“It’s been declining for some time now. It took us—took me—too long to realize what was happening, and even longer to take it seriously. It was slow at first, but the last five years have been dramatic, and this year’s been the worst yet. What you saw in the tower is all that’s left of our harvest, and at least half of it we owe to Velmara. Normally we’d have a dozen towers like that one filled to the brim. People who used to rely on it, especially those in rural areas, no longer have any supply. Humans who bought objects spelled to work with thayar now have their farming equipment sitting useless. Small businesses who use thayar to add efficiency to their manufacturing are back to manual labor. It’s a complete disaster, and it’s why I’ve taken so long to do anything about the rebels. The people are scared and angry. I don’t blame them for joining the rebellion. They deserve better.” My voice cracks, the shame and anxiety from yesterday returning. I lock it down before I bring my eyes back up to meet Hawthorne’s. When our gazes meet, he sees more than I want him to.

The Prince considers my words carefully as he studies me. “Aethers, I can’t believe I’m going to tell you this, but I did say I wanted a real alliance.” I wait for him to continue, understanding the weight of sharing secrets. “My father’s been importing more and more thayar, as you know. In the capital, he’s spun a story that the Nivan Desert is expanding and getting more difficult to perform magic in, so more of our thayar imports are sent there. But the people in the desert are also receiving less and less of the good. The thayar shortage in Velmara is just as bad as it is in Thayaria.”

That doesn’t make any sense. Mazus has been doubling Velmara’s thayar imports every year for decades. And I know Velmara’s population hasn’t increased significantly, because we monitor that closely for our protection.

“Where’s it all going then?” I ask, my voice almost a whisper.

“The people of the desert whisper rumors that my father is stockpiling it deep in the northern mountains.”

“Do you believe these rumors?” My mind spins with the possibilities.

“I have to. There’s no other explanation for the disappearing shipments. One of my reasons for agreeing to come here, and for wanting an alliance with you, was to find out more about the flower. Understand its properties. I suspect my father’s planning something big with all that thayar, some massive magical act. But I don’t know what it is, and I fear for my people.”