“Ronin was the only person standing in the way of the Empire and Kazahyn going to war. He’s kept the peace for longer than most anyone in Thiy can remember. But you,” he says, sneering. “You think you know better? Less than a month ago, you didn’t even know you were a shaman.”

I rub my thumb over my knuckles, trying not to let Theyen’s insults hurt me. “He wanted the kingdoms to go to war. He’s been conspiring to destroy Thiy, starting with helping Queen Meilyr massacre everyone in the north. She’ll reach the camps by dawn, if she isn’t there already, and you want to stand here throwing accusations when you don’t even know half of the things I’ve learned?”

“Don’t you get it?” he hisses. “It doesn’t matter. If House Yalaeng invades Kazahyn, the clans will have no choice but to retaliate. The Fireborn Queens won’t be able to claim neutrality, especially if it’s discovered I had a hand in helping you kill Ronin.”

My arm shakes from my restraint. I want very much to punch the sense into him, but that would only make things worse. “You’re not hearing me. Ronin was going to betray everyone. He was going to let Queen Meilyr kill all of his guests in his manor house today, including you since you had plans to be there.”

“And who will corroborate such a story? Queen Meilyr? If she’s truly marching on the grasslands, then no one would trust her word. No one will trust the word of any Evewynian.” Theyen, suddenly weary, rubs a hand over his face. “Whether what you say is true or not, the fact remains that without Ronin, there is no one to enforce the peace treaty.”

“You’re wrong. There’s me.”

“Only a fool overestimates their own ability,” he says, echoing something he’d said to me once before.

I stiffen my spine, chin lifting. “I did what I had to do, whether you understand or not.”

Tension braids the space between us, a tangible thing that tugs on all my senses. At last, he brushes past me toward the bone palisade.

“Come on,” he says curtly. “I can’t open a gate on the castle grounds. Something to do with the webbing that keeps the trees at bay, although it may no longer hold without Ronin.”

“Yandor is still—”

“I’ll come back for your beast tomorrow night. There’s no time.”

I follow wordlessly and only hesitate a moment when he reaches for my hand and pulls me through the shadow gate.

We arrive to chaos. Queen Meilyr attacked early.

The grasslands are alight with burning tents and the clamor of flashing weapons. I immediately draw my swords.