“That they’re the true reason Lucifer set Gall up. I don’t know if Lucifer is feeding it to them, or if they’re just seeing it for themselves, but your line about building a new nation with the women… they’re starting to whisper that, Melek. Except, there’s no mention of peace, or consent or… anything. They’re just talking about the strength of the women. That little trick, getting Istral to heal Gall—now they’re convinced the Fetch are more than just assassins and shadows. They’re guessing about other powers. I heard one Advisor suggest sending a handful of Neph fora hunt.”
Yilan hissed and Diadre shook her head.
“The only thing that stopped them was the Shadows of Shade, but you know it won’t be forever. Wehaveto get their eyes back on Gall andyou.”
I sighed, but nodded. “I guess you two have done your work well,” I muttered to Yilan, who smiled and nodded, but I felt the pinch of unease in her too. It turned into a jagged bolt of fear when Istral’s name was mentioned.
“It’s time to move onto the deeper questions,” she said quietly, sharing a glance with Diadre. “They need to be reminded whoyouare, Melek—and where the Neph are going. If they want to talk about Fetch women, well… let them hear about yours.”
“Absolutely not. Putting you in the frame was never part of—”
“If they think we add strength to the Neph, then it’s one more point in your favor!”
I stopped walking and turned on her, Jann and Diadre gathering in too. “It’s speculation and gossip—it could turn to something else tomorrow. It’s not worth putting you and Diadre—not to mention Istral—ingreaterdanger just for a rumor!”
Yilan’s lips pursed and she folded her arms. “I don’t want to defy you, Melek, but I will. We can’t step softly into this. Diadre’sexperience with Manna was proof of that—the way to get this out there is to hit hard and fast, and with everything we have.”
“I’m not putting you on a butcher’s block for arumor!”
“It’s not a rumor. It’s the truth. You might have noticed that the truth has a habit of enduring.”
I growled. “This is a truth that could have a habit of coming back to bite us firmly in the ass. I’m already nervous about you being out there alone, now you want me to tell you to paint a target on your own back!”
“No, I want you—both of you—to trust us. We know how to do this. We were made for this, and we’re willing to do whatever is needed to make it work.”
I glanced at Jann, whose face had tightened further. I was surprised he didn’t argue with me—he was even more terrified of Diadre being out in the dark every night, than I was with Yilan.
I clawed a hand through my hair. “Not yet.”
“But—”
“I’m not saying no. I’m saying, that was never part of the original plan. Let’s see how we go with the next stage. You were right about that—it’s time for them to hear the name that should replace Gall’s. I can’t even believe those words are coming out of my mouth. I hate doing this, Ihateusing his limitations against him.”
“This is war, Mel,” Jann said bluntly. “You’ve always acknowledged that an enemy’s weaknesses need to be exploited.”
I snarled at him. “Gall will never be my enemy.”
Jann stayed quiet for a moment. I was about to turn back to the girls when he finally spoke.
“But what if he is?”
“I told you—!”
“What if, no matter how much you love him, heisyour enemy?” Jann asked, and his expression was haunting. “Whatif… what if you want to love him, but youhaveto fight him because he doesn’t give you any choice?”
The hair on the back of my neck stood up as I turned on my closest friend. “Gall is my son, I will protect him to my death. No matter what—just asyousay you’d do for yours.”
I looked at Yilan and Diadre, daring either of them to speak up in Jann’s defense. Neither did.
Jann didn’t respond right away, but just as the silence grew awkward, he sighed. “Would you let him kill you, Mel?” he asked quietly.Reluctantly.
I met his eyes and grit my teeth. “I’d do everything I could to stop it happening, but if it was the only way… yes.”
Yilan stiffened, but Jann nodded sadly, as if it was only what he’d expected. “That’s why I always said you’d make a better king than me.”
Then he started walking again, tugging Diadre with him, while Yilan and I gaped at his back.
27. Like a Tree
