Setting his untouched glass down, Micah paced back and forth, pounding his fist into his palm with each point. “The gifted have been hit hard by Ardenine attacks. Our numbers are the lowest they’ve been in years. If we want to evict the southerners, we need an army, and we don’t have one. We can’t get one, either, at least not overnight. Arden’s bought them all up.

“Remember the copperhead saying—arrows are quicker than jinxes. We may not need the copperheads, but we need somebody to stand between us and the Ardenine Army, catching arrows while we cast our charms. As soon as the army gains control of the city, they’ll turn to us.”

“We’re safe here on Gray Lady,” Fiona said. “Let the southerners try to climb through our barricades with a dozen wizards raining charms down on their heads.”

“A dozen wizards,” Micah said sarcastically. “That’s how many are here? At this point, Arden has at least that many. We may be better armed, but numbers will tell. Besides, how long can we last up here? What do we have in the way of food? Do either of you know?”

After a long charged silence, his father shook his head. “We don’t keep much food on hand because we’re so rarely in residence. There’s no way of knowing what’s dispersed among the families up here, but I’m sure that—”

“You’re sure that everyone else will share with you?” Micah laughed. “Maybe you can trade amulets for food.”

“Maybe we can,” Fiona said acidly.

“I wouldn’t bet my life on that,” Micah said. “Wizards don’t play well together, and they hate being ruled by us. How long before talk about your copperhead chance child begins to surface again? Don’t forget—the Demon King held the armory, and it didn’t save him.”

“Things are different now,” Fiona said, with desperate confidence. “Given the threat from the southerners, the gifted will do what’s in their best interest.”

“We need all parts of the Fells to survive,” Micah said. “The Vale is where the food comes from—especially now that we’re at war with the south. Not only that, Queen Raisa is beloved in the Vale. Maybe you haven’t noticed, but I have. If we are allied, they will fight for her. If we retreat to the mountains, we’ll be the copperheads of the southern regime—marginalized, sneaking about in the uplands, getting off a nasty charm now and then.”

Lord Bayar slammed his hands on the table and pushed to his feet. “You cannot let your lust for a woman cloud your head!”

Micah faced his father across the table. “Like you never did,” he said, his voice low and venomous.

Lord Bayar went white to the lips, his blue eyes like sapphires against his pasty skin.