Helenea’s brows shot up but quickly smoothed out. “The total number who live there varies.” She glanced at her brother. Alaric was as handsome as his sister was beautiful, though his features were rougher, his skin was several shades darker from a life spent in the elements, and his eyes were more gray than blue. “It all depends on how many merchants have their sailors out to sea. But…”
“I would say roughly two thousand can be found in Lowertown on any given day,” he answered.
“And how does that compare to the Garden District?” Lord Sven asked. The general had trimmed his beard since I’d last seen him, and his golden eyes had also changed. They held a sorrow now that hadn’t been as present before.
I had a feeling he had been to Stonehill.
“As a whole, the Garden District is likely our third most heavily populated area, right behind Stonehill,” Kieran answered from my left. He’d reclined back in his chair, two fingers curled around his chin as he stared ahead, his brow furrowed. “With the Luxe holding the least number of mortals. Am I correct, Helenea?”
The pink in Helenea’s cheeks deepened as she nodded her agreement. “Y-yes, you are correct.”
Did her tone sound a little more…breathy? Interesting.
“We need to start with Croft’s Cross.” Casteel’s gaze shifted to Lord Murin and then to Sven. “Have both of your regiments begin checking the residents there.” His stare moved to the dark-haired Elemental general. “La’Sere, you will check Lowertown and then the Garden District.”
“You want to leave the Garden District until after Lowertown?” A frown pulled at Gayla’s brows. She glanced back at General Aylard. “The Garden District populace is greater than Lowertown’s.”
“It is,” he replied. “But considering those who live in this area of the Garden District, I am sure we would’ve been alerted to any activity—even a slight inconvenience—by now.”
Kieran snorted quietly as Alaric smirked.
“Aylard, I want you on the Rise and beyond,” Casteel continued.
The general surprisingly nodded without argument. Then again, someone with a dick was giving the orders.
I shifted, knocking my left forearm against the hard arm of the chair. I winced at the flare of dull pain.
A second later, Casteel’s presence bore down on me through thenotam.How is your arm, my Queen?
It’s fine,I assured him. There was barely a mark from where thegrulhad gotten a hold of me, and it only hurt when I smacked it into something.
“What are we to say when asked about what we’re doing?” Sven questioned, his empty hand resting on the table. “I know Lizeth has been telling those in Stonehill that there was an incident, but if word has spread beyond there, just saying it was an incident won’t suffice.”
“If I may?” Alaric spoke up as I resumed stroking Delano’s head when he bumped my hand. The Descenter continued at Casteel’s nod. “I think it would be wise to do what the BloodCrown never did. Tell them the truth about what the Ascended have done.”
“It wasn’t the Ascended,” I said.
Both Helenea’s and Alaric’s postures went rigid, and bitter distrust swiftly rose within them.
Reaver lifted his diamond-shaped head from where it rested between his forelegs, the sharpened tips of his horns along the top of his head nearly grazing the ceiling.
“Then who was responsible?” the brother demanded, a challenge clear in his voice. “If not—” Alaric stiffened even further as Reaver puffed out a breath, stirring the hair along the back of Alaric’s head. “If not for the Ascended?” he finished in a tone much more subdued.
I exhaled slowly. We had decided not to broach the subject of Kolis with mortals who had never heard of him. I hadn’t completely agreed with it, but ithadmade sense.
But that was yesterday before Kolis forced our hands with his actions in Stonehill.
Kieran looked at me and then Casteel as several pairs of eyes landed on us. Clearly, we needed to talk.
A thought occurred to me. We were Joined, were we not? Shouldn’t we be able to communicate at the same time together? I reached out through thenotam, first finding Casteel’s pine-and-spice mark and then the woodsy, earthy one belonging to Kieran.
Can you both hear me?
Yes.Kieran answered first. Then, Casteel confirmed he could, as well. Kieran frowned.Are we all…?
I didn’t know if it would work, but apparently, it does,I said, aware of everyone watching us. Except for Reaver. After likely frightening Alaric half to death, he’d lowered his head.I agree that we shouldn’t start by telling the people of Solis a lie—one that could be exposed anytime if Kolis makes his presence known.
There is a chance they will never learn about Kolis, Kieran responded.
