For a long moment, the shades of purple flickered on Blann’s hair but eventually gave way to her usual red.
Then her hair suddenly turned black.
“I’ve never seen this color on her,” Erril said when Blann turned around abruptly and marched down the corridor. “What does it mean?”
Lannahi furrowed her brow. “I have no idea.”
When she later asked Akammu about it, he said, “I think that black means determination.”
“Determination to do what?”
“I have no idea.”
***
Her parents enjoyed listening to music even when there were no guests visiting the palace, and Lannahi often performed for them in their cozy drawing room. Usually, she did it after the evening meal, but that day Sarkal asked her to sing after luncheon.
When she finished her second song, he sighed. “You are so young, Lannahi. Why do you want to fight now? You could have waited several more years.”
The expression on his face and the emotion in his voice were breaking her heart. She didn’t want to hurt him. She didn’t want to be his weakness.
She wanted to warn him about Nihhal…
“Goldfrost is a new city,” Lannahi said, pushing away the dangerous thought. “Its residents are not as attached to it as those from more established cities. They will get used to the change more quickly.” She sent her father a small smile. “In a few years, these arguments will be no longer valid. A new city, a young ruler… such an opportunity might not appear for a long time.”
“The same someone may soon think of you,” the king remarked glumly. “If Lizaar’s family doesn’t take your prize from you sooner.”
“I will give them a reason not to do so.”
Her parents regarded her carefully.
“You will make Lizaar a slave?” Asirri asked.
When Lannahi nodded, her mother’s expression didn’t change, but the crease on her father’s forehead deepened. “I doubt you will avoid violence.” His voice was both gentle and anguished. “You will have to be cruel, Lannahi.”
“I know.”
She didn’t look away, and after a long moment, Sarkal sighed with resignation. “Sing, Lannahi,” he asked. “Let me enjoy your company while I can.”
Lannahi sangGarden of Life. She focused on the lyrics, pretending before herself that it didn’t matter that it was a song she’d written not long after Nihhal had left. In her heart, she hoped that her parents would keep questioning the reason for her decision to challenge Lizaar and start looking more carefully at their surroundings, but she didn’t allow herself to dress up these feelings in thoughts.
It was the only thing she could do for them and survive.
Or at least, to try to survive.
Chapter 8
Not including the mostly unnamed shifter settlements, Goldfrost was one of the southernmost cities. Its construction was initiated by Mahrur, the king of Winterfort and the most influential Ruler in the region surrounding Sapphire Lake. Since landshapers tended to be more pragmatic than fame-hungry and their Rulers usually ruled a single city leaning heavily on family and economic ties, Goldfrost was governed not by him but by his daughter. Lizaar was crowned four months earlier, after spending the previous two years at the court of her brother Mahhir, King of Rubycrest, where she gained recognition as a capable bookkeeper.
Relying on this information, Lannahi imagined her opponent as a competent clerk who viewed the world with cool calculation, but the glare Lizaar gave her when they met before being led into the arena burned those notions to ash.
“Good fate,” Lannahi said, ignoring the stare of the two pathfinders who guarded the door and the fact that she barely reached her rival’s chest.
Tall and substantial, the queen of Goldfrost exuded strength visible from afar, but it wasn’t until looking into the fire burning in her brown eyes that Lannahi realized that her opponent’s physicality should be the least of her worries.
Lizaar did not reciprocate the greeting. The man accompanying her did.
“Good fate,” said the King of Rubycrest.
