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“Follow me,” another guard told them.
The man, with two more guards, led them to a smaller door, from where they reached a white, brightly illuminated corridor, and then a thick wooden door with engravings representing animals like wolves and birds. This was a wildbringer kingdom, after all.
The door opened to reveal a room with a long wooden table, where six kings were sitting. Some people were missing, but she would need to look at them carefully to figure out who. A large window led to a starry sky outside.
King Sebastian was at the edge of the table, and got up. “Princess Irinaia.” He turned to River, and, in a drier tone, said, “Prince Isofel. We thought you wouldn’t come.”
“Apologies for our lateness,” Naia said, while looking at the table. She recognized the kings from Karsal, Eaglehold, Haven, and Varana. “I was making sure our kingdom is safe.”
“Any news from Azir?” Sebastian asked, sounding curious, but not worried.
Naia sighed. “Still indisposed, unfortunately.”
King Sebastian smirked, and she wanted to punch him for that. Of course they all knew this was a lie, but she was hoping they would think he had gotten hurt in battle, when Umbraar was attacked. She also hoped her father wasn’t gone for good.
The Wolfmark King then asked her, “Would you like to tell us about the strange attack in your fort?” He furrowed his eyebrows, as if thoughtful. “Apparently theylookedlike they were from Ironhold.” There was no subtlety in the way he emphasized that word, making it clear what he thought about it.
Naia took a deep breath. “It was as if about a hundred or so Ironhold soldiers came and attacked us. Of course, why would they do that?”
A middle-aged man then said, “I was explaining to them that my men inspected the area, and there were indeed signs of battle. And bodies dressed in Ironhold garb.”
She recognized him now. He was the Haven king, and Naia felt bad that she hadn’t been in Umbraar to greet his committee. “My apologies for my absence. I was making sure the kingdom was safe. I hope your men were well received.”
“They were allowed to see as much as they wanted, which I’ll take as a sign of your friendship and courtesy,” the Haven King said.
Naia smiled. “More than friendship. We are allies and should support each other.” Actually, last time she had checked, nobody cared about Umbraar, but mentioning that didn’t feel like a sound diplomatic move.
“We’ll resume our discussion, then.” King Sebastian sat down again and gestured to a chair beside him. “Princess Irinaia, this is for you.”
Naia didn’t like that and didn’t like the look the man was giving her. When she glanced at River and caught his amused twinkle, she felt more at ease, now thinking of King Sebastian as a poor old deluded fool. Despite having been ignored, River stood there looking unbothered and even proud, as if standing up was a much greater honor than sitting. Thankfully nobody there knew Fel much, as he would be upset at the slight, and wouldn’t just stand there looking like he owned the palace. Looking like a king—and Riverwasa king, even if she would like to forget it.
King Sebastian then said, “We want to make sure we come to Ironhold tomorrow all of the same mind.”
“Which is?”
It was the Eaglehold king who spoke. “Noto the Ironhold empire.”
That was quite direct. And bold. “Sounds wise.” The part she wasn’t sure was how they were planning on giving that information in person and walking out of the Iron Citadel alive. “And yet, are you still intending to attend the gathering in Ironhold?”
“We’ll send emissaries,” Sebastian said. “Men we don’t mind losing.”
Men who would probably be taken hostage and tortured. Naia looked around the table to see the kings’ faces, to check if the thought disgusted anyone, but they all had neutral expressions. Some of them could be pretending to reject Ironhold’s proposal, and be ready to go to the Iron Citadel the next day and tell them everything.
“And if Ironhold retaliates?” Naia asked. She would otherwise listen more and talk less, but she still felt that the king was giving attention to her.
Sebastian frowned. “Not if. When. We’ll need to be ready.”
They were planning for war. A coldness settled in her stomach. At the same time, there was something promising in his words: the idea of all the kingdoms in Aluria united.
Naia nodded. “If we all work together, we can defeat any enemy.” She was rather thinking of Cynon and his strange magic, but the idea was the same.
River then walked up to the table and stood by her. Naia wasn’t sure what he was about to do, and feared it would perhaps make everything worse, but all he did was address everyone. “You all need to leavenow. This castle has been compromised and Ironhold has planted strange magic in this room. It’s going to explode.” Coming from River, it couldn’t be a lie. She turned to him, but saw no alarm on his face.
Sebastian scoffed. “How would they do that? And how would you know?”
River said, “They sent guards to all the kingdoms, not only to spy on you and extend their influence, but as a means to attack from inside if necessary.”
The Wolfmark King still didn’t seem bothered. “Our visiting guards are safely sleeping—somewhere from where they can’t leave.”
