Page 122 of A Dawn of Gods & Fury

He is a brave and assertive mortal, I will give him that. He is a king, after all. But would the Skatranan boy-king my mother promised me behave with the same confidence?

Tyree scoffs. “You don’t even know her name.”

I take a deep, calming breath to keep from snapping at the buffoon. It’s as if he’s trying to insult the king, who has fed and clothed us, and shown nothing but kindness. And this is after he killed four of his royal guards! “It’s Annika.”

“Annika,” King Hadkiel repeats, my name lovely on his deep voice.

“You have no idea who we are or where we have come from, and yet you are so sure she is your savior. Why?” Tyree challenges.

“Because we have beseeched the sea and the stars for her, because she arrived on the heels of Azokur.” There’s an edge to the king’s tone now. “And because my people have been without a queen for too long. They need hope.”

Tyree is undeterred. “And mercy, apparently. Why do they need that?”

“Because they live in shadow.” King Hadkiel’s sinewy forearms tense as he meets Tyree’s steely stare with one of his own.

I remember the farmers’ children, clinging to their parents’ legs with fear, and the peasants outside the gate, their forlorn expressions. Was that poverty or something more?

“A ship once arrived at our shores, carrying explorers from a distant land.” Yidara steps forward, cutting into the growing tension. Everyone falls quiet to listen to the conjurer’s words. “They had traveled a great distance to reach us, and their hull brimmed with fine gifts from their ruler. They wished to open means for trade. They stayed as guests, learning all they could of our realm, our people, and our customs, and the way of shadow and light. And we in turn learned much about them—about the various realms of their lands, and the peoples who inhabited it. This terrible blood curse, as they called it, a punishment by their gods.”

Tyree’s eyes bore holes in my face. Will he out me?

They must not know everything about the elven race, or they would be questioning why I—a supposed vegetarian—am able to devour half a boar without keeling over in agony.

“Eventually, they sailed home with promises to return one day.” She glides around the table. “It was centuries before another ship arrived from this distant land, again filled with valuables but also a letter, pleading for a conjurer. The distant land had adopted our way of light and shadow. The ruler wished to have one at his side so that he could face the shadow taking over his land, to help bring them into the light. A sister left with the sailors nearly twenty years ago.” She ends her stroll at Tyree’s back. “So you see, we know where you have come from, Defender of Kal’ana. But you are here now, as a gift from the stars and the sea.”

“Only two decades.” Tyree folds his arms across his chest. “And what was this ruler’s name?”

“King Cheral.”

Surprise flashes across Tyree’s face. By his smug expression when he asked the question, he wasn’t expecting an answer. “You are saying Kier has one of your conjurers?”

“If their ship survived the journey. It is too far for a messenger to travel.”

That seems to give him pause. “And there are no casters here, in Udrel.”

“Not for thousands of years. A blessing. They tend to bring nothing but trouble to everything they touch.”

“I cannot disagree with you there.” Tyree taps the table’s surface, his thoughts elsewhere.

“I’m sure I speak for all when I say this has been an exciting but tiring day. Tomorrow will be ten times this as we begin our grand celebration, presenting the kal’ana to the people of Udrel. They will travel far and wide to witness this miracle. The pillars of our temple will shine, even through the fog.” King Hadkiel stands, and everyone rushes to their feet a beat after.

Everyone except Tyree, who leans back in his chair and picks at his blueberries.

A ghost of a smile passes the king’s lips. “I trust that your accommodations will be far better than previous nights. My royal guards will escort you when you have finished your meals.” Collecting my hand, he raises it to his lips. “Good night, kal’ana. Sleep well. Tomorrow, you will bring hope to many.”

King Hadkiel strolls out of the dining hall, trailed closely by his conjurers. The guards move in.

“Kal’ana.” The plume-feathered leader gestures toward another doorway. I guess it’s time for me to return to my room. That’s fine, I’m finished and I’m exhausted.

“Don’t stay up too late, oh blessed one,” Tyree mocks.

On my way past, I pluck a slice of juicy roast and dump it onto his plate over his potatoes, hoping the meat juices soak in and make him ill. “Enjoy.” With my head held, I march away.

The servant hangs a crisp white robe much like the style the conjurers wear on a hook by the dressing mirror and then ducks out of the room.

“Good night,” I mumble.

The bolt on the other side clicks in answer.

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