Paladin Daylen kept the prisoner in check no matter how hard Garret struggled against his bonds. The young Amethyst Knight had his jaw set in a determined scowl as he kicked Garret's heels to keep him moving forward into the open field. The trial was to be carried out some distance into the countryside, well away from the Smith homestead, out of consideration for the empress' hosts. Garret was, technically, the lord of their village, and Reyn assumed Enfri didn't want to jeopardize the Smith family's good standing with the law further.

Garret, wearing nothing more than a prisoner's smock, spat and swore as he was shoved into the wide ring of onlooking knights, dragons, and armsmen. Several orcs and goblins also bore witness to the proceedings; the fey were showing great interest in the specifics of mortal justice. Both Fallen and Light Hoof stood near to the Dragon Empress, as did Kolbat and Lady Starra.

Princess Nkeoma and her angelic retainers watched from the top of a small hillock outside the ring. They were too far away for Reyn to be sure, but if she didn't miss her guess, Nkeoma had an amazed expression. Whether it was for Enfri daring to put an Althandi lord from a house as great as Merovech on trial, the sheer number of dragons present, or the mere fact that Enfri was doing it all in the name of King Cathis was impossible to tell.

Reyn wished for a glimpse into Nkeoma's thoughts. The princess was witnessing the difference between how Shan Alee treated an enemy and how they treated her. Enfri probably hadn't given it so much thought, but allowing Nkeoma to watch this was a devious political move. One Reyn was certain Pacifica would capitalize upon once negotiations with the Crescent Legion began again.

"Wretched filth!" Garret screamed. "Unhand me! I am Garret the Merovech, scion to the greatest house of Althandor! Fregs feast on your tongues, and winds take your eyes, dirty traitors! Sons of whores!"

Kolbat scoffed and muttered under her breath. "Daughter of a whore, thank you. Ashes and spite, but he's a lively one."

Enfri flinched with every blasphemy Garret hurled, though Reyn doubted anyone but those standing next to her would notice. She was bathed and back in proper attire, a silver and sleeveless gown that exposed the tattoos now extending down both arms to the wrists.

Reyn watched her. Enfri had changed greatly from the anxious girl she'd first met. Still bashful, still naive, lacking in much of the refinement and education a noblewoman was expected to possess, but leagues stronger than she'd been.

Greater.

Reyn had been thinking it ever since the council meeting with the Dragon Lords, but now she was ready to acknowledge it. Enfri the Yora had become an empress in more than just title.

The woman standing beside Reyn crossed her arms over her chest and set her feet into a wide stance. "Overdue, but I'd have waited a thousand years if it meant getting to see this. Same for you, Legs?"

Reyn spared Josy a brief glance before returning her attention to Garret. "As you say, my lady."

Josy's lip curled into a sneer. "Still, would be better if he were being led to the gallows. Or a headsman."

Reyn couldn't bring herself to disagree, under the provision that she could be the one swinging the axe. "As far as I am concerned, this is merely the first step. I will see this creature dead. Only, not today."

Josy eyed her sidelong. "Nothing saying he can't meet with an unfortunate accident on our way west. I know where a pride or two of scale lions make their territory between here and there."

"Tempting," Reyn allowed, "but I intend to carry out the empress' wishes. I have faith that Master Deveaux will get what he has coming to him soon enough."

Josy grunted in dissatisfied acceptance. Her broken arm was now healed, and she looked as if she hadn't been injured at all. Josy wore her hair tied back into a pair of long tails, leaving Reyn to wonder if there was any particular style she preferred for it. She was in her assassin's armor, and she'd marked her face with streaks of black greasepaint for the occasion. It was entirely possible Josy hoped for Garret to make one last attempt at an escape and provide her an excuse to smash in his skull with her heavy gauntlets.

"Besides," Reyn continued, "when Garret dies, his suffering ends."

A feral grin split across Josy's face. "So glad the sky woman's letting me go. I'm getting the feeling it'll be fun."

"Garret is a small part of this mission, Duchess. The goal is to negotiate a treaty with Espalla and the Jade Empire."

