The duke led us to the fortress hall, a place Phelan and I had both walked on the new moon, in Knox Birch’s nightmare. The scene the countess had painted on the card of the lost one.

It felt strange to stand in a place I had seen dimly before as a bewitched reflection.

But I recognized it. The blue banners of heraldry on the walls, the arched windows, the multiple hearths, the tables and benches. The dais. But the duke’s throne was missing, and I exchanged a discreet glance with Phelan.

“We shall sit here and wait,” the duke said, drawing out a bench at the nearest table.

“What are we waiting for, Your Grace?” Phelan asked.

“For the others to arrive. I do not know why your mother thinks wandering around is an advantage, Phelan.”

I struggled to understand her reasoning as well, and I conceded to sit at the table, eager for my parents and Imonie and the Wolfes to arrive. Phelan remained standing, too restless to sit. He paced the hall, the click of his boots echoing off the walls.

I waited until Phelan was out of earshot before I addressed the duke.

“What is it like, Your Grace? To return home after so many years away?”

He glanced at me from across the table. I couldn’t help but wonder what his true face looked like. “It is bittersweet, Miss Neven. My thoughts and heart are full of memories.”

I thought about the conversation I’d had with my father the night before. The duke had given my father Hereswith, but with orders. And I didn’t know what the duke wanted, but it seemed he was the countess’s opposition. I didn’t trust the countess either, although I did Phelan.

I trusted him because he was protecting me by keeping my true identity a secret, for unknown reasons.

Although sometimes I imagined that I knew why, when Phelan looked at me.

“What was your position in the mountain court?” I asked, and the duke gave me a toothless smile.

“You have not uncovered that yet, Miss Neven?”

“I have my suspicions.”

“Which are . . . ?”

“You were once the master of coin.”

He studied me closer. “Not the guard, or the advisor?”

“No.” And I remembered how many coins Phelan’s territory had paid to satisfy his dream tax.

Does he truly want to break this curse? I wondered, because once the curse ended, so did the new moon nightmares. There would be no need for wardens and the dream tax. Perhaps the duke had lied to my father about supporting my claim.

Phelan eventually grew weary of pacing and joined us at the table, sitting a few hand lengths away from me. That ended my conversation with the duke, and we waited for the others to arrive.

Mr. Wolfe, Olivette, and Nura finally appeared in the hall, and not long after them my parents, Imonie, and Mazarine arrived.