“Even if we could bind her, which would require us somehow getting out of this dungeon, finding bloodletters, and getting Akeylah on board… What then? We tell the whole court that Akeylah called a Blood Ceremony to recognize the child of Andros and Yasmin’s incestuous relationship?”

Zofi shrugged, her shoulder digging into the cold iron bar. “It’s what Audrina wants. Recognition for exactly who and what she is. So we bind her, prevent her from harming us, then give her what she wants. We tell the whole court exactly what she’s done. Our secrets are already out there, yours and mine. She can’t hold them over us anymore. And her body is covered in Vulgar Arts scars.”

“But she camouflaged them, didn’t you see?” Then Ren hummed a little, seeing her own mistake. “Ah. She wouldn’t be able to do that either, if she was shielded…”

Zofi nodded. “All we need to do is convince the court to arrest her. Even if they imprison you and me, too, at least Audrina won’t win the throne. It’d fall to Akeylah.”

Ren’s fingernails tapped against her bars again, faster now. “We’d still have to get out of the dungeons somehow. Not to mention steal a moment alone with Akeylah to fill her in. And find some way all of us can tithe and shield Audrina at once. Besides, even if we managed all that, Audrina has convincing enough proof of what I did. I’m sure she has something up her sleeve for you, too, to ensure you can’t walk away from this.”

Zofi studied the cell. This was the best future she could hope for. This, or a hangman’s noose. But at least if she went down for Nicolen’s murder now, there’d be a reason. She’d leave the world behind her a better place.

“It would be worth it,” she murmured. “Even if we’re both executed, we’d put the Reaches in the hands of someone who will better them, someone we trust.”

Because she couldn’t only think about her own fate. She had to think about her family, too. Her band, all the Travelers. Everyone in the outer Reaches who had suffered under the Kolonya-first rule of the past several centuries.

Somewhere in the dark, Ren cleared her throat. “I agree. Though this is all a moot point. We’re trapped down here. The guards aren’t exactly going to run messages for us prisoners.”

“Maybe.” Zofi craned her neck to peer up the corridor toward where the guards were stationed. She knew it was too much to hope that Vidal or one of his friends might be stationed down here. But she’d spent enough time in Vidal’s company to understand how Talons worked. By the rule book, as much as possible.