“What will the people in the merchant district do?” Fionn asks, and the mood sobers. I take a swallow of wine before answering.

“We have a little less than a week to get them into temporary shelters,” I explain. “Once Winter Solstice and Abscission arrive, it’ll be too cold to do much else in the district. My advisors’ number one priority is finding them a place to stay until we can rebuild their homes.”

“Where will they go if they don’t have family to stay with?” Fionn’s eyes are bright as he listens intently to my words.

“Here. The palace is deceptively large. There are entire wings under the mountain that aren’t in use. We have more than enough rooms for displaced families. The real challenge is getting them cleaned and properly set up in time.”

Fionn looks thoughtful. “You’ll house them here? What if there are rebels among them? It could be another trick, to sneak inside so they can launch another attack.”

“That’s a risk we’ll have to take,” I say somberly. I considered the very question, worried we’d have another attack inside the palace. “It’s the best option with the timeline we have. I have to trust that the rebels will honor this kingdom’s most sacred tradition and rest for the next few weeks. Besides, I won’t leave my people without shelter, no matter the risk.” Fionn gazes at me with a look of newfound respect, and the approval of this warrior lifts something inside of me.

“We’ll help prepare rooms,” Silene says cheerfully. “I can sweep dust with my air channeling. And Fionn can help move any furniture with metal in it. Thorne, well, I’m not exactly sure how he’ll be able to help, since light doesn’t really do much and he hates any kind of physical labor or cleaning…”

Thorne scoffs and looks offended. “One—may I remind you I’m also a water channeler, and water is typically very useful when cleaning. Two—I don’t hate physical labor or cleaning. I just prefer not to do it if I don’t have to. With the number of servants always swarming me in Velmara, setting them a cleaning task was sometimes the only way to get a moment of peace and quiet.”

We all laugh at his expense, Thorne included. The dinner passes in camaraderie and laughter, and I find myself more excited for an Abscission than I have been in a long time.