Asirri fell silent, studying her daughter’s face. “I believe you,” she said eventually.
There was another moment of silence.
“You have to win the respect of the landshapers and consolidate your power yourself,” her mother spoke again. “But I would like Dallal to accompany you.”
Lannahi stared at her in surprise. Dallal was a slender, inconspicuous man who appeared young but had accompanied Asirri as a guard since the days she’d ruled Orchidgate.
“Why him?” she asked. “I know he’s been loyal to you for years, but I don’t understand why he wouldwantto leave the kingdom because of me.”
“As you said, he is loyal to me,” Asirri replied. “And you are my daughter whom I would like to protect. This was enough for him not to refuse my request and agree to swear loyalty to you for the duration of a year.” She fell silent for a moment. “Dallal is someone every rulerneeds, and a young, inexperienced queenshouldhave at her side.”
Lannahi recalled the cool calmness with which Dallal looked at her and the nervousness he’d aroused in her when she was a child. The thought that there was something dangerous behind Dallal’s unremarkable appearance made her throat dry.
She swallowed. Her mother never did anything without thinking it through. If Asirri convinced a fae loyal to her to swear an oath to someone else, it would be foolish to ignore her efforts.
“I appreciate your concern, Mother,” Lannahi said. “If Dallal is certain of his decision, I will accept his oath.”
Chapter 9
An Arbiter waited for Lannahi at the end of the Trail to Blacktower. Since the status of Arbiter could not be obtained before the age of thirty-five, Lannahi knew that the woman was older than her, but unlike Bastet, her dark eyes showed no trace of boredom. Her face, like the faces of Peacekeepers accompanying her—a dark-skinned woman with white wings and a man with eyes like a lake—was perfectly indifferent.
“My name is Nimmat,” the Arbiter introduced herself after throwing a cursory glance at Lannahi, her six companions, and the trunks levitating in the air. “You are Lannahi?”
“Yes.”
“The Trail to Goldfrost is on the other side of the square. Please follow me.”
Nimmat and the rainmaker accompanying her turned around, but the winged guard moved aside, waiting for the enchanters to pass first. Lannahi set off after Nimmat and her companions fell into place behind her. Esau and Erril first, then Blann and Souhi, and Dallal and Akammu at the end of the small procession.
Unlike on the day of the Royal Sabbath, the pillar square was nearly empty and Lannahi was able to admire the city walls on her right and the black tower jutting out into the sky. However, the curiosity she’d felt a few days ago was dampened. The sight of the tower’s massive silhouette only fueled her fear. In a few minutes, she would be trapped in a city whose ruler she stripped of her crown and freedom.
The Trail to Goldfrost was already open. Judging from the fact that the entrance was guarded only by a fire elemental, Lannahi assumed that the Guide had gone ahead.
Who else was waiting at the end of the dark corridor?
The path ended faster than she expected. The black cloak of Nimmat merged with the darkness of the Trail, and although there were lightcrystals at the exit, when the Arbiter and her guard suddenly disappeared, Lannahi thought it was an optical trick. She assumed that she would travel the same distance as between Goldenshadows and Blacktower.
A draft of cold air told her she was wrong.
Lannahi squinted her eyes against the sudden transition from dark to light. In Goldenshadows, it snowed the previous night and she was prepared for the low temperature. But after a few minutes in the pleasant autumn clime of Blacktower, the stinging touch of the frosty air against her skin felt like a pinch.
The sight of Ashared was like a punch.
After years of practice in her father’s court, Lannahi kept her neutral mask firmly in place and moved slowly forward to stand next to Nimmat. However, her reaction was more instinctual than conscious because for a moment—a moment that could have cost her her life—she only noticed his eyes.
Silver, attentive. Just as she remembered. With one exception.
The warm glow that lit up his gaze the day they met was gone.
“Two days ago, within the walls of the Black Arena, Lizaar, daughter of King of Winterfort Mahrur, lost in a Royal Duel the right to rule Goldfrost,” Nimmat said, and her voice brought Lannahi back to reality. “Her successor, Lannahi, daughter of Sarkal and Asirri, has arrived here today to take charge of the territory she’d won.”
Ashared bowed. He seemed reserved, but his bow was deep enough to be considered a sign of a subject’s respect for their new ruler.
“I am Ashared, Captain of the Palace Guard,” he said in a neutral tone. “I have been delegated to escort you both to the palace where Lizaar is waiting.”
Lannahi stared at him, stunned. According to her information, Ashared wasn’t associated with any court. He lived in Sapphirinetower, one of the Free Cities governed by pathfinders. What was he doing in Goldfrost and in the role of the commander of the Palace Guard?
“We appreciate your assistance, captain,” Nimmat said politely, though there was a strange note in her voice as if she too was asking herself the same question as Lannahi.
