Enfri looked at the bust. Something Jin-ish about Queen Algara, isn't there?

Enfri squinted. The bust depicted a more mature woman and one whose features had clearly been altered to fit with the sculptor's fancies of physical perfection. Nonetheless, Algara's doll-like nose-- and especially the calm eyes-- did remind her of Jin.

Her name was Gara, Enfri thought. She didn't become Algara until after Shoen destroyed the old Shan Alee.

Yora gave an appreciative whistle. Must've been quite the lady. Much of humanity and nearly all the Aleesh got wiped out by Shoen's blood magic. She rebuilt, convinced the most powerful kings of humanity to follow her lead, and forged the Five Kingdoms out of the desolation our ancestors left behind.

I think, Enfri thought, she was a hero. An epic hero, like out of Deebee's fables. That seems to be a theme, doesn't it? Elder bloodlines begin as something breathtaking and grand, then they get passed down to fools who squander them.

Yora hummed. Maybe. But for every Vintus and Shoen, there's a Jin and an Enfri. A Ban for every Rodrik and a Gaston for every Gerard.

Enfri pursed her lips.

Ah, forgot you never met anyone from House Marcel. The Gaulatian royals. Prince Gaston was as fine a man I served with in Teularon. Talked with a load of his armsmen, and all of them would've followed their crown prince into Hell if he asked them. His father, though, was a twitty, little coward. Hey, do you know if Gaston's king yet?

King Gerard still reigned in Parnaia. Enfri was a little surprised to hear her father speak ill of him. Jin had nothing but kind things to say about the Marcels. Then again, she once had nothing but kind things to say about the Akazewis, and that hadn't gone all that well. Enfri didn't have any first-hand experience with them or their elder magic. The star slayers of House Marcel hadn't yet placed their arjapieces on the board.

Sooner or later, that would change, and Enfri worried about how many other great powers on the Continent were about to make themselves known to her.

Banishing those thoughts for now, Enfri focused on the task at hand. She couldn't worry over distant elder houses when she had one in the room with her. She looked away from the bust of Algara and got back to brushing Manon's hair.

"What's that song?" Manon asked in reference to Enfri's humming.

It took a moment of thought before Enfri identified the tune. It surprised her when she realized why she'd begun humming it so naturally. "It's something my mother sang to me when she brushed my hair like this."

"Was she Aleesh, too?"

Enfri bit her lower lip before answering. "No. Mother was an Althandi sky woman."

Manon's tone grew sad. "Was?"

"She passed Beyond a long time ago from an accident. I... miss her singing."

It was perhaps the only thing about her mother Enfri missed. Her lessons, perhaps. The way she'd praise Enfri for learning things so quickly, too. Their walks up and down the road to Sandharbor, and how Mother would lay her hand gently on Enfri's shoulder as she quizzed her on the species of flora they passed. The chicken soup she made at the closing of each month, and how when Enfri grew frightened of the dark shadows outside their window at night, Mother would hold her to her chest as they slept. And of course, watching Mother dance with her old neighbors during the village festivals and thinking she must've been the most beautiful woman who ever lived. A hundred memories flowed into Enfri. The happy ones. Winds, but she'd almost forgotten she ever had happy memories of her mother.

"My parents passed, too," Manon murmured.

Enfri came back from her memories and lay a hand on Manon's shoulder. "Being an orphan is hard, isn't it?"

Manon nodded as she looked at the rug. She sniffled. Just once.

"You miss them. You miss their touch, their voices. It hurts, and you feel so alone. But, you and I aren't as alone as we're afraid we are. I had my grandmother, my Storyteller, and my neighbors. You have your greatfather. Family and friends. No matter how afraid you are, the people still with you can provide the strength you need to find the opposite of fear."

"Courage?" Manon asked.

Enfri resumed with the brush and gave her the small piece of wisdom she held more dear than any other. One she crossed a desert to find. "Courage isn't the opposite of fear. No more than a bandage is the opposite of a wound. The opposite of fear is love." She glanced in Jin's direction and saw the dreamy way she looked back at her.

She's seeing your future, Yora said wistfully. You and your little girl by the fire.

A terrifying thought. but... not an unwelcome one. Ban and Moon's expected child was pushing Enfri's thoughts in this direction more and more often lately.

