5636 words (22 minute read)

Unveiling Viverra

    Grease streaked her fingers and face, although they did nothing to mar the brilliance of her grin as she looked up. Lise tucked her tools away and stepped back from her corner. “All set here, Cor.” She was acutely aware of how the click of her boots rang through the massive, empty ballroom. She tilted her head back to look up as Cornaith started the generators to test them. The lights that had taken months to prepare and install glittered to life, the tinted glass for each seeming to throw starlight around the room. A joyous laugh bubbled out of her and through the room. It felt like everything they’d been through was worth it. Finally, the world could see what astromancy could bring to the technological table. Aven was set to announce the commencement on full-scale implementation in the city and then throughout the kingdom at the evening’s festivities. 

     The lights dimmed as Cor turned the generators off. “Come on, Lise, let’s go get cleaned up. Your family is due soon, aren’t they?” 

    “Any time now.” The pair made their way through the rest of the expansive ballroom to the doors, picking up Terioc along the way. Perhaps part of her buoyant mood came from the prospect of their visit. There hadn’t been a chance to get home since the general’s arrival. Letters had remained relatively generic on her end- once she’d entered service, the information she dealt with was highly restricted and so there had only been so much of her new life she could share. Work at the shipyards had doubled, so it had been impossible for the Izels to travel as far as Dovleigh, either. “You’re quiet, General.” 

     She could practically see the muscles tensing in his jaw. “I still don’t agree with Her Majesty’s decision to make the celebration quite so…large.” He’d been a model of polite surliness since Aven had overruled him on the subject. “She’s practically painting a target for Cadan.” 

    “Sometimes the only good choice is the bad one.” Lise smiled at him faintly, quoting something he’d told her back at him. There were hundreds of hours of conversations between them by now- over board games, or in the observatory, walking Nighthaven, and generally whenever they could find the time. She’d pestered him for lessons in his native tongue and she’d started to show him how to chart and identify stars. 

    The words stole a soft huff of amusement from him. “That doesn’t mean one is disallowed from being immensely unhappy with the ramifications of said choice, Miss Izel.” Cor would have had to be deaf and without a brain to infer an intriguing level of affection in their speech, the proprieties nearly warm diminutives between them.

    She chuckled quietly. “Point conceded, then. Did Cor mention that his mother is coming from Marinna at Aven’s invitation?” Lise tucked a hand in Terioc’s elbow, and did the same on the other side with Cornaith so that the three of them walked abreast in the palace halls.

     “I’m surprised she accepted. Ever since the astromancer’s mark and not an aquamancer’s mark cropped up, things have been stilted, to say the least.” Cor shrugged slightly. Things had been the way they were so long that it was less that it didn’t bother him more than he’d simply accepted that it was what it was going to be. 

    “She’s going to be so proud, Cor. There’s no way she can’t be.” She chirped it with absolute confidence. 

    “Ha. That’s what Timon said, too.” There was a gooey character to his expression and Lise grinned brightly.

     “Ooooooh! So there is something there. Have you talked to him about how you feel, yet?” 

    “I…yeah, we talked.” Cor cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck slightly. 

    “And? You’re killing me, Cor.” They rounded a corner towards their quarters as she expressed her exasperation.

    “And he feels the same way.” Neither man was prepared for the gleeful squeal that ricocheted off the walls and continued to echo. She stopped them both and practically tackled Cornaith with a hug before righting herself and resuming her previous claim on each elbow.

     “I’m so happy for you both! Have you told Mendi, yet? She’ll be so pleased. She was so worried about him.” Terioc listened to their chatter on the rest of their walk and took solace in its normalcy. It helped to reaffirm his sense of purpose. It wasn’t just keeping the project from Cadan. He was working to protect them; to guarantee them a life where they could continue to have these moments without terror. 

    Disentangling himself, he bowed to the pair. “Send word to the barracks when you’re ready, and I’ll come to fetch you for the ball.” Lise and Cor returned the gesture in kind and watched him disappear down the hall with a purposeful stride.

     Cor looked at the small furrow between her brows.  “Speaking of talks…have you told him how you feel?” 

   She jerked like he’d prodded her physically and she gently pulled her hand out of his elbow, making for her door. “I’ll see you in a little while. Save me at least one dance with my apologies to Timon?” Her lips quirked upward and then she disappeared into her room, the door closing firmly behind her. He shook his head and turned to clean himself up. 


