Zofi kept a hand on Akeylah’s shoulder for support. “The guards out front said she was attacked?”

“We were wrong.” Akeylah looked back and forth from Zofi to Ren. To judge by the bags under her eyes, Zofi wondered if Akeylah had gotten any sleep at all in the past couple of weeks. “About everything. About Rozalind. She’s not the heir; she’s the heir’s latest victim.” In a breathless voice, Akeylah recounted the morning’s events. Everything Rozalind had told her, and the heir’s subsequent attack.

When Akeylah got to the part where she asked if the heir was their sister, Ren looked shocked. But Zofi found herself nodding. “That makes sense,” she said, “given what I learned about Andros and our aunt Yasmin.”

If Zofi thought Ren was surprised at learning they had another sibling, it was nothing compared to the expression on her sister’s face when Zofi explained where she came from.

“Incest?” Ren hissed.

“They must have been desperate,” Akeylah murmured. “To perform a tithe like that, one with such dire consequences.”

“I have some idea why they did it.” Zofi recounted the story Vidal had told her about Yasmin single-handedly stopping a Genalese attack on Kolonya City.

“Still.” Ren rubbed at her temple. “There are laws against incest. Ever since Queen Aumelline’s time, when a few mad nobles tried to breed children stronger in the Arts. It left the children with horrible diseases, health problems. Nowadays acolytes even require a tithe that proves no blood relation during Kolonyan wedding ceremonies.”

Zofi bobbed her head. “Now imagine you’ve grown up your entire life hearing your parents’ every thought—how they govern the realm, every decision they make. But you’ve got no chance of inheriting their position, simply because of who you are. Because of how they created you.”

“The heir does seem to resent her parents,” Akeylah murmured. “From how she talked about Father.”

“What makes you so you sure the heir is a girl?” Zofi asked.

“Just a comment she made.” Akeylah furrowed her brow. “She said she had no real family, that she was ‘the daughter of the moons,’ and she knew how to clean up Kolonya’s messes. Then she asked me if I really thought Andros was a good father.…”

Zofi shrugged. “Makes no sense to me.”

But a funny look had come over Ren’s face. Halfway between realization and denial. “How long ago was this Genalese attack Yasmin stopped?”

“Vidal said eighteen or nineteen years ago.” Zofi considered Ren. Her sister had her plotting face on. “What is it?”

Ren ignored her, spoke faster, almost to herself. “So we’re looking for a girl who knows the Keep well, is about my age, hates her parents…” She raised her voice. “Akeylah, when was Rozalind attacked?”

“This morning, around dawn.”

“So whoever did it would still be tired from the curse, do you think?” Ren took a step toward the cavern exit.