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“It’s going to take a while to work out the details,” I say, relief loosening my chest a little. I raise the tiny flask again. “But if I hear that war is erupting in this kingdom again, or anyone is being persecuted, I will come back here and finish the job.”

“Very well,” Brados finally says. “I’m willing to consider discussions. Anyone who feels they could not be loyal to a republic should flee to Avalon, because they won’t be welcome here. We can talk in my tavern, The Shadowed Thicket.”

“Atavern?” Malleus asks, horrified.

“There’s plenty of mead,” Brados says.

“That’s a start,” Ker-Ys mutters. “I need to get properly drunk after this day.”

“Just make sure not to insult the mead,” I add. “It’s his mother’s recipe. He’s very sensitive about it.”

As the otherleaders march for The Shadowed Thicket, Nivene, Talan and I linger in the grassy fields.

Nivene glares at me, her cheeks nearly as red as her hair. “Please tell me that was not a real vial of the plague.”

I smile at her. “I’m an Avalon Agent. A spy. And you know what spies do.”

And with that, I grab the cork of the flask with my teeth and yank it out, then take a long swig from the bottle, licking my lips. I hand it to Talan. “Care for some?”

“Don’t mind if I do.” Talan takes the bottle from me and drinks heartily.

“Whatisthat?” Nivene demands.

Talan inspects the bottle. “A small bottle of mead from the Council of Nobles’ table with the label peeled off.”

“Youknew?” she asks him.

Talan shrugs. “It’s not even the same shape as the other flasks. How did you not notice?”

She glares at him. “I guess because I was trying not to die at the time, but what else is new?”

I smile at Talan. “You were very convincing with your reaction to the vial.”

“Thank you, my love. You are also a very convincing liar.”

I flutter my eyelashes. “I went to school for that, but I’ve always had a natural talent for deception, I think.”

Nivene cocks her head. “You disabled two armies with the threat of mead?”

“Well, I would havepreferredto threaten them with dragons, but Talan thought that might get out of hand, and he’s the dragon expert.” I take the bottle from Talan, have another swig, and pass it on to Nivene.

She chugs down a gulp of mead, then wipes her hand across the back of her mouth.

The wind toys with Talan’s dark hair. “Maybe it’s best if Nivene rides over to The Shadowed Thicket. Make sure thatwhatever form the new ruling body will take, it won’t continue the war with the humans. Brados seems to trust her.”

I nod. “Excellent idea.”

Nivene snatches the mead from me. “You two are arseholes.” She nods at me. “You in particular. Worse than the bloody Dream Stalker.”

“But that’s why you love me?”

She considers that. “Maybe.”

She rides off, leaving Talan and me alone in the softly blowing grasses.

“So, farm girl,” Talan says, “we have a dragon nearby. Where do you want to fly off to?”

“Well, I’d love to go to the South of France and finish my vacation, but I think they might panic if we arrive on the back of a dragon.” I smile, my mood suddenly brightening. “You know, I believe I have a long-awaited party to plan.”