A frown worked around the corners of her mouth. “I’d rather not be.”

Rude.

“Before I write my report.” She looked at Aaru. “That strange silence. You?”

“Why do you think I did it?”

She rolled her eyes. “You come from the Isle of Silence, don’t you? I haven’t met anyone else from Idris, but there are rumors about what people from the Fallen Isles can do. Our empress is very interested in those abilities.”

“I’m sure she is.” An unusual note of hostility entered his tone. “Our abilities are gifts from our gods—”

“Even with”—she motioned westward, toward Idris on the horizon—“him no longer an island?”

“Apparently.” Aaru frowned. “He’s still there. He’s just not— When they go, I think, the gifts will, too. But as I was saying, our gifts are not to be used to harm others.”

“What about Khulan’s?” she asked. “God of warriors. That sounds dangerous.”

“Dangerous, yes. But strength can be used to help, too. Gifts like ours have many aspects.”

Nine turned to me. “What about yours? I thought you were from Damina.”

“I am.”

“The Daminan gift is what I felt when I listened to your mother speak. Charm. Persuasion. I should be falling in love with you, not wondering what else you can do with noorestones.”

She and I stared at each other for a moment, and finally I said, “I can make you fall in love with noorestones.”

Nine gave a soft snort. “If I find myself composing romantic poems to them, I’ll know who to blame.” She glanced over her shoulder. Passersby were still eyeing us. “Well. Get some rest. Talk with your friends. Decide if there’s anything you want to do about”—she gestured toward the Red Hall—“all that. I may help. I may not. I do as our empress commands.”

“Even if it means deals with Paorah?”

She held my gaze, sighed, and then left.

MY FRIENDS REACTED to the news about as well as I predicted:

1. Zara hated everyone and everything, because we hadn’t been able to rescue Mother. Had we even tried?
2. Gerel and Hristo glowered and muttered about the unnecessary danger Aaru and I had put ourselves in.
3. Chenda looked deeply distraught at the political upheaval and murders of her fellow elected—or appointed—officials.
4. The dragons hunched on my shoulders, trying to steal bites of the lunch the others had saved for me. In spite of Ilina’s annoyed glances, I gave in and shared.

“Did you hear anything about my father?” Ilina asked.

“He might be in the empire.” Aaru looked up from the bread he’d been shredding into small chunks. “I heard someone talk about sending people to the Algotti Empire. After Paorah said he sent dragons.”

Ilina’s expression darkened. “So you think Paorah sent my father to the empire along with those dragons?”

“After, probably.” Aaru shrugged helplessly. “It sounded like the dragons were sent months ago, and the people recently. But if the empire needed help with the dragons, wouldn’t your father be the best person to send?”