"Your goal is a treaty," Josy replied. "I'm just the warden."

Reyn sighed and looked ahead. She hoped Josy wouldn't make herself into a problem. If a situation arose in which Reyn would be required to protect Garret from her, she doubted she could do it. Enfri was putting a lot of faith in both of them, in their restraint, and Reyn was unsure if the empress truly understood the depths to which Reyn hated Garret.

What was most surprising was that Reyn wished to prove herself worthy of that trust.

"About your accompanying me, Duchess. How will you manage with our supply of oren as it is?"

Josy nodded grimly. "Yeah, can't keep asking Jin for hers." She took a discomforted stance and lowered her tone. "Look, Legs, goes without saying you can keep a secret, but would you keep mine?"

"That depends entirely upon the secret." Reyn regretted her tone immediately and amended herself. "But, I will err on the side of keeping your confidence."

"Fair enough." She cast her eyes about in search of eavesdroppers before continuing. "Oren won't be a problem for a while. I don't know how it happened, but I found a sack full of the oren reagent inside my tent the other day. I asked Jin about it, and she did that thing where she squints at something she doesn't understand, so I'm positive she doesn't know how it got there either."

Reyn hummed.

"You don't sound surprised."

"No, that is odd," Reyn lied. She supposed this was further evidence that Dashar Two was legitimate. Reyn gave her word to Kai that she'd keep his secret from Josy and Jin, and she meant to. "It may be best to take the gift and quibble over its origins at a later time."

Josy raised an eyebrow at her but seemed willing to let it rest. "Sure. Might just be one of Maya's agents delivered it. I'll ask her about it when I see her next."

"That does seem the likeliest explanation."

"In any case, the sky woman's going to start brewing before she leaves, and I'll split it with Jin. There was a lot, enough for thirty vials. Should last Jin over a month. Me, a couple weeks unless I can start stretching them out as well as she does."

Reyn frowned. "Our mission may take significantly longer."

"Worried about me, Legs?"

The question wouldn't have been so irritating if it wasn't accompanied by a smirk. Reyn answered it with a scoff. She looked back to where Garret was being placed in a set of manacles driven into the ground by large spikes. Paladin Daylen looked satisfied as he shoved Garret down to his knees and tightened the chains.

"Wretches!" Garret roared, his voice breaking beneath his impotent rage. "You can't do this to me. I'm a lord of Althandor! Mark my words, every one of you will be mine. I'll take you all and make you slay everyone you love with your own hands!"

Josy's fists clenched, and she bared her teeth. Reyn touched her on the elbow before withdrawing to join the empress. Enfri, accompanied by Reyn, Starra, and Kolbat acting as the most senior Arcane Knight, went to stand before Garret.

Garret began to laugh derisively as he looked Enfri up and down. "Ah, sweetling. Remember when I first met you at the gala in Ecclesia? If I had any idea how much trouble you'd give me..." His mouth curled into a rabid snarl. "I'd have stuck a knife in you."

Enfri met his eye. "You'd have bungled it."

He strained against his chains to get at her. She remained impassive.

"Lord Garret the Merovech of Althandor," she said in a loud and commanding voice, "this is your trial."

"Aleesh freak," Garret hissed. "You've no right to try me, whore-spawned half-breed."

"Perhaps not, but I will regardless." Enfri raised her voice so that all could hear her clearly. "You kneel before me, accused of treason against the Highest King, consorting with enemies of the Five Kingdoms, sedition, kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment, the practice of forbidden arcane techniques, incitement of riot, and conduct unbecoming of nobility. And that is only what I can prove right now, my lord. You are known to be a murderer, a raper, a kinslayer, and a blight to humanity. Were it within my power, I would have you pay for every crime you are guilty of."

In the blink of an eye, Garret's manner changed. He affected a charming smile and spoke with a cajoling tone. "Come now, sweetling. I've done no different than what you're doing. You want to resurrect Shan Alee? So do I. The only difference is the empress I serve."