"Manon's mother never looked on her daughter," Fen said, watching the ceiling. "She passed during childbirth. And my great-grandson, also taken far before his time. He wouldn't be terribly older than you girls. He'd have been twenty-nine this coming Month of Oak."

"Marson Algara," Jin said softly. A slight smile grew on her lips. "Maya and I lived in terror of his pranks."

Fen chuckled. "Dratted boy. Once snuck a hard toffee into my bathwater. I was sticky for the rest of the day."

Manon giggled.

Fen sighed. "Neither here nor there. I've no shortage of princes, but what's left of the Nadia Algaras is just a pack of squabbling malcontents looking to pick at my carcass before it falls still. Barely an ounce of brains between them all, save one. Manon is the last osteomancer of my line. The rest of them worry I'll follow Adeyemi's example in naming a girl as my heir, and let the cave rats worry. They've every reason to. Manon is the treasure of the Deep Palace and the only jewel in this kingdom I truly place value on. So no tugging her hairs out, Your Majesty."

Manon held her hands to her cheeks, and the back of her neck was turning a bright shade of red. "Opa, stop. You're embarrassing me."

Enfri inclined her head to Fen with all due gravity. "Her Highness will find that I have a steady hand, Your Grace."

"Yes, well, you've a gentle touch, at least. Unexpected as that is to see." Fen cleared his throat. "Manon, you're not crown princess yet, and that means there's things to do. Would you kindly bring our guests their tea? They must be tired after wearing a layer or two off the dance floor."

Jin shifted slightly in her seat. "It is appreciated, Uncle, but not necessary."

"That's where you're wrong, young lady. Guest-rights can't be properly seen as guest-rights until something's been offered and accepted, now can they? The tea, Manon. From the white tin, I think."

Manon bounced to her feet and bobbed a curtsy before skipping off to obey. Enfri couldn't help but smile at how much energy she had. She got to her feet as well and went to sit at Jin's side in another of the armchairs surrounding the hearth. The hairbrush stayed in her hands.

"So," Fen said in a phlegmy bark, "logistical concerns, you said. Promises of non-aggression. Bold things to speak of, all considered."

Enfri feigned an air of confusion. "Is that so? My house is simply undertaking legal military maneuvers to apprehend a criminal. I wouldn't call our request for additional supply as anything approaching bold."

"You can pass that talk off to the riffraff, child, but not to me. You might've charmed the Domincos and the Zans into thinking you're just some exotic beauty, but they don't know Aleesh as elder houses do."

Jin leaned forward. "The Dragon Empress is not 'just' anything, Uncle. Be grateful Enfri allowed you to save face before your court and claim her victory as your own."

Fen grunted. "Heh. Some of them might even believe it. For better or worse, I got something of a reputation for playing my cards close to the chest. Letting them all believe you were an invader before revealing you as my ally all along is just the sort of caginess they expect out of me." His voice dropped to a bitter growl. "Gold against scubs, the printsheets are stopping the presses for a new headline. 'Old Fen Colludes With Dragon Empress'. Freedom of the press is among the greatest of stupidities my late brother set down when he was Highest King."

Fen's face nearly folded in half from how deep his frown was. He turned his dissatisfied ire towards Jin.

"And you, young lady, are going to have even more to answer for than I will when your father catches wind of this. I may be forgiven and can say Adeyemi's bungling of the battle forced me into an untenable situation. You've no such excuse."

"I need no such excuse," Jin stated. "Father considered me a traitor long before tonight."

"Oh, indeed? Not helping your case, consorting with dragons and Aleesh."

"My case was lost before I left the Spired City. My father has abandoned reason for madness and paranoia."

Fen chuckled wryly. "Show me a girl who's never thought the same of her father, and I'll show you a myth given form. What in Algara's name makes your little rebelliousness so special?"

"Other girls are sent to their rooms without supper. They are not given to hired killers."

That, at least, made Fen shut his mouth.

"You're assuming House Yora is a threat to the Five Kingdoms," Enfri said, hoping to guide the conversation away from subjects so personal and painful to Jin. "Ever since King Sasha Romov recognized my claim for title, I've adhered to the Highest King's laws."

Fen glowered at that. "You act as if you're nothing more than a young house new to its advent."

