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Elyria’s face fell, and Kit could almost see the self-flagellation occurring behind her sister’s eyes. She moved to go to her, but before she could even take a single step, Cedric was already there.

A silent conversation passed between him and Elyria, his arm going around her shoulder and pulling her against him. Kit’s heart warmed at the sight, though ice still crept through her veins over everything else that had been revealed tonight.

She realized belatedly that Shep was still talking. “. . . and we began making preparations for this sort of possibility soon after Cedric first raised his concerns about Elderglade’s failing protections. The offer of help from your father must have come around the same time, though you’d have to ask the elders for the specifics, since, as I said, I was not privy to those details.”

“I was, though,” said Sephone. “And he’s right. Your father sent messages to the council, asking if he could be of assistance with your recovery.”

“My father is hardly altruistic,” Elyria said with a scoff. “What did he ask for in return?”

Sephone and Raefe exchanged a look.

“What. Did. He. Ask. For?”

“Technically nothing,” Raefe said. “But . . . he’s here. And he would really like to see you.”

36

STRANGE TIDINGS

TENNY

“Ahh, there’s something so freeing about being in the great outdoors, isn’t there? I fear I was beginning to get a bit too accustomed to palace living.” Ollie patted his starkly flat stomach with a wink as he trotted ahead. He adjusted the hood of his cloak, tucking a few stray strands of turquoise behind his ear, then called over his shoulder, “Have I mentioned how glad I am that you finally got off your high horse about waiting to go?”

“So you’ve said,” Tenny replied, pulling her own heavy woolen coat tighter around her shoulders. “Though I feel pressed to note that we are literally on horseback right now.” She reached down to pat Fjaethe on the side of her muscled neck, and the horse nickered, breath misting the air.

“It’s a turn of phrase.” Ollie gestured to his dappled mare, slowing her back to a walk and falling into step beside Tenny. “Paisley and Fjaethe get it, don’t you, girls?”

“You don’t think Elyria will mind me having borrowed her horse, do you?”

“For the four thousandth time, no. If anything, she’ll probably be glad to know the poor creature’s finally getting some attention.”

“Yes, well, something told me that Miss Elizabeth wouldn’t have fared quite so well on the journey. She hasn’t taken more than a quick jaunt around the castle grounds in quite some time.”

“Speaking of the castle . . . What was King Callum’s final word in response to the petition?”

“Thankfully, His Majesty agrees that ferreting out cultist activity is indeed a priority. He has issued orders for a contingent of soldiers to head to Luminaria. They should be on the road soon, if they aren’t already.”

Ollie’s brow creased. “Why don’t you sound happy about that?”

“Oh, I am, believe me. I just feel a bit bad. The latest letter I received from Kit indicated that her efforts in Aerithia to gain aid were . . . less successful.”

“Unfortunately, that doesn’t surprise me. King Lachlandris does not have a reputation for being particularly flexible.”

“Is that an Arcanian trait as a whole?” Tenny asked, grinning.

The crease in Ollie’s brow deepened. “What makes you say that?”

“Relax. I’m only teasing. Although . . .” She tilted her head. “I mean, it would make sense, wouldn’t it? For you all to be far more set in your ways? I think I would be too, if I lived as long as you all did. Already, at the grand old age of twenty-seven, I find myself more and more resistant to change.”

“Well, understandably so. You are basically one foot in the grave already.”

Tenny’s tongue darted out of her mouth, and Ollie laughed. “In all seriousness, though, my heart goes out to Kit. She sounded so defeated by her uncle’s failure to act. And her mother seems to have chosen the path of least resistance, which has to be disappointing.”

“You seem to care very deeply about the Ravenswing family tree,” Ollie said, his mouth pulling knowingly to one side.

“No, I just care about . . .” Tenny cleared her throat. “How much farther until Kinsgaith, would you say? Traipsing along so close to the Chasm makes me nervous.”

“Didn’t you grow up right next to the Chasm?”