Fulton shook his head curtly. “That is why my order exists. Why I exist.”

Adare blew out a frustrated breath. She had no doubts about Fulton’s loyalty, but loyalty was not the same as judgment.

“Listen,” she began, uncertain just how much she wanted to reveal. “The legions love il Tornja. Have you heard what the men say? He’s invincible. He’s unstoppable. Fearless. Brilliant—”

“Good qualities in a kenarang.”

“You and I both know he is more than the kenarang. The true question is how much more he hopes to be.”

Fulton narrowed his eyes. “I understood you had him in check, that your Mizran Councillor had . . . thwarted him.”

Adare leaned close. “You saw exactly what I saw: a collar of flame. It was there for a few heartbeats, then it disappeared. Nira says she can keep il Tornja in check, but what do I know about a leach’s kenning? What do you know?”

The Aedolian started to respond, but she cut him off.

“And even if it’s true, even if we have il Tornja controlled, he’s not the only danger. I’m new to the throne, Fulton. In fact, I’ve never even sat on the fucking thing. I’m young. I’m a woman. The Sons of Flame follow me because of what happened at the Everburning Well, but the legions follow il Tornja. If I’m going to win their support and loyalty, I need to prove myself something more than a callow young princess with more ambition than spine.”

“Wading into a battle is no way to demonstrate your bravery.”

“Unfortunately,” Adare replied, “it is.”

She gestured to the small town. Smoke rose over the far shore, but the nearest island appeared relatively untouched by the violence. At least, she hoped it was untouched. According to her scouts, il Tornja was in the tall stone tower that seemed to grow straight out of the cliffs on the island’s southern coast. It looked close enough for her to reach.

“I have to go,” she said again, willing Fulton to see the wisdom of her words, hoping desperately that they were, in fact, wise. “I have to go.”

Fulton grimaced, flexed and unflexed his sword hand, then nodded curtly. “But once we cross the river, you obey me. If I tell you to move, you move. If I tell you to drop, you drop.” He fixed her with a glare. “Do you understand? Your Radiance?”

Adare nodded. “I understand.”