"We are, in fact."

"Young houses aren't typically capable of fielding an entire legion. Legions made up mostly of fregs."

"I don't care for that word, Your Grace," Enfri said sharply. "I'm not of a mind to hear slurs against allies of my house. Or any fey, for that matter."

Fen's mocking smirk could easily be described as cruel. "You'll change that tune. Soon, I wager."

Enfri glanced towards the two servants who were assisting Manon with making the tea. Both were smallish men with deeply tanned skin. Their pleated kilts hid their furry legs, but not their hooves. Curving horns like those of a ram grew out from the sides of their heads.

It bothered Enfri like nothing else that Fen could use such hateful words while two Nadian goblins stood within earshot. Both of them kept their faces impassive, so Enfri could only assume it wasn't out of the ordinary for them to listen to such filth.

He doesn't see them as people, Enfri thought angrily.

No, he does, Yora said. Just not as much of a people as he is.

That's stupid. There aren't degrees of people-ness.

Manon's return brought the talk to a pause. She came forward with a tray of tea, cream, and sugar cubes. She served Jin first. Enfri picked up a cup when it was offered, politely turning down any further additions, and raised it to her lips. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Jin tense, and Fen refused the cup Manon brought to him. Deebee was alert in Jin's lap, her hair standing on end.

"A bit strong for young girls up past bedtime," Fen said to Manon. "Hand that off to Tag, and he'll fetch you something more suitable."

"Yes, sir," Manon said dejectedly. She took the tray over to one of the goblins, hanging her head.

He extended guest-rights, Enfri thought, and her ether quested into the tea. Oh ho ho, this wrinkly blaggard needs to be horsewhipped. Is nothing sacred?

Fen leaned forward in his chair with both hands on the grinning moon of his cane. His sharp eyes watched them both without blinking. Jin stared back at him, her glare cold.

Evil cur, Yora hissed. Making the girl dirty her hands. The sweet thing doesn't even know what he had her do by telling her to use the white tin.

Enfri's ether found the tea's imprint and that of something else with no business being there. Two chemicals of extreme toxicity. Enfri identified both with ease, as they were base elements. Sodium and chlorine, either one more than capable of turning a sip of tea into a lethal poison.

She smiled for Fen, raised her teacup in thankful salute, and took a drink.

Jin startled and looked like she was about to pull her sword out of its holding spell and start cutting a bloody swath out of the Deep Palace. Deebee hopped to her feet, back arched and eyes wide.

Fen grinned.

Enfri lowered her teacup with a contented sigh. She maintained a pleasant smile, but it was hard not to smack her lips in distaste. Sodium and chlorine were deadly poisonous, but a simple transmutation combined them into harmless salt. Dreadful to find in one's tea, but preferable to dying.

Fen's grin faltered and melted into a look of horror when he realized Enfri wasn't about to keel over.

As clumsy an assassination attempt as I've ever heard of, Enfri thought. He really should leave that sort of thing to the professionals.

She heard her father chuckle. Wonder what he expected to do about your betrothed. That oren pumping through her veins keeps her safe from poison.

He knows that full well, Enfri deduced. That means there's something else around here that would be dangerous to even her. Pipe in if you or Grandfather Inwe notice anything out of the ordinary.

Count on it, Sunny. Anything we don't see, our Storyteller will.

Enfri looked to Manon, who was handing the tea tray off to a goblin servant. "If you'd like, Your Highness, I can finish with your hair while I speak with your greatfather."

"Oh, yes. Please."

After making a place beside her in the armchair, Enfri helped Manon settle in. She set aside her teacup and took up the hairbrush once again. Once Manon was comfortable, Enfri gathered up lengths of her hair. As the brush glided through Manon's hair, Enfri raised her eyes to King Fen.

The old coot was sweating into his long beard. He watched the hairbrush as if it were a dagger.

"I mentioned logistical concerns before," Enfri said. "With Your Grace's permission, I would like to approach the merchant lords of Drok Moran for supply. As you can imagine, it's becoming expensive to transport food and equipment from Ecclesia now that my legion is no longer traveling alongside waterways."

Fen swallowed. "Aye, I suppose I can at that. Manon, my child, it's past midnight. It would be best for you to be off to bed. This sort of talk must be boring to you."