    “There are so many people down there.” The dark brown eye disappeared from the small space in the curtains. They were gathered and waiting for Aven in a small antechamber above the ballroom. Music drifted upward and mingled with the soft roar of hundreds of voices. Tamek was still cloistered with the queen and heads of the Celestium houses, but Timon sat next to Cor on a chaise lounge, their fingers casually tangled. Mendi had the best seat, a heavily stuffed armchair covered in a rich blue brocade. Terioc was rigidly on guard next to the door from the rest of the palace, looking damnably handsome- too handsome, in her opinion- in severe black. Her skirts swished softly as she paced and it took all her willpower not to try and yank the sleeves up onto her shoulders from where they rested on her arms. Aven and Seirye hadn’t even been willing to compromise and add straps- it simply wasn’t the mode, they said. And they wanted her to look perfect for the unveiling. 

     At least her hair had been largely tamed, pulled up into a soft mass atop her head and threaded with bright iridescent ribbons that stood out in sharp contrast to her dark hair. A few curls trailed along her neck artfully. Lise had to give credit to the dressmaker. She’d never worn anything so soft in her life. The waist was high, leaving the orchid purple fabric to drape elegantly, accentuating the finer points of her build with silver trim rather than emphasizing her somewhat less than average curves. The flat shoes had made her happy. She was tall enough without heels. 

   Terioc’s hand shot to his dagger as the door handle turned, easing only when Tamek entered first, followed by Seirye, Aven, and the other three Celestium heads. Lord Kilyn Holakas of the South, Lady Allynna Miafaren of the East, and Lord Lorsan Naekas of the West. Everyone recognized Aven with curtsies or bows before she spoke. 

    “The Celestium’s representatives will precede me to the ballroom. Mendi and Timon, I would like you to join them as well. Malise and Cor will come with me,” she held up her hand before Terioc could interrupt and object, “accompanied by you, General, of course.” The queen was all business, efficient and organized. If she had any qualms about interference in the event, she didn’t show it. “Lise, dear, if you pace any more, you’ll make an entrance by falling through the hole you’ve worn in my floor.” A small dimple appeared in one cheek as she teased gently. 

    “I…” Lise promptly stopped and started anxiously fiddling with her dress folds. “Yes, you’re right. I mean, that is…. There are so many people down there.” 

    Surprisingly, it was Terioc who spoke up before anyone else. “You’ll do fine, Miss Izel. Just remember your family can’t wait to see you down there.” Cor smirked slightly as Lise immediately seemed to settle, as though the general’s voice had the same effect of hands resting on her shoulders. She nodded her head deeply at him, offering a small and secretive smile of thanks. 

     It took several moments, but once everyone was organized, there was only one way to go- out and into the ballroom. As the first group departed, she could hear the music stop and the majordomo’s voice ring out with each name. “Lise, here on my left.” Aven pulled her just behind her left shoulder and arranged Cor on the right. “General, just between them in the rear.” 

    “I don’t know that my presence should be so-”

    “I want you conspicuous. We already know she’s aware you’re working with us. Let’s see if we can’t force her hand, shall we?” Aven smiled softly. “Just like we practiced with the guards.” 

    Without realizing, Lise reached one hand back and brushed his lightly in reassurance before it dropped back to her side. She straightened her shoulders as the door opened and fanfare started to ring in the space. The weight of so many gazes was positively wilting, although she remained erect as she followed Aven’s stately pace. Mistress Malise Izel of Nighthaven. It felt so strange to have such a formal recognition, but she wore it like Aven wore her crown- straight-backed, chin up, and with all the dignity she could muster. 

    The crowd parted soundlessly as they proceeded to the royal dais, where seats had been set out for her and Cor next to the throne. Lise couldn’t tell what was worse- the trip down or all of those eyes turning on them as they stood front and center, waiting for the queen to speak. Terioc took up a position just behind the seats and throne, between Aven and Malise. 

    “My dear subjects and guests, I bid you welcome!” Aven’s voice chimed pleasantly, like bells. “I know First Moon is a few weeks away, and believe me, the traditional festivities will still take place. Today we gather to celebrate something marvelous.” Her smile pulled in every heart and earned smiles in return. “We have known for quite some time that the world around us is changing and magics are being applied to amazing feats of artificing. The Queens, however, remained somewhat stubborn in revealing how their gifts might also be given similar life.” She gestured to Lise and Cor, gently pulling them forward. “Nighthaven has provided us the answer, thanks to these two brilliant minds. In conjunction with the Celestium, Mistress Izel and Master Orrian have found their answer.”

