“You will do what the half-blood asks,” he said, his voice loud enough for everyone to hear. A slight smile crept into his eyes. “As… punishment, for your actions.”

Relief filled me, and it was a struggle to keep from showing it. I think I did not quite manage it, because the smile moved to his mouth. I stayed quiet long enough to make our act look real, then nodded. “As you command, so shall it be, Your Majesty.”

“We want his promise!”

I started at Tips’s voice. This wasn’t part of our plan. I turned just in time to see magic that was not my own crush the half-blood against the marble floor.

“Do not make demands of your betters,” my father snapped, his vehemence surprising me. Tips had been making demands this entire time, and my father had not seemed to care. What about me making a promise was different? It was a question that required more thought, but I didn’t have time for it now. After everything that had happened today, the half-bloods were going to need more than a little reassurance that I was to be trusted, and I had every intention of giving it to them.

I cleared my throat. “I, Prince Tristan de Montigny, do so swear that I will build a stone tree for you, which, when it is complete, will protect Trollus from the weight of Forsaken Mountain without the use of magic.”

My father snapped around to face me, his eyes bright with astonishment and anger. “You’re a fool to bind yourself so.” He muttered the words under his breath, and only I was close enough to hear them.

“That remains to be seen,” I said softly, refusing to let myself wonder if he was right.

“Let it be known that His Highness has given his binding word!” he roared. Twisting on his heel, he strode up to the throne and settled down on it hard enough that the massive chair inched backwards. “Get back to your trades,” he snarled at the crowd. “And you.” His eyes settled on Tips. “Get back to the mines. It would be a shame after all of this if you were to miss your quota.”

A not too subtle reminder that he was still King of Trollus, and that we all still lived and died by his word.

I had no escort back to my rooms, although I was as much in danger as I had ever been. It would take time for Tips to disperse the truth behind what had happened this morning, and despite knowing I worked for their freedom, many would resent being used once again. Even now, after this victory against my father, I still had so few allies. Only Tips, his crew, and Élise. Marc was still an unknown, holed up in his home and refusing any visitors, and the twins were limited by their banishment to the mines. I needed to find a way to help my friends, but as yet, I didn’t know how.