Wynn.

She hadn’t seen Wynn since the coronation. She hadn’t realized that the Wysterias owed Siege a debt. Then again, Ana didn’t know about half of the debts Siege called to collect.

“I hope Elara is safe,” said Xu as they both looked out of the starshield to the nearing waystation. They were dressed in a simple frock coat and breeches, and had shined themselves so nicely, Ana could clearly see her reflection in their face.

Jax, from the pilot’s chair, eased the ship in to dock. “I haven’t heard anything from her or Robb since they landed on Eros.”

Xu nodded decisively. “Then there is a high percentage that she is in trouble.”

“I hope not.”

“Robb is very good at getting into trouble,” Ana added, earning a glare form Jax.

“You’re one to talk—”

“The three of you better stop chatting and get back to work. Darlin’, are you really going to wear that to the meeting?” Siege added as she stepped into the cockpit, giving Ana’s wardrobe a pointed look. “You haven’t seen Redbeard or Cullen in years. Don’t you want to look your best?”

Ana could care less about her dirty, sweat-stained clothes. “Is Di okay?”

“He’s fine. He just needs a little time. I have him recalibrating the thrusters for something to do,” she added, “since we no longer have E0S to do it. And I meant what I said about wondering if you’re wearing that to the meeting.”

“I . . . didn’t think I’d be part of it?”

“You’re the Empress of the Iron Kingdom; of course you’ll be.”

The Empress of the Iron Kingdom. She didn’t feel much like one, and even if she freshened up she doubted she would suddenly become the hero the kingdom needed.

Jax spun around in his chair. “And the rest of us, Captain?”

“Only you two,” the captain replied, nodding to Xu and Jax. “It’s a small room.”

If Ana remembered correctly, the room in question was not small. It was a meeting hall, able to hold well over fifty people. It was also one of the most secure rooms in the kingdom anywhere outside of the palace. The waystation itself operated on a self-sufficient program and didn’t communicate with the rest of the kingdom. The only way to get a signal out was to do it manually, but Ana still worried that the HIVE could be listening.

She had a feeling that her captain had the same fear.

“Who else are we meeting?” she began to ask. “Any other Ironbloods? How do we know that we can trust them if—”

Her captain slid her a knowing look.

“I’m the Empress of the Iron Kingdom,” Ana argued, using Siege’s own words against her. “Shouldn’t I know who we’re going to be dealing with?”

“Aye, so you want to rule a kingdom now?” her captain asked.

Ana glanced away, the tips of her ears burning. “I didn’t say that.”

Siege belted a laugh. “Go change, and meet us in the waystation, darling.”