     Murmurs rose and Aven waited for them to subside again before she motioned for Cor to slip off and start the generators. “Soon, Igain will be able to light every corner of the kingdom and power our industries without overtaxing our precious astromancers.” Above, the lights started to come to life, casting the room into the colors of the night skies. She conjured a small, brightly swirling iridescent ball, just large enough for everyone to see. “The stars are light and power. We have discovered that we can harness that power and give it direction with artificing.” 

    The murmurs rose to a roar of approval and discussion. Lise flushed slightly, but her smile was brilliant as people took in exactly what was happening. The generators hadn’t been hidden from view, they’d been placed on pedestals and encased in strong glass. Each had its own complement of four guards, who allowed people to move close enough to view but not tamper. “Look as you will. Enjoy our first ball in a new era of life in Igain!” With a flourish, the ball Aven had summoned disappeared and the music began again. 

    Settling on the throne, Aven shooed at her and Terioc both. “Go! Dance! Find your family and let them crow over your brilliance.” She smiled warmly. “I’ll keep the diplomats busy.” Lise dropped a quick curtsy and immediately disappeared into the crowd.

     Wending her way through congratulations and fawning social-climbers who wished to know her simply for her proximity to Aven, Lise made her way to the spot she’d told her family she’d meet them in by note earlier. Terioc stuck to her like a particularly stubborn burr, but she wasn’t in much of a mood to complain. He watched as she was swallowed into a massive hug by a bear of a man, voice rumbling and deep. Judging by the lines around his eyes and the well-kept chestnut beard with hints of red, Terioc assumed the hugger was Malise’s father. There was no mistaking her mother, who shared Lise’s olive complexion and dark ringlets. Just to her right, waiting his turn, must have been her brother, a strikingly perfect blend of both parents: his mother’s build with his father’s muscle and chestnut hair. His natural complexion was impossible to tell under years of sun-given bronze. It took three rounds of tight hugs and excited words before Lise could pull free enough to introduce him.

      “Mama, Papa, Lafe- this is General Terioc Amaurri. He’s responsible for security and our safety at Nighthaven. General, my mother, Lillai Izel, my father Azariah Izel, and that brat is my brother, Lafe.” She was practically glowing and it distracted him from giving him as much polite attention as he should have given them. 

   “A pleasure, I’m sure.” He bowed slightly to each in turn. “Miss Izel speaks of all of you often.” 

    Her mother smiled warmly. “We do miss our girl, but I’m happy to see she seems to be in such capable hands in regards to her safety.” Lillai gestured upwards, still marveling. “Always looking up, and now look at you, Lise. Changing the whole world.” She pulled her daughter into another tight hug and murmured quietly. “Sometimes your letters were so bare I wondered if we’d made a mistake in letting you go. Now I see that you couldn’t tell us and why. We are so very proud of you.”

     Lise squeezed her mother in response, fighting tears. “Here, come with me. I’ll introduce you to Av- to the queen.” 

   Lafe’s brows rose. “You’re on first name terms with the queen, squirt?” 

   “They’re nearly inseparable when they’re allowed to be.” Terioc helped Lise herd her family through the room. 

“She’s hard to get rid of, once she decides she likes you. Little like a barnacle, that way.” Lafe offered Terioc a conspiratorial wink, hinting that he’d picked up more than casual acquaintance between the two and it left the general wishing he’d just stayed behind the scenes for the night. Even if Cadan didn’t strike, this night was going to be a disaster on other levels at the rate it was going.


      Welcome respite was found by the punch bowl for precious minutes. She wasn’t quite sure how she felt about becoming instantly famous. Her feet ached from all the dances she’d been asked for. Lise pressed the cool glass against her forehead and closed her eyes with a sigh, temporarily shutting out the crowds. Hovering nearby and moving slightly closer was the unmistakable presence of Terioc, who’d had more than a few dances himself as he’d worked to stay close enough to guard her. 

   “Not quite ready for the limelight, hmm?” The words weren’t mocking as he pulled the glass gently from her hands and refilled it. “Here, have a little more. You look ready to drop.” 

    She snorted faintly and accepted the refill with a nod of thanks. “Do we get to go home yet?” 

   Odd as it felt, he found himself agreeing with the sentiment. Imayana Dorthore made the hair on his arms stand on end, but it had been growing on him. “Not quite yet, Miss Izel. Soon, though. You’ve done well tonight, representing the queen and Nighthaven. I’m sure you’ll have people asking to call before you know it.” 

