Art: "Sitting at the Fireplace" by ShadowReader29

Yet I will take this risk to teach you a lesson. I cannot in good conscience watch you pursue power and not warn you to be careful.

❂❂❂

Micah and Nell visited Delvala a week later; after Nell's complaints about the nurses' and patients' rudeness, Micah was glad to accompany his friend. He personally witnessed the way Dels and Delvalians regarded one another back in Mystacor, and it was not pleasant.

It made him equally uncomfortable that if Light Spinner was here, she probably would have treated Nell the same way.

Governor Remi, son of Charbonneau, stood at the south wall. He was a young man, newly elected, with mousy brown hair and a simple black veil over his nose and mouth. Turning around, he bowed to Micah. "My king-to-be," he said, his voice accented. "Welcome to our city."

"Thank you for having me," Micah said. "The Head of Medicine back in Illuras came with me."

Remi nodded at Nell. "Welcome, Head of Medicine. I trust you did your job well."

"As best I could," Nell said softly. "How are repairs coming along?"

"The church is decimated, unfortunately," Remi said. "Those damn Hordesmen...they are intent on violating our religion."

"With respect, more than just the Seraphite churches have been targeted," Micah said. "We've gotten reports the Vernish resting sites in Thaymor and Adatha were also sacked."

"I didn't mean to imply otherwise," Remi said. "The Horde favors Kryteya; it is most useful for their cause."

"Perhaps," Micah said. "What about casualties?"

"Two hundred dead. Seven hundred more injured."

"But this is good," Micah said. "Bel Delvala has five million people in it."

"Do not play with the lives of my people," Remi said, his green eyes sparking with a warning. "This attack on our city is unprecedented. The Horde couldn't have scouted out our territory unless they had a spy here."

"Maybe that's the case," Nell shrugged.

Micah shook his head. "Delvalians being in the Horde is unlikely. They'd have to give up their religion, not to mention their pursuit of free thought. Our sources say the Horde doesn't even permit the writing of poetry."

"What are you saying, then?"

What was he saying? "Maybe Shadow Weaver is more familiar with Delvala than we think," Micah said. "At the very least, she's scouted it before."

"Do we know anything about where she came from?" Nell asked.

Micah shook his head. "Not even the Horde seems to know," he said. "Zeka's been trying to get information, but all she has is hearsay and rumors."

"What do those rumors say?"

Micah bit his lip. "She was cast out of the kingdom she had come from."

A long, dead silence filled the room.

"It's a rumor," Micah repeated. "There's no way she could be Light Spinner – I cast a location spell. It said she was dead."

Nell and Remi visibly relaxed. "So...what do we do with this information?" Nell said. "Is there a way to know?"

Micah sighed. "If the rumors are true, I don't know where Shadow Weaver came from. There are a lot of sorcery schools in the different kingdoms. It couldn't be Bright Moon, though – we rarely exile people."

"Does she look like she could be from my culture?" Remi asked.

"Sometimes. She's taller than me," Micah said. "Though that's not saying much – everyone's taller than me."

"How tall?"

"Six feet, probably. She also has pointed ears, but her skin is gray. It's not like...yours."

"There are other races who are ethnic Delvalians," Remi said. "Uncommon, but true nonetheless."

Nell sighed. "What good would this knowledge do in the first place? Either way, she scouted out the city."

He did have a point. Micah frowned as he tried to process the information. It was true that Shadow Weaver's past wasn't immediately relevant. But it could be useful to learn about her weakness. If someone was learning dark magic, it would have been talked about wherever she'd come from.

Now, the only thing to do was weed out the possibilities.

✧✧✧

A week later, Nell and Micah again walked up the steps to the queen's pavilion in Plumeria; the young king was desperate for the Vernish kingdom's alliance. If they could get Plumeria on their side, appealing to Mystacor would be simpler. Relatively speaking, anyway, Nell thought tiredly as they walked into the throne room.

