Sometimes Phalue wondered if she asked her father for advice simply so she could know what not to do or to test the strength of her convictions. “Gaelung is right, though – if the construct army takes the island, what’s to stop them from going for Hualin Or next? Or Imperial? Eventually they will come to Nephilanu.”

He waved a dismissive hand. “And we’ll be ready for them then.” He frowned at his mug. “Any chance you’ll let me out? Even a locked room in the palace would be less damp.” He coughed into his sleeve again, as if to emphasize the point.

Phalue clenched her jaw. “I’ll have the servants bring you more tea.”

At least she knew now they didn’t have any agreements with Gaelung – though she wasn’t sure how much that helped. It would have been easy to respond had they already been bound to. Without that, she was free to make her own decision.

She didn’t exactly feel free about it.

“I just want you to be safe, dearest,” he said. “Stay out of this conflict. No use helping others if it only gets you killed.”

It felt like years of pent-up anger were surfacing. He’d always looked to his own pleasure first. Why had she bothered coming here and asking him for advice? Deep down, she already knew what was right. “No.”

“No what?”

“No. You’re wrong. I thought you understood politics better than me, but you don’t. You have no understanding of it because you have no understanding of people who aren’t like you. And you don’t understand me. You don’t understand me at all. Don’t expect to see me again.” She whirled, leaving him gaping, his mouth unable to form words.

Phalue ran into a child as she crested the stairs, the small body bouncing off her and nearly tumbling to the floor. Too much brooding and anger, not enough watching where she was going. She seized the girl’s shoulders to steady her and—

Ayesh.

They’d received more than one report from the guards of Ayesh coming back to the palace and leaving again with what appeared to be a full sack. The girl had such a sack slung over her shoulder right now, her eyes so wide they looked in danger of swallowing her face.

“Hello,” the girl said.

Phalue pursed her lips. “What’s in the bag?”

Ayesh jerked away from Phalue’s grip. “Just food.”

“You know you can have as much as you’d like while you’re here. Why do you need to take more?”

“I get hungry. Our training sessions…” She let out a breath. “I’m not just hungry here, I’m hungry at home.”

Where was home to the girl? Phalue wasn’t Ranami, but she could smell a lie when it slapped a wet fin in her face. “I’m sure you are.” She lunged for the bag.