  “Psht. I’m only a tool to any of them. Someone clearly close to Aven and about to have a major impact- I’m nothing more than additional influence in their end games, whatever they may be.” Lise sipped thoughtfully and leaned against the table with her hip. She gestured across the room to a pair of men having their own conversation on the sidelines. “I danced with both. Keaves I knew of at least by name.” She watched as the lord in question gesticulated sharply to his conversation partner. For his part, the larger of the two seemed not to be as perturbed. He remained unreadable, arms folded into his voluminous sleeves. “The big one didn’t introduce himself, but his accent is similar to yours.” 

   Terioc’s breath hissed outward between clenched teeth. “Salmitar Dakath Ainsu.” Just the thought of the bastard’s hands on Lise, let alone in the same room and breathing the same air, made his blood boil. It went far beyond protecting her into irrational emotional turmoil. “How did I miss that dance?” He wracked his mind for the memory, but couldn’t seem to place when or how he might have done so. 

   Lise chuckled softly. “Your attention had been required by the queen and Captain Vadithas. Polite, even if he did step on my toes a few times.” She patted his forearm. “Don’t worry, General. I escaped unscathed.” 

    “We can only hope.” He forced himself to take a deep breath and bring himself under control. No amount of discipline in the world, however, could stop the next words to pop out of his mouth unbidden. “Miss Izel, while I understand your feet must be dreadfully tired, might I ask the favor of one more dance for the evening?” 

    Her face seemed to lighten a bit and she studied him with a small smile over the rim of her glass. He prepared himself for a polite declination or outright laughter. Instead, she drained her drink and settled it on the table, offering him her hand. 

    “I thought you’d never ask, General. It would be my pleasure.” She didn’t even give him time to stammer a reply, pulling him after her onto the floor. He was gratified that it wasn’t one of those damned group sets. The music had slowed for this stretch of the evening, and some of the older guests had already started to filter out for the night. The thought that there was something more magical about settling his hand on her waist and clasping her hand in the other while hers settled on his shoulder flittered through his mind. “You dance very well, for a soldier.” Warm humor colored her voice, pitched just for his ears. The rest of the world promptly turned itself off. 

    “Not so bad yourself…for a bumpkin.” Her amusement pulled out an answering grin in him. Neither realized they had bent their heads closer together as they spoke. Speculation started in murmurs as eyes started to settle on the two. Lise and Terioc remained oblivious, laughing quietly and sharing their confidences.

     Aven had requested seats for Lise’s family to be brought to the dais. They were delightful company and the queen was working on a promise for another visit soon when she followed Lillai’s eyes to the dance floor. Her eyes creased at the corners in a soft smile. “Or perhaps I won’t be the one issuing the next invitation. What a thought that is, hmm?”

    Lillai’s fingers curled around her husband’s and squeezed gently. Lafe was off with some pretty little admirer on the floor, but the rest of the dancers seemed to move around Lise and Terioc. “She’s grown so much since she left home. We had our reservations, still do- but that’s only because I know she can’t talk about lots of things with us. Even this fellow,” she nodded to Terioc, “but it does seem to be looking that way, doesn’t it? This been a thing long?” 

  “General Amaurri is a very good man, Mistress Izel.” Aven smiled reassuringly. “And I don’t think they’ve even acknowledged anything yet between them. But there has been quite a natural attraction since he arrived, yes.” She couldn’t tell if Lillai was satisfied or concerned by the answer. Aven settled in, just observing. She was pleased with how the evening was going so far. 

    “You know, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about something.” Lise was trying to work up the courage before the song ended, while they were still seemingly inhabiting this timeless bubble. “About-” 

   Before she could finish, one of the guards was at Terioc’s elbow and the world rushed back in, panicked cries and the sounds of boots and shouting in the hall filling her ears. “General. General Amaurri, sir- there’s….” The guard had to stop for a breath, blood spattering the silvery breastplate of his armor. “Trouble, sir. Draivite mercenaries, we think.” 

    Terioc’s head shot up and he scanned for any sign of Keaves or Ainsu, but both were gone. Instead, the ballroom was a chaotic field of bright colors. He shoved Lise at the guard. “Take her to the queen! Now!” The guard held firm despite any and all of her protestations, heaving her bodily over his shoulder through the circle of guards that had surrounded the dais. 

