Page 76 of A Sky of Emerald Stars

Navin placed two placating hands on the table between us.“Let’s put this to the side for one second, okay? The real reason we need to go to Rikesh is not for the bounty.”

Maez cocked her head at him like a confused pup. “It’s not?”

“We need to go to Rikesh for a vase.”

Maez’s frown deepened. “And what is on this Rikeshi vase?”

“A song.Thesong,” I said.

Navin grimaced, his words sputtering out as he grasped for an explanation. “Hidden amongst the carvings of the vase is the eternal song.”

“And what exactly can this song do?”

He took a beat before finally replying, “It can conjure new monsters into the world.” He glanced at me. “Our ancient predecessors gave the vase to the Wolves to keep us from using it. There was fear that using the song would destroy the world. My ancestors didn’t expect the Wolves to treat us so badly. They never imagined we’d need it again.”

Maez let out a groaning sigh. “Well, we sure could’ve usedthatpower during Sawyn’s reign.”

“Sawyn’s reign was because of that magic,” Navin said. “Rasil’s grandfather found the vase when he was performing at the palace and used the song to create his samsavat.” Navin mimed the scuttling hands of the monster across the table. “That creation produced the dark magic that claimed Sawyn.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means if anyone uses that song again, it will bring even more dark magic into the world.” He scrubbed a hand down his face. No matter how many times I heard him explain it, the thought still made my stomach clench. “I don’t want Rasil to have that vase, but I want the Onyx Wolves to possess it even less. If they know what it is they have...” He blew out a long concerned breath. “Every time the song is sung, a new sorcerer will be created.”

“Fuck,” Maez said, stringing out the word as she dropped her cheek into her hand. It was a relief she was handling thisknowledge just as poorly as I had. “So using this power could create another Sawyn?” Navin nodded. “Curse all the fucking Gods. Why can’t we just have one good thing?”

“This is why we wanted it protected,” he said. “Somewhere where the Songkeepers would never be tempted to use it.”

“And the Valtan King never learned of what he possesses?”

Navin shook his head. “He thinks it an ancient relic if he thinks about it at all. The Songkeepers never told him of what lies in his trove.”

“And how do we get access to this trove?” Maez asked.

Navin held my gaze, and I already knew the answer.

“By pretending to be the King’s new sister-in-law,” I said.

“Oh, Gods no,” she snapped. “You’re seriously going through with this?”

I eyed her. “Damrienn has Ora. Valta has the vase. If either of them learn of the power of the Songkeepers, they’d be able to use it to crush the Golden Court,” I said.

“This is far from a diplomatic mission now,” Maez groaned. “I could handle enchanting a few Wolves to support the Golden Court, but this... this is a power that could destroy us all. And Wolf Kings are the least trustworthy with such power. They’re the most hot-tempered, foolhardy of us all. They’d definitely try and use it.”

“Exactly.” I said. “Gods, I hope my father and uncles aren’t in the palace. That will only complicate things further.”

“They’re not,” Maez said matter-of-factly.

“Howdo you know that?”

She shrugged. “Drunks talk,” she said. “Word spread of three Silver Wolves cutting across the desert and crossing the Stoneater back to Damrienn. Maybe they thought you died in that sandstorm. Guess they’re going back to Nero with their tails between their legs.”

I hoped Nero punished them in all the ways I imagined he would.

“Well, at least that’s one less thing to worry about,” I said. “Although it would’ve felt pretty good to see Navin take that bounty out from under them.”

Maez rapped the table with her knuckles in front of Navin. When he lifted his gaze to hers, she pointed a finger at him. “Don’t think I forgot about the husband thing,” she said elbowing me. “You and I are going to have a little chat about that later.”

“No fur. No fangs,” I muttered to her.

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