Cestra and Erebus flank me as we weave through the stone pathway that winds around the front lawn. The Seneschal’s gait loosens with every step as his cambion body heals from its recent injuries. There are no guards, no Merlins awaiting our arrival. “Where are the sentinels?” I ask.

“They are not expecting company.” Erebus gestures toward a stone archway to the side of the building.

“They think they have called a private meeting of Legendborn—the remaining Scions and Squires, some just recently Oathed—to discuss the growing rumors about the truth behind the disappearances of William Sitterson, Briana Matthews, and her best friend, the so-called Vassal Chen.”

“Ah,” I say. “Your machinations have gone awry, have they?”

Cestra’s scowl tells me the answer before her words do. “We successfully convinced the Legendborn that Sitterson and Matthews were together, in hiding for her own safety, at first, but requests for contact can only go denied so long. This wild goose chase your descendant has taken us on has lasted far longer than we’d planned. Too long. Chen’s parents are asking questions, and so is Matthews’s father. Nicholas Davis has gone completely underground, and his father’s body has been found by the Onceborn authorities. The Legendborn still believe, for now, that Selwyn Kane is in a Shadowhold, but even that story may have begun to form cracks with whispers from certain Lieges.” Cestra tucks her hands into her long coat. “We have allowed the children to host several of these, with our eyes and ears on the inside to gather information, of course. This is the first time all of the chapters have gathered together, and so we as the Council have decided now is a good time to… how do they say it?” She chuckles. “Enter the chat.”

I do not quite follow this reference, too abstract in Bree’s memories. “Why allow them to meet at all?”

“Because it is far easier to understand and guide sentiment than it is to squash it outright.” Cestra smiles. “Warfare is not all blades and bows. Perhaps if you and the original Table had understood that, we would not still be in this war.” She trails a hand along a wooden railing.

I do not rise to her bait. “You have never seen the full bloodshed and chaos of Camlann, child. That is the only reason that you toy with it now.” I consider sharing that I have seen the Shadow King, that this Camlann will be as no other, but after I am crowned, the Regents will be advisors to me. The only people who need to hear the truth are my Legendborn.