His voice came from somewhere below the floor. The Slurvinis froze mid-shift, held by something they could not name.
Aviaryn did not uncross her arms. She did not lower her finger.
“You have offended me,” she said. “Aviaryn. Ruler of the Umbrelai. Mistress of Nightmares and Goodbyes.”
The hall went quiet except for the low confused hum of the Slurvini.
Axar watched with genuine interest. The princess had always had a gift for theater. This was looking to be one of her better performances.
The Slurvini hum rose again. More began to shift, hair tearing aside, jaws locking into place, a ring of half-changed bodies forming around her. Flag’s nearest head snapped toward the rafters.
Aviaryn reached up and untied her blindfold. She slipped it free in one smooth motion. Her eyes were a deep red, the pupils gold. She let them move across every being in the room, unhurried, taking each one in.
Then she whispered, “Aviora.”
The darkness that followed was not simply the absence of light. It pressed into every corner, swallowing the torches whole. The sigils on the ceiling flickered and died. Axar could feel the fear at the Slurvini table from across the room and found it deeply satisfying.
The chantresses began, their voices layered and eerie, older than the hall itself. Umbrelai creatures moved through the dark. Behind the princess, Deep spread her wings, eyes burning deep purple. Lethal and efficient. Axar had always respected her.
Aviaryn lifted her face toward the shadowed ceiling. “Kingdom of Umbrelai, hear me clearly. I am upset.”
Deep spread her wings wider. “What displeases you, Highness?"
Aviaryn nodded before speaking again. "I was on my way to plant my whisperers when I was disturbed by the Slurvini accosting my ally."
"There was no accosting?—”
"It is rude to interrupt, Selana," Aviaryn said, quite pointedly not using Selana's title. She stared at Selana. “You mistake noise for power. It is not. Now be patient, I will punish you in a moment."
Aviaryn sighed, then continued. "Umbrelai, you must find the information I seek. The wards hold. For now. We listen for what wishes not to be found. Check every province. Every kingdom. Every village. When you are done, listen at the edges.”
King Axar raised an eyebrow. Even for the Umbrelai, this was ambitious.
"Anyone who stands in your way may be removed," she said with a soft giggle.
Flag bowed all three heads at once. “Yes, Princess.” Then he broke into a grin that showed every fang, because this was his favorite part and he did not bother pretending otherwise.
She said the words that made even the shadows listen.
“Kiss the sky.”
The floor erupted. Hundreds of Umbrelai creatures shot upward in streaks of shadow and crimson light. Thunder answered outside. Deep roared and followed, and the chantresses sang triumphant over all of it.
Aviaryn turned toward the Slurvini.
"Now," she said quietly. "You dared move against Korakar, Slurvini." She pulled a sweet out of her pocket and put it in her mouth. "That was not nice."
Selana's face went pale.
The princess paused, then sighed again. She twirled a strand of hair in her hand, clearly ready to continue with her lecture.
Flag’s eyes found Axar’s for an instant, and Axar let his face say what he needed it to say.Let’s move this along.
Flag understood immediately. “Princess, the creatures must prepare to find the key you seek.”
Aviaryn sighed. “Fine.” She turned back to the Slurvini, who looked more confused than afraid, which told Axar everything.
She smiled at them sweetly. “You should be nicer to us in the future.”
