Nira frowned. “And why, in the name of Meshkent’s buggering cock, would I want ta do a shit-witted thing like that?”

“I need you,” Adare said, shocked at her own words, but recognizing the truth in them even as they left her lips. “I need a councillor.”

“Seems ta me you’re well on your way to being over-counseled as it is.”

Adare shook her head. “No. Lehav will use me, but doesn’t trust me. Fulton and Birch will guard me, but they won’t talk to me. . . .” She trailed off, staring at her hands. “I’m in charge of an army now, Nira. I’m starting a civil war against maybe the best general in the history of Annur, and I have no idea what I’m doing.”

Nira’s lips tightened. “I’m sorry, girl, but I can’t help. You might’a forgot,” she lowered her voice, “but things didn’t work out all that well when we were in charge, Oshi and me. ’Sides—ya got Intarra now ta guide your every dainty step.”

“Just because she saved me once, doesn’t mean she’ll do it every time,” Adare protested. She realized she was pleading, and found she didn’t care. “I need someone who knows about power, who’s been there before.”

Nira glanced at her brother, then shook her head. “No. I got my own work ta see to.”

“Yes!” Adare said, seizing on to the idea. “You walked all the way here looking for your Csestriim. Why? What was it you said? He’s always at the heart of important things. Well, there’s nothing closer to the heart of things than the Dawn Palace. The palace you were telling me weeks ago you couldn’t get inside.”

“This,” the woman said, casting a skeptical look around the crumbling room, “doesn’t look much like the Dawn Palace.”

Adare ignored the crack, pressing ahead. “I’m going to Annur. I’m going to destroy il Tornja, and take back the Unhewn Throne.”

“Last time I checked, it was your brother supposed to be sittin’ on that ugly hunk a’ stone, not you.”

“I have no idea where Kaden is,” Adare snapped, “and I can’t afford to wait for him. None of us can. If you come with me, you’ll see every important player in this empire. If your Csestriim is there, we’ll find him.”

Nira narrowed her eyes, clicked her teeth together. “And if I come with ya, if I’m your councillor, the kenarang might put both of our heads on a sharp stick.”

“Sometimes in order to get what you want you have to take a risk.”