Valorre snorted in response, a derisive sound even to her ears.
“I know exactly what and who she is,” Ailan said, ignoring the jibe at Valorre. “I have known her for many years. And based on what she’s told me, I am not pleased by how you’ve treated her in the past.”
Fanon paled but said nothing in his defense.
“If you’re done making my ally feel unwelcome,” Ailan said, “I have someone else I’d like you to meet. Pray you get your salutations right this time around.”
She left the three Elvyn to stand at Mareleau’s side, then placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “This is the blood of my blood, Mareleau Alante, Queen of Vera.”
“KheroandVeramean nothing to us,” Etrix said. There was no reproach in his tone, only truth.
“Khero and Vera are the two kingdoms that comprise the land on the other side of the Veil,” Ailan said. “The land we once called Le’Lana.”
“The land the humans stole,” Fanon said with a scoff.
Ailan ignored him. “There’s one more I want to introduce you to.”
Keeping one hand on Mareleau’s shoulder, Ailan rested the other on the outside of the carrying sling. Mareleau resisted the urge to flinch away. She wasn’t fond of unwarranted touch, but there was something comforting about Ailan’s gesture. She was claiming Mareleau and Noah as her own. In this situation, it was a welcome protection.
“Please meet Noah, blood of my blood and Morkara of El’Ara.”
Etrix bent a knee first, folding into a formal display of obeisance. Garot followed.
Only Fanon hesitated. “Our…Morkara. NotfutureMorkara, not merely your heir.”
“Yes.”
“You relinquished your title to a…a baby.”
“I had my reasons.” She held his gaze with unwavering authority, much like Mareleau had done, until Fanon bent his knee like the others. For the first time, Mareleau felt a kinship with the woman. Perhaps breaking men with fierce looks had been passed down through bloodline.
“Rise,” Ailan said after a few long moments.
The three rose to their feet. Garot spoke with palpable excitement. “We have a Morkara again. This is a moment for future stories! A heroic return to tell for ages, and I’m here to witness it. I can hardly believe my luck.”
Etrix spoke with far more sobriety. “Can we stop the Blight? As regent, you can move themoraon the Morkara’s behalf. You can finish Satsara’s Veil?—”
“There’s much more we must discuss before we take action,” Ailan said. “Everything we do will have vast consequences. Calling themoraback is no small feat. Even if I called back enough to strengthen a team of our greatest wardweavers, it would take time to untie the edges of my mother’s ward and finish where she left off. And that’s without considering that Darius will try to invade before we can finish the Veil, or the thousands upon thousands of humans who inhabit Lela.”
“What happens to the humans is beneath our concern,” Fanon said.
“What happens to the humans is ofmyconcern,” Ailan said, “which makes it yours. Your duties as steward have been fulfilled. I am here now, so you will heed my word.”
There was no room for argument with the edge infusing her tone.
“As you wish, regent.” Fanon spoke through his teeth, but there was a softening around his eyes that harkened back to their bittersweet reunion.
She returned that look, then addressed the others. “The situation may be complex, but I agree it is one we must address at once. Garot, please weave us a path to…”
Etrix finished for her. “Alles’Taria Palace. We kept the name of the original seat of the Morkara, to honor the palace that was lost in El’Ara’s heart.”
The palace that was lost…
Centerpointe Rock.
Cora had told Mareleau about the rock’s origins. While she’d never seen it, only heard about it from Larylis and Cora, the thought that an entire palace could be whittled down to a single ruin like that was chilling.
“To Alles’Taria Palace, then,” Ailan said. “Once we reach it, weave a secondary path to take Cora and Mareleau straight to a private room. I don’t want anyone gawking at our guests, or even knowing they’re here until we’ve spoken with the tribunal.”
