“Noorestones that size are extremely valuable to us.” I took a seat at the table; Alusha would have been scandalized, but I didn’t care about protocol anymore. “They are our sole means of traveling outside the Fallen Isles. They’re incredibly rare. The fact that so many are here in one place—that’s something I’ve never seen before.”

Empress Apolla lowered herself into the seat across from me, adjusting her gown as she did. Somehow, even in these rugged surroundings, she managed to look regal. “I see. Would you be interested in some sort of trade, perhaps? Something equally rare and valuable?”

The bones of the first dragon.

I would give her all the noorestones for the dragon bones.

But I couldn’t say that. Not without consulting with the others. The noorestones weren’t mine to give.

“I think my people would be open to a trade,” I said slowly. “But let’s save that discussion for another day.”

Let her think I wasn’t in a rush for the bones.

I was in a rush, though. Idris, Harta, and Bopha had already risen. There were only seven days until the eclipse, and we still had to sail there. Even taking a skimmer den would require three days. That didn’t leave us much time to barter.

“One thing I do wonder,” I mused aloud, “is how Paorah’s ships reached the mainland so quickly. They possessed only one noorestone each—except for the one you said had three. Usually, they do boast three, and it would still take them nearly two decans to get here.”

Apolla was nodding. “I was curious about this as well. It seems there was a substance used to torture prisoners in a place called the Pit.”

My heart tumbled over itself with knowing. With disgust. All I could think of was Aaru in the interrogation room, the chair with straps to hold him down, and the basins with noorestones against his bare feet.

His screaming.

His silence.

Darkness. Terror. Voicelessness.

He hadn’t even known who I was then—not my full name or title—and he had no idea why he was being tortured.

Apolla, if she noticed my distress, didn’t comment. “It’s a combination of dragon root, dragon blood, and several other minor ingredients that, when it contacts noorestones, changes the way the inner fire is expelled. I’m told that when applied correctly, this substance will transfer the energy into another object—like a person—or it can push a ship faster across the sea.” She frowned to herself. “They say they were unsure whether it would work. Some believed it had just as much of a chance to explode the ship as it did to speed the journey.”

“That’s why Paorah didn’t come himself,” I murmured. “He couldn’t face the empire, and he couldn’t even face the chance of dying on his own ship.”

He could have killed everyone he’d intended to save.

“I’m sure he told everyone that the goddess of destruction would protect them.” Apolla shook her head, disgusted. “Do you think he will follow them? Should we expect another attack?”