Valyn opened his mouth to retort, then stopped himself. He had expected Adare to either confirm or dispute Long Fist’s claim; the idea that she might do both at the same time had not occurred to him. His mind traveled back to that enormous camp north of the White River, to the tens of thousands of horsemen massed within miles of the Annurian border. The shaman had claimed it was a defensive force, but he could have lied.

“Even if Long Fist is attacking,” he said slowly, “how does an Urghul threat justify treason and murder?”

“Sweet Intarra’s light, Valyn,” Adare spat, “you think I didn’t struggle with that question? You think it hasn’t been at me like a knife stuck in my ribs every ’Kent-kissing day?” Her body was rigid, almost trembling. She looked like she might lash out at him or start sobbing. Maybe both. “I loved our father, loved him more than you ever did, off playing soldier on your tropical islands. I’m the one who talked to him about taxation, military levies, canal rights, the price of a fucking bushel of rice. I’m the one who actually knew him. I’m the one who had to see him put in the ’Kent-kissing ground, and now you presume to arrive in the middle of the night, a knife to my back, and lecture me about our father, about what we owe to his memory.” Her teeth were bare, as though she were going to rip out his throat, but her voice, when she spoke again, was quiet, tight as a bowstring. “Il Tornja tried to convince our father of the danger, but he failed. Father was a good emperor in peacetime. He was a great emperor, but he underestimated the military threat.”

“It was the kenarang’s job to demonstrate that threat, to guard against it.”

Adare shook her head. “Father wouldn’t let him. He said any troop movement to the north was provocation.” She stabbed a finger into his chest. “Look, the murder of the Emperor is treason. I will grieve for him the rest of my life, more than you will ever fucking understand, but our father was only one man, Valyn. How many more people will die if Annur falls to the Urghul? Your horse-riding friends are probably across the river right now, hammering south through the Lakeland. That territory is basically undefended because our father left it undefended.”

“It’s still a military coup,” Valyn replied. “There were other ways to handle the problem. Ways that didn’t involve murder and treason. Il Tornja went after me, too, Adare. He went after Kaden. It wasn’t just about protecting Annur—he’s trying to annihilate the entire Malkeenian line.” He paused, eyeing her. “Except for you, evidently.”