   “You can’t just-” Lise landed on her backside with enough force that no amount of padding would have blocked it. “OW!” Rising indignantly and rubbing her backside, Lise tried to peer over the helms of the guards. “Cor, the generators-” She tried to bolt and a strong hand wrapped around her wrist. 

   “The generators will be fine, they have their own guards.” Her father’s deep rumble was a welcome sound at the moment, albeit terribly inconvenient. 

  “No, it’s the Draivites. Draivite mercenaries, the guard said. If we can’t spare guards to protect them, they have to be destroyed.” Lise tried to pull away again. 

   “Lise, we don’t have to be that dras-” She nearly knocked Cor over as her wrist slipped free and she called over her shoulder. 

   “You saw those things, Cor! I will not let someone like that get her hands on these.” She bolted through the guards before they could react.

   Aven squared her shoulders, looking to the representatives of the Celestium. “She’s right. I’m only part of the goal. You- follow Malise. You- take Cornaith to the other generator. NOW!” Two guards peeled out of the formation, the second almost dragging Cor behind him. “You remember our plan for this?” The astromancers moved together, shoulders touching as they faced their cardinal directions. “Whatever you hear, whatever you see, do not let it distract you from your duties.” Aven straightened and cleared her throat. 

    When she spoke, it was even louder than before, echoing off the walls and carrying a heavy note of command. “Enough! We will not be driven about like frightened hares! Calm yourselves. Captain Vadithas and his men will begin organizing you in small groups and escorting you to safety.” People stopped their running and gathered on one side of the ballroom as Aven had commanded. 

    In the confusion, a pair of Draivites had already slipped through the ballroom and were trying to smash at the glass. Fury rolled through her. She would die before she let these bastards have her work or her home. One dropped like a rock as she lifted the closest thing on her way through- a small carved bust, but with plenty of heft to be handy in a pinch- slammed into the back of his skull, slamming it forward into the glass. His partner used her temporary astonishment at the sliding body to pull a dagger free and lunge. She dodged, the blade only catching a bit of fluttering fabric. Rather than put the pedestal between them, she backpedaled and pulled him away from it entirely She’d never be as handy in a brawl as Lafe was, but she could at least hold her own. It took all her concentration to avoid tripping on her gown as she moved ever backward, a slow circle of staying just out of range. Another lunge left steel kissing skin and Lise realized that she was going to have to make her move soon. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see a guard coming her direction, but they’d been preoccupied with husks. 

    She shifted the weight of the statuette in her palm slightly and waited for her opening. She feinted a bit, seeming to leave herself exposed and her assailant played into it, closing in, head down. Malise slammed the statuette into the base of his neck so hard it shattered into shards. The mercenary went down with a degree of slack that left her sick to her stomach. Quickly, she leaned over and grabbed his dagger and stopped to grab the weapon of the one she’d hit first. 

   “Nice shots. I knew I’d managed to teach you something, squirt.” Lafe plucked the other dagger out of her hand. The bruises on his cheek left her little doubt that he’d already thrown himself into the fray. “Thanks.” She glanced at the dais and the four astromancers already speaking in rhythm. “We need to either get back to the dais-” That looked particularly unlikely, at the moment, given the number of brawling, slashing bodies between here and there and that had rushed the platform. “Okay, No. This way.” She grabbed her brother’s hand and yanked, starting to tear out of the ballroom. The halls didn’t sound much better, but it was the only option.

     “Lise our parents are-” 

    “They’re going to be fine, they’re in the circle. The guardsmen will be fine. But as soon as the civilians are out…” Lise lifted a brow and smiled faintly. “Well. Have you ever really seen what a ‘mancer can do? You’re about to.” 

    “They’re going to blow the generators, aren’t they?” He sounded a little awed even while he cracked a mercenary across the jaw to cut their way through. 

  “That’s one way to put it, I suppose. My only real regret-” She slashed in front of her and another enemy went down with a strangled cry. “My only real regret is that I’m going to miss Aven showing that bitch exactly who she’s up against.” They’d made fair progress, all things considered. 

   They were nearly to the stairs to the guest quarters when Terioc reappeared in their midst. Lise swore she heard her brother mutter something about the fact that of course he didn’t seem to be any worse for wear, although the lamplight made the wet sheen of blood stand out against the black. Without a word, the general grabbed her elbow and turned her back to the ballroom. 

