Keita pulled a small scarf from her cleavage and wrapped it around her hand. Then she opened the door.

“Is that doorknob poisoned?” Brannie asked, but the glare she got from her cousin instantly silenced her.

Males sat around a large room filled with books and parchment, and as soon as Keita stepped inside, they all got to their feet.

Keita moved quickly, cutting through all the men to throw herself into the arms of an elf.

“We just heard,” the elf told her. “I’m so sorry, Keita.”

She nodded against the elf’s neck before pulling back. “Gorlas, this is my cousin, Branwen the Awful and Aidan the Divine.”

The elf smiled. “Yes. I know Aidan the Divine.”

Brannie and Keita stared at him, but Aidan could only shrug. “I’m sorry, but—”

“You don’t know me, but we attempted to recruit you a few decades back. You were being sent to the Mì-runach, but we gave you another option.”

Now Aidan smirked. “Oh. Yes. That.”

“You had a chance to become a Protector of the Throne,” Brannie asked, “but you chose to become Mì-runach? What for?”

“The queen was very clear—”

“Try again.”

He gave a small shrug. “I knew it would piss off my father.”

Brannie’s eyes crossed. “I will never understand males.”

* * *

Only Gorlas the elf introduced himself and, before Brannie had a chance to ask about anyone else, the others left. Exiting silently and not through the door they’d come through.

Fascinated—she walked around the room trying to find more exits—Brannie barely listened to the conversation going on around her.

An important conversation to be sure, but it wasn’t like Brannie had a word to say about any of it. She was merely Keita’s protection. “Get her to the Eastlands” were her only orders now that they were sure Ren was dead.

“The Dowager, a lovely sea vessel, will take you to the Empress Ports,” Gorlas explained to Keita. “From there you can get transport to the palaces.” Gorlas leaned his backside against a large table, arms folded in front of his chest. “You do know she won’t be glad to see you without her son?”

“I know,” Keita replied. “But by the time I get there, I’ll be in full performance mode. Never fear.”

“Good. She’ll be looking for anything. Anything that will tell her the truth. Her powers, Keita—”

“I know. They rival my mother’s.”

“They may do more than that. The Empress comes from a long line of powerful She-dragons. She won’t be easy to distract. Even for you.”

“Understood.”

“What do you plan to use?” the elf asked.

It was such an oddly phrased question that Brannie finally looked away from the wall where she was sure there must be some kind of hidden doorway.

“I can’t bring anything with me. She’ll find it. I’ll have to use something local.”