Naelin glared at the headmistress, but she did, in fact, seem to calm—or, at least, the spirits did.
“‘The fact that I have had to resort to such methods horrifies me, but I must put the needs of my people before my own personal views. Let me lay bare to you the truth: I sent six air spirits into Aratay with two purposes: one, to eliminate the Protector of Queens, the wolf known as Bayn, who would have surely stood in the way of my ultimate goal.’”
“Bayn?” Ven said.
Daleina lowered the letter. “Does anyone know what she means by ‘Protector of Queens’?” She’d never heard the term before, least of all applied to her wolf, whom she hadn’t even allowed herself to truly mourn.He was my friend, but “Protector”?
“What of my children?” Naelin said.
Daleina read on. “‘And two, to secure your children, to be used as leverage against your good behavior. I have taken this action to ensure that you fulfill what you have already promised. It wasnevermy intent to harm a single human of Aratay, least of all your children. And I have not harmed but a single hair on their heads.’”
Hamon frowned. “Isn’t the expression ‘nota single hair’?”
“Apparently, the queen of Semo has a delightful sense of humor,” Garnah said. She lifted a clump of hair from the box. “She’s not much for subtlety, though, is she?” Daleina guessed it was snipped from one of Naelin’s children.
Naelin let out a noise, half like a growl and half a moan. She looked as if she wanted to tear the world apart with her bare hands. Ven clamped his hands down on her shoulder and whispered furiously in her ear. Headmistress Hanna also wheeled closer to her, talking rapidly.
Daleina waited for the next earthquake.
It didn’t come.
She’s learning control.Daleina was impressed.This letter makesmewant to cause an earthquake.How could she have misjudged Merecot so badly? She’d been so convinced that Merecot couldn’t be responsible, that she wouldn’t be so stupid.
She’d been wrong.
Daleina quickly summarized the rest of the letter. “She demands one of us come to Semo and assist her with the ‘overabundance of spirits’ in her lands. She claims she only took the children to provide incentive and that she had to take dramatic action in order to catch our attention. She goes on to promise they’ll be treated like honored guests and will be returned as soon as negotiations are concluded.”
“It’s a trap,” Ven said.
Garnah snorted. “Obviously.”
“Not so obviously,” Hanna argued. “She’s desperate. She was desperate enough to try to kill Queen Daleina, desperate enough to invade, and now desperate enough to kidnap Naelin’s children. She wants to save Semo, and since we haven’t helped her do that yet—”
“We’ve been healing Aratay! Healing it fromheractions!” Daleina had planned on sending an ambassador sooner, but with winter coming and the harvest in danger... “There were other priorities.”
“Not for her,” Hanna pointed out.
Closing her eyes, Daleina crumpled the letter in her hand. She knew she should be done feeling betrayed by Merecot—after all, her former friend had had her poisoned—but this was a fresh surprise.I shouldn’t have stopped Naelin from attacking.She should have joined in, thrown all the spirits of Aratay against the border and broken through. “If you want that invasion, Naelin, you have it.”
Naelin didn’t respond.
Daleina opened her eyes.
She saw Naelin had crossed the room to the box that held the locks of her children’s hair. She’d taken a curled strand away from Garnah and was stroking it. “Attacking would endanger Erian and Llor. Ven, you were right. We needed to know who and why.”
“Now that we do, how do you want to proceed?” Daleina asked. “This isn’t merely a move against your children—an attack on our soil is a direct challenge to our sovereignty. It must be answered.” She wondered if Naelin understood that. This wasn’t just about Naelin’s children; it was about all the children of Aratay. If Merecot thought she could simply take the queen’s children...
It can’t be allowed. It’s an act of war.
“I go to Semo,” Naelin said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “I help her with the spirits, and then I bring back my children.”
Garnah heaved a dramatic sigh. “Did you miss the part where this is atrap? You step foot in Semo, and she will kill you. She’s already confessed to trying to kill your wolf ‘protector’... which, I might add, is a bit unhinged.”
Hanna rolled forward. “Accept my offer to be ambassador. Let me assess the situation and determine whether or not this is actually a trap or if the children are in fact there and alive. Merecot won’t refuse an ambassador—it’s a clear indication that we’re taking her seriously and a logical precaution. I’ll make my assessment as quickly as possible, and if she seems sincere, I will send word for Queen Naelin to come.”
“You’d be placing yourself in danger,” Ven objected.
“I work with spirits,” Hanna said. “I’ve always been in danger. Besides, those children are worth the risk to me.”
