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CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

INAN

G ROWING UP IN THE royal palace, Father’s war room was a constant. He kept me right by his side. I made my way through every map in his study until I memorized the location of every single city, every fortress, every port, and every grain field.

I studied my kingdom like the lines on my hand. There were moons I slept under his desk more than I lay in my own bed. I thought if I could feel its vastness in my core, I could never fail.

That knowledge of Or?sha was all it took to prevail.

In all those nights, we never spoke of King Baldyr and the Tribes of Baldeírik. There were no maps of the hidden city of vines. All those years spent preparing, yet I don’t think Father ever could’ve envisioned this.

Despite Amari’s letter, my head still spins at the vastness of New Gaīa. Sitting in Emperor Jorah’s throne room brings me to my knees. Woven tapestries surround us, showing the stories of Mama Gaīa and the birth of their great nation.

The ceiling holds a golden crypt of emperors past. A towering statue of Emperor Jorah holding up the sun rises in the back of the room. Light filters through the stained glass windows. Incense smoke fills the air with the sweet scents of jasmine and mandarin.

Emissaries and vassals mill around Jorah’s obsidian glass throne, accented with thick emeralds and golden carvings of their black tigenaires. The tattooed warriors they call the Laminas stand guard. Outside the palace, the power of the city’s vineweavers stuns.

The marks of the New Gaīan’s gifts are everywhere. I marvel at all the strength at their command. Their entire civilization stands together, already prepared to defend themselves against the Skulls.

The thought of what I must protect back home fortifies me. Or?sha has just begun to thrive again. I have to get Emperor Jorah on my side.

I need him to give my nation a fighting chance.

“Inan!” Amari’s voice rings out. She runs, a blur through the gold grandeur. She hooks her arms around my neck with so much force we almost fall to the floor.

“I don’t believe it.” Tears of joy rise to my sister’s eyes. “I thought—I was sure—” She hiccups and I smile.

“You didn’t even cry this much when I left.”

“You don’t understand.” Amari shakes her head. She wipes her eyes on her green-colored kaftan and takes a deep breath. “You made it here. That means we can really go home.”

“We’re going home.” I squeeze her arm. “We just need to break a few Skulls.”

I turn to meet Tzain’s imposing frame. I’m taken aback at the way he’s grown. He’s always been large, but his muscles carry new definition and tone. His arms are covered in scars.

“You’re back,” he says.

“How have you fared?” I ask.

His dark gaze scans the throne room, landing on the Laminas.

“I never thought I’d say it, but I’m glad you’re here.”

Tzain and Amari sit as I explain everything that occurred after we set sail. The speedy journey home. The cease-fire in the war. The fact that Mother lives.

“She’s on our side?” Amari’s brows crease. “Even after all that’s passed?”

“Everyone is unified.” I nod. “They grow stronger every day. If the Skulls attack, we’ll be ready. But we have a chance to strike first—”

All at once, everyone rises to their feet. I turn toward the door. Their future hierophant enters the room: the stunning girl they call Mae’e.

Tall and lean, her vibrant yellow silks swish around her as she walks. A line of girls in green follow in attendance. Their dress matches Amari’s.

But when Zélie glides in, I go blind. Dressed in shimmering emerald silks, she’s luminescent. The sight of her brings the room to a stop. The silks drape over her head, creating a soft veil around her dark skin.

“Inan…” The way she speaks my name makes my heart stop. I’m surprised when she actually smiles. Zélie starts toward us, but Mae’e redirects her path, motioning for the seat on the emperor’s right. When Mae’e takes the seat on his left, the assembly begins.

Emperor Jorah looks at me for the first time all day. I stiffen under his pale green gaze. He speaks to me in their tongue.

“What have you come to share?” Mae’e translates.

I rise from my seat and bow my head in respect. “Our people have located King Baldyr.”

The life leaves Zélie’s eyes. It’s like a pit opens up inside. Her fingers drift to the medallion as she waits for me to continue.

“They’ve occupied a chain of islands due south of their borders. We expect him to dock tomorrow night.”

I roll out the large map across the floor. It unfurls to show the island nation of New Gaīa, the vast lands of Or?sha, and the borders of Baldeírik. I point to the island chain, nearly in the center of our nations’ shared waters.

“They use it as a shipping port,” I explain. “A place for the Skulls to complete inventory for King Baldyr.”

Emperor Jorah is steady as Mae’e translates. He takes in every word like a sponge. I talk for nearly a half hour before he finally replies.

“The king will be there tomorrow night?” Mae’e translates his first question.

“Our Seers have checked. His ship docks after midnight.”

I prepare myself to ask for what I need. The real reason I traveled all this way. The speed of their vessels. The power of their vineweavers. The might of the Laminas.

“We are both equipped to defend our lands. We know King Baldyr seeks to harvest Zélie’s and Mae’e’s power on the Blood Moon. But now we have a chance to attack before King Baldyr has a chance to invade.”

My gaze drifts from Emperor Jorah to Zélie as Mae’e translates.

This is our one hope.

The only way to keep her safe.

“Raise an army, Emperor Jorah,” I continue. “A brutal force King Baldyr can’t withstand. With an army, we protect all of your people and both of our lands.”

“An entire army?” Mae’e translates the emperor’s words. “Just to eliminate one king?”

“The king’s forces are great.” I nod. “And we still don’t know the extent of the power he’s hunting, or the power he now wields. If we want to take them out for good, then an army is what we need.”

Moments pass as Emperor Jorah deliberates with his soldiers. I’m forced to wait in silence. Zélie remains by the emperor’s side. From the way her gaze moves between each speaker, I can tell she understands their tongue.

When the bright day falls to dusk, Emperor Jorah finally stands. My gut clenches as I wait for his response.

“I have made a decision,” Mae’e translates. “We will take our best and return with King Baldyr’s head.”

“Wait.” I try to step forward, but the Laminas force me back. “A small tactical team won’t work. If we’re going to attack, it has to be a battle they can’t possibly withstand!”

Emperor Jorah frowns. Behind Mae’e, Jorah shakes his head.

“My people have not survived for millennia by showing our hand. We will take a small team. All we need is her.”

When Jorah’s finger points to Zélie, the entire hall stills. Zélie’s silver eyes widen. She rises from her knees.

“Why me?” she asks.

“It cannot be helped.” Mae’e looks among the four of us. “She is the only one who has seen his face. She is the only one Emperor Jorah trusts to identify the king—”

“You’re not taking my sister.” Tzain reaches for his axe. In a second, the Laminas surround us.

“No!” Zélie throws herself from the brick dais. She forces herself between her brother and Emperor Jorah’s greatest warriors.

“I’ll go.” Her eyes flutter with the reality of what she has just said. “Yéva prepared me for this. I’m ready to face him again.”