“And what about Fairon?”I ask Leon.
He turns to his brother. “Did you bring it?”
“Bring what?” Tira frowns.
Fairon glances from Sophos, to the dryads, then to Becane, clearly reluctant to answer.
“Caledon wants to bring all of Tiearland to its knees, brother,” Leon reminds him. “They all have a stake in this fight.”
“Alright,” Fairon sighs. “Yes, I did bring the star,” he says eventually. “Though I must say I don’t like taking it out of Filusia at all. It’s already done enough damage.”
“The star?” Becane asks.
“It was my idea,” I say. “A few years ago, a star fell in Filusia—a powerful piece of celestial rock.”
“Like the gaidonesti,” Diomi says.
“Diomi!” Letrium gasps. “Would you really give away our secrets so easily?”
“Her Majesty’s company already know about them,” Diomi points out. “And the prince is right. We cannot expect to work together if we do not trust each other.”
“Yes,” I say as Letrium lapses into silence, looking thunderous. “At first, the Filusians thought this fallen star was a gift from the gods, like the gaidonesti that lie beneath Starfall. But this star’s celestial magic is different. It has a dark, cursed kind of power which makes people who come into contact with it very sick, even killing them.”
“And you think this star could hurt Caledon?” Becane asks skeptically. “Because its power is celestial?”
“Because the darkness that possesses the star is the same kind of darkness that dwells in Caledon,” I say. “I’ve seen both, and if there’s any match for him, this is it. Caledon may be unkillable with mortal magic, but the star’s power comes directly from the gods. I think it could at least be enough to weaken him.”
“People like Caledon take power wherever they can,” Leon points out. “His greed can make him rush into seizing powerfrom dangerous sources. All we have to do is get him to sabotage himself.”
“All?” Tira says doubtfully. “No offense, Leon, but I think you’re underplaying that plan a bit.”
“It might not be easy; we don’t even know for sure if it will work,” I say. “But we could kill every cleric and Temple soldier in that forest, and Caledon would still be standing, so we’ll try something different.”
“I think it’s worth a shot,” Vostani says. “I’m sorry about what I said before, Your Majesty. You’re right. His power might be unique, but it sounds like this star is special too.”
“How do we get him to take the bait?” Stratton asks. He’s slipped into the tent with Hyllus and Phaia as we’ve been talking. I’m relieved to see them all and am about to offer my suggestions when a calm, quiet voice cuts through the tent.
“These gaidonesti, they are Agathyre’s source of celestial power, I take it?”
The dryads stiffen as they turn toward Sophos. “They are,” Diomi says warily. I wonder if he regrets his honesty a moment ago.
It takes me a moment to understand what Sophos is getting at, but when I do, I’m reminded once again that he’s not a man to be trifled with.
“You’re thinking we should hide the cursed star within an even more tempting source of power?” I ask.
Sophos nods.
“No, absolutely not,” Letrium snaps. “You’re not even supposed to know about the gaidonesti, let alone use them to lure that maniac in and risk having him drain them dry!Quas gain Agathyrus pestilixe salune. Hasper joit vidone.”
The dryad lapses into angry muttering in Agathyrian. I don’t bother to translate to the others, seeing as it’s mostly about how the gods have to save his people from these crazed vermin.
Inas shushes Letrium, pressing a finger to her green-haired temple, as if to quiet her mind.
“I suppose if we don’t do this, then all of Agathyre will fall to that madman?” she asks.
“That seems the likeliest outcome,” I say.
“Then that decides it,” Inas says, turning to Diomi. “We have no better option. We will take this star back to the capital and place it among the gaidonesti. Then you can lead Caledon to it.”
