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“And those who can’t?”

“They can leave,” answered Sephone with a shrug.

Elyria glanced at Cedric, whose worry was evident on his perfect face. She bit the inside of her lip. “I suppose if my experience in Havensreach taught me nothing else,” she offered, “it’s that humans can indeed be convinced that we scary Arcanians are not, in fact, so frightening after all. They just have to, you know, actually meet some of us.”

“That’s right. Even the infamous Revenant won many hearts and minds in Kingshelm.” The furrow of Cedric’s brow relaxed, and internally, Elyria preened. “That’s how it was before the Shattering, when my grandparents ruled, was it not? How it can be—should be—again.”

Tartanis nodded approvingly, and Elyria raised her brow in surprise. He was certainly taking all this unifying talk in shocking stride, given his previously expressed concerns over Elyria and Cedric being together. His green eyes darted from their crowns to the rings on their fingers, and her eyebrow arched farther.

“My only wish is for our people to have a home,” said a thin voice, and it was only then that Elyria noticed Elder Jung sitting in a nearby chair, watching their conversation with something akin to amusement on his face.

Elyria’s expression fell. “I am sorry about Elderglade. It’s my fault your home is lost.”

The elder laughed softly. “Do you have a habit of taking on the burden of blame you have no reason to bear?”

“Yes,” said Cedric and Tartanis at the same time.

Elyria narrowed her eyes at them both. Like you’re one to talk, she wanted to say to Cedric. Maybe you should practice taking on a bit more, she wanted to spit at her father. But she held her tongue in both cases, letting Elder Jung continue.

“It matters not where our home is, only that it is at all,” finished the elder.

“But Elderglade was your safe haven, a sanctuary that stood for centuries before . . .” Elyria swallowed hard. “Before me. And it now lies in ashes.”

“When you stop the dark sorcerer”—the elder tilted his head at Elyria—“and when you take up the mantle and rule of these lands”—he tilted it at Cedric—“what need will there be for a sanctuary?”

“I do not mean to offend, Elder,” Cedric said softly, “but that feels shockingly naive.”

“And you know if he’s the one saying so, it really must be,” Sephone added with a devilish smirk.

Elyria shot her a silencing glare. The fae might not be wrong, but that was the sort of thing that was only acceptable for Elyria herself to say. She took a sip of broth to prevent herself from replying with something uncharitable. There was no point in starting a fight now, regardless of how much she might enjoy it.

“Is your party ready to depart?” Tartanis asked her.

“Is yours?” Elyria shot back, then pressed her lips together. “Sorry. Habit. Yes, we are. Cedric, Kit, Thraigg, Jocelyn, Shep, and I head north imminently, to reconnect with Tenny, Tristan, Ollie, and Zephyr. Along with a handful of others from Elderglade who have elected to join us.” She gave Elder Jung a deferential nod. “For which we are very grateful.”

“Less than a dozen Arcanians against the dark sorcerer’s forces,” Raefe tutted. “I understand that the two of you are powerful now, but⁠—”

“But the two of you took on dozens by yourselves in Castle Lumin,” she said, waving her hand between Cedric and Raefe. “The village of Kinsgaith is small. How many cultists could there possibly be?”

“We had the element of surprise then.”

“Who’s to say we won’t have it again this time?”

Sephone laughed. “I appreciate your optimism, Elle, but I think the smarter play is to assume you most definitely will not. Even if you manage to shadowstep your entire party, horses and all, directly to Malakar’s door, it would be foolish to assume he won’t have some trick hiding up his sleeve.”

Elyria clenched her jaw. “Well, the three of you are welcome to come along if you’d like to bolster our numbers. But maybe you’re too scared to join the fight.”

Raefe bristled, and Sephone’s expression hardened. Tartanis loosed a deep sigh. Tension fell over the entire tent, so thick, it was a miracle the canvas-lined ceiling didn’t buckle.

“Our victory is all but ensured,” Cedric said, a clear attempt to break the tension. “You all forget the most important thing.”

Four quizzical fae faces turned toward him in unison.

“Why, we’ll have Sid, too, of course.”

Sephone and Raefe chuckled, but Elyria rolled her eyes. “So certain of that, are you? When’s the last time you even saw her?” she asked, wishing she didn’t have to do so aloud. The inconveniences of having a mindwielding father, I swear.

Cedric only winked at her, and Elyria bit the inside of her cheek as though doing so might help her hold on to her irritation. The way this man could calm the tempest of her mood with little more than a look was surely not natural.