“It’s likely that the other Princepes know about Etarla’s eyes. Koerlyn paraded her around enough that spies probably caught wind. Saying hello wouldn’t reveal anything new,” Ana offered.
Harthon regarded her thoughtfully. “Aside from me and Koerlyn, no one knows about themagvis’escape, the path into the Domus, or that Etarla now knows that route. If they’ve heard about her eye color, they probably think she’s just anothermagvis, considering how much trouble Koerlyn and I have gone through to get her. Ellan is an ally who wouldn’t try to take her, but he’ll ask questions that are hard to answer.”
“How can you be so sure that no one else knows there’s a route into the Domus?” I interjected.
“This letter,” he said, tapping the box with a long finger, “is the only reason we know there is a tunnel into the Domus and that themagvishas to give that information to another before dying. When Tamen received the letter, he was allies with Koerlyn, and only shared it with him. If Koerlyn told the other Princepes that themagvisescaped and is the reason for your eye color, he’d be revealing that there is a wayout of and into the Domus.”
Of course, they wouldn’t want competition in their race to enter Centralis and claim its resources.
From across the table, North evaluated me, his attention unnerving. “Would it be so bad to go to Ellan, pretend that she is amagvis, and spread that story? If the other Princepes believe you have amagviswith you, they’ll fear you even more. It’s an opportunity to solidify more alliances.”
It was the first thoughtful comment I’d ever heard him offer. Perhaps there was intelligence hidden beneath all of his grumbling hatred.
“Wouldn’t that make them want to come and take her rather than forge alliances?” Ana questioned, thankfully pulling North’s focus away from me.
“They wouldn’t dare to invade and attempt capture. Harthon is already feared on his own. If they believe he’s armed with amagvis,they’ll think he’s unbeatable and pledge loyalty.”
“But if they instead hear that she’s just a powerless human who knows the route into the Domus, they’ll be more keen to challenge Harthon and take her,” Ana concluded, finishing the thought.
Harthon’s fingers drummed a casual staccato on the table. “The first story that people hear is always the most believable.” Those fingers stopped. “You’re right, North. It wouldn’t be a terrible idea.”
I partially expected Callen to insult North’s idea, given their constant bickering, but he simply nodded in respectful agreement. “And what about your cabinet and our people? Do we tell them, or do we continue to keep Etarla’s presence hidden?”
“Hidden for now. We’ve never been completely honest about the existence of themagvis. I’m not sure that now is the right time.”
Well, if Harthon intended to keep me isolated in my room, it was a good thing I was leaving tonight. That was no way to live.
When no one objected to his decision, Harthon said, “We’ll leave for Fifth in a few days. I have an unfortunate cabinet meeting to hold, and we need to solidify our defenses against Koerlyn before we go. Cal, you’ll take those few days to begin training. Any questions, Etarla?”
Did I have questions? No. Just like that, Harthon and his group had given me all the answers, determining my future without an ounce of my opinion.
I remained silent, anticipation for tonight welling inside of me.
Harthon’s dark eyes roamed my face, analytical in their perusal. I kept my face blank, hoping he couldn’t see through to my thoughts. “Cal, take Etarla to her room. Start with simple maneuvers. She’s still recovering from yesterday.”
I stood on steady feet. “I’m not still recovering. I’m fine,” I said, determined to speak for myself at least once in this meeting.
Harthon’s lips curved. “Cal.”
“Heard you loud and clear, Hart. We’ll take it easy today, then we can play with punches and kicks tomorrow, Fish Eyes.”
“Fish Eyes?” Ana said the name with as much disdain as I felt.
Callen pointed at her. “No stealing my nickname,” he declared, swaggering to the double doors and pulling them open.
“It’snotmy nickname,” I told the woman, and then I followed Callen without a glance at the two men.
As we walked down the stairs, I again slowed at the window, eying the dark opening in the garden wall that would be my entrance to the kitchen.
“How’s your balance?” Callen asked as he led us down the hallway.
“It’s fine.”
Chapter 10
My balance was not at all fine. Callen had spent nearly an hour setting me in a staggered position and prodding me. The goal was to not let him move me, and after stumbling and tipping countless times, he eventually moved on to single-leg stands for the next hour.
“Balance is the foundation of any offensive or defensive position,”he’d said.
