Tips alone knew of the tunnel, and with a rare lack of self-awareness, he stood staring at the illusion of stone, jaw flexing and unflexing. “What is this, Marc?” he asked. “Who have you brought to our doorstep?”

“Soon enough,” I said. “Is everyone here?”

He jerked his head up and down in an affirmative, and then muttered at someone to lock the door to the cellar while I made my way to the podium at the front. Would this be the last time I stood here with all eyes on me? I wondered as I stepped onto the block of stone, head and shoulders above the small crowd.

“Thank you all for coming,” I said, once they’d settled. “I know that you do so at great risk to yourselves.”

They all gave grim nods, from the miners permanently streaked with dirt to the ladies’ maids concealed with grey cloaks.

“Countless times over the centuries, the half-blood class has attempted to rise up against their forced indenture. Those attempts have always failed, often with brutal consequences. They were doomed to fail not only because they lacked the power required to overthrow the monarchy and its practices, but also because no one in the upper classes saw the need for change.” I paused to let my words settle in. “This time will be different. This time we won’t lose.”

They stepped closer, fervor beginning to glow in their eyes.

“It is time for us to rise up against those who believe that blood and magic and power give them the right to rain tyranny down upon Trollus. Who believe it gives them the right to subjugate. To maim–” I nodded at Tips “–or to murder–” I gestured toward the other miners. “It is far past time that those trolls were held accountable for their actions. It is past time they were held accountable to us!”

The half-bloods shouted their agreement, pumping their fists into the air until I held up a hand to settle them. “Long, rumors have swirled that I am not the true leader of this movement – that I represent an individual who, out of necessity, needed to remain anonymous to avoid jeopardizing our cause. An individual with the power to overthrow King Thibault and instate a new regime in Trollus. I’m here today to tell you that this is no rumor – it is the truth.”

The room grew silent, and I held my breath, savoring this last moment. Behind me, I felt Tristan’s presence, along with another troll with power. Anaïs? There was too much magic in the air, pressing closer, and my skin prickled, but there was no stopping now. “I’ll keep you in suspense no longer.”

Then I stepped off the podium and turned, expecting to see a cloaked Tristan, but instead finding myself face to face with my father. He smiled, patted me on the shoulder, then said under his breath, “Go, Marc. Take Tristan and get away from this place.”

I blinked.