Page 75 of Children of Anguish and Anarchy

Emperor Jörah is steady as Mae’e translates. He takes in every word like a sponge. I talk for nearly a half hour before he finally replies.

“The king will be there tomorrow night?” Mae’e translates his first question.

“Our Seers have checked. His ship docks after midnight.”

I prepare myself to ask for what I need. The real reason I traveled all this way. The speed of their vessels. The power of their vineweavers. The might of the Lâminas.

“We are both equipped to defend our lands. We know King Baldyr seeks to harvest Zélie’s and Mae’e’s power on the Blood Moon. But now we have a chance to attack before King Baldyr has a chance to invade.”

My gaze drifts from Emperor Jörah to Zélie as Mae’e translates.

This is our one hope.

The only way to keep her safe.

“Raise an army, Emperor Jörah,” I continue. “A brutal force King Baldyr can’t withstand. With an army, we protect all of your people and both of our lands.”

“An entire army?” Mae’e translates the emperor’s words. “Just to eliminate one king?”

“The king’s forces are great.” I nod. “And we still don’t know the extent of the power he’s hunting, or the power he now wields. If we want to take them out for good, then an army is what we need.”

Moments pass as Emperor Jörah deliberates with his soldiers. I’m forced to wait in silence. Zélie remains by the emperor’s side. From the way her gaze moves between each speaker, I can tell she understands their tongue.

When the bright day falls to dusk, Emperor Jörah finally stands. My gut clenches as I wait for his response.

“I have made a decision,” Mae’e translates. “We will take our best and return with King Baldyr’s head.”

“Wait.” I try to step forward, but the Lâminas force me back. “A small tactical team won’t work. If we’re going to attack, it has to be a battle they can’t possibly withstand!”

Emperor Jörah frowns. Behind Mae’e, Jörah shakes his head.

“My people have not survived for millennia by showing our hand. We will take a small team. All we need is her.”

When Jörah’s finger points to Zélie, the entire hall stills. Zélie’s silver eyes widen. She rises from her knees.

“Why me?” she asks.

“It cannot be helped.” Mae’e looks among the four of us. “She is the only one who has seen his face. She is the only one Emperor Jörah trusts to identify the king—”

“You’re not taking my sister.” Tzain reaches for his axe. In a second, the Lâminas surround us.

“No!” Zélie throws herself from the brick dais. She forces herself between her brother and Emperor Jörah’s greatest warriors.

“I’ll go.” Her eyes flutter with the reality of what she has just said. “Yéva prepared me for this. I’m ready to face him again.”

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

TZAIN

“WE WENT FROM ONEcage to another.”

I pace the waiting room they’ve placed us in, unable to sit still. The walls of the holding chamber drip with emeralds and pearls. Golden lanterns swing above our heads.

Vines travel through the open windows, twisting in crisscrossed patterns across the floor. I fight the part of me that wants to rip through them all.

“Maybe it will work?” Amari looks between me and her brother. “He said they’re taking their best—”

“We need more than their best.” Inan rises from his chair. I can almost hear the gears ticking in his head. “If we can’t get him to send an army, we should at least be there. Emperor Jörah doesn’t know what he’s up against.”

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