Isla was desperate to change the subject. “Are you close to your nobles?”
Sky Isle had been surprisingly well-kept. The nobles seemed to be doing a good job of running it in their ruler’s absence.
Azul frowned. “There are no Skyling nobles.” She must have looked confused, because he continued. “We’ve had a democracy since I came into rule. The Skylings who are invited to the smaller events are elected officials. All big decisions are made based on voting from my people.”
Isla blinked at him. “So, if they decided they didn’t want you as ruler ...”
He shrugged. “I would step down. Though that would certainly complicate things, what with the Centennial and the way our powers are passed down,” he said. “I’m lucky they have been happy with my rule.”
She had never heard of a realm being run that way.
As she considered Azul’s words, she found him watching her.
Studyingher.
What was he looking for?
They had stopped at the base of a mountain that looked peculiar, but not special enough to have made the trek. Azul had told her many things, things she wouldn’t have expected another ruler of realm to be so up-front about during the Centennial.
Was it because he knew she wouldn’t be alive long enough to use what knowledge he had shared?
The fiftieth day was just over a month away. Isla tensed, wondering if the Skyling was counting down the hours before he could kill her without breaking the rules. Perhaps his people had already cast their votes, wanting her to be the one who died when the time came to fulfill the entire prophecy.
Azul only stared upward. Isla followed his gaze warily and saw that there were tunnels dug above them, high into the sky. If she squinted, she could see bright blue on the other side, through the mountain. She counted seven, all lined up next to each other, perfectly carved through the stone.
“I used to come here as a child, with friends,” he said, smiling. This time, it did reach his eyes. “We would fly through the tunnels as fast as we could, timing ourselves. We made a game of it.”
It had been five hundred years since he had flown. It appeared he missed it as much as Grim missed night and Oro missed day.
He turned to her. “Nowadays, it has a different use.” He planted his legs in a wide stance and shot up with his fist.
Isla instinctively backed away, then watched a burst of air travel through one of the tunnels. A moment later, it made a beautiful sound.
“It’s an instrument,” she said loudly, her excitement real this time.
In response, he sent air through all the tunnels, one after the other, fast as wind.
A song broke through the afternoon.
Isla hummed, matching the pitch, overjoyed. The mountain was an instrument ... she couldn’t believe it. Azul indulged her, playing song after song, his air never weakening. The wariness from his eyes disappeared, little by little.
She found herself happy that Azul had happened upon her, if only for a limited distraction.
By the time Azul escorted Isla back to the Mainland castle, it was nearly dusk. Grim would have already left the agora.
Instead of finding him in the bar, she had to go to his bedroom.
Isla had figured out the location of all the rulers’ rooms several days before. She could have asked Ella where the other rulers were staying. It would have saved her hours of snooping. But Isla felt safer spreading her requests around, not allowing anyone to know too much about what she needed, lest they put any pieces of her plans together. The rulers were harder to follow through the castle without notice, so she had trailed their Lightlark-provided attendants.
That was how she knew Grim’s chamber was on the other side of the castle, farthest from another ruler than anyone.
Isla had already made up her mind, knowing the potential consequences. Knowing what she was putting at risk. She had traveled here regardless.
Standing in front of his door, though, she hesitated, her knuckle inches from the stone.
Before she lost her nerve, it swung open.
Grim stood there, looking down at her with an eyebrow lifted.