Enfri wrinkled her nose. "You are mistaken if you believe that makes our motives at all similar. Or that it will shield you from justice. You have heard the accusations against you. How do you plead?"

Garret spat. "Don't recall kidnapping anyone."

"Two counts, against Kimpo the Huntress and Saveen the Bastion. They also account for the charges of unlawful imprisonment."

"Ah, then let me clarify. I don't recall kidnapping people. If anything, charge me with rustling livestock."

Reyn thought Garret ought to have known better about performing to the present crowd. Opera singers didn't often get far by insulting nine-tenths of their audience.

"And all these superfluous allegations are nothing more than slander," Garret continued. "A raper? Utter nonsense. I'll have you know that I've never partaken of a rendezvous that wasn't consented to."

"Consent under duress and domination doesn't count, you scum," Enfri snarled.

"Don't be glib, Your Majesty," Garret said, as if he were scolding a child. "You only prove yourself uneducated as to the mechanisms behind my woefully maligned spellcraft. It is called domination, but that means about as much as you calling yourself a sovereign. I'm not controlling anyone. I'm setting them free, allowing them to act upon what it is they truly desire." His smile was nothing short of the incarnation of evil. "Does it really come as a surprise if some of those I liberate should desire their savior above all else? They all thanked me for the attention I gave them."

Reyn felt her feet moving before she had a chance to think about it. She meant to strike him and wipe that vile grin from his wicked face.

Someone beat her to it.

Garret sprawled in the dirt, holding his bound hands to a split lip. Standing above him, wearing a dark red uniform of a Nadian knight, Lord Darian raised his hand to land another blow.

"Coward," Darian spat. "Are you not a man? Have you no honor? How dare you hide behind excuses? At least own your actions if you won't admit they're crimes."

Seeing as Reyn was already moving, she only had to alter course. She placed herself between Darian and Garret, putting a firm hand to the center of the exiled king's chest. "Enough, Darian. This is not your place."

His fine jawline was set into an angry frown. "I won't allow this filth to reach your ears."

It pissed Reyn off how that made her a little flush. Darian had no right to gallantry under the circumstances. She hardened her expression. "What are you even doing here?" she demanded. Reyn thought better of it and gave her head a shake. "No. Do not answer. You must leave, at once."

Darian took in a breath that shook due to his fury. He lowered his fist and unclenched it, maintaining eye-contact with Reyn. When he spoke, it was no more than a whisper that wouldn't carry to any ear but hers. "Why do you scorn me so, my love? What wound have I given you?"

Reyn could barely speak for how her teeth clenched. "Go."

His gray eyes held pain within them as he drew back a step. Darian turned on his heels and left the ring, the assembled Yora armsmen parting for him to pass. A murmur of general approval for his punching of Garret followed Darian as he retreated.

Reyn was left standing over Master Deveaux. She looked down at him and found him staring back at her from where he lay on his side. He laughed. "Defending me, pet? You Courtesans are a mercurial lot, aren't you? The Five Kingdoms are better off for me killing your kind all these years."

"I am no Courtesan," Reyn said, and she no longer cared who heard it. She looked to the empress. "I am Aleesh."

"Either gets you a noose in these kingdoms, pet," Garret laughed. "It'll happen. I'll see to it."

"Worry for your own neck. That you may keep it for now is due solely to Her Majesty's mercy."

Enfri gave Reyn a nod then subtly tilted her head in the direction Darian went. Her eyebrows were raised in question. It was more permission than a request, and Reyn silently thanked her for it. She curtsied to the empress. When she rose again, she saw Starra watching with concern. If not for decorum, Reyn was positive Starra would already be seeing to her well-being.

Starra made a small gesture over her heart, touching the fingertips of her thumb and middle finger together. Reyn recognized a partial somatic but didn't know enough of wizardry to identify what it was meant to communicate. But knowing Starra, she could guess its meaning well enough— a gesture of solidarity. Reyn mouthed "I love you" to her and received a smile in return.

Reyn passed by Josy on her way out of the ring. The duchess caught her arm as she passed.

