After Isabella had asked where she fit into their designs, there was a period of long silence between Valerio and Roderick. The old butler looked at Duke Valerio for a long time, almost as though they were having a conversation with their eyes alone. Eventually, Roderick gave a solemn nod, and Valerio smiled.

  “We’re willing to tell you about our aims with the royal court, and with Dovhain,” Valerio said.

  “We?” Isabella repeated.

  “I don’t consider Roderick my servant. He’s my trusted friend.” Valerio leaned back in the chair, crossing his arms. “And he should have as much say in this matter as I do.”

  Isabella looked at the man she had assumed was only a butler in a different light. “Okay,” she said, nodding acceptingly.

  “Once you know, though…” Valerio trailed off. “I can’t simply let you be anymore. You have to be with us, and only us. If you stray, seek the auspices of another… suffice to say, I’d be willing to lose my title, my everything, to keep my aim concealed.” He stared at her with uncompromising eyes.

  Isabella tried not to let her unease show, but he was saying that he’d eliminate everyone that knew the secret regardless of the consequences. Was he working for another country, attempting to undermine Dovhain? Her stomach turned considering the various implications of what he meant.

  Isabella took a deep breath and reasoned things out. “Before I commit to anything… I’d like to ask some general questions about your aims,” she said.

  Valerio nodded. “That’s fair.”

  “Do you intend to perpetuate the chaos in the realm?” she asked. “Draw out the succession crisis, cause war?”

  “No,” Valerio said plainly, relieving her.

  “Will it harm the citizens of Dovhain in any way?” Isabella continued.

  “No,” he said again.

  “Will it ever hurt me, or those close to me?” she asked finally.

  “I see she has a high opinion of you,” Roderick said dryly.

  Valerio didn’t answer immediately, sparking concern. “It shouldn’t, inherently. But… as I said, keeping the secret is paramount.”

  Isabella fidgeted with her fingers, looking around uncertainly. She couldn’t think of many concerns beyond those immediate ones. But… in the royal court, where alliances shifted day by day… could she afford to commit to one single cause? Valerio had persisted amidst the turmoil for the whole of her life. He was capable, both martially and otherwise. But that didn’t mean he was invulnerable, nor that he would be a constant ally.

  Thus far, his behavior had been nothing but charitable to her. The Relazione written about him painted a different story—a brutal, uncompromising pirate lord who took freely from others. Though there wasn’t much evidence of him being cruel, he couldn’t be considered a beacon of morality either. In the ambassadorial reception, he claimed it to be just recompense for their cheating him out of a discovery, but…

  Isabella looked into Valerio’s eyes. Her judgment said he was trustworthy. But could she trust her judgment? Bernadetta had lied to her face for years, and she’d never expected a thing until the moment her cousin had smothered her life out. What if this was the same? She didn’t think there’d be a third chance.

  The words that Valerio himself had told her before echoed in her mind.

  But this person, whoever she is… they already took away a great deal from you. My advice, if you want it, would be to make sure they don’t deprive you of anything else.

  “Can you give me the same promise?” Isabella asked. “That you’ll be my ally alone, and never stray.”

  “Of course. I look after my people,” he said seriously. “Ask anyone in this estate.”

  Isabella contemplated in silence for a long while.

  “Alright,” Isabella agreed. “I want to know. And I’ll promise to stand alongside your cause alone.”

  Valerio looked to Roderick a big smile on his face. Internally, Isabella had a thought that made her feel intensely guilty.

  Words are only words.

  “Alright. Then… a preamble.” Valerio adjusted in his chair, assuming a position with which to better tell the story. “The common conception of this world is that there are only two major landmasses.” He stared into her soul. “They’re wrong. I’ve confirmed as much personally.”

  Isabella blinked, processing his words.

  “If you sail south from here, pass by the archipelago that is my fiefdom, and then sail far, far east, fighting the winds…” Valerio said, pointing to a nearby map. “You’ll discover a vast, untamed land, inhabited by people of a culture that no one in Dovhain except myself has ever interacted with before.”

  “An island?” Isabella guessed.

  “No.” Valerio shook his head. “A continent.”

