Page 100 of The Sundered Realms

”—has so many variables it would take months to make, from what I understand,“ Minister Belighia said. “Skimmers are coveted for a reason. Nor will it be necessary.”

Backlit against the warmth inside, she stepped out onto the porch flanked by two casters, and more crowded in to block the doorway.

Guards.

“There are demons swarming your Gate,” Vhannor said icily, “and you’re telling me intercepting them is not necessary?”

“That is what I’m saying,” Belighia said, eyes gleaming. “In fact, as a representative of Tellianghu, I am telling you explicitly you do not have permission to. As your precious Coalition does not yet exist, to go against an individual realm’s wishes would put Special Operations in violation of your treaties.”

Vhannor took a step forward. “You turned the spell off.”

“Me? I’m no caster.” She was entirely too smug.

Liris put a hand on Vhannor’s arm before he punched the representative in the face with it. “Are you sure,” she asked one of the guards, “you wouldn’t accept a free offer of assistance?”

The guards stared forward impassively.

“Assistance with what?” Belighia inquired, head tilting. “There’s nothing here Tellianghu can’t handle without assistance.”

Which was to say, they weren’t planning on doing anything. This was the demonstration, clearly, but of what?

“And how do you think your guests will take it, when they learn they won’t be able to leave?” Liris asked.

“Oh I assure you,” Belighia said with a smile, “we have made provision for all our guests.”

“One of them is out there,” Vhannor growled.

“Regrettable, but when one runs towards demons without safeguards, I can only assume it was on purpose.”

“You voidfucker,” Vhannor said, more visibly furious even than when she’d unleashed a firestorm on accident. “This isn’t up to you anymore. I’m invoking the clear and present danger clause.”

“But I’ve already denied there’s any danger,” Belighia said calmly, “and if the other realms learn you’ll just disregard their autonomous protections...”

“Yes. We’ll have to risk people deciding the possibility of unasked help is better than the reality where demon servants sacrifice their own people and the world stands by and does nothing,” Vhannor snapped. “Give the order to reactivate the spell, or so help me—“

“You’ll what?” Belighia mocked. “Threaten me? Attack me? It won’t help. I can hold you here.”

The casters stepped forward, eyes on Vhannor.

Belighia smiled. “Your precious partner, of course, is free to go. Do you think she’ll stay for you, or leave you all alone?”

Shry was alone. But that didn’t even matter, because Liris had no way to swim up a mountain of snow—

A spell sphere slammed around Belighia and her casters.

Princess Nysia pushed through the wall of guards as if they were frozen.

“I think fucking not,” she said coldly. “That protection sphere is specially designed for slimeball casters. I wish you joy of it. We’re going.”

The princess strode past the floating bubble encasing the casters and Belighia, who clearly shouted after them, but the sphere deadened the sound.

“I saw the cable car stop through the window and came as quickly as I could,” Nysia said. “The remaining guards should be busy corralling the guests. I have a sphere prepared for transport, but it won’t have enough power to carry three, and two’s debatable. Liris, you’ll have to stay.”

“Of course you have an emergency exit only good for one,” Vhannor said furiously. “Don’t trust people enough to even allow yourself the possibility—“

“Shry,“ Liris snapped.

Vhannor sucked in a breath. “Nysia, show me the spell.”

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