"What was all that about?" she asked.

"Unfinished business," Reyn replied. "I trust everything will proceed smoothly from here on. Make certain that monster does not try anything."

"If he does, I'll give him worse than the exile did. Speaking of, old paramour?"

"You must be a hydromancer."

"Thought so. Always a spiky aura around exes. Be careful, Legs." She removed her hand from Reyn's arm. "Wouldn't want to see you..."

Reyn furrowed her brow when Josy trailed off like that.

Josy smirked. "Not sure what I was going to say. Weird, because I went into it with such confidence."

What an odd girl. She and Jin might have been put together in a similar fashion, but their manners were as different as could be. Reyn lightly smacked the back of her hand against Josy's stomach, startling her. "Flirt with me on your own time, my lady."

The color in her cheeks was most satisfying. "Blustering... Who says I was?"

"Your fixation on my legs. Keep up with your oren, Duchess. Be mindful you do not allow yourself to become exposed to my Voice. I will not be of a mind to resist if you tempt me again."

Josy's taken aback expression was priceless. It gave Reyn the strength she needed to leave Garret's trial behind and face the man she'd been avoiding until now. She imagined Josy would step a little lighter around her from then on, also. Reyn doubted there'd truly been any flirtation meant on her part, but Reyn did enjoy flustering Algaras. Starra was right about how entertaining it could be.

There was little more of interest to stay for in the trial. Enough evidence and testimony against Garret was going to be presented that it could take an hour just to give it all in brief. The only part Reyn wished she could have been present for was when Krayson came forward to take Garret's bloodsong. Reyn liked to imagine how Master Deveaux would squeal once he realized there was nothing he could do to stop himself from becoming a daanman.

Once he's a daanman, my Dekaam will no longer effect him, Reyn thought with some unease. She decided it was a moot point. She had her amulet, and her magic would be more than enough to handle anything Garret pulled.

Reyn continued towards the west, closer to the desert's edge. The first companies of the legion were starting to approach. The fey had already made their camps and patrolled the area to keep it clear of Melcian scouts. The lands immediately west of Sandharbor were now under Aleesh control.

One group of tents was different from any others. Espallans used square tents made from white linen and sometimes silk. The materials were expensive but necessary for their durability out in the harsh climates of the dunes. The Espallans had shown up well ahead of the legion, arriving only behind the ogres. They didn't assist in any fashion with securing the countryside, but they were mindful about not getting in the way either.

They remained the most curious sort of guests. Causing no trouble but offering nothing but their presence. Reyn believed that was better than the Espallans had given anyone else from the "far east" since their conflicts with the Althandi began. Though, she remained curious about Darian's part in all of it.

That he was ostensibly a prisoner of the Espallans was plain enough, awaiting only Enfri's response to the executor's offer before Darian was passed into Aleesh custody. The hallah'ha had been open about how they captured him as his expedition was digging around in the ruins of the Imperial City. Reyn wanted to know just what he was doing out there, and she wanted to hear it from his mouth how he'd funded it.

If I am certain of how he did myself, she thought. Gods, Ban. I didn't doubt myself near this much until you opened that mouth of yours.

Reyn planned on repaying Ban's meddling, innocent and well-intentioned though it may have been. Next opportunity she received, Reyn would get close to Moon where Ban could see them and loosen the shackles on her Voice. Perhaps wait for an evening with dancing, invite Moon to a slow waltz, and coax her to lay her head on Reyn's shoulder. That would stick in Ban's craw. Or, lead to a noteworthy evening and morning after. Starra was liable to present Reyn with a trophy if she could manage a rendezvous with that pair.

She paused at the edge of the Espallan tents. Reyn recognized the path her thoughts kept taking. She was dwelling on sexual relations— with just about anyone who crossed her mind— and didn't like the implications of why she would be. Seeing Darian once more, being that close to him, touching him, having him speak so gently to her again, it was dangerous.

