“That is all for today,” she finished. When a murmur ran through the room, she caught Ashared’s gaze and added, “Captain, can I trust that your guards will take care of my guests and escort them back outside?”
The man glanced at Lizaar, who stood straightened proudly, but soon made a formal bow. “Of course, Your Highness,” he said.
The muscle on Lizaar’s face twitched, but Lannahi wasn’t sure if it was because the phrase “Your Highness” reminded her of what she had lost, or perhaps because spoken in a tone devoid of emotion it sounded almost like an insult.
She ignored her and turned to Nimmat who was watching her closely. “Arbiter, I would invite you for refreshments, but I don’t even know where the dining room is. I hope you won’t take it as rudeness on my part if I say farewell to you so soon today? I promise that I will be a better host next time you visit.”
The woman smiled politely. “You have not offended me in any way, Lady Lannahi. I will be waiting for our future meeting with anticipation,” she said and nodded goodbye to her and then to Lizaar and Ashared who responded with a similar gesture.
The exchange of glances between them convinced Lannahi that the three of them had something more in common than formalities, but as the Arbiter turned to join the crowd leaving the throne room, she decided it wasn’t her concern. She needed to focus on current affairs instead.
She descended the dais and stopped a few steps away from her predecessor, pretending that the smaller distance between them and Lizaar’s height didn’t intimidate her. “Can we speak in private?”
Lizaar glared at her as if she were an insect crawling on the floor, but after hearing her question her eyes became alert. As if she wasn’t sure if Lannahi’s diplomatic stance was a genuine invitation to talk or a trap.
“Yes,” she said. After a moment’s hesitation, she added cautiously, “It’s kind of you to ask.”
And not to dictate, Lannahi finished in her head. “As I mentioned earlier, I hope to find a peaceful agreement between us.”
The landshaper was silent for a moment, then glanced at the enchanters standing nearby. “Will you mind if Captain Ashared accompanies us?”
“Of course not. I wish to talk to him as well. My guards will need his guidance to accustom themselves to the structure within the palace.”
Lizaar’s request could be read as a sign of fear, but Lannahi felt no satisfaction. She knew it was too early to declare victory.
Lizaar nodded. “Follow me,” she said, neglecting to address Lannahi correctly or to genuflect as expected of her new role.
Lannahi suppressed a sigh.
The game had only begun.
Chapter 10
Lannahi handed her heavy crown to Esau and told him to wait until Akammu joined him with Souhi and Blann. When she was ready to follow in Lizaar’s footsteps, she discovered that Ashared was patiently waiting for her. She ignored the tightness in her chest and moved toward the side door with her eyes fixed on the back of the former queen.
Lannahi knew why Ashared remained in close proximity. Shapeshifters didn’t wield magic other than that which allowed them to assume an animal form and understand any foreign tongue, but their senses allowed them to perceive what escaped other fae. They needed to be closer than the wind-winged to hear the uneven breathing and accelerated heartbeat, but they made up the difference with their keen smell. The smell of fear—that was what Ashared was seeking.
When he joined her, she focused on evening her breath. Erril and Dallal were walking directly behind her so she wasn’t afraid of an outright attack. The only thing that could betray her were her emotions, which were squirming restlessly into her chest in response to his overwhelming presence.
The chamber that Lizaar led her to was near the throne room. Its main features were a large round table with a marble top supported by golden legs and chairs upholstered in white fabric and Lannahi guessed that it was the council room. Aware of the physical superiority of the guards standing in the corridors, she left Dallal outside and entered with Erril.
When he and Ashared stood against the wall at a distance that gave both men the illusion of safety, and she and Lizaar were separated by a tabletop of comfortable size, the landshaper demanded, “Tell me why I shouldn’t bury you alive under the rubble of the city you stole from me.”
“Because your allies would die too?” Lannahi suggested.
She didn’t clarify whether she meant the city’s residents, who would be at the center of such an attack, or the woman’s family on whom her father could exact vengeance on her behalf.
The cold look Lizaar cast her told her that she hadn’t missed Lannahi’s implication, but she continued defiantly, “I could wait until everyone evacuates.”
Lannahi didn’t even blink. “I gather that you don’t care about your own life, but wouldn’t you feel guilt about the work that has already been put into building this place?”
Lizaar clenched her jaw, but after a moment she asked with emphasis, “Why are you here? Enchanters rarely venture into these lands. Why are you suddenly interested in them?”
Lannahi leaned slightly forward. “Let’s get one thing clear so that there are no misunderstandings. I and only I am responsible for this situation. No one in my family persuaded me to participate in the duel. My father had no ambition in conquering the winter forests. If you pass this information along to your family, the gameboard likely will not turn red.” She watched Lizaar intensely. “Do you understand?”
Lizaar regarded her carefully. “Then why are you here?”
“Because I saw a chance to win.”
