“You did tell me,” he agrees. “And I believed you.” He glances up toward Igaa. “I returned to the ice forests with this news. Many were wary. Many did not believe it. But I convinced a small number to join me. To see.” He pauses. “And we found you embroiled in a battle.”
“Briarlock,” I say.
“Yes.”
I think of what happened in that battle, the way the scravers appeared to help—and then fled immediately. They must have been wary of Grey’s magic—or Lia Mara’s rule. But then the king and queen did nothing to go after them, because they wouldn’t. “So those scravers who helped us in Briarlock are the ones onyourside,” I say.
“Yes.” Ice forms on the bark of the trees nearby. “Xovaar was not among them. He came later, when it became clear that we could cross the Frozen River without repercussions.”
—He resents the treaty, Igaa adds from above.
Nakiis nods. “We may have magic, but humans have us outnumbered. In the past, we lived in peace—and shared our magic, using Iishellasan steel. In the beginning, scravers did not realize humans would inherit the magical properties of our steel—but as I said, we were at peace. This was considered a blessing. But eventually, tensions grew among the magesmiths and the humans—and therefore among the scravers as well. When a human child died in the conflicts, the scravers were banished to Iishellasa, and the magesmiths fled Syhl Shallow. Again—the scravers meant no harm to humans, but we were treatybound to remain in the ice forests. As time went on and previous queens refused to allow us to cross the Frozen River, many scravers grew to resent the treaty. Many of us wanted to leave.”
I’m studying him. “Is that whyyouleft?”
“Yes.” He pauses. “But I meant no harm. I sought out a magesmith, as we were once allies. I thought perhaps we could approach the queen of Syhl Shallow together.” Another pause, and more ice forms around us. “But the magesmith tricked me, trapping me with her magic, using my power for her own will.”
With a start, I realize what he’s talking about. “Lilith,” I say.
The magesmith who nearly destroyed Emberfall. Who tortured Rhen and Grey. Who provoked the war between both countries.
Nakiis nods. “Yes. I did not keep this a secret—and perhaps I should have. Many of the others refuse to risk any further strife. They have no desire to live in peace with any of you. They simply want what was taken—so it can never be taken again.”
“But how?” I say—and as soon as I say the words, Iknowhow.
“By killing you. Any magesmith they can find. Anywhere they sense the presence of magic. Anywhere they believe they may find a scrap of charmed steel.”
I already know Nakiis himself sensed my magic in the woods, when I was traveling with Malin. And it’s likely the other scravers sensed it when I was with the soldiers, too.
I think of everyone who has a ring of Iishellasan steel. Noah. Jake. Lia Mara. Princess Harper has one, but she doesn’t wear it often. But there are several artifacts in the castle there, just like they have here.
As I work this through, Malin says, “But if they’re only after the magic, why are they attacking innocent people?”
“The scravers know that magic is no longer welcome here. We are outnumbered. The best way for Xovaar to drive any magesmiths out of hiding is to convince more humans that magic is dangerous. On theother side of the border, that has been easy—Emberfall already has a bitter past with magic. But once Xovaar learned that the Truthbringers were also working against your king here in Syhl Shallow, he knew he would have allies on this side of the border as well.”
“The Truthbringers are willing to let their own people die, just to get rid of magic?” says Malin.
“Yes,” I say, realizing that they’ve been doing that all along. I think of Callyn in the hallway, mentioning the rumors that Grey was interrogating more citizens. I remember Alek standing in the throne room, the way he rallied enough people againstmethat Grey demanded the return of my rings that very instant. “They were willing to let thequeendie, just to get rid of magic. They’re willing to go to war. Again.”
Nakiis nods. “Discontent toward the king has never been so high. A time will come when the scravers can rely on the Truthbringers to kill him—or Syhl Shallow will drive him out, and they can do it themselves. Either way, the attacks will continue until the magesmiths are revealed. I try to stop them when I can, but you saw how many of us were in Briarlock. We are few.” He pauses. “They are many.”
“Is this why you want my help? To stop Xovaar?”
“If it were him alone, I would not need your help. But there are hundreds who believe as he does. He is not the problem, Tycho. Now that the scravers have escaped the ice forests, they will not stop until they ensure that we cannot be trapped again.”
Hundreds.Hundreds of scravers attacking people on both sides of the border, trying to eradicate magic.
All while the Truthbringers are trying to do the same thing.
As much as I hate the discord between me and Grey, I know what I need to do. “I need to tell the king.”
“The king cannot help,” says Nakiis.
“He hasmagic,” I say sharply. “And he’s had a lot more practice than me.”
“I will not bind myself to your king,” Nakiis says. “And he cannot stand against them alone.”
He’s said something like that before, and it makes me stop short. “Is that what you intend to do? Bind yourself tome?” I hesitate, trying to work it out—and I realize what he said about the magesmith Lilith. “Does it let me access your magic?”
