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Shrugging, then wincing as the move jostled her now aggravated bruising, Alex said, “If you’ve been watching our tests like everyone else, you’ll know I understand more than anyone that sometimes there are valid reasons for keeping secrets.” She only just managed to keep from shrugging again when she finished, “And besides, it’s not like I said anything I wouldn’t have wanted overheard. You didn’t either, so I don’t know why you’re so angry.”

“I’mangrybecause you deceived me.”

“So we’ve already established,” Alex said, almost insolently. “But tell me this: Calivere said you wouldn’t be able to understand me, so what would have been the point in me trying to communicate that I could understand you?”

“Calivere doesn’t know everything.”

“Apparently not.”

“But he does know I’m fluent in your native tongue.”

Alex blinked. “So he lied?” It was her turn to narrow her eyes. “Why would he do that?”

Zaylin’s shoulders rose and fell, her gesture apathetic. “Why do the empress’s advisors do anything? They have their reasons, I’m sure.”

Eyes now fully slitted, Alex guessed, “You’re a spy, aren’t you?” She threw a hand out in the direction of the shared common room. “All of the other helpers can understand the common tongue too, can’t they? You’re all here to watch us.”

“What did you expect?” came Zaylin’s sneering reply. “That we’d welcome you with open arms?”

Alex hadn’t expected anything of the sort. But that didn’t mean she appreciated being monitored like some kind of deviant criminal.

With a longsuffering sigh, she attempted an olive branch. “You’re angry, I’m angry, so let’s just agree to move on from this.” Alex gestured between them. “In a few more days, you’ll never have to worry about me again. Until then, I’d be grateful if we can get along enough for you to resist the urge to attack me.” She held Zaylin’s eyes as she deliberately finished, “Even if I am just a lost cause sent here on a fool’s errand.”

She felt a flare of vindication when Zaylin flinched at her own words being thrown back at her.

In response, the Tia Auran said, if slowly, “Perhaps I was too quick to pass judgement when we met.”

It was as much of an apology as Alex could hope to get from the proud immortal, and in return, she quietly said, “Or perhaps you were right. We’ll know one way or another soon enough.”

They looked at each other then, silent understanding flowing between them. They were both pawns in a much larger game—a game neither of them were thrilled to be a part of, but nonetheless, both had to see through to the end.

Clearing her throat, Zaylin said, “Grewan hit you hard when he pushed you fromLendasa Marna.” She nodded to Alex’s upper body, the change of topic her own attempt at an olive branch. “Is anything broken?”

“Just bruised, I think,” Alex answered softly, careful not to say anything against the male Tia Auran that might shatter the tentative peace she and Zaylin had reached.

With a flash, the helper vanished, reappearing again before Alex could wonder where she’d gone. Upon her return, she held a steaming chalice oflaendrain her hands, passing it over.

“Thank you,” Alex said, trying not to reveal her surprise at yet another indication that the Tia Auranwascapable of compassion.

“Grewan never should have struck you,” Zaylin said, her eyes flashing dangerously—but for once, not at Alex. “What he did went against all that we stand for.”

Alex took a sip of the healing drink, feeling it take effect immediately, and wondering what the helper had meant by her statement.

“Peace,” Zaylin answered without being asked. “It may not seem like it from what you’ve experienced here, but we are a race that strives for peace at all times, at all costs.” She held Alex’s eyes as she declared, “Grewan shall be punished for his actions. Make no mistake about that.”

While grateful that Zaylin seemed to be warming to her once again—or as much as she seemed capable of doing—Alex was alarmed by the idea of an angry immortal seeking her out for revenge. “Perhaps that can happen sometimeafterI leave?”

A small, knowing smile tugged at Zaylin’s lips, the effect making her striking features even more stunning. “I’m sure that can be arranged. You won’t need to worry about facing his wrath, not before you return to your world.”

“Did Saefii mean what she said?” Alex couldn’t help asking, her voice unable to hide her uncertainty, especially after the conversation she’d shared with D.C. “If we pass all six challenges, will your people truly come back with us? Or is this all just one huge wasted effort?”

Zaylin didn’t answer for a long time—long enough that Alex feared the latter might be true, thelaendrasitting heavily in her stomach. But then, finally, the Tia Auran replied.

“I told you that we seek peace at all times,” Zaylin said, “but that wasn’t always the case. It was only after the brutality we suffered during theNesana Karn—the Immortal Wars—that wedecided to put aside our desire for vengeance, despite the losses we suffered.” Her eyes unfocused as she became lost in memory. “We could have wiped the Meyarins from existence. Instead, we offered them mercy by banishing them to Medora. It’s the reason why the empress is hesitant to come to your aid without due consideration. Long years have passed since our people have known anything but amity. Our battle prowess is not what it once was; our skills diminished by lack of use. As a whole, we are weakened.”

Zaylin’s voice grew stronger as she continued, “At our prime, we were just—onlyjust—able to defeat them. But the sacrifices made in order to do so were not small, nor were they without lasting consequences—many of which are still felt to this day. Much of what we were, we have lost. And if this Aven Dalmarta is as strong as you claim, then there might be little we can do even if we come and fight by your side.”

Alex wasn’t thrilled by anything she was hearing. And yet, in the future vision the Library had showed her, even though Medora had been lost, it was still the Tia Aurans who had kept Aven from venturing to Freya. The avatar of Kaiden had told her that they had stepped in, stopping Aven from continuing his anti-mortal crusade across worlds. So regardless of Zaylin’s words, Alex knew that whatever power they had—weakened or not—was still enough. It had to be.