  Isabella exhaled, leaning back in her chair with furrowed brows. She looked to Roderick, but both of them were taking this seriously. She considered the implications to that, then tried to wonder what that might mean to Valerio.

  “Are you trying to monopolize trade with these people, learn from your mistake with the Ambrosian Republic?” Isabella guessed. “Have you been profiting from trade with this continent secretly?”

  Valerio seemed to think of how to explain, but Roderick put his hand on the duke’s shoulder.

  “Valerio’s ship wrecked on the shores of our land many years ago,” Roderick explained. “When he did, he brought with him countless things we’d never seen before. For one, the idea of a vessel sailing the sea was largely foreign to us. At best, we had canoes to sail along the rivers. We had never seen metal tools before—indeed, we lived largely nomadic lifestyles.”

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Isabella looked at Roderick. “You mean… you’re…?”

  “Yes,” Roderick said. “I’m one of the people from the continent that Valerio discovered—the elves. I am one such elf.”

  “When I sailed westward on behalf of the Republic of Ambrose, I didn’t discover land, per se,” Valerio continued. “I found routes to reach lands that the republic already knew existed. The people there could defend themselves against invaders. They had as robust a military and navy as a place like here—in some respects, grander.” He looked back at Roderick. “But the elves? They live vastly different lives. Their society is more disparate, decentralized. As for why, I couldn’t begin to guess, but… I can tell you exactly what would happen once Ambrose learns of these lands.”

  “Settlement,” Isabella guessed. “Even conquest.”

  Valerio nodded. “Why trade fairly when you can take? That was the lesson I learned in Ambrose. I tried to be fair, and I was pushed aside. I don’t want the same thing to happen to Roderick’s people.”

  Isabella looked at Roderick. “You look and sound like a native of Dovhain.”

  Roderick brushed back his gray hair to reveal a disfigured mass where his ear ought to be. “Our people have longer ears, but I removed mine. Additionally, as hunters, we’ve always excelled at mimicry—animals, birds, or people. I believe this to be the reason I don’t have an accent.”

  “The elves are every bit as ingenious as the people in Dovhain,” Valerio continued. “In some ways, much more. They could speak our tongue within a year—it baffled me. What I’ve been endeavoring to do as Duke of the Isles is funnel information, knowledge, and technology back to their people.” He leaned forward and tapped the table. “I want to ensure that they can stand up to Dovhain, Ambrose, and all contenders before they’re revealed to the world.”

  Isabella inhaled deeply, floored. A new continent entirely, filled with people of an unknown culture. It was beyond belief, almost, and challenged countless conceptions she had about the world—about the faith, even.

  When a revelation came to her, Isabella pointed to Valerio. “They’re the ones you gave your soul to.”

  “Very quick,” Valerio remarked. “Yes. Elves have a term for such a person—Thalvass?.”

  “Literally translated, that means ‘slave of the people,’” Roderick said. “The clan owns the Thalvass?. They’re considered public property, but… not in the fashion that a…” Roderick trailed off, having some difficulty explaining it. Isabella couldn’t muster words, and just listened intently.

  “You might consider them as elected nobility, but the term is inadequate because they’ve never actually governed over land,” Valerio explained. “Their roles are different, sometimes more specialized. Lineage, further, is irrelevant. That’s why I was able to be elected. The elves are a longer-lived people, but having children is very difficult for them. ‘Wars’ between clans revolve around a few Thalvass? in grand combat, rather than armies clashing on battlefields as in Dovhain and elsewhere.”

  “But… they own your soul?” Isabella repeated. “Could you explain that? I don’t understand.”

  “Roderick could explain the specifics better,” he said, looking to his butler. The man shook his head to decline. “…but it sems he likes to keep his secrets. Very well. After I was elected, they performed a ritual that extracted my soul. They vested it in an Aelithar. It’s a vessel that spans the minds of all that are a part of a specific tribe. If they believe I’m failing them, they can break my soul. In return for placing my soul in their hands, I receive a measure of power from each of them. Hence my ability to manipulate the wind… among other abilities.”

  “So… these elves elect these… Thalvass?,” Isabella said, to which both of them gave a nod. “Why are you among them?”

