The shields arrived.

I had honestly forgotten all about them, and Phelan and I stood side by side in the library, staring at the two shields laid out on the desk. The larger one was for him, made of dark, glistening wood and silver studs. Its companion was smaller, crafted from a red wood with golden accents. The one the smith had made for me.

They were beautiful, and when I traced the edge of mine, I felt a chill in my hand. I tasted mist and rust and salt in my mouth. Enchantment that was forged deep into the essence of wood and steel.

“Why did these arrive?” Phelan asked tersely. He had been in a foul mood since the day before, and I could only assume it was due to his dreamless sleep. “I didn’t order them.”

I cast a careful glance at him. “The duke had them commissioned for us.”

“Please tell me you didn’t, Anna.”

“That I didn’t what, Phelan?”

“Tell the duke about the knight.”

I was silent. Phelan groaned and dragged his hands down his face. “He knows too much and all but owns me. I don’t want to be any more indebted to him than I already am!”

I remembered what the duke had said about Phelan. His investment. I dared to wonder if Phelan was his son, but I would never breathe that assumption aloud. At least, not yet.

“You don’t like the duke?” I asked.

“I won’t say that I dislike him,” Phelan replied. “But he is everywhere I turn. Watching me, advising me. Ordering me.” He paused, and a light of realization flickered through him. “He came here while I was away, didn’t he? Did he force the truth about the knight from you, Anna?”

“No, but he was concerned about your well-being.”

Phelan groaned again and walked to the window, to gaze beyond the glass. “Well, then. I suppose we have no choice. The shields it is.”

“The shields are to protect us while one of us removes the knight’s helm,” I said, and Phelan turned to stare at me. “We need to identify whoever it is.”

“Removing the helm will be impossible.”

I sighed at his pessimism and lifted my shield. It was heavy, but not to the point where I would be unable to wield it. I slid it onto my arm and met Phelan’s stare. “I think you and I can do it.”

“He might not even appear this upcoming new moon.”

“Why? We’ve been playing Seven Wraiths every night. We’ve all but rolled out a welcome rug in our dreams, inviting him to the streets on the new moon.”

“But I still haven’t dreamt.”

I glanced at him. “Were you able to speak to your mother about it?”