A betrayer and a thrall. Reyn couldn't let herself forget what Darian could very well have been. Even if it wasn't for certain. Especially because it wasn't for certain. If Reyn was wrong, if Darian hadn't betrayed her and brought about Ham's death...

Then I betrayed him.

Reyn swallowed. Gods, but things that should've been simple were getting complicated. She hated complication, which was unfortunate because everything and everyone seemed to be utterly drenched in complication as of late. Worse, it was becoming apparent that Reyn didn't know what to do with herself without that dratted complication.

Without thinking, she felt her hand curl into the gesture Starra had given her. Reyn held her hand to her chest. At once, Reyn's nerves calmed down. She felt better able to think with a clear head.

Starra. Reyn's vivacious lush of a vampire. She brought her calm skies in the midst of a storm. That was one part of Reyn's life which had only been complicated until she allowed it to become simple.

Feeling stronger, Reyn took a step into the Espallan camp. As she took a second, a pair of hallah appeared as if materializing from the shrubbery. Both kept their scarves up to cover their mouths and noses, and their wide-brimmed hats sat low on their brows.

"Amah, nishai. Cennah?"

Reyn couldn't be fully certain, but it didn't sound like a challenge so much as the warrior asking if he could be of assistance. At the least, the word "amah" he used to address her was a respectful term for an adult woman.

"Lord Darian?" Reyn asked, hoping that was sufficient as a request.

The hallah who spoke nodded, said something further, and gestured for Reyn to follow him. The other remained where he was, though he bowed to Reyn as she walked past.

As Reyn followed, she considered how much of a problem the language barriers between her and the westerners would become. A few of the Espallans spoke a smattering of Althandi. Hagen knew enough to make himself understood in the most basic of terms, but Lita seemed the only one among them to be fluent. If the executor spoke a word of Althandi, she'd yet to demonstrate it. Reyn could only imagine the linguistic issues would increase once they reached the Jade Empire.

It would be difficult, but Reyn would have to do what she could to learn more of Espallese and the Tongue of Jade. She was already fluent in Old Gaulatian and Althandi, conversational in Shotoese. By no means did she consider herself a linguist, but if there was ever a time to discover a hidden talent for languages, this was it.

"Harujha tem Darian shakh, amah," the warrior said before promptly withdrawing.

Reyn watched him go with surprise. She hadn't expected to just be abandoned in the middle of their camp. The Espallans were more trusting than she would be in their place. Once the warrior was out of sight, Reyn turned to face the tent he'd brought her to. If she stopped to consider her actions, Reyn doubted she'd ever work up the courage to proceed, so she walked right in.

She found Darian standing with his back leaning against one of the tentpoles, staring at nothing. He tilted his head to look at her entering. By small degrees, his eyes widened.

"Reyn."

Gods, but hearing him say her name made her shiver. She took a breath in through her nose to steel herself before speaking. "That was ill-advised."

Darian averted his gaze and scowled. "Forgive me my poor manners. It's been a trying few weeks."

"In Shan Alee, we do not strike our prisoners. Even should they have it coming."

He looked back at her, his eyes defiant. "I said I was sorry, dove."

Reyn found that she needed to swallow her bile down. "Don't call me that," she said, firm and quiet. "That is what Master Deveaux calls women he desires."

"And did he use it for you?" Darian asked.

"He didn't call me his dove. He called me his pet." Her mouth twisted around the word.

Darian looked ill. "Then, he..."

Reyn frowned. "Is that your worry? That I have been sullied by that monster?"

"Were you?"

She thought she was within her rights to grow irritated. "Does it matter?"

Darian pushed away from the tent pole and faced her. "Of course not."

"Then why bother asking?"

"Because I need to know how deeply he has harmed you, so I know how much I must harm him."

Reyn took a step towards him. "He is not yours to punish, Darian." Her hands trembled as she clenched them into fists. "I am not yours to protect."

"My love..."

"Don't you dare!" Reyn shouted. "Don't you dare speak to me as if nothing has changed."

"And have they?" he demanded, his own voice rising. "Because if they have, it's news to me. When I last saw you..."

