Chapter 124

Azanlin POV

When the council broke, I stood and put my hand on the map. I felt the weight of the stones and the arcs we had placed. I whispered the names of the anchors and pledged that any who betrayed us would be judged. I did not promise painless roads. I promised a course.

The moon was full then and the air seemed to hum with quiet trouble. I thought of Queen Amira — distant and dangerous — and of Adolfa — made of other peoples’ cruelties. I thought of my people and of ...