“Of course. Tell him—tell him to meet me in the library. I have a book to return.”

“Very good, Your Excellence,” said the steward, and then he added, “It is very nice to see the library visited. It is one of the best in the kingdom, I must say so myself. It even has copies of my great-grandfather’s research on the Cantos for the mad Emperor.”

That gave him an idea. “There is a section on the Cantos?”

“Oh! Yes, Your Excellence. The palace’s library has the most extensive collection of scholarly essays, as well as the original text. I must say it is quite a resource.”

“Thank you. I think I will go explore it.”

“Oh—you’re—you’re welcome,” the steward replied in surprise, and bowed as he left.

Was thank you really that odd of a phrase for him? He rubbed at his mouth and went over to his wardrobe, picking out a pair of black gloves and fitting them over his ruined knuckles. Now there was another thing he had to hide. He put a flesh-colored bandage over his cheek, grabbed the book he had finished in the garden, The Swords of Veten Ruel, and left to meet with Erik Valerio, knowing that if he had to kill him, there were enough corners in the library to hide the body.

Ana

Ana stood in the garden, looking up at the Spire.

It had been an hour since Robb had disappeared into it, and Siege and Talle had retreated to the other side of the garden. Ana had survived the HIVE—and she had learned what it was looking for, some sort of heart, but all she could think about was Jax, and all she wanted was her captain to come over and comfort her, and tell her that he would be okay—that he would get better. To give her permission to get back in the fight—to save her kingdom.

Siege always knew what to say. Ana needed that now more than ever.

But Siege never came over, and so Ana stood alone on the other side of the garden, torn between her love for Jax and the end of times. When Di had been crowned six months ago, she hadn’t thought he would be in power for so long. The Emperor blamed rogue Metals for the world’s ills, and the citizens listened. It seemed like fear was a motivation that, stoked like fire, could burn down an entire kingdom.

And oh Goddess, was the kingdom burning.

Ana was pacing back and forth between lavender flowers and a patch of moonlilies when a Solani swept out of the garden gates to Siege and Talle and told them they could see Jax now.

Ana bristled as she quickly came over. “And me?”

“The ma c’zar said the child should wait out here,” the guard said.

“She does know I was put in charge of a kingdom, right?” asked Ana, but the captain made a motion for her to calm down.

“She’ll wait,” Siege said, and then she told her quietly, “Don’t—just don’t do anything while I’m gone. And when I return, I . . . I need to tell you something.”