“Yes, listen to her. She’s wise enough to laugh.” Benabe blew air through her nose. Smiled. And the moment of mirth faded as quickly as it had come. “The strange thing is that I’m taking my daughter to find sorcerers who scare me to death, and I’m doing it because the only thing that scares me more is not finding them. Do you know how Shen convinced me? It was after my first meeting with Sinper Ou. He calls Shen his cousin, but there is no kindness in him. He would make her his wife if he could, or marry her to one of his sons. And then he would declare to the world that she lived and as Aliver’s daughter was rightful ruler of the Known World.”

Kelis felt his pulse quicken. “You really believe he would challenge the queen?”

“If he thought her weakened, yes. But even if he did not, I think he would make a grab for all Talay. The Ous have long thought themselves better than the rest of us. Big lions. Why shouldn’t they be kings and queens? I could see these thoughts surging every time Sinper’s heart pumped. You see, he would challenge the queen if he could, but I think he would be just as happy breaking the world in two. Talay is rich enough, even for a man like him. All he needs is my daughter standing beside him. He has but to name her Aliver’s heir and all Talay will bow to her. Sinper will accept on her behalf. I was sure of this, and sure that he already had a spiderweb around us. I had hidden her all these years because I wanted her safe, unknown. Better a living village girl than the target for wolves. That’s what I believed. I still believe it, but secrets are hard to keep. Sangae knew about her long before he approached me. And then he had no choice but to tell the other elders. And what the elders know, the Ous soon learn.”

“You could announce her as Aliver’s daughter yourself. Take that from Sinper—”

“The minute the world knows of her, she’ll have a million enemies, most of them disguised as friends.”

“She will have true protectors, too. I would be one of them. I would die so she might live.”

Benabe studied him, her large eyes softening with a kindness that made them look fatigued. “Thank you. Shen would not like that. Live for her; don’t die. She thinks there is a better way. That’s what she told me. She came to me, and she seemed to know all the doubts within me, even though I’d tried to hide them from her. She said that there were a few in the world who could truly protect her. The stones. They promised her that the love they had for Aliver they gave now to her. Only they were stronger than all others combined. Only they could guide her safely through what is to come. She believes them, and I believe they’re powerful, but I fear they want more from her than they’ll ever give to her. There are things they’re not telling her. I know there are.”