Constance erects a war room in a large, maroon tent at the center of camp. The ground is covered in rugs, and sitting pillows have been arranged around an empty central area. It looks like a table should be there.

  A handful of soldiers are posted about the room, including Earnest and Xamireb, though Darian has been allotted a seat along with a few officers I don’t recognize. Constance is there, too, speaking to Liz on his right. The Crimson Scimitar glints at his hip. No matter how much I focus on it, however, I don’t feel anything. Without the Crimson Aegis to alert me of its presence, it might as well be any mundane weapon.

  Constance glances up when Quell and I enter.

  “Ah, there you are. We will begin shortly.” He gestures for Quell to join him on his left: I follow Quell over, hesitating behind him until Darian signals I should take a seat, too.

  Constance nods to me as everyone begins to quiet down and get settled. “I heard about what happened in the Oasis. It seems like you may have preemptively weakened their forces for us. You have a powerful Bloodlust.”

  I shift uncomfortably, unsure what to say. “It was mostly the shield.”

  Constance’s gaze skims over me. “Do you have it on you now?”

  “I do,” I say, hesitantly. “But I’d rather not bring it out. It’s dangerous. The sooner I can get rid of it, the better.”

  He gives an understanding nod. “I would prefer it falling back within royal custody as well.”

  “I’m not sure that’s possible,” I say, glancing to Quell. “We thought the Lifespring might be able to sever the link, but it only seemed to make the… entity in the shield more powerful.”

  “Yes, Liz mentioned this as well,” Constance says.

  I glance at her, and she smiles guiltily. It feels weird, knowing they talked about me behind my back, but I get it. Constance needs to know everything we went through if he’s going to make an informed decision about how to proceed.

  “However, I’ve done some investigating into the shield myself,” Constance adds.

  Quell’s head snaps in his direction. “You have?”

  I’ve never heard anyone sound so incredulous before.

  Constance snorts. “Yes, Quill, other people can do research, too.” For a moment, there’s a teasing light in his eyes, and for the first time I can actually feel that they’re siblings. A moment later, however, the light vanishes, and he’s back to his serious self.

  “After your report on what happened at the Lifespring, I interrogated our prisoner,” he says.

  Liz stirs. “Ambassador Ashla?”

  Constance nods. “It seems Captain Darian filled you in on our traitor, then. Good.” He gestures to two gruff looking soldiers sitting across from us. “My generals have been interrogating her nightly since your departure. Her confessions have been illuminating. We don’t have proof she was the mastermind, but she was certainly involved.”

  “Likely, the orders came from the throne itself,” one of the generals says. “Her mind magic makes it difficult for us to get much out of her, but it also explains how she fooled us in the first place.”

  “Then this truly is an act of war.” Quell rubs his forehead wearily. “This is how it begins.”

  His words chill me, the weight of all that’s happened sinking in. If Quell’s country is pulled into a conflict, what does that mean for me? For my future and freedom?

  “Not necessarily,” Constance says. “We have a chance to stop it here. Moonfall may have already infiltrated the city, but given the timeline, I doubt they have cemented a takeover.”

  “We witnessed them working in tandem with the Spring’s city guards,” Darian says. “It did seem more like joint cooperation than complete Moonfall control.”

  “Cooperation would be even more troubling,” Constance says with a frown. “I’ve already sent welkin letters home to request reinforcements, but by the time they arrive, the fate of the Oasis will likely have already been decided. Moonfall has a head start: and according to the Ambassador, more troops are already on the way. They’ll arrive before ours. But not before us.”

  Liz lets out a breath. “You’re suggesting we attack first and try to recapture the city before reinforcements arrive.” She looks around the room at Constance, Darian, me. “Perhaps that would be possible with such powerful weapons and magic on our side. But even if we do manage that, how can we hold out against an approaching army?”

  “That brings me back to my initial point.” Constance looks at me. “If we can use the Crimson Scimitar and Aegis together, we will wield a power unlike anything the modern world knows.”

  “That’s conjecture,” Quell says, hesitant. “Surely there are legends that speak to the Crimson weapons’ power, but we can’t stake the future of our country on it.”

  “It’s not conjecture. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” Constance raises an eyebrow at me. “You could feel it too, couldn’t you?”

  Hesitantly, I nod. “The Aegis is… drawn to the Scimitar. I’m not sure what would happen if wielded by one person, but I think you’re right that they would be a terrifying power together.”

  “But that doesn’t mean anything if we can’t break its pact,” Quell says.

  Constance nods to his general.

  “While gathering intelligence on Moonfall’s occupation from the prisoner, she revealed the brunt of their forces were dedicated to guarding the Lifespring’s source,” one of the generals says.

  “But I was at the source,” I say. “There was barely anyone there.” Not until we made a scene, anyway.

