My first instinct was to resist, but he probably had the right idea. Better to let him do the talking—the Archdruid couldn’t order the prince of Aenir to be shot on sight.
Towering pillars flanked us as we approached the throne. Several men gathered around it, dressed in dark blue robes, set beneath black armor sectioned into tiny squares, bound with silver thread.
Shatterblades.
I heard a voice coming from ahead, and my heart sank into my boots.
That was lord Ishida’s voice. What was he doing here?
We made it halfway down the throne room before Ishida noticed our approach. He cut off and turned, deep blue eyes quickly landing on me.
I strained not to make a face, and mostly succeeded.
The Archdruid rose from his seat. He looked the part—draped in voluminous white robes with black-blue hair spilling down his back. Few cares lined his face—he was far younger than I was expecting.
“What is the . . . ” The Archdruid trailed off, noticing Siotha on my back.
Our guard bowed in respect. “I present to you Prince Ferris of Aenir, my lord. He comes with an urgent message."
Pressing a hand to his chest, Ferris bowed his head. "My lord, I?—”
Ishida interrupted him. “Diar.” He ran a hand through his swept-back hair. “What have you done now?”
Maybe he knew me better than I’d believed.
Ferris' brow twitched in irritation, but the Archdruid spoke before him. “First Cierthine, now our Siotha? Does Solathair mock us in our darkest hour?”
Any hope I’d held that he might listen fled with his words. My hand wrapped around the bow.
Ferris motioned for me to let him speak, but I ignored him. “Tsuyan wasted precious time they could have been training me, trying to kill me. As you can see, they didn’t succeed. What makes you thinkyouwill?”
Our guide whirled around. “No honorable man of Nazumi would harm you.”
Lord Ishida glanced at our guard before stepping closer to me. “Nor would your father. But you have made things considerably worse.”
Pressing a hand to his head, the Archdruid fell back into his seat. “There is already enough trouble in this city. Detain the pretender until I have had time to process this.”
Our guard did not budge. “But, my liege?—”
“By the saints!” Ferris cursed. “She’s here, ready to help you where you most need it. What is the matter with you people?” He shifted in front of me. “Detain her over my dead body—assuming you want to explain to my father why you murdered his son.”
The Archdruid’s eyes flared. Ishida’s men took a step away from Ferris, hands falling to their blades.
Tension hung in the room. I had a feeling which way the cards would fall, and pulled Siotha from my back.
“Don’t,” Ferris hissed. “A Paragon should not harm their people.”
He was right—shooting a Shatterblade was the worst way to gain their trust.
“Prince Ferris,” the Archdruid said. “What is your stake in this matter? Or are you here on your father’s behalf?”
“King Ailithir allowed Cierthine to remain with Lady Rohan, and look what it's wrought—she saved Tsuyan from certain doom.”
Lord Ishida smiled. “I was just delivering my report on the matter—it told no such fable.” He twisted his neck to look back at the Archdruid. “Twice Diar has escaped—and we cannot part her from Siotha. Detaining her will be a waste of time.”
“Then kill her and be done with it,” the Archdruid ordered. “Yuudai’s feelings matter little when we are at war.”
Ferris pushed me back and flicked his wrist. A gale swirled around his boots, and the emerald dragon burst from its hold, floating at his side. The Shatterblades drew their weapons. Lightning crackled through the room.
