Page 6

He cleared his throat uncomfortably. “I’m sorry.”

Tears welled in her eyes, which she hated, so she just shook her head. “All is fine in the end.”

She could see Dryston had a lot more to say, but he wouldn’t. Not now. Not here.

He cleared his throat instead. “Tell me more about this alliance you negotiated with King Leeth. What, precisely, did you promise him?”

“Only your first-born child and half the realm.”

“Hah, hah,” Dryston said drily.

“You think I’m joking, but you should really prepare yourself for the price.”

“I beg you to practice earnestness for once in your life, Enid. I have no time for your games and playacting.”

She sighed. “We didn’t settle the terms for certain. There’s room for negotiation, but he said he would like for you to give him back the grimoire of Evonin. The one the Cruel Lord stole from their temples.”

Dryston frowned. “That’s all?”

“That’s all!”

“I would have given him that only for asking. No negotiations needed. Why would he not ask for more?”

She shrugged. “I don’t question when the universe gives me goodwill, brother. Perhaps you should quail your suspicions long enough to make an alliance that could benefit us.”

They were sniping at one another again and they both took notice of Kaemon shifting uncomfortably in his chair. Taking in a deepbreath, she said, “We can meet with him again. Elf Glen is only half a day’s flight from here.”

Dryston nodded. “We’ll leave soon to meet with him. I don’t want to delay any longer than necessary. There’s no telling what he thinks of me for not contacting him sooner. For now, we have a lot to rejoice over.” He swallowed hard and said, through gritted teeth, “Thank you, Enid. You were right for doing this.”

Enid had a snappy quip waiting on her tongue, but she bit it back and smiled instead. They did have a lot to rejoice over. And for Enid, much of it was that in this little parlor she had her family back again.

She glanced at Melina.

And it was growing.

Chapter 2: Avenay

“Hello.”

Tap. Tap. Tap.

“Hellooooo!”

Avenay’s eyes flew open, and she sat up swiftly, her head knocking into something hard. A sound like teeth clattering met her ears, then a soft, melodious, “Owwwww!”

Dazed, she looked about. Mavise stood nearby, rubbing her chin where the white skin bloomed an angry red, the seraphe’s taupefeathered wings tucked in primly. Mavise pouted in a comical reprimand, her delicate features too soft for any serious rebuke.

“Sorry,” Avenay said, rubbing the top of her head to soothe the now throbbing ache.

“You fell asleep here. Again.” Mavise placed her hands on her hips.

Avenay’s cheek began itching, and she swiped a hand over it, the feather quill she’d been using stuck there. “Do I have ink all over me?”

Mavise shook her head. “You know, I’ll stop letting you stay here after hours if you can’t leave at a decent time.”

“Whatever do you mean? I’m leaving now and it’s only—” Avenay leaned back in her chair to see the grandfather clock at the end of the row,“—nine in the morning!”

Mavise frowned. “Staying here all night and leaving in the morning isn’t a decent time!”