“Batlok is already on his way back,” Iona said softly. “He threatened us with war, and we know he wants revenge for the death of his niece… and far more than that, for the loss of the power and wealth he believes we owe him. We need to beat him back to Kwanam and see the emperor first.”
Danikha shook her head, and Iona opened her mouth to argue, but the queen hushed her with a gentle hand on her arm. “You’re right. Someone needs to speak directly to the emperor,” Danikha agreed. “Just… I don’t want it to be you.”
Iona placed her hand over her mother’s, holding them together. “I want to do this. I’m the only one who knows thetreaty forward and back. I’m the only one who can negotiate this for us. If I can prevent a war, it will be worth it.”
“And if you die?” Kai rasped. The words seemed to have been dragged from him. They hung in the air as he added a belated, “Your Highness.” He cleared his throat, palpably gathering his thoughts and rebuilding his decorum before adding, “Strategically, it seems a little fraught.”
Iona straightened, her gaze locked on his and her tone chilly as she repeated, “Fraught?”
Perhaps Kai didn’t sense her ire because he continued roughly. “Yes. When I’m playing the Stone Game, I don’t send the rainmaker across the board first. Why would I do that?”
“You would do it if it was the best chance you had of infiltrating your opponent’s lines,” Iona insisted. “And that’s not even relevant because this isnota game!” she added hotly, not seeming to realize that Kai had compared her to the single most important piece on the board. “Real lives depend on this, which is why I have to go!”
“Why not send Shane then?” Kai demanded. “It’s his marriage, after all. Shouldn’t he go after his bride-to-be? Shouldn’t he take some responsibility?”
Shane growled, and then Iona and Shane both started shouting at the same time, speaking over each other as if they were both teenagers again.
“Enough!” Danikha barked, her skin glittering with scales.
“Sorry, Your Majesty,” Kai muttered, dropping his eyes to the carpet. Iona and Shane glared at each other, and then they both glared at Kai before muttering something that may have been apologies to their mother.
Danikha waited until they were quiet. “I’d been thinking along these lines myself.” Her voice was composed, her face calm, but Izzy noticed a tiny tremble in Danikha’s hands where she held them in her lap. “We need to send a delegation…and we’ll need a strategically gifted leader. Someone who can negotiate on our behalf with the full authority of the throne.” She sighed, somehow looking a little smaller than before. “I agree with my daughter’s assessment. She is the best person for this mission.” Danikha looked around the room. “However, she will need a team she trusts implicitly, and there is no one I trust more than all of you.”
“I volunteer to accompany her,” Kai said, stepping forward. “I will….” He paused, took a breath, and seemed to reassess what he’d almost said. “I volunteer,” he said again. He nudged his best friend with his elbow. “And so does Aiden.”
“Yes, of course,” Aiden agreed. “We’ll keep the princess safe. If we hurry, we can catch up to our crown legions. We can travel with the troops, and?—”
Iona stopped him with a quick shake of her head. “We need to be fast and secret. I don’t want to arrive with an army, days after Batlok has spread his poison, looking like we want a fight. We’ll travel hard and get there first. Cori can lead our forces in behind us if necessary.”
Izzy looked between them. Only two guards for the princess weren’t enough, not for what she was suggesting, no matter how skilled Aiden and Kai were.
“I’ll come with you,” Shane stated firmly. “You can negotiate, and I’ll?—”
Iona cut him off. “You can’t come.”
“I can?—”
“No. We can’t both go. One of us—you—has to stay here and live for many years. Help protect our country and our people and make the changes we’ve talked about. No matter what happens.”
“We need you here, Shane,” the queen agreed softly. “I’m tasking you with reopening the temple to make it accessible to all our people. At the same time, you will need to work with Ryland to find Dashiell, find out who the baron is, and weed outthis horror.” She met her son’s gaze with clear authority. “We have been too focused on getting this trade deal finalized, to the exclusion of all else. We have work to do here. It’s time.”
Izzy watched the emotions play across Luka’s face. A muscle ticked in his fully scaled jaw as he watched the debate. He was caught between two loyalties—his need to keep everyone safe and his love for Izzy. He’d resigned for her, and he would stay true to that promise even if it killed him.
I know what to do.
Yes. Izzy lifted Luka’s hand to her lips and kissed his knuckles. Then she turned to the queen and smiled. “I volunteer.”
Danikha spun toward her, a gleam of hope in her eyes, just as Luka drew in a rough breath. “What about your shop… your life?” he growled.
“I’d like to make sure the clinics run,” Izzy admitted, “but the shop… it’ll still be there when we get back.”
“Are you sure?” Luka whispered.
“Am I sure I want to protect our princess—our friend—and keep our country safe with you?” She kissed his knuckles again. “I’m sure.”
“Gods.” Luka leaned forward to rest his forehead on hers. “You are magnificent.” He leaned back just enough to turn his head and face the queen. “I volunteer.”
For the first time since Iona suggested her plan, Danikha’s lips twitched into a tiny smile. “Thank you. All of you.” She stood and walked across to Luka’s side and laid her hand on his shoulder. “I accept your resignation, Commander, and I promote you to knight of the realm.” She looked down at him with pride and warmth. “Keep your coin. It’s yours.”
