Page 65 of Born of Blood and Ash

“So, Veses’ Court is a cesspool.”I glanced at Rhain. “No offense.”

“None taken.” He held up his hands. “I claim no ties to thatCourt.”

“I assume Keella rules fairly?” Isaid. “As does Attes.”

“Yes,” Lailah confirmed.

Theon opened his mouth like he wanted to say something, butLailah shot her brother a look. “Both have had their rough patches, but theyhave overcome them and rule fairly while entrusting the oversight of thesmaller cities to those who will honor their values.”

“And Maia?” I asked.

“Well,” Bele drawled, and I wanted to bang my head on thetable. “She’s not necessarily bad, having spent the last several hundred yearsmore focused on entertaining herself than governing. Some of her cities arerather calm. Others are pretty much a giant org—” She stopped herself as Reaverpeered over the top of the table at her. “They are like giant adult parties.Not bad, but not really productive or useful, you know? So, sometimes thingsget a little heated, and not in a good way. There are lots of jealousy-fueledmurders, and they sometimes fail to harvest crops or search for children whowander into the forest.” She squinted. “Or even realize they’re missing.”

“Oh, my gods,” I murmured, rubbing my brow.

“Hey, cheer up!” Bele exclaimed with one of her too-widesmiles. “I’ve heard Maia has gotten better. For example, there are fewer…adultparties.”

Ash laughed as he took a drink.

“Wow.” And here I thought my mother was a bad Queen. “Do Ieven want to know how bad the cesspool that is Veses’Court is?”

“Veses rules like Embris one day and Phanos thenext,” Ash said. “Her Court is as bad as Hanan’s was.”

Bele sighed.

“No pockets of…goodness?” I asked. “How is that possible?”

“All who had an ounce of morality in them are here.” Rhainshook his head. “The same with Kyn’s Court. Those who disagreed either joined Attes or came here.”

“So, you’re telling me that all those who remain in Veses’ and Kyn’s Courts are…what? A lost cause?” I took inthe somber expressions. “Seriously?”

“I wouldn’t say they are a complete loss,” Ash stated.“Perhaps some can be reached, but when Kolis first took the embers, switchingplaces with my father, it disturbed the balance. Death ruled over life, andlife ruled over death. All Primal power has a good and a bad side to it. Andwith all the Primals being weakened, it made it fareasier for them to succumb to the poisonous sides of their natures,” hereminded me. “And then that poison spread to those who served them and themortals they interacted with. Most of them are not who they once were or wereborn into a society that embraces that toxicity.”

“I get that. I do. It’s not really their fault, and blah,blah bullshit. Whatever.” Frustration joined the anger as Bele widened hereyes. “We basically only have two Courts that appear to have any sense of agreater good. Then we have one Primal who really doesn’t seem to care about hisCourt, as long as it doesn’t cause him trouble. Another who rules so strictlythe entire Court has a bedtime and punishment for not adhering to such is—”

“Sometimes death,” Rhahar filledin.

Good fucking gods. “Another Court is pretty much agiantadultparty with a dash of murderous tendencies, andtwo more are just complete garbage fires—”

“Don’t forget my Court,” Bele interrupted. “I have about ahundred good ones in Sirta.”

“My apologies.”

Bele smiled and flicked her wrist. “Accepted.”

“So, we have two decent Courts and one really underperformingCourt,” I corrected. Bele’s eyes narrowed as I turned to Ash. “That leaves mewith just one question.”

“I truly cannot wait to hear what it will be,” Ash murmuredas he eyed me over the rim of his glass.

“Why are we even bothering with these Courts and not justseizing them?”

“Now, that is the Sera I was expecting,” Bele said,and Saion nodded in agreement.

“After seizing them, what would we do?” Ash countered,lowering his glass.

“Put someone else in charge? Like one of them,” I suggested,gesturing at those around the table.

“Uh,” Lailah started.

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