Kiril bobbed his head. “When we last met about this issue, the agricultural guild had developed a cure for the blight. But two weeks have gone by now, and none of my farms in the Western Reach have been able to lay their hands on this so-called cure.”

“Nor have any Eastern farmers,” Danton said. “We were already low on provisions before this blight; now I fear famine is imminent.”

“To that end, I’ve several announcements to make.” Akeylah gestured at Zofi, who rose from the windowsill. “My sister, Lady Zofi, will be taking up a permanent position on the regional council.”

Rueno and a few of the other nobles, heretofore silent, opened their mouths to protest. Ambassador Ghoush beat them to it. “Seats on the regional council are reserved for representatives of the outer Reaches, Your Highness.” Ghoush squinted at Zofi. “Unless you would like to install her in Countess Yasmin’s old seat.”

Akeylah raised a palm to halt the ambassador. “Actually, she’ll be joining us as the official representative of a group who should have had a seat at this table all along. Lady Zofi?”

A smirk played on Zofi’s lips as she casually leaned on the back of Akeylah’s chair and surveyed the room. Lords and ladies, ambassadors and queens. People accustomed to wielding power. People not accustomed to sharing that power with the likes of her.

It made Zofi’s smile widen. “Centuries ago, when the Reaches were first born, six ships with six different captains settled this land.” In the back of her mind, she thought about Vidal. About the night she told him this story. You can still help change people’s minds. Help change the Reaches—by telling that story. The Travelers’ story. Or at least one of them.

Elex was right. She didn’t need to do what others told her. And Vidal was right, too—she didn’t need a crown to make a difference. She would make her own title.

Build a better world, queen or not.

“Back then, my people, the inhabitants of the sixth ship, were the lifeblood of the other five Reaches. We carried knowledge throughout this land. We connected you all, until your ancestors grew frightened of our knowledge. They distrusted us simply because we claimed no land for our own. They called us drifters, assumed we had no homes or loyalty.”

She straightened. “But land does not make a home. The ground you were born onto is not what makes you an Easterner, Danton, or you a Westerner, Ambassador Kiril.”

Both of their heads bobbed in unison, buoying her spirits. At least some people understood where she was coming from.

Maybe this wouldn’t be as impossible as it felt.

Akeylah took over once more. “That is why I’ve decided to reinstate the Travelers as the Sixth Reach, the Traveling Reach.”

Dead silence fell.