“Except Duke Xun won’t admit there’s a problem. That’s admitting weakness,” Relos reminded him. “Admitting weakness terrifies our dear Joratese duke. And since Kaen has taken steps to keep most of the Royal Houses from making too much fuss about disturbances in Jorat, Janel’s rebels benefit there too. In fact, there’s a good chance that, by the time the High Council realizes there is a problem in Jorat, it will be too late, and when they do—” He chuckled. “Oh, I can just imagine the look on High General Milligreest’s face when he realizes who he’s fighting. How delightful to find my wild filly isn’t out of the race yet.”

“I thought you’d be more upset,” Qown admitted.

“Kaen will be furious. He’ll order her execution, guaranteed.” The wizard looked rueful and sighed. “Do what you can to help her, Qown. Try not to put yourself at risk, but I think we’re approaching a time when I will have to decide if I want to keep saving that man from his own bad decisions.”

“You have a plan, don’t you? A plan for how you’re going to save the world?”

Relos Var stopped smiling. “Yes, I do.”

Qown’s throat felt tight as he wrestled with emotions he couldn’t name, let alone control. “I’ll see what I can do to help her. She’s, uh…” He cleared his throat. “She’s trying to learn magic.”

“I suppose if she must. It won’t do her much good when we track down Urthaenriel, but it will help her in the meantime. I’d rather she focused on her lessons with Xivan.”

“Urthaenriel?” Qown sat up. “You’re looking for Urthaenriel?” He’d naturally heard of the Ruin of Kings, the fabled magical sword of the Quuros emperors, but he’d assumed it was permanently lost—or decorating the vané king’s wall.

“Yes,” Relos Var said. “And if it were any other sword, I could just ask the Name of All Things to tell me its location. Which is a pity, because we’ll need it soon.”

“Why?”

Relos Var laughed in surprise as he stood. “Because its other name is Godslayer, dear boy. And we are, after all, going to kill gods.”

49: WINTER TRIALS

Jorat Dominion, Quuros Empire. Three days since Thurvishar pedantically corrected himself

Janel chuckled. “No, don’t be so hard on Baramon, Qown. He wasn’t the person who revealed our plans.”

Ninavis sniffed and rolled her eyes.

“He wasn’t?” Qown looked confused. “But he’s the reason I found out what you were doing.”

“Yes,” Janel agreed, “but Relos Var didn’t want you to say anything, remember? No, someone else gave up the game, I’m afraid.”

“Who?” Kihrin asked.

Janel reached for her drink. “Oh, that would be me.”

Janel’s Turn. The Ice Demesne, Yor, Quur.