Looking toward the door, he saw Nyk with Madai, Safir, and two men he assumed must be Maris’s father and the brother who was the heir to the Phrixian throne. Like Mari, they both had black hair and dark eyes.

For several seconds, no one moved or spoke as the emperor glared at his disinherited son. Not until Kalea whispered loudly to Hauk’s grandmother. “Are they good men or bad men, Yaya?”

Nykyrian was the first to recover from the awkward silence. “Emperor Zatyr and Prince Zander wanted to meet the princess Safir and his brothers saved.” He gestured to Hauk’s grandmother first. “I present to Your Majesty and Highness the Ger Tarra of the Warring Blood Clan of Hauk, Corinne.”

She rose and gave a slight bow. “It’s an honor to meet your graces. I cannot thank you enough for coming to the aid of my grandson and his daughter.”

Zatyr inclined his head to her. “The honor is ours, Ger Tarra.”

Sumi picked up Kalea and brought her over to them.

Nykyrian indicated Hauk first. “And the Most Valorous, Dancer of the Warring Blood Clan of Hauk.”

Hauk saluted them in turn. “Sire. Your Highness. I am forever in your debt for my daughter’s life. It is a debt of blood I will forever honor.”

They were both impressed that Hauk knew better than to thank them, since there was no word for that in Phrixian. To their people, everything was a matter of duty, honor, and blood debt.

Zatyr returned his salute. “It was our duty and honor to rectify the wrong done to your family by a member of ours. His behavior will not go unpunished, I assure you.”

Inclining his head respectfully to the emperor, Hauk stepped back and placed his hand on Sumi’s shoulder. “Allow me to present to you Her Royal Highness, Sumi of the Most Sovereign Blood Clan of eton Anatole, and our daughter, the Princess Kalea.”

Sumi bowed low. “As Dancer said, Your Majesty, we are forever indebted to you and yours for your help in reclaiming our daughter.”

Zatyr scowled. “What did you say?”

Sumi swallowed hard at his severe tone. Had she said something wrong? “We are forever indebted to you and yours.”

He looked at Zander then Madai. “That is the voice, is it not?”

Before they could answer, Safir stepped forward to address her. “Highness? Are you the one who called my father about me?”

Sumi didn’t know what to say. She glanced to Dancer to see what would be appropriate, but it was Maris who responded to them.

“She is, indeed.”

Saf gaped at Maris. “You knew?”

He nodded. “It was also the first thing she said to me when I met her. She wanted to make sure you were freed.”

All four of them went down on a knee to bow before Sumi, who panicked over that.