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My lungs seized, and I lifted my head. If Rekja allied with Regner instead…

Lorian had leaned over my shoulder to read, and he plucked the message from my fingers when I was done, handing it to Galon and the others.

“Not-so-thinly veiled threats,” he said.

Rekja nodded. “His decision to march some of his regiments south may merely be a way to warn me of the consequences of not cooperating.”

I studied his face, but his expression gave no hint of his thoughts.

“And will you ally with him?” Marth asked.

“No,” Rekja said. “But the situation is precarious. I am king in name only—I have not yet been crowned. And there are many in Gromalia who would prefer we committed to our alliance with Regner—and our fellow humans.”

“He will not allow another king to live on this continent,” Lorian warned.

Rekja nodded. “I know this.” But his gaze was drifting over Thora in a way that was all too familiar. I glanced at Lorian, and his lips twitched.

“Perhaps we could give you some time to reacquaint yourselves,” he said smoothly. “And we could discuss our mutual enemies after that?”

Rekja gave him an appreciative nod. “Actually,” he said suddenly, as if the thought had just occurred to him. “There’s someone you should meet.”

8

Prisca

“You.” I’d only made it one step into the doorway before freezing like a rabbit.

The woman squared her shoulders, holding my stare. She wasn’t wearing her blue gown. Long, dark hair fell over her shoulders. No diadem held back her hair. But I would have recognized her anywhere.

I stared. And stared some more.

The last time I’d seen her, I was trembling, pressed up against Lorian in the hidden cavern beneath Regner’s bedroom. I’d lost my grip on my power, and we’d been forced to hide. Terror had flooded my body when she’d nonchalantly walked into the cavern, stolen one of the empty oceartus stones, and strolled out.

Every hair on my body stood up. Lorian responded to my terror instantly, shoving me behind him.

“I mean you no harm.”

“You’re Regner’s High Priestess. Forgive us if we choose not to trust you,” I said. Since she’d made no threatening moves toward us, and I felt faintly ridiculous, I elbowed my way past Lorian. Daharak leaned against thenearest wall, watching the scene with clear interest, while Rythos and Galon spread out near the windows.

“You have Jamic,” the priestess said.

“Yes. And he’s safe.”

She gave me a faint smile. “Surely he’s mentioned me.”

He had mentioned a priestess who was kind to him. Madinia had told me of their conversation. And the last time I’d seen this woman, she’d beenstealingfrom Regner.

“That oceartus stone was for him,” she murmured.

“You knew we were there?”

She nodded. “I knew most of what happened in that castle.”

“You’re lucky we didn’t kill you,” Lorian said.

She gave him a look that told him he was a silly little boy. It was a good look. Perhaps I’d try it out myself someday.

Lorian flashed his teeth at her. “Why did you need the oceartus stone?”