A door behind the woman opened and Lady Zella stepped into the room to stand to the stranger’s left.

“Traitor!” Klia gasped.

“You mustn’t blame her, dear Princess. She’s not herself.” Her hostess seemed to glide as she came toward Klia, smiling warmly and holding out her hands. “Dearest Princess Klia, what a joy it is to meet you at last.”

Klia backed away. “I suppose you are the ‘great lady’?”

“I am indeed. I am Queen Rhazat Ikari. Welcome to my home.”

That sounded like a Plenimaran name, Klia noted, though the woman had no accent to indicate it. “There are no queens on Kouros. This is a Skalan possession, and the only queen is Queen Elani of Rhíminee.”

“We must agree to disagree on that point,” Rhazat said with a laugh. Everything about the woman was lovely, except her words.

“Are you the necromancer who brought me here and killed my escort?”

“Come, my dear, you must be famished. I’ve had the finest delicacies prepared just for you.”

“First answer my question.”

But Rhazat ignored this, too, and went out through the door Zella had come through, her hair a river of rippling obsidian down her back. Clenching her teeth in frustration, Klia followed her, keeping her distance from Zella.

They passed down a bare corridor and into another large, brilliantly lit room. Hundreds of tapers burned in stands and sconces around the room, and more in holders on the round dining table at the center of the room. A sumptuous feast had been laid out, and the table was set with gaily glazed clay goblets, plates, and many covered dishes. It seemed like humble ware for a self-proclaimed queen.

There were sideboards stocked with clay platters and plates and clay wine bottles. Though sparely furnished, the walls of the room were covered in painted designs nearly identical to those in the palace at Menosi.

Rhazat glided to the table and seated herself. Zella took the chair to their hostess’s left and Rhazat motioned for Klia to take the seat of honor at her right.

“Please, Highness, come and dine with me. I have so few visitors.”

“Are they all coerced?”

“I can make you, you know,” Rhazat said with a charming smile. “But I have no desire to harm you, or the wizard’s child you bear.”

“I’m not—” Klia’s breath locked in her throat.

“Of course you are, my dear. I can smell it, just as I can smell your noble and ancient lineage on you. It’s a girl child, barely two moons along. I see this comes as a tremendous surprise to you. However did you manage to fall pregnant by a human wizard?”