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“I stand with Robin Icethorn,” the Elmdew representative said. I hadn’t caught her name yet, but I could see from the strength in her gaze that she, like me and Eroan, was keen not to encourage the unnecessary murder of innocent people. She was not the same woman I’d seen in Lockinge. She was likely held by Cassial still, alongside the Elmdew heir. But regardless of her unknown status, I was glad someone had finally stood beside me. “I expressed my concern when this was agreed, and it fell on ears who didn’t wish to hear it. Our heir is in the hands of Cassial and his people, and yet no one mentions saving the child who will one day become King of Elmdew. I am with Robin. There is time to recall Gyah, before more mistakes are made.”

I thanked her with a nod, feeling my power wane knowing I had someone else behind me.

“Sending our army in now will only jeopardise the success of our mission,” I said.

“You andwhatarmy?” Ailon demanded, slapping an aged hand on the table. “Or are Doran’s little pets the only people you have behind you?”

Erix snarled at that insult, baring the points of his teeth in Ailon’s direction. “Careful.”

“Yes, Ailon. Be careful. As you can imagine, ‘Doran’s little pets’are an unruly bunch,” I said, lip curling over teeth, matching the fury of Erix who simmered behind me. “If one deems it a requirement to tear you to shreds, there will be little I can do to stop them.”

Ailon was appalled by the threat, which made a part of me rather happy. “Do you know who you are speaking to?”

I stepped closer to him, my shadow cast over the map of the realms. “I have an idea of who youthinkI’m speaking to, Ailon. But let me make this very clear, you are no one of importance. Without the passing of the Oakstorm key, there is no requirement for another Oakstorm king or queen. And if there was, I can assure you it wouldn’t be you.”

Ailon struck out, snatching my wrist like an adult punishing a disobedient child. “But I am the rightful–”

“Take your hands off him and sitdown.” Erix bellowed, his command coming out in cold mist before his lips. I had to withdraw my power before the entire tent was encased in ice, but with Erix unfurling beside me, he was the only power I required.

Ailon released me, then finally he sat. Erix grinned at his uncle, showing him the full mouth of teeth that would, in fact, rip him to shreds if the opportunity arose. “Now that’s a good boy. Keep those lips sealed before King Icethorn sees fit to dismiss you.”

“Thank you, Erix,” I said, laying a careful hand on his arm. “To answer your question, Ailon, we do have an army.”

And so I told them.

I revealed everything that had happened after the wedding and my supposed death. I revealed the story of Altar, the Creator and the power source of Duwar. How the Nephilim had split into two factions – Faithful and Fallen. I didn’t miss a single detail – well, beside the mention of how Erix, Duncan and I celebrated after Duncan successfully passed The Transfiguration.

In the back of my mind, I wondered why Gyah hadn’t mentioned any of this. Was the secrecy at the guidance of Seraphine, aiding in whatever game she was playing. No one had mentioned Gyah arriving with an Asp, but I had to believe Seraphine had been here.

I understood that Eroan had those answers. I just needed a moment with him to extract them.

“If Cassial is encouraged to use Duwar, it will weaken him?” Eroan repeated a question. “The risk of him using the full wrath of that power source is surely not what we want.”

“Cassial will not waste himself,” I replied. “Which is why you’ve not seen a display of power since the wedding. We must coax him. Make him feel as though he must use Duwar, because he has no other choice.”

“I thought we were trying not to risk the lives of these humans you care so much about,” Ailon reminded me, spittle flying past vile lips. “Or do your responsibilities change like the tides? How can we expect this half-human child to make decisions to benefit the fey, when his allegiance is split so clearly? Or, perhaps you are the one who wants Duwar for yourself, after all.”

“I refused Duwar’s offers for months,” I spat. “My will is stronger than you think it is.”

“And yet your will is what stopped Duncan Rackley from dying in the first place, saving us all this problem to deal with.”

Ailon hadn’t learned that his words could lead him into trouble. And he was old enough for me not to warn him again. I felt Erix stir, bristling like a hound behind me, teeth snapping, wings flaring.

I decided to ignore Ailon, speaking directly to the other three. My effort was better given to them. “Once Duncan has removed Althea from Cassial’s grasp, that will remove the chance that she is the next host of the power source. That is why we believe she is being kept: as collateral.”

“Whynotlet that power transfer?” Ailon asked. “If what you’ve said about Duwar’s compatibility with the fey is correct, is it not best that we have access to the power? Althea can then use it.”

“No,” I said. “Our goal is to save Althea. If Duwar is transferred into her, she is at risk of being controlled. The monstrous acts she will be made to do would ruin her. And if not, it will only make her do the right thing. And if you wish to see Althea alive, long past Cassial’s downfall, then she must not host Duwar.”

“Then what are you suggesting we do?” Kelsey leaned forwards.

Eroan straightened in his chair, uncomfortable with the very clear outcome. “Robin means that Althea will need to die if we do not act.”

I didn’t tell him he was wrong. “There is much we don’t know about Duwar. One clear way to remove the power from this playing board, is to ensure the host dies. There is no other known way of dealing with it.” Although I had my suspicions, those were not confirmed. “If Althea takes Duwar into herself, she will soon sacrifice herself.”

I could see from Lady Kelsey’s shifting gaze that she’d worked out what I meant. “Althea will die either way, that is what you are saying.”

“Exactly.” We all knew Althea. Duwar was not a power that should’ve ever been at play in the realms. If Althea knew there was a real chance of returning Duwar to where Altar first stole it from, she would throw herself willingly into the oblivion. We couldn’t let that happen.