Queen Ruta wore a regal Vernish sari this time, bright blue in color. She smiled at them playfully as they entered. "Micah, have you brought in one of my own to manipulate me?"

"I'm not Plumerian, Your Majesty," Nell said. "I might look the part, but I came from Mystacor."

"Mystacor," Ruta repeated. "Are they the only reason you wish for our services, King Micah?"

Micah shook his head. "It would make the discussions with Madame Arvina easier, but we still need your help. Dryl has joined us, and they need food for their armies so they can help. The same goes for Salineas, but not to the same extent."

Queen Ruta frowned. "Is that the only reason? So we can be pawns in this game of violence?"

"We can't let you join the Horde."

"Let me? Are you my father?"

Nell winced. Not a good look. Micah may have been wise beyond his twenty years, but he was no eloquent speaker. "Your Majesty," Nell broke in, "this isn't the sole reason. Neutrality is only an option for so long, since the Horde's got a sorceress who can probably break into Mystacor. Joining us is the best option, even if it's not the only one."

Ruta frowned. "Head of Medicine," she said gently, "what does the war mean to you? I know your mother – Sember, one of our counselors in Fernosia. Why did you forsake a life of peace to pursue such a dastardly goal?"

Nell had never given a speech like this before. "I believe in fighting for what's right," he said. "I am no soldier, nor could I be one. But I can't just stand by and watch as everyone gets themselves killed."

Ruta seemed pacified. After a moment of consideration, she nodded. "We have healers. If you desire our efforts...perhaps we can consider this alliance, Rei and I."

Micah smiled. "We can train you in eastern medicine – if you're going to join, we'd prefer that school of thought. You could work undercover too."

The queen smiled. "With Dryl protecting us, that will not be necessary. Very well, King Micah and Head of Medicine. I will confer with my husband. If we accept this alliance, you will receive a letter from us."

Micah nodded. "Thank you," he said softly. "We couldn't do this without your help."

Queen Ruta smiled. "Now, go. I believe you have a different kingdom to convince. Good luck speaking with Madame Arvina, King Micah – perhaps you will get through to her, being her family."

Micah looked uncomfortable. "Good day, my queen. Come on, Nell."

Nell followed him out of the room, but Ruta called his name again. "Nell? Is that your name? Come back."

I did something wrong. Should I not have spoken out of turn? Nell swallowed and reentered the throne room. "Yes, Your Majesty?"

The queen bore an introspective look on her face. "You are Vernish. Yet you dress like a Del. Why is this?"

"My father was a Del. He married my mother when she studied charms in Mystacor."

Ruta nodded. "Curious," she said softly. "I spoke with Sember a few days ago. She mentioned that she'd lost her entire family, but I didn't know how that was possible when you showed up."

"It's...a complicated story. I'd rather not discuss it," Nell said.

"I will not press you. But Nell...please, think about this. There are people who still care about you here. If you could think about coming back –"

"I'm too busy," he interrupted. He had been too busy for fourteen years, because he couldn't stand Sember's face of regret. Her pity meant nothing to him – Nell couldn't be around her when she...she...

He couldn't finish the thought, or else he would break down. "I apologize, Your Majesty," he said. "There's...a load of pain she hasn't mentioned. It'll be a long time before I'll think of returning to that."

Ruta's eyes glittered sadly. "You are not religious, are you? You are a Vern by name only."

"Guilty as charged."

"It is your choice to make," the queen said. "But remember this, Nell. If you are to find peace, you cannot run away. You must face what you have lost, and do what is right."

Nell nodded. "I will...try." His cheeks burned. "If you'll excuse me, I have to find Micah."

"Of course. I didn't mean to keep you waiting. Please, think about what I've said."

Nell nodded as he exited the room.

❂❂❂

Did you know...

- Another naming coincidence happened in this chapter, though I admit I knew it would be similar from the get-go. One of my readers, LucilferTheungood, used to go by Remi, and they were happy to see that a character was named after them.

Tell me what you think...

- Do you think Queen Ruta is right about what Nell should do? Why or why not?