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Venir looked at her for a long moment, apparently speechless. 'Your Majesty,' he finally managed, bowing his head.

Fyia stood, and all at the table did so too. 'Starfall will take the meeting from here,' she said, nodding to her aunt. Starfall smiled, itching to get going.

'May the Gods protect you on your journey,' said Nara. 'I will pray to the Warrior to keep you safe from the Black Hoods.'

Fyia inwardly rolled her eyes; why was everyone so scared of the Black Hoods? 'I rather thought you might pray to the Whore, or I suppose the Goddess … anything to marry me off.'

'Your Majesty, I …'

'Hold your tongue, girl,' said Starfall. 'She's using you for sport.'

Fyia smirked as she left. 'May the Gods protect you all,' she called back over her shoulder.For I fear you need it more than I.

Chapter Four

FYIA WATCHED FROM THEwalls as Sensis rode out of the city, heading for Moon, the others safely tucked inside their carriages. They hadn't been apart in years—not since the beginning of the war—and Fyia relied on Sensis in a way she didn't on the others. She had no choice; no one else could reform the military academy, but an ache filled Fyia's chest as her friend's form shrank into the distance.

'You know they had a point yesterday,' said the Spider, emerging from the shadows. She pushed back her hood as she stepped up beside Fyia.

'I would hope so,' said Fyia. 'Otherwise, why do I pay them such exorbitant sums?'

'You need to marry eventually,' she said, ignoring Fyia's weak attempt at deflection. 'Unless you plan to leave instability in your wake ...'

'You'd marry me off to some foreign ruler? Like a brood mare?'

'Considering the dissent you face, it would be a wise path, although marrying from within your own kingdoms has advantages also.'

'Maybe I should fuck one man from each kingdom, get myself with child, and call it a babe of all the lands …'

'That would certainly be novel,' said the Spider, with not even the barest hint of emotion.

'I will consider marriage when I deem it necessary, or—Gods forbid—when I find a man I actually desire.'

Silence settled for a beat.

'I hear Adigos will join your party when you travel north?'

Fyia spun to face the Spider. 'Are you lecturing me about my choice of travelling companions?'

'Every choice you make is analyzed and stored away for future use. Not everyone in your lands has accepted you as Queen … they will use any small thing to undermine you. Adigos' past actions already lead to questions regarding your legitimacy. If you will not send him away, I advise discretion, that is all.'

'I am a paragon of discretion, am I not?'

The Spider coughed. 'I am but your adviser, Your Majesty. Safe travels.'

Fyia's party left Selise not two turns of the clock after Sensis. It would take five days of hard riding to reach the Fae'ch Mountains, and after the first day, no one was looking forward to the next four. It had turned unseasonably cold, the wind driving rain into their faces, and it would only get worse the further north they travelled.

They pulled off the busy trade road that ran north from Selise, across the Kingdom of Plenty, and dismounted in a clearing above a stream. They quickly set up camp, throwing up their small travelling tents and starting a fire.

Fyia's wolves hunted, then two of her guards set about skinning and gutting the rabbits and putting them on spits.

Fyia, Adigos, and Edu washed in the freezing stream water, ate their fill, then sat around a fire. 'Thank the Gods it's stopped raining,' said Adigos, putting his gloves by the fire to dry. The guards had their own fire a stone's throw away, and Rouel entertained them all with his lute, his fingers flying over the strings as though they had a mind of their own.

There once was a Kingdom of Dragons,

But the King, he fell off the wagon.

He drank so much, most times in his cups,