Ingir flushed, the color hardly shading her cheeks, but allowed her son to offer up the tall chair to the right of the king. She greeted the king’s consorts with a generous smile. Truth be told, I thought they might be the folk the queen adored the most for taking her husband’s attention.

Thane sat next to his mother and slumped in the seat.

Damir, mouth tight, returned his gaze to me. “You’ve concealed your craft, Lyra Bien. A crime against the laws of our fealty treaties.”

What was I supposed to say? Bone crafters were free to join the Stav, serve the king in Stonegate, live within their villages as crafters for jarls, or enjoy their own solitary lives. Not melders. Submission to Stonegate was their destiny. As little as I knew about the past, I understood what would become of me if ever the scars in my eyes were found.

Damir stroked the braids of his beard for a pause. The king was a formidable man. Tall and broad as any warrior, with a posture that seemed impossible to bend in the slightest. “Would you believe me if I told you I wish you were not here either? You make the death of Melder Fadey so real.”

There was a touch of sincere grief in the king’s eyes. Like he might’ve truly cared for the fallen melder.

Damir cleared his throat and paced in front of me. “But what does it matter? You are here, and I wish to witness your craft.”

Roark’s hand remained on the curve of my back. Where disgust should’ve been for the Sentry’s touch, I took a bit of strength. “What if I do not wish my craft to be used in Stonegate?”

A few gasps rippled down the table. Queen Ingir locked me with a narrowed gaze. Even Roark shifted.

“I would respond with a query of my own,” Damir said, voice calm as an untouched lake. “What rumors have you heard that would bring such fear in your eyes at the very thought? What life do you think you will lead here?”

I swallowed through a thick knot, snagging the gaze of Prince Thane. He gave me a nod of encouragement, but I read more into the constant bounce of his knee beneath the table. Now was not the time for brazen truths.

“I’ve…I’ve been rather sheltered. All I knew was to fear my craft. Forgive me, my king, my few interactions with the Stav of Stonegate have only ended in death.”

I drew in a sharp breath, but kept still when the king took one of my hands between his. “Understandable and unfortunate. I ensure our people are well guarded here and the consequence of safety brings with it rumors and lies of what goes on inside these tight walls.”