Page 82 of Mother of Death and Dawn

“I appreciate your honesty,” Caduan said, “but, sadly, I must deny it.”

The Zorokovs did not look pleased with this response.

“You came to us asking for Threll’s alliance with the promise of all the power of the Fey kingdom,” Lord Zorokov said. “Yet you have barely shown us such power. Your shades are weaker than they once were. You speak of a skilled army of warriors, but we’ve barely seen them.”

Caduan’s facial expression did not change. “I promised that I would bring your enemies to their knees, and I intend to uphold that vow.”

“We’ve never doubted that, but we have given thousands of Threllian lives and property to your cause while you have given us… what, exactly?”

“You wish to build an empire that stands for an age,” Meajqa said, sweetly. “We have already done it. Trust that our friendship is very valuable to you. We will offer you more support in the future.”

“Look around. We don’t have that much time. Our empire is fallingnow.” Lady Zorokov gestured to the wreckage.

“I urge you to take some time to consider it, King Caduan,” Lord Zorokov said. “If you cannot uphold your end of our alliance, I cannot promise that we can uphold ours.”

* * *

“Snakes,”Meajqa spat, the moment the Zorokovs were out of earshot. “All of them. They burnedtheir own peoplein that city. And then for them to make those kinds of disrespectful demands of you—”

“We can’t afford to be hotheaded, nephew,” Iajqa said. She looked to Caduan. “We may be forced to consider granting their request. Even if we give them half of what they asked for, they might be assuaged.”

“Are you willing to lay thousands of your warriors at their feet?” Caduan shook his head—the answer was already clear to him.

It was clear to me, too.

“A few rebel slaves will not cause significant loss of life,” Iajqa said. “It will earn us their goodwill. Raiding the rebel strongholds may also help us locate the wayfinder.”

“Tisaanah Vytezic isn’t with the rebels anymore. If she isn’t there, we will not find the wayfinder there.”

“Then are you any closer to locating it?” Iajqa sounded slightly irritated, and Caduan winced.

“Not yet. But I can.”

His eyes flicked to me for a moment before moving away.

“My King—” Iajqa let out a breath through her teeth. “I have been out here for six months. I’m as repulsed by the Threllians as you are, but I also see every day how much we rely on their numbers. We can’t lose their support. Worse, they are not the type to amicably part ways. If they stop being our ally, they will quickly start being our enemies, and unlike Ara, they are not an ocean away. Either we act against them, or we need to keep the Threllians content. I do not think we are ready to do the former. Not yet.”

“I understand. Trust that I know the consequences of this decision. And trust that if I’m making it, I know our options.” I tried not to notice how his gaze slipped to me, even though I felt his stare like hands on my flesh. “We have options.”

CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR

MAX

Iawoke in a room of solid stone, with no openings save for a single slat in the iron door. There was no furniture. When I opened my eyes, I was on the ground. I was alone. No Brayan.

I pushed myself to my feet—my body was not happy about that—and tried to find a way to orient myself. The slat in the door was covered with iron, which I presumed would open at some point when someone decided they wanted me. The only light spilled from beneath the door. No lanterns I could use, torches I could manipulate. Not that I could, anymore.

Just to be sure, I tried to use my magic and was rewarded by searing pain and not so much as a spark. In the darkness, I could make out severe blistering on my forearms, along the lines of the Stratagram tattoos.

Any naive hope that I had somehow managed to cure myself fell away.

Brayan. Where was he?

Was he dead?

I pushed that thought, and the ensuing stab of fear, as far into the back of my mind as it would go. I needed to think.

Evaluate.

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