Ari groaned. “Donya, I count on you to be the rational one.”
Ysabel said, “Our criminal element could mug the tame organized crime in Faan. If a dragon went to the bad part of town? We’d see a sudden rise in gemlike scales being sold on the black market and dragon steaks offered in street food stands.”
“Don’t count the countryside out,” I insisted. “A dragon couldn’t last on a diet of insects like we do in hard times.”
Ysabel raised her fist in the air. “Tell that lizard he’d better get back here and try to conquer us, or I will skin him for a pair of boots.”
“Yeah! He’s big enough to make boots for everyone here!” I cried.
Donya was about to write that down before Ari shouted, “We don’t want another nation trying to conquer us, remember?”
An embarrassed silence fell across the room as we all realized what madness our patriotism had nearly driven us to. Ysabel sniffled.“You’re right, I know. Even so, there was no need for the Dragon Emperor to be insulting about it. He acted like there wasn’t a single object or person in all of Arahasnor worthy of hoarding! Where does he get off? He doesn’t know us. He hasn’t even seen my petunias.” She rubbed at the tears forming around her eyes. “Aargh, I wish I could stop crying. I’m not even sad, I’mangry.”
Kaine put an arm around her. “Do you know what would make you feel better? I’ll put a hole in that stupidly long wall around Faan. I can pretend it was an accident.”
The sound of breaking glass drew our eyes to the other side of the room. A clown wearing a bright purple wig, giant shoes, a red nose, and a puffy rainbow shirt burst through the window. He licked a rusty knife and cackled, “Blood Duchess, today is the day—”
Without looking over his shoulder, Kaine punched the assassin under the chin. The clown went through the wall, leaving a body-sized hole. Judging from the distant sound of crashing, he’d also flown through the royal stables and a few other buildings.
Kaine looked over his shoulder. “Whatwasthat lightweight thing? Was the latest Avenger a fly assassin?”
On second thought, I decided maybe Kaine could take a dragon after all. It was good to have him on our side.
From the ceiling, Alzira complained, “I was about to do that. I thought it would be polite to let him finish his speech first.” Holy shit, had she been in the room this entire time?
I turned to Ari. “Was that a friend of yours? I’m sorry. We could go check if he survived the fall … though I have my doubts …”
Ari snorted. “Nah, that guy was always an asshole.”
Ysabel and I went to the kitchen together to return our dirty mugs. Only afterward did I remember I had servants now. I needed a chance to talk to her anyway. I’d recently mailed another letter full of lies to Benoni and our parents, and I felt guilty contemplating even more lies in the future. I tugged her into a cushioned nook in the hallway. Light from the curved window made it the perfect reading spot. “Yzzy, a moment?”
“Apparently we have all the time in the world now that Faancan’t even be bothered to conquer us,” she grumbled.
“Can I tell Benoni the truth about how our older brother died? Next time I see him in person, of course. I can’t risk a letter ever since I found out Mom goes through our mail.”
To my surprise, Ysabel stiffened.
“I wouldn’t without your permission,” I reassured her, even though I really did want permission. Our youngest brother shouldn’t be the only one out of the loop. It would be unfair. “He took Calum’s death hard. I caught him talking to someone not there several times.”
“Plenty of people talk to themselves. Maybe it helps him think.”
“He was talking to Calum.”
“Oh. I’ll see about arranging for a counselor; the elves have made amazing strides in that area.” Ysabel wrapped her arms around her shoulders. “Sure, you can tell him. If you think it will help.”
“Is something wrong?” I asked.
Ysabel wouldn’t meet my gaze. “Aren’t you angry at me?”
“For threatening Ari?” I blinked. “Nah. He didn’t seem to mind. Just look at how casual he was with you today. I think he took it in the spirit it was meant. The queen came by to threaten me in return this morning. It was adorable.”
Ysabel looked at me as if I’d gone insane. “No, because I caused Calum’s death!”
I gasped. “No, you didn’t. Surely you know that, Yzzy. His death wasn’t your fault.”
“He died because of me. Isn’t that the same?” There was no real question in her voice, only a dull resignation.
“It’s not the same at all! Would you blamemeif Calum had died saving my life?”
