After they left, Aramus asked, “Is this attack of The Rising?”

“Yes,” Chu answered.

The feel of the room degenerated further.

“Were the communications from Ophelia?” Mars queried.

“Yes,” Chu repeated.

“Were orders forwarded for Elena and myself?” Serena inquired.

Chu shook his head. “Not with the birds thus received.”

Serena looked frustrated by this.

“I’m loathe to move forward, but my citizens have been amassing since the events of yesterday. I have an important announcement to make, and after what befell us, I cannot delay it,” True mentioned.

“Not to worry, the Nadirii can take care of ourselves,” Serena proclaimed. “Obviously,” she finished proudly.

She was right.

Except, now…

“A unicorn horn was taken,” I reminded her of a deed that was despicable in so many ways, it was impossible to describe them all.

It was also terribly unlawful in all realms.

“I cannot believe they have unicorns here,” Maddie whispered to Finnie.

“I know, right?” Finnie whispered to Maddie.

“The Nadirii can take care of ourselves,” Serena repeated.

“Perhaps all the birds have not arrived from Ophelia yet,” True suggested. “We have some time before all scatter to discuss if this further news changes any plans. But now, we have no time. We must make our way to the balcony.”

There were a number of nodding heads and all shifted to do just that.

However, I hung back.

My husband gave me a mild scowl.

“Go on, Mars. I’ll be right there,” I told him.

This did not improve his scowl.

I turned to Serena and requested, “Serena, if I could have a moment before we go?”

She seemed startled by this, but she stopped moving, indicating her assent.

I looked back to Mars.

“Just a moment, my king,” I murmured.

He did not appear to like it, but he nodded and moved to and through the door.

I moved to Serena.

“I must ask a favor, and of course, you can refuse,” I began. “Indeed, we may not have the time before we go our separate ways should you wish to grant it.”

“What is it?” she queried.

“I wish for you to teach me some skills with, perhaps, a dagger.”

She blinked at me.

“And, I do not know,” I continued. “I am small, this may be useless, but some physical strategies. Should I, erm…find myself in the situation to, say, use them.”

“Smallness means nothing if you keep your head about you and do not mind punching a man in the throat or kicking him in the balls,” Serena declared.

Faith! I thought.

“Oh,” I whispered.

She studied me, still appearing to be astonished, but also something else.

Cautious?

Pleased?

“We will make time,” she decreed.

I tipped my chin. “I would be most grateful.”

“Farah and Ha-Lah too,” she said.

“I think that would be wise,” I replied.

“The men won’t like it, will they?” she asked.

“I…do not know,” I said hesitantly. “However, I think it best they do not know we intend to be trained thus in case they don’t, feeling they can provide all the protection we need, and the situation arises that they…” I struggled against biting my lip before I concluded, “can’t.”