“No. Old Narel passed away some months ago. Khalad left Kion shortly after that. I always thought that grief from his master’s death motivated his wanderlust. Khalad would not have chosen to leave her here in Kion otherwise.”

Her?

Fox continued, “But his alliance with my sister puts his reasons for leaving in a different context entirely.”

“Was someone he knew injured by the fire?”

The man smiled briefly. “You will get nothing else out of me, Bard. Tea may have granted you permission to her story, but Khalad’s is not open to discussion until he says otherwise.”

“They might come after him next, Fox,” Lady Altaecia cautioned. “The elders’ numbers have greatly dwindled, following Hestia and the others’ deaths. They may suspect him to be Tea’s accomplice.”

“We’ll look after Khalad,” Zoya promised. She’d entered the room long enough to catch the tail end of our conversation. “Where is he now?”

“With her,” Princess Inessa said gently. “Give them as much solitude as he desires but remain ever on alert. Notify us if any other problems arise.”

Zoya’s face fell, adopting the same melancholic expression the Heartforger had worn. Shadi sighed heavily and linked her arm to her sweetheart’s. “We understand, milady. We’ve been staying with her while he was away. It would be good to tell him what happened in his absence.”

“It would be best if you moved into Parmina’s room,” Councilor Ludvig suggested. “It’s the largest in the asha-ka. I have soldiers and volunteers trooping in and out of here at all hours, and it would be best if you talk in more sequestered quarters, where there are fewer strangers to overhear.”

“I’ll help you sort out the logistics, Lord Ludvig,” Fox offered. “There’s enough work here for twice our numbers.”

“As will I,” Princess Inessa interjected, a stubborn tilt to her chin. “Morale ought to increase when the people see me here. I’ve already sent word of our arrival to my mother. She’ll send for me if she needs. What do the current reports say?”

“There was damage to many properties in the business district, but the worst hit was the Willows, Your Majesty,” the old man reported. “Tea, at least, had very good aim. She hit the council house hard—not even a post remains. Many of the asha who’d been inside reported extreme lethargy. It appears they’d been compelled and herded out of the building before the first of the dragonfire hit. Those in nearby asha-ka and cha-khana mention the same experiences. All the runic wards around Kion still stand though. It does little to prevent the azi, but if Tea is still within the city, she would not be able to draw in the Dark and cause more mayhem.”