‘As far as I know, neither Tanus nor Sindara have actually declared war, but there have been clashes, with casualties on both sides. The latest word is that the eldren have seized the mines, and now it’s the Tanusians trying to drive them away and reclaim them. We could send some men . . .’

‘I won’t send soldiers to attack the mine,’ Dion said firmly. ‘That is a line I will not cross. I took Queen Zanthe’s side, as you insisted—’

‘Because Tanus is in the right! They’ve operated the mines since your father was a young man.’

‘Yet the eldren believe the mines are inside Sindara’s borders.’

‘You are the king of Xanthos,’ Glaukos growled. ‘You know as well as I do that we had to take the side of our ally, a fellow Galean nation, or your . . . unusual heritage would have raised questions.’

Dion held up a hand. ‘I understand. I sent soldiers.’

‘But when the eldren surrounded the mine you ordered them to leave their posts and return home.’

‘I won’t have soldiers of Xanthos fighting eldren.’ Dion looked away from his uncle. ‘I know I’ve pleased neither of them. Zanthe thinks I abandoned her, and the eldren think I was prepared to take up arms against them.’

It made Dion sad to think that he hadn’t seen or spoken to Eiric, Zachary, or Liana for so long, not since before he’d led the Free Men. He had wanted to visit Sindara personally to explain that he’d had no choice besides supporting Tanus, but his coronation got in the way. His eyes narrowed. And if Eiric had wanted to discuss the situation rather than provoke conflict, he could have sent someone to Xanthos.

Nonetheless, if the people of Tanus and the eldren of Sindara were killing each other, he had to put a stop to it.

‘I’ll try to get another message through to King Eiric,’ Dion said. ‘Perhaps we’ll get a reply this time. What else?’

‘The coming election in Phalesia. Word is that Nilus is about to be defeated by Philippos. Lord Philippos and his daughter Isobel are soon going to be visiting Xanthos.’ Glaukos hesitated. His voice softened from a barking growl to a gentle pleading. ‘Dion, you cannot keep holding on to your memory of Chloe. She has been dead for more than half a year. It is past time you moved on.’

Dion broke away from his uncle’s intent stare. Even hearing her name made him think of how she’d died, far from home, searching for her exiled father, murdered by bandits, her body left at the side of the road like a discarded rag.

‘A king has responsibilities to his kingdom,’ Glaukos continued. ‘When Philippos and Isobel are here, I want you to be welcoming to them both. Do you understand? You have no heir. I won’t back down on this.’