Manon hummed a denial. "Enfri isn't done, Opa. I can't go to bed before my hair's up."

"I'll be done quickly, Your Highness," Enfri said with a smile. She really was growing fond of Manon. "So, with the waterways far behind us and the roadways insufficient, I would also like to petition for the services of the Sky Corps. I'm told most of the airships are better suited for transporting goods than for war, and my advisors believe we'd need no more than two or three vessels as we make our way north."

Fen cleared his throat and pulled some of his composure back together. "The Sky Corps, child, is meant to serve Nadia and the Highest King. Need I remind you of how Aleesh stand in Althandor's eyes?"

"Believe me, Your Grace," Enfri said softly, "I am well aware. The question I pose to you is how Nadia will stand in Shan Alee's eyes." She thought of Manon's innocent desire to have a dragon bond of her own. Enfri wanted that for her, to be able to just have the opportunity if nothing else. Not just tolerance between House Yora and House Algara, but to be joined once she and Jin were married. Enfri rested her hands on Manon's shoulders. "Wouldn't it be best for us all if your house and mine could reach an understanding?"

Fen's mouth opened and closed again, as if searching for what to say. When he did at last speak, his voice had grown curiously weak. "What you ask... Defy my nephew?"

Enfri felt her throat tighten at the thought of Cathis. Anger, for what he'd done to Jin. He might not have been behind the attempt on her life, but he allowed it to happen. That was as good as being complicit as far as Enfri was concerned. She didn't think she could ever forgive the Highest King for failing his daughter so completely.

"Allow us to worry about Cathis, Your Grace," Enfri said, and a trace of her bitterness might have showed in her tone. "Come to an accord with us, and you will be helping make it so that all unpleasantness between Aleesh and Algaras becomes a thing of the past."

Fen's hands shook as they gripped the head of his cane.

"One way or another," Jin murmured.

Enfri looked to her in question. Jin had a distant cast to her eyes, and her expression was even more inscrutable than normal. She looked... frightened. Perhaps apprehensive was a better way to put it, something closer to neutral than actual fear. In either case, there were cracks forming in her stoic facade, and it pained Enfri to see her like that.

She's thinking about what may come, Enfri decided. She's still troubled by Maya wanting to depose their father.

So many things weighed on Jin. The future of her house, her kingdom, and her family. Many worries, but Enfri had high hopes that at least one thing weighing on Jin might soon be alleviated. If Reyn and Starra were successful in their task tonight, the ticking clock Jin suffered under would soon fall silent.

Come to think of it, Jin hadn't taken oren since two days before. She was nearing the point where her withdrawals would become dangerous. Jin stretched out the doses as far as they could go, but now there were three royal assassins dipping into her stockpile. The oren retrieved from Duke Falthis' possessions wouldn't last to the end of spring.

She needed to get Jin home.

Time for this meeting to come to an end, Enfri thought. Only one murder attempt, and Deebee hasn't burned down the place. All in all, it's gone about as good as I could've hoped for.

Yora snorted, which Enfri believed was an exceedingly odd feeling to have in her head.

You're scary, Sunny.

Rude. I was trying to be sincere.

It's even scarier that you weren't trying to be scary. And you told the old coot you wouldn't squeeze his bollocks.

Try to poison me, and all bets are off. Dirty old man's lucky I don't have Deebee or the five babysitters Ban thinks I don't know about bring this palace down around his ears.

Yora let loose a long and drawn out sigh. It gave off a vague sense of fatherly disappointment. Let's shelve this for later. By the by, watch the goblin with the monocle. He's got an alchemical spell hidden behind his ear.

Enfri assisted Manon to her feet and followed suit. Jin rose alongside them.

"That is the greater part of what we wish to gain from Nadia, Your Grace," Enfri said. "If it pleases you, the Lady of Diamonds can continue the negotiations with your appointed representatives."

Fen wouldn't look her in the eye. "For the best," he mumbled.

Enfri picked up the teacup and downed the last of the salty brine. Horrid, but she managed not to shudder as it passed her tongue. "A fine leaf, Your Grace, but I would suggest something more mild for your coming talks with Princess Pacifica Romov. She enjoys jasmine. It puts her in an agreeable mood."

