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Keir glanced in Esme’s direction. Her bright smile was trained on Kagan with an intensity that left no doubt about the depth of her feelings.

It was evident that, if she could, she’d will herself out of bondage and fly into his arms. She was proud to be his in every way possible, and so thrilled by his public avowal that she’d momentarily forgotten the dangers and pitfalls ahead.

“Are you ready to undertake the first trial?” Araxinthe asked, having taken steps to recover her dignity and air of authority.

“I have a couple of questions,” Kagan said.

“Go on.”

“When we arrive in the dominion of the sphinx, how close will we be? Is it likely she will spot us on arrival, or will we have an opportunity to get our bearings?”

“I will open a passage at the foot of the mountain. Though there are no guarantees, it would be surprising if she is immediately aware of your trespassing.”

“Are we allowed to take tools?”

“Such as?”

“I don’t know. What might I need?”

Araxinthe laughed. “Why don’t I just do the trials for you?”

Not being able to resist, he raised his chin and said, “Would you?” When she didn’t bother to answer, he added, “Worth a try.” It didn’t take a lot for Kagan to concede because he hadn’t thought she’d be helpful enough to provide a list of tools they might need, much less provide them.

“Alright. The third question is how to return.”

“Ah.” She glanced at Esme. “Just say her name. Fritjof.”

“Fritjof is not her name.”

“Let’s not continue to argue about this.”

“Do we have a history of arguin’ about this?”

“Irrelevant. Let’s not waste our time arguing at all.”

“I agree. So, when I say Esmerelda, we’ll return here. All three of us.”

“I suggest you rethink that request. You’re unlikely to say the name, Fritjof, in conversation with your companions. But you might accidentally slip and say the other thing.”

Kagan looked at Keir, who nodded. “I will agree that Fritjof is a code word for returning here. But I am by no means agreein’ that it is Esmerelda’s name.”

Araxinthe actually rolled her eyes and said, “Whatever!”

With a wave of her hand, a portal opened. The triplets could see dense forest on the other side. After exchanging a look, they stepped through without the need to lock arms. Araxinthe had made that concession. She’d been tricked, and there was only one way to save face. Own it.

The passageway closed after them leaving no trace that they’d ever visited.

Once the pavilion had been cleared of outsiders, and Esme, Cardinal council member, Vox, long-time friend of Araxinthe’s, turned to her with a chuckle.

“Seems you omitted mention of completing the tasks without assistance when you composed the rules?”

Araxinthe shrugged, pretending not to care. “Just as well. Someone worthy of Vaxingthe’s daughter should have friends.”

“Or brothers?”

“Even better than friends.”

“Yes. Who could’ve anticipated that there might be three or that they’d be so cunning?

” Vox chuckled again about the fact that the sephalian triplets had outsmarted the sitting Cardinal authority, someone who should be above error.

In all her long tenure, Araxinthe had never once failed in a battle of wits.

Yet, in less than half an hour, she’d been made to look foolish by the sephalian, Kagan, not once, but twice.

She told herself it was because she’d been distracted and completely unprepared for the lion to be so capable.

“If he succeeds, with or without the help of his brothers, we’ll know Fritjof will always be protected from the dangers posed by both human and fae worlds. ”

“How will we know that?”

“It’s difficult for us to relate to a fear of death, since death is something that happens to others.

Not us. But if we try to guess how it feels to know that there will be an end, we can get closer to understanding why protecting their bodies from death is always their priority.

It’s unusual for something to rise to the level of endangering life.

Yet, that has happened here. On this very pavilion.

We’re witnessing the kind of profound affection that inspires a mortal creature to risk his life. In this case, lives. It’s true love.”

Araxinthe barked out a laugh. “Could you be any more cliché, Vox?”

“Probably not. But there’s a reason why clichés become cliché. It’s because each holds a kernel of replicable truth. What we have here is a powerful and profound romantic love between Fritjof and the sephalian. And a powerful and profound fraternal love between Kagan and his brothers.”

After staring dispassionately at Vox for a minute or so, Araxinthe said, “Do you have too much time on your hands?”

“Why? Because I’ve demonstrated the ability to string two thoughts together?”

“Because you’ve always had a tendency to take a simple thing and make it sound complex.”

“Find fault with any part of what I said.”

Araxinthe gave in to a deep sigh. “Vaxingthe was alone.”

“Yes.” Vox sighed. “She was alone. I know you were fond of her. I also know you’re sad to learn of her unfortunate end.”

“Unlike her mother, it seems that Fritjof has inspired some loyalty among neighbors. Even that mostly human judge.”

Araxinthe smiled at Vox. “Yes. Even that odd creature has a deep affection for Fritjof. As does her daughter, the Irish fae queen.”

“She was thrust into a world not her own, with no one and nothing. Yet now, her circle of influence is formidable. She’s done well.”

“What do you expect? She’s one of us!”

“Hmmm. Well. So was Vaxingthe.”

“Must you always point out the downside of a thing?”

“Simply stating a fact. As our guide, you should be the first to insist on examining all aspects of a thing.”

Araxinthe sighed. “As much as I’d like to punish you for being impertinent, I can’t. Because you’re right.” She paused. “But I can be proud of Fritjof’s accomplishments. Can I not?”

Vox bowed her head in recognition of her superior’s status. “Of course. We can all be proud of Fritjof.” She dropped her head and laughed softly.

“What’s funny now?”

“The lion is stubborn and rejects her name from the Book of Principles.”

“He’s an odd one.”

“Perhaps. But I can’t stop thinking that…”

“What?”

“Maybe we are, too.”

“What? Odd?!?”

“Watching the reactions of our guests, it occurred to me.”

“Huh. Well, I think you’re partially right.”

“Partially?”

“Yes, Vox. I think you are odd.”