She grinned and touched the concealed blade at the small of her back. “Hardly.” Plus, she could feel the weight of the boosts her mother had saved for her. Five boosts, concealed within different pockets along her thighs. Six tithes she could work today in total. It would be a shame to spend one before she was even through the door, but if she must, she must.

She’d left herself unshielded today, the way she’d been doing ever since she left Kolonya City almost two weeks ago. Only now, standing in the shadow of the Keep, knowing that somewhere within its walls lurked the heir, did Zofi’s skin crawl. She was all too aware of how strong the heir was. How vulnerable she and her sisters were.

But she couldn’t shield herself. She’d need the Arts just to get inside, as Vidal pointed out.

Besides, with a shield raised, she couldn’t fight back.

On their way through the city gate, while Zofi had played the part of an injured local Vidal was escorting to a medic, he’d asked about the state of things. The guards told him Akeylah was planning a Blood Ceremony tomorrow night.

Why, none of them could fathom. “She’s the only viable heir left,” one guard commented. “She’s already been acknowledged. Why all the fuss?”

“Disrespectful, if you ask me,” another had piped up. “She should be focused on her father’s death, not her own crowning.”

Now, however, Zofi wondered if there was more going on than just an unnecessary ceremony. “What are they doing?” Zofi murmured to Vidal. She watched a pair of Talons stop a man who trundled up to the Keep with kitchen supplies. They tapped their arms, and after a moment, the wagon driver withdrew a thin blade from beneath his shirt.

Vidal cursed. “Sun above. They’re doing tithe checks.” In response to her blank stare, he explained. “Anyone who enters the Keep needs to perform a basic tithe.” As they watched, the driver’s skin began to shine, brilliant silver with an impervious tithe. “It’s to ensure nobody is tithing for camouflage, making themselves appear like someone else while they enter.”

“I’ve never heard of tithe checks.” Zofi ran her tongue along the inside of her teeth.

He sighed. “Yes, well, I’ve never actually seen it done before either. I think the last time Talons were ordered to do this was back when my father was still serving. Genalese forces invaded far enough up the River Leath to come within striking distance of the Keep. Back then the tithe checks also served to make sure everyone entering the Keep was actually from the Reaches and not a Genalese soldier in disguise.”

Zofi frowned. “I never heard about an invasion in Kolonya City.”