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Caldon groaned, and Kiva nearly did the same, recalling how they’d been told something similar in Jiirva before being drugged and thrown into the arena.

Jaren alone didn’t react to Issa’s words, though his body was lined with new tension. “And those instructions were?”

Issa looked pleadingly at Lady Silence, so the adviser took over to say, “When Sarana entrusted the ring to Issa’s ancestors, she did so with the hope that one day the Vallentis and Corentine descendants would not always be blood enemies.”

Kiva squirmed when both Silence and Issa flicked their eyes toward her.

“As such,” the adviser went on, “while the ring might belong to Sarana’s bloodline, she instructed that it can only be claimed by a Vallentisanda Corentine who are on amiable terms.”

Caldon laughed with relief, pointing to Kiva and saying, “We already told you, she’s a Corentine. And we’re definitely on amiable terms. So we’ve already fulfilled Sarana’s requirements.”

Lady Silence nudged Queen Issa, who fidgeted and said, “Yes, well, the thing is... When I said ‘sort of’ before, what I meant was that I know where the ring is, but I can’t give it to you. You have to go and get it. A Vallentis and a Corentine. Together.”

Kiva stiffened with dread as Jaren asked, “Gowhereto get it?”

There was a lone window in the queen’s receiving room, looking straight out over the darkening city and to the salt mountain rangebeyond — specifically toward the largest mountain, rising high above the rest.

It was to that peak that Issa looked, her voice a quiet squeak as she answered, “The ring is in a cave at the top of Mount Nebu. A Mystican cast a protective spell over it hundreds of years ago, ensuring only a Vallentis and a Corentine together can take it off the mountain. That’s where you’ll have to go. But only two of you — those were Sarana’s rules.”

There was an apology in her eyes, but Kiva’s mind was already leaping ahead to how she was the only Corentine currently in Lyras. She wished Torell hadn’t left with the others, even wished either Ashlyn or Galdric could be there to windfunnel them to the summit. But neither option was available, so she quickly took control of the situation and blurted, “Caldon will go with me.”

His eyebrows arched as he turned to her, but when he saw the panicked, desperate look on her face, he nodded slowly and said, “Sure. We’ll take snacks. It’ll be fun.”

Kiva sent him a grateful smile, keeping her eyes firmly away from Jaren. She didn’t need to know what he was thinking, certain the last thing he wanted was to be stuck climbing a mountain with her — since that was the last thingshewanted.

“The hike is treacherous,” Lady Silence warned. “It’s too late for you to go now; you’ll have to leave the city before dawn if you want to make it up and back by nightfall. And if the weather turns, you’ll need to seek shelter in one of the caves until it passes.”

“The weather often turns on the mountains,” Issa said, happier now that she knew no one was going to yell at her. “So be prepared for anything.”

Kiva’s palms turned clammy as the queen and her adviser gave instructions on the best path to take, reiterated how dangerous it was, and offered to have their servants organize supplies. Soon afterward, theyexcused themselves for their next meeting, and an escort arrived to deliver Kiva and her friends to a private suite that was just as pleasing as the rest of the palace. Only when they were alone again did they look at each other, their faces grim — except for Tipp’s.

Sighing dreamily, he turned to Kiva and asked, “How d-do you know if y-you’re in love?”

In an entirely unconscious reaction, Kiva’s eyes shot to Jaren, only to find him already looking at her. For a second, she thought she saw his expression warm, but she was too horrified to keep her gaze on him, and quickly stared past him out the window. All she could see were the storm clouds forming over the dusk-lit Mount Nebu, causing her stomach to knot, so she turned back to Tipp and croaked out, “How about we save that conversation for another day?”

Cresta — gods bless her — jumped in to ask, “Are we really just going to sit on our asses while these two” — she pointed to Kiva and Caldon — “head up that?” She jabbed her thumb toward the window right as a bolt of lightning streaked across the sky.

“It sounds like we don’t have a choice,” Naari answered, her jade earring glinting beneath the luminium orbs.

“I’m not worried,” Caldon said, and indeed, he looked perfectly relaxed as he flopped onto a lush beige couch. “We’ll be gone before you all wake up, and then back with the ring before you have a chance to miss us.” He winked at Kiva, his confidence helping to calm her twisted insides.

Naari and Cresta offered a few more complaints before finally accepting that Sarana’s instructions had been clear, and if an ancient Mystican had been involved with protecting the ring, then it was too risky to ignore the directive they’d been given. Jaren remained silent during the discussion, staring out the window, while Tipp continued to sigh dreamily every few minutes, his mind — and possibly his heart — stolen by theyoung queen. Kiva would have thought it adorable if not for her nervous preoccupation with the coming day.

When dinner arrived, Kiva politely declined Issa’s invitation, wanting an early night before her predawn departure. Caldon couldn’t refuse as easily, but he assured Kiva he wouldn’t stay out late, and said he’d meet her in the common room of their suite at an hour that made her groan. She then said good night — and goodbye — to her friends, asking Cresta and Naari to keep an eye on Tipp. To Jaren, Kiva only looked at his shoulder and promised she’d do what she could to get the ring. She didn’t wait for his response before she retreated to one of the bedrooms, swiftly closing her curtains to block the view of the rain now lashing the city, and the angry mountain beyond.

Ridding her mind of all thoughts and climbing into bed, Kiva worried that she’d have trouble sleeping, but by some miracle, she drifted off with ease, and woke feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the day. She dressed quickly and couldn’t resist a peek out her window, but there was little to see aside from the luminium-lit city streets, the sun nowhere near ready to crest over the mountains. The rain, at least, had stopped, and she sent a prayer of thanks to anyone listening.

That prayer halted on her tongue when she stepped into the common room, because it wasn’t Caldon who was waiting for her.

It was Jaren.

Kiva came to a sudden stop. “What are you doing here?”

“Cal drank too much at dinner,” Jaren answered, inspecting the packs the servants had prepared. “He’ll be asleep for a few more hours, and useless for most of the day.”

Heart now racing, Kiva speared her eyes toward the bedroom Caldon had claimed, wondering if her magic could heal the effects of a drunken, sleep-deprived fool. But she knew better than to hope, furious at him for putting her in this position.

“Maybe we should wait until tomorrow,” she said, her voice higher than normal. “Tor will be back later today, and the others, too. Maybe he can —”