    “Wait, we can’t! They’re going to-” Lise was cut off as the entire palace shook to its foundations. Glass shattered in mirrors, window frames, ornamental pieces. It felt like her innards were going to break loose. It didn’t so much boom as the sound was felt in every bone. The remaining Draivites began to flee back towards the entrance they’d come through, screaming and clutching their eyes and ears. “They’re going to blow the generators.” She finished lamely, watching Terioc as her gut hollowed to a pit. “We could only come this way- we couldn’t get back into the circle and we didn’t have the protections woven into the armors.”

    He pinched the bridge of his nose, leaving the chase to the guardsmen left in the hall. “And you left the circle why, Miss Izel?” 

    “Because I can take care of myself and I wasn’t going to let them have my work.” She sniffed at him and turned on her heel, sauntering off through the debris and bodies as though she were queen and not Aven back to the ballroom. A sea of broken everything met them at the door. Shattered glass, broken bodies, splintered furniture. The guards were busy rounding up the ‘lucky’ survivors. The pedestals where the two generators had been were merely smoldering chunks of disjointed metal. “Their intentional purpose is for good, General Amaurri. But in the wrong hands- or even the right ones, if a circumstance demands….” She shook her head at him as they caught up. “This is why I left the circle. I could never, ever let them have this knowledge to twist.” Malise turned and picked her way silently across the debris to where her stunned parents were waiting with the queen.

     He watched her go, the intentional use of his surname stinging even in the wake of draining adrenaline. Lafe leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. “She’s never going to forgive herself for even this, even if it was necessary.” He gestured toward the room. “She’d never forgive herself if someone used anything she’d thought up to hurt innocent people.” Then he left the general to his own thoughts, opting to follow his sister. 

    Whatever his thoughts were, they were immediately cast out by Captain Vadithas arriving through a side entrance. Following him were several dozen guards, each surrounding a prisoner. Ainsu he recognized on sight and he supposed the other must be Keaves. Terioc made his own beeline for the queen, arriving just in time to set himself behind Aven’s right shoulder, opposite of Lise, who was still reassuring her parents and checking in with her Nighthaven family.

     “Your Majesty,” Vadithas intoned, “we found the instigators of tonight’s attack. They were attempting to create some kind of portal when they found the stables inaccessible.” 

    “Amaurri!” Ainsu’s face twisted into an ugly visage of hate. “You should have stayed in your cage, altaica. The Empress will tear you apart.” The Salmitar was going to say more, but a heavy gauntlet landed crushingly against his jaw. 

    Aven drew herself up to her full height. “General Amaurri is a better patriot than a bootlicker like you could dream to be, Salmitar Ainsu. And as for you, Lord Keaves,” Aven smoothed her gown, speaking as though they were not in the midst of an attempted coup, but instead still in her drawing room, “We’ve been keeping an eye on your ties with our neighbors for quite some time. I’ve been well aware that your desire to see my family unseated goes back generations. Still, I hadn’t quite thought you so meek as to curry favor to someone else. You realize Empress Cadan would never have given you dominion over Igain, don’t you? She’s the kind of ruler that tends to dispose of puppets are soon as she might find it convenient.” Keaves began to snarl, but was met with the same gauntlet that Ainsu had met. 

     Aven paced the dais, hands folded behind her back. “While I am sure that the General would press for execution- and he wouldn’t be out of line to do so, given your treason- I’m going to send you back to Cadan with a message.” Both conspirators paled, and even Terioc had to wince. Cadan’s rage was a worse punishment than death. “You can tell her that all trade contracts with Igain are null and void from this point out. Ambassador Silverstrand has already returned from Sael Alari and no further diplomatic contact will be available to her. Igain will also share this story of bad faith with Draivalon’s other trading partners. It is, after all, only fair they are warned that they harbor vipers in their midst, don’t you think?” Finally, the queen stopped pacing and faced them again, barely flicking her eyes over their faces. “And tell them what you saw here tonight. Igain is capable of defending herself. We are no low-hanging fruit to be plucked at her leisure. If she makes another overture, we shall consider it an act of war, and all the wrath of the Queens will follow.”

    Aven leaned forward, tightly contained fury making her hair shift shades faster and bringing an ominous, echoing chime to her voice- eerie and otherworldly. “Cadan may think she controls the darkness, Salmitar Ainsu, but Igain? Igain controls the night.” Abruptly, her demeanor changed back to her more usual self. “Captain Vadithas, escort the Salmitar and Lord Keaves to the border as they are. Any of their property and holdings now belong to the Crown.”