"You still have not told us the nature of your escape," Soli said, changing the subject.
"How I escaped torture and slavery is not your business," Nyssa said. "The people who need to know the details know. The people who you should trust know. They werethere. The Venari King and your own Commander weretherewhen I escaped. Why is that not good enough for you?"
Soli didn't speak.
"The conversation of where my loyalties lie is over. We have more important things to discuss here," Nyssa snapped. "Like where you all stand in your legions and how the harvest is going so that our world doesn't starve while we await slaughter and slavery.Commander—“
"Yes, Princess?" Nadir said, head lifting.
“—I believe you can continue your meeting," she continued without looking at him. "Should Amberglass have more questions about my loyalty, she can find me on the beach at sunrise."
"Is that a challenge?" Soli asked.
"Would you like it to be?" Nyssa dared.
A low whistle emitted from the back of the room, though Nyssa didn't see who did it. Nadir stood again, and the conversation between Nyssa and Soli was brought to a halt as he began talking to his Generals once more. Nyssa didn't lose her stare with the woman for a long moment. It was Soli who moved first. She shifted in her seat, and Nyssa took the opportunity to circle back around the room.
Each General stood to give him an update. Nyssa walked back around to the front table and stood behind Nadir, one hand on the back of his chair. Her eyes continued to wander, watching the Generals, noting their occasional fidgeting.
Once, she even found herself tapping twice on the back of the chair.
Lex heard it, and she met Nyssa's eyes. But she didn't question the man speaking. Nadir changed the subject once they were finished. And it was time to talk about their guests in the west.
"A rider from their settlement came to the Village of Dreams while I was there," one of the traders announced. "Asking to barter with them for food. I told him any talk of trade goes through us, not through the Village."
Nadir nodded. "What else from the rumors?"
"I swam out to our home place yesterday," Soli said, referring to where the Honest children were born from. "I counted twice the number of ships on their shore than the week before. I think they are building something."
"They're building their castle," Nyssa said.
"I did not see one," Soli argued, head tilting. "The home place is far enough out past the edge of the peninsula. I should have seen it if they are building one. I did not."
"It's by the cliffs," Nyssa said. "Nearly on the western shore. You would not be able to see it. It's too far away. Almost two days on horseback from here."
"They have been landing at the edge of the Preymoor peninsula at the Mouth in previous months," Soli said. "Why would you think they were there?"
"Because I was at their fucking castle," Nyssa snapped, hand creasing on the edge of Nadir's chair.
But Soli ignored her.
"If they are bringing in more and more people, I should think they are also bringing weapons with them. Building up forts."
"That they are," Nyssa grunted.
"We need to attack," Soli said.
"Suicide," Nyssa mumbled.
"We cannot continue to sit back and let them build," she continued. "The weapons they had the last they were here are greater than our own—“
"They are," Nyssa interjected. "If you'd like to know—“
“—We need to take them before they take us."
"You know, Amberglass," Nyssa cut in, this time louder than before. "I wasn't aware that you were their captive too."
The air stiffened.
