Before I can respond, he turns, striding the length of the table. “I have arranged for you to meet with one of my guests—a Kazan Hlau. Shamans learn to summon their magic by dueling with their elemental opposite. This normally can’t be done for lightwenders, since your natural opposite is shadow, which isn’t a shamanic craft. But the Hlau has agreed to try and invoke your magic. This is a rare opportunity.”

“Invoke … what?” I shove to my feet. He’s already halfway to the door, apparently finished with me. “Wait!”

To my surprise, he does. He stops and turns, looking infuriatingly patient. “As I said, you disturbed the Dead Wood and all those sensitive to the spirits when you awakened your craft. As you can imagine, this did not go unnoticed by Thiy’s leaders. The falcons have been arriving in casts. Leaders and heads of Houses from all over the kingdoms have already begun journeying to my northern holding to seek my counsel. In addition to the peace talks between Evewyn and the Empire, I hope to present them with a solution for the threat of the Dead Wood. We have a deal, Sirscha Ashwyn. You have two weeks.”

TEN

Out in the hall, my guard awaits me. She’s dressed in the same gray sash and leather armor as the soldiers from Sab Hlee.

Although the prospect of meeting this Kazan Hlau, the equivalent of a prince, intrigues me, it’s hard to focus on any single thing after everything I’ve learned. Mostly I just want to speak with Saengo.

I follow my guard, assuming she’s delivering me back to my room. But the corridors remain unfamiliar. “Where are you taking me?”

Without looking at me, she says, “To meet the Kazan Hlau.”

I pause before a mezzanine that overlooks the front of the castle. There’s a courtyard, some miscellaneous buildings, and a handful of soldiers and staff going about their business. For a castle of this size, I’ve seen hardly anyone.

Beyond the courtyard, there again is that gauzy white curtain stretching from tree to tree, somehow keeping the Dead Wood at bay. And trapping us all inside.

“I need to go back to my room.”

The guard gives me an annoyed look. “The Hlau is expecting you. Lord Ronin gave me specific orders.”

It irritates me that he’d arranged all this before even speaking to me. “Well, then where is your Lord Ronin so that he can un-order you?”

Her lips pinch. Those vivid green eyes flash with derision. I’m well familiar with the look. “He is meeting with the other girl, the human you arrived with, in his study.”

My stomach drops at this news. Saengo should hear what I did to her from my own lips. I can only hope Ronin will consider that. Guilt and worry rush through me, bunching the muscles in my shoulders and back.