  Valerio tapped his chest. “Roderick’s clan, the Ithilian, elected me as their Thalvass? to safeguard them and bring them technology from this land. They desire to learn to work iron, to build ships, to erect stone walls, to domesticate livestock… all of it. They entrusted Roderick and me with that task.”

  Valerio rose to his feet, coming to stand over her. “Hopefully you see, now, why I’ve treated this so seriously. It’s not entirely selfless. I wouldn’t be as well-off as I am without their powers. Still, I like to think that it’s a much nobler cause than handing them over to Dovhain or Ambrose on a silver platter, and letting the serene doge or the king glut themselves on land they have no right to.”

  “It…” Isabella nodded. “It is. It is noble. But then… why…”

  “Why what?” Valerio encouraged.

  “Why in the world would you do what you have for me?” Isabella said softly. “You could’ve carried on for a decade in solitude, not an eye drawn to you… but instead, you’re involved, now. Not lightly, either—the eyes of many are upon you. Why would you possibly help me?”

  Valerio looked at her and said earnestly, “I helped you because I wanted to.”

  Hearing that, Isabella’s heart beat faster than it had when they were roaming the streets of the capital, assassins all around. She couldn’t hold Valerio’s gaze, and instead looked down at the floor.

  “It was irresponsible, foolish, ill-advised, and nearly contemptible,” Isabella said, her voice trembling somewhat. “But… but thank you.” Her eyes grew a little wet, but she blinked quickly so that no tears could come out. “Thank you for your foolishness.”

  “Your fiancée seems to be far smarter than you are, Your Grace,” Roderick commented dryly. “She knows a fool when she sees one.”

  Isabella was glad for the joke, as it allowed her to laugh and get away from the uncomfortable emotions. She looked up at them both with a smile on her face, and they returned her expression.

  “Now that you know… I should finally mention my proposal.” Valerio leaned against the desk. “The royal court… it seems like misery to you. I don’t think I’m overstepping in saying so.”

  Isabella nodded.

  “Last night, a lot of people disappeared suddenly,” Valerio continued. “Some bodies will be found, some won’t. You were one of many of the royal family wandering the streets, but as the new royal regime establishes itself… if you’re still here, they’ll eventually learn you’re alive. I’ll harbor you as long as I can, but I had another idea.”

  “Yes?” Isabella looked at him.

  “You could leave all of this,” Valerio suggested. “You’d be another princess that disappeared during the attacks last night. You’d be presumed dead. I could have a ship ready to take you anywhere. Ambrose, somewhere else in Dovhain… or even far to the east to join the elves. They’d take care of you. As a matter of fact, I imagine you’d have a lot to offer the elves. You could act as a teacher to them.”

  Isabella’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Just… leave?”

  Isabella felt somewhat foolish upon realizing that she’d barely considered the option. But… that had been possible for a while now, hadn’t it? The moment that she’d left the royal palace with Duke Valerio, she could’ve done that. She simply hadn’t trusted him enough to ask, and hadn’t pursued the option on her own.

  Now, with the convenient cover of the attacks last night… no one would even go looking for her. She could simply vanish. He was offering, even—she didn’t even have to ask.

  “I don’t have very many skills,” Isabella said. “I spent my life in the royal court. It’s all that I know. My feet bled walking on the streets, last night. That should illustrate precisely how soft I am, how unprepared I am for the wider world.”

  Valerio laughed. “Most feet are vulnerable to glass. I’m no exception.”

  “Even still,” Isabella insisted.

  “You don’t give yourself enough credit, Isabella,” Valerio disagreed, looking at her with an indecipherable emotion. “But… take your time. Think about it. You should have a while to decide, considering how chaotic the capital has become. And I’ve likely just overwhelmed you with information.” He knelt down in front of her. “We talked for a while. I’m afraid I have to head to meet up with someone. Now, I’m going to carry you back to bed, and you’re going to rest so your cuts will recover. Am I right?”

  Isabella was disappointed he had to leave, but she did need to think over what he’d said. She nodded, thinking of the future.

  She had a route that had never before been opened to her.