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Hawthorne’s nostrils flared, his knuckles paling as he gripped the hilt ofherdagger.

‘Twirling sticks around in the dark is no warrior training.’

Thea blanched.

Osiris spoke again. ‘The prophecy was clear then, and it is clear now:A daughter of darkness will wield a blade in one hand, And rule death with the other…You know it as well as I do. ’

Audra snorted. ‘Death comes for the midrealms, whether a woman holds a sword or not.’

‘Althea risked an attack on us all by wielding a blade, one of Naarvian steel, no less. And now you beg a concession to the laws?’

‘Yes.’

Hawthorne made a noise at the back of his throat. ‘The system is already broken, a pathetic mess of would-be mentors and weak fools. The last thing Thezmarr needs is another shieldbearer’s hand to hold like a child —’

‘I’m not a child,’ Thea objected. ‘I’m twenty-four years of age.’

‘Then perhaps you’re too old —’

‘Silence!’ Osiris pinched the bridge of his nose. ‘Wilder, I’m well aware of your opinions. You’ve made no secret of them over the years. And Audra, even if I wished to permit the girl to train, it’s against the laws of the three remaining kingdoms. A law that was put in place for our own protection.’

The girl. The girl. The girl.That same fury from before sparked anew, coursing through Thea like a formidable current.

Silver eyes fell upon her once more and she stilled.

Audra paced at the head of the table. ‘No,’ she agreed. ‘You cannot permit her that.’

Thea’s heart fell.

‘However…’ Audra continued. ‘As Hawthorne articulatedso well, the system is broken and so something must be done. There is to be a feast in Hailford in three days’ time, honouring the end of King Artos’ mourning period for the queen. There will be an open court beforehand where all the kings and queens of the midrealms will be present. Althea can make her case there.’

Thea hadn’t realised she’d stood, her heart daring to swell as Audra’s words sank in.

The Guild Master spoke again, a curious lilt to his tone. ‘I have never known you to fight the causes of underlings. Why?’

Without tearing her gaze from Osiris’, Audra’s hand went to one of the daggers at her belt. ‘Because of this.’

There was a flash of silver as the dagger cut through the air.

Thea twisted, swerving from its path.

Suddenly, the dagger was in her hand, having caught it midair by its jewelled hilt.

WILDER HAWTHORNE

Wilder’s whole body tensed, his hand shooting to the grip of his own blade. But the alchemist had caught the flying dagger.Midair. And she’d done it without flinching, without a flicker of fear.

He wasn’t the only one staring.

‘Holy shit,’ Torj said with a low whistle.

The Guild Master's mouth had fallen open and he now slid from where he stood into the nearest chair, not taking his eyes off the alchemist.

Vernich said nothing, but his clenched jaw betrayed his shock.

The young woman’s expression now gleamed with challenge as she flicked the weapon, catching it by the tip between her fingers before returning it wordlessly to the librarian, hilt first.

She was no novice, that was for certain.