Page 47

“Well,” I break the silence that’s stretched between us since returning to the keep, “that could have gone better.”

Agnar’s snort is somewhere between amusement and disbelief. “I would have called it a shit show, but that’s one way to put it.”

Sterling stops his pacing to pour water from a crystal decanter. He passes me a glass first, always thinking of me before himself, before distributing glasses to the others.

I catch his eye and find a silent question there. Are you all right? I give him the barest nod in response.

“What did you discover?” I turn to Agnar and Rafe. “Before the Divine Commons attempted to murder us, I mean.”

Rafe clears his throat, arms falling to his side. His wavy brown hair is disheveled, and there’s dust on his clothing from wherever he and Agnar had been investigating. “We headed out last night, thinking we’d finish up at the Commons. Trust me when I say we double-checked everything. It’s worse than we thought.”

I sip my water, buying time for my stomach to settle. “Let’s hear it.”

Agnar pushes off from the wall to stand beside Rafe, and my heart squeezes with dread over the glance they share. “We found evidence of failed restoration experiments, just as you feared.”

Sterling stills. “What kind of experiments?”

Rafe’s throat works on a swallow. “Sacrificial ones.”

The water catches in my throat. “Sacrificial?”

Oh gods. If children are being sacrificed…

Spotting my horrified expression, Agnar quickly clarifies. “Animals, personal objects, monetary items. But there were notes. Theories. About larger sacrifices potentially yielding better results.”

“People.” Sterling blows out a heavy breath and starts pacing again.

He says the word so casually, but the hardness of his features and the haunted glint in his eyes convey the truth. We’ve both killed out of necessity. To defend ourselves and those we love. And Sterling murdered people when he was corrupted and physically incapable of disobeying King Xenon’s orders.

King Mihel said his guards found a so-called prophet who talked about using human sacrifices, and now we have confirmation that it’s happening. They kill innocents, and for what? A chance at regaining magic? To appease gods they’re not even sure are angry?

Pure madness.

Rafe nods, dust falling from his messy hair. “That was the suggestion. Nothing to indicate they’ve crossed that line yet, but the theoretical framework exists.”

I set my glass on a side table before my shaking hands betray me.

“That’s not all.” Agnar folds his hands over his stomach. “It seems like the Tír Ríogans are preparing for battle. Or a siege.”

Sterling whirls around. “Explain.”

“We found massive storage facilities.” Agnar unclasps his hands and scrubs a hand across his jaw. “Recently constructed or expanded. They’re stockpiling everything. Food, medicine, raw materials.”

“Could be normal precautions.” The hope in my voice sounds hollow even to my own ears. “After what happened with Narc, prudent kingdoms would⁠—”

“It’s not normal precautions.” Rafe earns a sharp look from Sterling for interrupting me. “I’m a guild master, Lark. I know supply chains. These aren’t the stores of a kingdom preparing for a harsh winter or potential famine. These are the preparations of a nation expecting to be completely cut off.”

“Or planning to cut themselves off.” Sterling moves to stand behind my chair.

“There’s more.” Agnar averts his gaze, as if he’s reluctant to disclose something. Which is very much unlike him. “They’re strengthening their border fortifications. Not just maintaining them but actively reinforcing them. New watchtowers. Extended walls. Additional garrisons. They’ve been building self-sufficiency into their systems for months.”

Sterling remains silent, but tension radiates from him. When he finally speaks, his voice is measured. “They’re not just readying themselves for a world without magic. They’re readying themselves for a world without allies.”

I flinch. “They trusted us.” Agnar and I even risked our lives to warn them of corrupted Aclarians attacking their border.

Sterling’s hand settles on my shoulder. “And now they’re preparing for a world where they can’t.”

Determination floods the hollow spaces inside me, washing away my exhaustion. Tirene’s allies don’t trust Tirene anymore. They’re prepping for isolation or war. And while I’ve been trying to be the perfect diplomatic queen, reciting carefully memorized speeches and following protocol to the letter, the world has been fracturing around me.