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Where to? Naî asked.

“Take me to Tallu,” I said.

We swept over the battlefield, Naî leaving frost and ice in her wake. I added my own contribution of falling icicles that did significant damage from our height.

Naî landed near Tallu, and I climbed down. His expression was drawn and unhappy as he glanced at me out of the corner of his eye without pausing his use of electro magic. He released bolt after bolt, each finding a target flawlessly, his strikes doing as much damage as a dozen men.

I didn’t shy away from Tallu’s anger, listening and keeping watch until the battle was finally over, the last of Bemishu’s men screaming before falling to Commander Rede’s sword. The goblins circled the battlefield, taking heads and stabbing corpses, making sure that none of Bemishu’s men survived, while I gave silent thanks that Maki had been destroyed months before. Sagam and General Saxu finally managed to convince Tallu to head inside. I followed, keeping the correct distance between us until we were in the tent that Tallu’s servants had prepared for him.

“You ran across an ongoing battle, single-handedly destroyed one of the sand crawlers, and killed General Bemishu.” Tallu’s voice sounded mildly annoyed, and I was sure I was the only one who understood the fear underneath it.

“The Bemishu twins killed him,” I corrected. “Shouldn’t they be rewarded for such loyal behavior?”

The look Tallu sent me was a clear indication that he knew, just as I did, that the Bemishu twins had not done it for his benefit, nor the benefit of the Imperium. Still, their revenge lined up with his victory.

“I thought we had an agreement about such rash behavior from someone so dear to me,” Tallu said.

“We did. But—” I tried to voice the feeling that had swept over me when I used my new magic, the helplessness of it, the panic I felt at not being myself even when I was using my own powers. But I was more than aware that his servants were with us, and, closer still, his Dogs, who might tolerate my magic but were in no way enthusiastic about it.

Even Sagam had been willing to sacrifice his own life rather than use the forest magic he was born with.

Tallu seemed to understand. “I’m sure there will be some celebrations. The goblins have defeated an enemy they long prepared to fight. Let us talk more after.”

I nodded, grateful. Tallu’s servants were stripping him down, removing the sandy clothes he wore, sponging his body and readying a fresh set of clothes. I didn’t recognize them, which meant they likely had come from the goblins. They were imperial in style, so they must have either been looted from dead imperials or there was more trading between the desert tribes and the Imperium than either side would admit to.

Tallu was right. The goblins held a party that put the ones I had seen in the Mountainside Palace to shame. Food was everywhere, and I knew most of it must have come from the animalia realm, which meant even they agreed that such a victory demanded a feast.

Men and women danced, music echoing through the halls. Even Iradîo and Asahi had been convinced to join. And I sat in the small corner of our sleeping quarters that Nohe had curtained off for me.

My hands would not stop trembling. It was not the killing. It was not the battle. There was no reason for me to be acting so foolish. And yet…

I held my palm open and thought of Sea Serpent’s magic. A crystalline orb appeared in my hand, and I could feel the weight of it, the heaviness of memory made tangible. It contained grief, the tears of a thousand people.

Closing my hand, I opened it again and imagined the magic of Sparrow, the ability to sing so sweetly I could call insects from the ground, rid entire fields of rot. The salamanders in the room turned toward me, their light focusing on me as even they were drawn in by my song.

I closed my eyes, pressing my hands to my face. Yes, I was me when using it. Yes it was my body. But⁠—

“Prince Airón?” a voice called out. I didn’t recognize it, but knew the sound of an imperial soldier fulfilling orders.

“Yes?” I pressed my palms together, leaning my forehead against my fingers.

“May I come in?” The soldier sounded hesitant.

Standing, I went to the drapery that functioned as a door. Pulling it back, I examined the man. He was clean, although he looked tired. He wasn’t one of the men we had brought with us to Tavornai, which meant he was one of Kacha’s men.

I could see that hungry look on him that hadn’t faded from some. They had been starving for too long in the Blood Mountains before they had come to our service.

“What is it?” I asked.

“It’s the emperor,” he said, dropping his voice low. I looked around, leaning forward just slightly. “He has collapsed and is asking for you.”

I was moving before the man stepped back, pushing past him. “Where?”

Cursing myself, I tried to remember the last time I had been able to fully heal Tallu. A week ago? No. Much longer. Perhaps even when we had left Lord Pehine’s estate.

“This way,” the soldier said. “His Dogs moved him out of the way so that no one else would see his weakness.”

I followed the soldier through the halls, pushing past the revelry. We were approaching the front of the building, and he ducked into a small room. The door shut behind me and I spun, grabbing for the soldier, realizing too late that Tallu was not inside the room.