“But her talent needs to be developed,” Chaska continues. “It’s not where it should be, given her age. However, the vulture deemed her worthy of Paititi.” She tilts her head. “The vulture deemed thembothworthy.”
Sonco raises an inky brow. “So, you are a seer.”
“Yes,” I say.
“But inept.”
“I’ve been instructed on how to enhance my gift.” I force myself not to glance toward my hands. It’s true that I was educated, but I barely remember it.
Sonco listens quietly, shoulders straight and proud. He does not make any unnecessary movements or waver in his attention. There’s nothing coy about this king, and intuition tells me to play the game honestly, or he might sweep me off the board entirely. “We do not welcome strangers here, outsider. Have you come to learn the ways of Luna?”
I blink, sure I’ve misunderstood. Did he just offer to train me? “I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Your gift is a valuable one and it should not be wasted. Among our people, the ability to predict the future is a rare one, and it is usually passed down through families.”
“My great-aunt was a seer.”
“Then you ought to complete your schoolinghere.There’s much we can teach you.”
It takes everything in me to not cry out in frustration. They expect me to learn about the stars from them? We are Luna’s true children. “I have not come for lessons,” I say stiffly.
“Then why have you come?” Kusi asks flatly.
“I know you don’t invite strangers into your beautiful city,” I say. “I’m thankful to be here. Truly. I don’t come with weapons, but a plea.”
“That much is obvious,” Kusi says. On closer inspection, I realize that he’s a lot younger than I first thought. It’s his battle scars that give him the air of seasoned maturity. But the rest of his face is smooth and unlined, radiating health, except for where steel met skin.
“Brother,” Sonco chides. “Let her speak.”
But Kusi ignores the admonishment. He half turns toward Manuel, one warrior assessing another. “Then again, perhaps you are not as defenseless as you seem.”
“She is my sovereign,” Manuel says. “And I will protect her with my life.”
“You were about to tell us why you’ve come,” Sonco says.
“I’ve come because I need your help—and because it might benefit you as well.”
He drops his chin, and I’m surprised to find the slightest smirk teasing the corner of his mouth. “You’ve come to the junglewillingly?”
My fingers tangle together in my lap. Everyone’s gaze drags across my skin. A thousand accusing pricks. What if he knows of my fate—of what happened back home? That’s impossible this far removed from Illustrian society. Again, my instincts are loud, clanging as sharply as bells.Don’t evade what he’s implying. Meet his words with the truth.I swallow and shake my head. “No, not willingly. I was banished to die here. On my own”—I shift my attention to Manuel—“but I found a friend, someone loyal to my family. I’m the rightful heir to the Inkasisa throne.”
“So you are a princesa of the realm?” he asks. “An important, beloved member of your people?”
“I am no princess,” I say. “I am a condesa, and the only surviving member of my family. They died a little over ten years ago, during the Llacsan revolt that ended with the queen’s death.”
“When one of the Llacsans summoned ghosts.”
“How do you know this?” Manuel demands.
“We have our ways.”
He means spies. My gaze immediately shoots to Kusi. He regards us with a slightly bored expression while Manuel studies him in return.
“Continue with your tale,” Chaska says.
I take a deep breath. “The Llacsans not only called forth ghosts, their leader created a powerful earthquake.”
“Yes, I remember.” Sonco frowns. “We felt the tremors here.”
