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The final person to hold the prestigious position as head of the Queen’s Guard was Petya of Stenyar. Official Imperial history tells us that Petya perished with the rest of the castle defenders in foolhardy defiance of General Akeisa’s offer of amnesty to those who threw down their swords. Local legends, however, attest that she escaped with the infant prince. Perhaps that is why Petya and its derivations remain one of the most popular names among locals even now, more than two thousand years later.

Akeisa: An Overview of Prominent Historical Figures

by Guildmaster Klement

Gwynira’s study was a relatively small room, blessedly private and easy to secure. Naia sat in a large chair by the fireplace, Einar at her side, and gazed across the table at their host.

She was giving them her attention, of course, but only part of it. The rest was focused on the woman next to her on the settee, a lovely brunette with large, haunted eyes. Gwynira was ecstatic, her joy a tangible thing that curled through the room like the heat of the fire.

Apparently, Isa—the woman that Aleksi had summoned from ... somewhere —had also been a member of Sorin’s court. He had created her, and subsequently killed her. At least, that was what Gwynira had thought. But it seemed that she had not been dead, after all, merely trapped and out of Sorin’s way, for hundreds of years.

Naia could not really entertain any other possibility. Because if Isa had truly been dead, that would mean that Aleksi had resurrected her.

By accident.

But she couldn’t think about that, not now. She had favors to beg, and another god to save.

Gwynira’s expression was grave. “Arktikos and I have questioned Sir Balian. At length.”

“He says he did not know his blade had been poisoned,” Arktikos added. “Swears it on pain of death.”

“I believe him.” Naia did not know why, but she did. Perhaps it was the man’s obvious fear when he’d realized that he’d lost his fool temper and wounded a foreign diplomat, a member of the High Court.

Or maybe it was because of the poison. Gwynira’s healers had identified it as the extract of a plant that grew only along the shores of a particular river in Rehes. But Rehesian foxflower was not exceptionally potent or deadly, and certainly not enough of either to threaten a god. So it would have been an odd choice, indeed, had someone truly meant to end Aleksi’s life.

It seemed a case of the usual Imperial Court machinations, only this time, things had gone horribly wrong.

Another thing Naia did not have time to think about just now.

“I’m happy for you, Grand Duchess,” she began. “No one deserves to lose what you lost.” She glanced at Einar, who nodded his encouragement. “Which is why we need your help.”

Gwynira’s hand tightened around Isa’s. “And you’ll have it. Anything that is within my power to do for Aleksi, I will do. You have my sworn oath.”

“He needs more help than you can provide here.” Einar’s voice was tight with worry. “And I do not believe he has the time for a lengthy voyage at sea.”

“But there is no need for such a voyage, is there?” She tilted her head. “I once saw your ship emerge in a thoroughly landlocked lake, Captain. Can you not simply take him where he needs to be in an instant?”

Einar studied the woman for so long that Naia thought he might not answer. “I can only do that by taking the ship through the Heart of the Ocean,” he admitted finally. “It’s a piece of the Dream. But I’m afraid of what could happen to him there in this condition. Or if he has another ... surge. If he interfered with the magic of my ship, everyone on it would die. Including him.”

Which only meant that Aleksi could not go. “You could travel to the Witchwood and fetch Inga,” she whispered. “I’ll stay here—”

“ No. ” There was no compromise to be found in Einar’s gaze. “There was still poison on that blade. There are enemies here, and they may be ours.”

“I do not blame you for your caution,” Gwynira told him. “I cannot, given all that has transpired. Can your ship travel through the Dream without you?”

“No.” Another hesitation. “It can’t even sail without me. If my crew tried, the ship would travel directly into the wind in order to return to me, if necessary.” He shook his head. “And even if they could leave without me, it’s three days’ hard sail from the nearest coast to Witchwood Castle. We don’t even know if Inga is in residence.”

“Then sending a message won’t help, either,” Naia pointed out. “It would take her too long to arrive.”

“So.” Gwynira nodded. “You need Zanya, then. She could bring your witch here in a heartbeat.”

“Zanya ... or Sachi,” Naia admitted. The secret was not hers to reveal, but Sachi would never prize it above Aleksi’s life. “Sachi can move through the Dream just as Zanya moves through the Void.”

“Now, that I did not know.” Gwynira’s gaze sharpened with assessment and then softened with amusement. “Once again, I find that Princess Sachielle is not as soft as she appears. Good.”

“Can you get word to them on the mainland?” Naia asked anxiously.

“I will send several messages through our quickest relay channels, bearing instructions to bring the witch, and to hurry.” She leaned forward, solemn and sincere. “They will come, Naia. Until then, all of my best healers will be at your disposal. They will care for Aleksi as they would for me.”

Tears stung Naia’s eyes. It would have been easy for Gwynira to wash her hands of Aleksi, of all of them—who was there to stop her?—but she seemed genuinely determined to help. “Thank you, Gwynira.”

“Yes, thank you.” Einar met Gwynira’s gaze squarely. “You are not what I expected.”

“Neither are you ... Crown-Prince Einar of Rahvekya.”

He inhaled sharply, shaken by the title ... or perhaps by hearing it spoken with such respect. “Just Captain Einar,” he corrected. “But, as the son of my parents ... I acknowledge how lightly you have allowed the hand of the Empire to rest upon their people.”

Gwynira bowed her head, then turned to her guard. “Arktikos, get Jaspar. I want these messages sent immediately.”

The Empire was vast, this much Naia knew. They did not know where Sachi and Zanya were currently, but she had to trust that Gwynira would find them. They would bring Inga, who would know exactly what to do to help Aleksi recover.

Anything else was unacceptable.