Jin set Deebee on the floor and got to her feet. Before they took their leave of the conservatory, Enfri had one last thing she wanted to do.

"I don't think there's any sense in being circumspect anymore, love."

The cat's body became as mist and grew into the slender figure of a woman. She had golden hair, worn loose and free like Enfri's. Her pale skin bore a silvery luster, and her eyes were like chips of clear amber. Deebee wore her dark green gown with its sheer silk, daring neckline, and wispy skirt.

The goblins gaped open-mouthed, frozen into inaction. King Fen, however, seemed as if he was trying to crawl up onto the back of his overlarge armchair.

"An honor, Your Grace," Deebee said while curtseying to Fen. She then inclined her head to Manon. "And it was a rare pleasure, Your Highness. I look forward to meeting you again."

As they left the conservatory-- and Manon's delighted shrieks-- behind them, Deebee paused to form a somatic gesture with her right hand. A small capsule leapt from the ear of the monocled goblin and shot into her waiting grasp. She then tossed the spell to Enfri as they walked out through the chamber door.

"Sleeping agent," Enfri muttered, identifying the spell's purpose. "Shabby spellcraft. This wouldn't have worked on you either, my light."

Jin breathed in through her nose. "I feel that could have gone better."

I don't blame her for being upset, Enfri thought. If my greatuncle tried poisoning my betrothed, I'd be upset, too.

"No one was harmed," she said soothingly. "After meeting Deebee, he might think twice before trying another stunt like that. Dragons can be anywhere."

Jin gave her a sidelong look, guarded. "Even so, it could have gone better."

"It could have," Enfri relented. "With all that's gone on, I'm usually just happy when I come out of these things without a battle breaking out."

A light, unseen touch brushed against Enfri's cheek and was accompanied by Lord Rav's voice coming out of thin air. "I seek Empress Enfri the Yora."

Jin and Deebee automatically began looking around for potential eavesdroppers.

Enfri couldn't see the wind spirit carrying Rav's sending, but she thought she could feel something new in the air around her. Like a breath of a cold breeze. "I'm here, Rav, and about to return to camp. What is it?"

"Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, Your Majesty, but a battle broke out while you were away."

Enfri's heart fell into her stomach. "What's happened?"

Rav filled her in on the essential details. A Melcian raid, a captured spirit caller, and a blustering fool of a handmaiden pushing herself above and beyond what her position required of her. She listened as Rav listed the casualties.

"Seventeen dead, Your Majesty, and five times that number wounded. The Melcians took much heavier losses than we did. As many as fifty dead, and the surgeons are going to be up past dawn seeing to it that the number doesn't climb higher. In addition to Princess Nkeoma and her angel bodyguards, we took another hundred and fifty prisoner once the dust settled."

Jin came to Enfri's side. "How many escaped to get word to King Adeyemi?"

"Far as we can tell, none, Your Highness. They were treating this as a suicide mission, do or die. We stopped most on both counts. To be safe, I have the outriders looking for stragglers, and my Constable is coordinating from the air."

"Thank you, Rav," Enfri said. "We'll be in camp shortly to hear the rest."

"As you say, Your Majesty. Again and forever."

The wind spirit brushed Enfri's cheek once more as it departed.

"Fen knew about this," Jin said in a dangerous tone. "He knew."

"Can we be certain of that?" Deebee asked. "Unless the Melcians... Oh, I see now. Yes, it does seem His Grace was privy to a coming attack."

Enfri wrung her hands until Jin held them. "I don't understand," she said.

There'd been a hardness in Jin's eyes since leaving the conservatory. As she looked at Enfri, worry painted across her face like a mural, her expression softened. "I will explain in full, but we must take our leave. Uncle Fen will soon learn how complete his failure tonight was, and we must be away before then."

Nodding, Enfri and Deebee stood as close to Jin as possible.

Jin put an arm around them both. "I am still unused to this. It is not a simple spell, but I believe I am familiar enough with these halls to satisfy the spellcraft."

"My light," Enfri said adoringly, "My sorceress of lost magic. My betrothed."

Jin smirked. "Hush, you. Teleporting is difficult enough without distraction."

Enfri lay her head on Jin's shoulder and closed her eyes as she was spirited away to another place.