"Shut up," Reyn hissed. "When you last saw me, I was a trusting fool. A simple-minded girl who willingly handed over the knife you used to stab me in the heart."

He approached her. "Enough," he said in a commanding voice. A king's voice. "Tell me the truth, Reyn. What crime could I have committed to earn your hatred?"

Frustrated tears came into her eyes. She fought to keep her voice steady. "What was it you said just before? Own your actions if you won't admit they're crimes."

Darian held his arms out wide and shook his head. "Stones take me, Reyn. By the Deep One and all the gods of the earth, I have no idea what you're talking about."

"How can you not know?" Reyn asked, and she stopped caring that her voice had broken long ago. She did what she could to stifle her sobs, but the pain of that night in Rosewater returned. It remained as fresh and raw as the day she received it. "Ham's dead."

She covered her eyes and wept, feeling like an utter fool. How stupid she must have looked, barging into his tent, shouting at the top of her lungs, then bawling her eyes out. Before she had a chance to get ahold of herself, Darian came forward and grabbed her shoulders.

"Hamish?"

Reyn nodded.

"And the rest of your cell? Louis and Maxime? Gaspard? The Irdish fellow, Nataan?"

"Gone," Reyn managed to say. "Nataan was in Irdruin gathering information for Ham. The others, they were all killed when Garret and Elise came to the paperworks."

"Stones," Darian whispered. "Stones and tremors. How did you...?"

"It doesn't matter!" She dared to look up and meet his eyes.

He drew back when he saw the raw hate in her gaze.

She spoke through bared teeth. "I got away because they didn't care if I got away. They were only there for the Diamond."

Darian's eyes went wide.

"No one knew," Reyn said, her voice dropping to a deadly register. "No one outside our cell knew what we had. Only Ham and I knew the full story of what we stole from House Tarlen. And I only told one person. Essence of all spirits curse me to my pyre, I told you the one thing that could destroy us."

Darian took a step back. His mouth opened as if to speak, but nothing came out.

"They came the day after we learned the silver tower led an expedition west," Reyn snarled. "How much gold did you need for your airships, my lord? How much to hire your mercenaries? Your guides, your equipment, your supplies?"

He shook his head in feeble denial.

Reyn shouted her fury at him. "How much were our lives worth, Darian? How much did the Lady Tarlen pay you for where the Imperial Diamond was being kept?"

Darian's voice was weak and breathless. "You believe this of me?"

Reyn had spent her life learning how to lie. It was simply done, and she knew others could be just as talented at it as she was. Why not him? He'd needed to learn how to hide himself the same way she had.

"I swear to you, it isn't so," he said. "My men robbed a train. A treasury car taking taxes to the Spired City. That's how I paid for the expedition to Shan Alee."

Reyn shook her head in disbelief. "No. Master Deveaux knew we had the Diamond. He knew we were in Rosewater. Only three people in all the world had all that information. One of them's dead, and the last two are standing in this tent."

Darian reached forward. He didn't touch her, just let his hands hover above her shoulders. "Reyn, you trusted me once. You loved me once. I felt every bit the same for you as you did for me. I was and still am deeply, madly in love with Reyn of Rosewater. I never betrayed you. I never will. To this day, I never whispered a single word of the Imperial Diamond to another soul. Not even to my closest advisors. I made you a promise, my love. It's a promise I've always intended to keep."

His hand went to her cheek. As his fingers brushed against her face, Reyn felt herself lean into his touch. He wiped aside tears even as they continued to fall.

"Tell me," Reyn begged him. "Why is Ham dead?"

"I wish I knew. Stones, but it isn't me you blame. Is it?"

Reyn closed her eyes.

"I know you, my love. Even if you think I betrayed the trust you gave me, the only one you'd truly blame is yourself."

"I shouldn't have trusted you," Reyn whispered.

"You want it to have been me, because that allows you to shoulder the blame for Ham."

Reyn pulled away from him as if she'd been stung. What he said hit too close to the mark. But, was he right? Was she only fixated on believing Darian betrayed her cell because she could then blame herself for trusting him in the first place?

