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The stream was broad enough for Jamys to hear as well, apparently, for he looks at me with a bemused smile. “You use your magic to eavesdrop?”

I shrug innocently. “It comes in handy every now and then.”

“Who is as good as family?”

Behind Jamys, the person in question enters, and my dress isn’t the only thing impeding my breathing anymore. “Tomas Coyle.”

Three in a large crowd was one thing. Tomas, Jamys, and me in this smaller setting flushes my face and neck with heat.

Tomas’ eyes meet mine in a solemn look before flittering down to my dress. Now he appears to be containing a smirk. I purse my lips and flick his neck with a burst of cold air. He continues toward Mother unfazed.

“Good evening,” she says at normal volume. “To what do we owe the honor?”

“The honor is mine, as always. I’m sorry to interrupt your gathering, but a messenger has arrived at Highbluff from my uncle at Lambridge. They are requesting aid, and my father wanted your leave to send forces from Eglingen.”

“Why are they in need of aid?” Mother asks.

“Odd occurrences in the west are being blamed on magic.”

She rubs her wrist. “How could that be when all the magical people are here?”

“It’s the easiest way to explain things they can’t understand.”

Being as close as they are to Penum, I suspect our hostile neighbor has something to do with people looking to blame magic for their misfortunes.

“Is there any violence?” I ask.

All eyes divert to me. “Not yet,” Tomas says. “It’s simmering, though, and they’re afraid it will boil over.”

“And sending soldiers will do what, exactly?”

“Dissuade people from becoming violent.”

“For how long?” Somehow, it feels as though Tomas and I are alone in a close conversation, rather than across a full room from each other. “You can’t keep them there forever, and it doesn’t solve the problems they’re upset about. If they think our magic is a bad thing, we should show them it isn’t.”

Mother looks at me openly. “What would you recommend?”

“Send us out there. This entire…”—Don’t say something negative. Scheme. Contrivance. Stratagem...—“arrangement with the trials is about us earning our people’s trust and love. We don’t need to do that here. People around the capital already love us. We should go where it’s a problem.”

Mother’s jaw ticks. “I’ll consider it. Tomas, please tell your father to hold off for now.”

“Perhaps both,” Rylan offers. “The four of us could go with a contingent of the Eglingen army.”

“That wouldn’t exactly look like we’re arriving to make peace.”

He glowers at me. Fantastic—he’s going to act as if I’m stepping on his toes. This isn’t about the damned competition. I’m trying to secure his kingdom. Perhaps I shouldn’t bother. It won’t be my problem, anyway.

“I’ll let you and Lord Coyle know in the morning.” Mother stands and takes Tomas’ arm. “Thank you for bringing us this news…” she begins as they leave the room.

Jamys grins at me once they’re gone but says nothing.

I give us some invisible privacy. “Go ahead. No one can hear us now.”

“Are you certain? I still hear them, though it’s muffled.”

“I control what goes in and out. I want some sound to come in, so I’m not caught completely off guard by someone speaking to me. But watch.” I keep my eyes on him and smile convivially, but I raise my volume as I say, “Nina, your hair looks dreadful.” There is, of course, no response besides Jamys pressing his lips together to hide his amusement. “See?”

“All right. Well, I wanted to point out that you aren’t as bad at these games as you think.” He gestures to the board between us where his impending victory is obvious. “Lambridge is near your border, correct?”