“You’ve invaded my kingdom,” she said, trying to gather her wits to her. “You’ve threatened my king.”

Gahalatine shrugged. “Yes, I tend to do that. Tryneowy, I implore you to hear my side. I’m sure you realize that I’ve caught you in my little trap. There are no ley lines from the High Tower. My guardians allowed you to wander in here. I didn’t want it to be too easy, for fear you’d fly away like you did the last time. So much of what I’ve learned about you fascinates me.” He swallowed, taking several steps closer to her, not in a threatening way, but like someone curious to know more. It put more distance between him and Lady Evie. One thing he didn’t seem to know about was the Tay al-Ard she had strapped to her arm. He might not have even heard about the destruction of his fleet at Ploemeur.

“I have heard much about you as well,” she said, matching his tone and a little of his haughtiness. “But what I’ve learned has only deepened my concern about the kind of man you are.”

His brow furrowed. “It is not unjust to claim authority over a kingdom by right of conquest. The history of Kingfountain is ripe with such tales. Surely that cannot offend you.”

Trynne shook her head. “You have that right, as does any king.” She paused and added, “We once had a king whose words could influence people. He was known as a tyrant.”

Gahalatine looked offended. “Are you comparing me with Severn Argentine?”

“No, I fear you may be worse,” Trynne replied, jutting out her chin. She stepped deeper into the room, approaching him but keeping Evie within her field of vision. “You can tell a lot about a man by the dogs he keeps on a leash and the ones he lets roam free.”

Gahalatine’s look changed to one of surprise. His eyebrows lifted. He tapped his heart with his finger. “I am the one on the leash,” he growled. He stepped closer to her. They were still far enough apart that he could not touch her. “And I cannot achieve the vision I have without a strong, courageous woman at my side. I seek, Tryneowy, to change the game that has been played out since the world was new and the boundaries of the Deep Fathoms were first established. The people truly suffer with hunger, blight, and disease because of the squabbling of their leaders and those who crave coin more than they do the well-being of their fellows. And you cannot tell me that such tortures do not happen in your kingdom. I pity the weak and the dispossessed. And I firmly believe that the populace of Kingfountain would welcome my benevolent hand if someone they trusted and respected stood at my side. Think on it, Tryneowy. Together, we could remake the world.”