No. No!

"I don't trust you, Darian," she said. "Not anymore. I can't afford to trust you."

"Dove, please. I..."

Reyn held up a hand to keep him away. "Nothing you said makes me believe you. But..." She swallowed her pride. "I will ask questions. If what you said about the train robbery is true, I will be able to confirm it."

It worried her that Darian looked relieved.

"You will learn all that I said is the truth," he said. "Your contacts are reliable?"

"Don't underestimate my paramour's network," Reyn said, and it only had the slightest note of satisfaction to it.

"Ah," Darian murmured. "You are... courting someone?"

"Being courted," Reyn corrected, "and her efforts are most welcome."

Darian looked down at the floor and nodded in acceptance. "I wish you happiness."

Reyn wasn't as satisfied anymore as she had been at first.

He looked up, startled. "Her? Stones, not the..."

Reyn threw up her palms. "Gods, innoh am shaggin' tha snottin' empress!"

Darian burst into laughter, which made Reyn's face turn red as his uniform.

"I mean to say, Empress Enfri is betrothed to Princess Jin. You were told that during the feast."

"Mmm, must have slipped my mind," Darian said with a mocking smirk. "Do all the ladies court ladies in the Empire of Scales, or are you and the empress merely outliers?"

Reyn couldn't help but think that would make Shan Alee a paradise. Unfortunately, it was far from the reality. "No different here than anywhere else in the world. We have avoided skulks so far, I am glad to say."

Darian stepped towards her again. This time, he took her hand. "If you think I am willing to step aside so easily, you are mistaken. Tell your paramour she can expect competition if she is unwilling to share."

Reyn pursed her lips. "That depends entirely on what we learn from her contacts." The next words nearly had to be dragged out of her by cart horses. "But, if you are telling the truth, I could be convinced to speak with you again."

The kiss came too sudden to defend against, and Reyn was unsure if she would have attempted to fend him off even if he'd been slower about it. Not until her fingers were running through the shorter hair on the left side of his head did she think she should be putting a stop to this. She hated what Darian did to her ability to think. And she loved it.

Reyn pulled back and thumped her knuckles against his chest. She couldn't look him in the eye. "Ask first."

"In that case, may I kiss you?"

Reyn also hated that she hesitated. No man had a right to kiss her that well. "Not yet."

"Soon, then?"

Reyn scowled, wishing she'd phrased her denial more starkly. "Perhaps never. I could very well decide you will never look on me again, Darian the Teranor. I still haven't figured out if you're a servant of demons or not."

"A servant of what?" he exclaimed in apparent utter shock.

Reyn raised an eyebrow as she looked him over. It'd been a calculated move, mentioning demons. Affecting surprise on short notice was difficult, even for a practiced liar. His appeared genuine, but there could be a number of reasons he wouldn't expect her to mention the old masters. However, for the moment, Reyn's doubts about Darian being a thrall were taking root.

He could be telling the truth, Reyn thought. She couldn't settle on if that made her feel better or not. "No matter. We will learn that in time, as well. I will be leaving the legion soon, to deliver Her Majesty's response to the Glorious Emperor."

Darian blinked heavily after being blindsided by talk of demons. He was taken aback yet again by the news of her mission. "You're going to the Jade Empire? Reyn, that's crazy. Let me go with you, at least. You'll need a translator."

Reyn shook her head. "I am afraid the Espallans are quite against that. Hagen made his position clear to the empress that you are not welcome any further west than you stand right now. As of tomorrow morning, you may consider yourself a ward of the Aleesh court."

Darian sneered. "A hostage, you mean. Behave, or we give you to the Algaras."

Reyn gave him a smile that was as sweet as poisoned honey. "Darian, have you forgotten this empire is about to marry into House Algara? They already have you."

He snorted. "Still cruel, I see. Is that true of all selkies, or just you? I've always wondered."

"Selkies tend towards gentleness. You have the Courtesans to thank for the cruelty."

His face grew solemn. "And many other things. They brought me to you, Reyn."

"Flatterer."

"It's true." He looked away. "My grandfather should never have used the Courtesans as he did. Trying to kill the Eidolon all but handed Nadia to the Algaras."

Reyn blinked. "The... kill the what?"

Darian didn't turn to face her. Didn't blink. "No matter. About another thing, Reyn. I've given you my word I haven't betrayed your secret. May I ask about the secret I told you?"

She'd have rather received an explanation about what he meant by an Eidolon. Reyn felt as if she'd heard the word before, but she hadn't the faintest notion of what it meant.

"I have never spoken of it to anyone," she said to answer his question.

Darian exhaled a relieved breath. "Thank you. It must have been tempting to reveal with what you believe I did, but..."

"I have not revealed it because it was irrelevant," Reyn snapped. She felt a grimace coming on. "After you arrived... I did not wish to be hasty with my words out of mere pettiness. My promises mean something to me, no matter what you may think."

He smiled wanly. "I thank you, nonetheless."

Reyn averted her eyes. "No one in Shan Alee knows of your mark, but I should warn you that some have wondered aloud as to whether you may be a geomancer."

"If you are asked..."

"I will not lie to the empress," Reyn said. "I feel I have lied to her too much as it is, and these elder blood Altieri make it difficult to keep anything hidden for long. I would suggest you allow them to hear the truth from you as a sign of good faith." She smiled as she recalled something Starra once said to her. "You humans are strange in that you start to think the longer something is hidden, the more likely it was hidden out of malice. Your elder magic is not so terrible a power that you will be feared for it."

Darian's smile was a sad one. "Maybe you think so. You were the first I ever knew of to say it was beautiful."

"Because it is. And Enfri has a penchant for seeing beauty where few others care to look. You would do well to place your trust in the Dragon Empress."

"As you say. Seeing as these Arcane Knights are named for gems, do you think they'd have many precious stones on hand if they want a demonstration of my elder magic?"

Reyn shrugged. "I have had little difficulty procuring gemstones. The mighty are little more than giant jackdaws and may have any number of treasures to trade for."

Darian smiled and gave her a nod. He looked to the side at a clockwork timepiece he had in his tent once it began chiming the hour. He took in a breath and stood straight. "Well, the hours do go by. I suppose I shouldn't keep you from your duties, Lady Minister."

Reyn thought if she left right then, she may return to the trial in time to see Garret's sentence carried out. "Yes. There is much to see to. Farewell, Darian."

"May I see you again, before you depart for the west?"

Reyn hesitated. Her doubts that Darian had betrayed her were growing, but she wasn't yet willing to accept him back into her life. She felt as if she would prefer not to be in his line of sight. But, even with that determination in mind, she looked to the ground and nodded her agreement.

Being around him again was dangerous.

"Until then, Reyn. Despite the circumstances, I'm glad to have seen you again."

"And I, you," she replied. As she left Darian's tent, Reyn couldn't tell if that had been a lie or not.

Her personal dilemmas, however, were secondary. The old masters remained her greatest concern, and whether Darian was their thrall or not, he'd given Reyn what may have been a significant clue towards their aims.

Reyn had little notion of what the Eidolon was, but she was all but certain of who it was. The Nadian Rebellion began because the Courtesans murdered Crown Prince Roan Algara, but what was known by only a select few in the Five Kingdoms was that King Cathis' only son hadn't been the killers' true target. They'd intended to kill a different child, one who was apparently powerful enough that even demons feared her. The assumptions made about why the Courtesans attacked the Palace of Towers— to serve as a deadly warning to the Highest King— were wrong. The Eidolon was a name that suggested significance much greater than a mere point of argument delivered in blood.

If the old masters failed to kill the Eidolon once and never made another attempt, that could only mean they had devised a more sinister plan.

Princess Maya Algara was being manipulated. "By whom" was easy enough to guess. "Towards what" could be nothing less than the collapse of the Five Kingdoms. The real questions lay in how they meant to do it and how it could be stopped.

END OF ACT TWO