  Constance shakes his head. “You were at the pool, correct?”

  “Yeah.” I look questioningly at Quell, but doesn’t seem to understand either.

  “The pool may have healing properties, but it’s not the spring’s source,” Constance says. “That location is kept secret and guarded. And apparently, it’s where they intended to take us.”

  “Us?” Liz asks. “Us three?”

  “Or me, more specifically,” Constance says. “Though I imagine capturing the two of you would have been a bonus. Extra leverage.”

  “I don’t understand,” Quell says. “What would they want with you, specifically?”

  Constance draws his sword, red light swirling into existence around it. The magic wraps around his hand, and the air seems to hum faintly. I can feel a subtle pressure about it. Like the air in the room has grown thicker.

  “The pool isn’t where powerful acts of Life arcana are performed,” Constance says. “They’ve erected a building around the source and turned it into a giant ritualistic arena. It’s there they intended to take the Scimitar from me.”

  He sheaths the blade, and the buzzing in the air stops. He looks at me with a subtle, cunning smile. “And that’s exactly where we’ll go. Only instead of severing the pact with my sword, we’ll be severing the pact with your shield. Moonfall thought they could take a powerful weapon from us. Instead, our nation will be walking out with two. Before they’ll know what’s hit them, we’ll have taken the city from within.”

  There’s a brief silence while his words sink in.

  “That would certainly be… an ideal outcome,” Darian says, hesitant. “But, if you would forgive my saying so, the plan sounds rash. We would have to sneak into a city that is already on alert for our attack, and then make it through a highly guarded building, to a goal that could potentially be used against us.”

  Constance clasps his hands together, leaning forward. “I didn’t say it would be easy, Captain.”

  “It sounds impossible,” Quell says bluntly. “We don’t have the forces.”

  “But we can have the appearance of forces,” Constance says. “I can see to that. And Liz, you can get us in, can’t you?”

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  “I can,” she says, hesitating as if she wants to say more.

  “Then it’s agreed,” Constance says. “We’ll give Moonfall what they want; a great force marching on their city. And while their attention is diverted to protecting the walls, we’ll slip through and access the Source. Then, once I have both halves of the Crimson weapon, I’ll strike down their chain of command from the inside.”

  Darian looks around at the other generals. “With respect, none of you can find this to be a sound idea.”

  “If it is our only chance to head off Moonfall securing a first and crucial foothold in the coming war?” One of the generals sighs. “The plan is not without risk, but it is perhaps the best shot we have.”

  “We’ll be sending the royal heirs right back into the serpent’s nest,” Darian objects.

  “Hey now, no one is sending me anywhere,” Liz says. “If I go, it’s because I want to.”

  Darian looks at her in disbelief. “This is suicidal.”

  “Please, Captain,” Constance cuts in. “Have more faith in the throne than that.”

  Darian clenches her jaw, then bows her head. “Of course, my prince.”

  Quell shifts uncomfortably. Liz chews on her cheek, frowning.

  When no one else says anything, Constance turns to me next. “Well? This all hinges on your cooperation.”

  I’m not eager to return to the Lifespring Oasis so soon. Now that all the memories have spilled out, I’m not sure I can neatly box them away once more. I’m also scared it might happen again. What if this Source Constance is talking about only makes the shield stronger, like last time?

  But if he’s right, then I can be free of the Aegis’s influence forever. I’ll regain a fraction of my autonomy.

  I look at Quell. His eyebrows are pinched with worry. If Constance’s plan fails, then Quell’s country will be thrust into war. And he cares so much. About his family, about finding a way to make peace work. I can’t be the one who prevents their best shot at saving countless lives.

  “I’ll do it,” I say, turning to Constance. “Whatever you need.”

  “Excellent.” He claps his hands. “I knew you had a warrior’s spirit.” He gestures to Liz. “Now, if you please.”

  Liz raises a hand, and abruptly a scene appears over the empty floor before us. It’s a birds-eye-view of the Lifespring.

  Constance uses his sheathed scimitar to point out different locations. “If we want to draw them away from our ingress, it would be best to focus the attack on the front furthest from where we’ll be.” He taps the tip of his sword on a building toward the east side of the city. “This is where our prisoner has identified the Source of the Lifespring to be hidden. That means we should have the troops, including my mirrored troops, approach from the west. Our small team will need to arc around the city so we can slip in from the east. Liz, can you keep a camouflage illusion up that long?”

  She snorts. “Who do you think you’re talking to?” Then her gaze falls on me, and her smile fades. “But make sure neither of you draw your weapons while we’re sneaking in. I’m not sure how, but they don’t seem to play nice with my magic.”

  “Noted,” Constance says. He turns back to one of his generals. “You will be in charge of the troops. The mirrored soldiers will be exact replicas of individuals, so we’ll need to figure out appropriate spacing to disguise the effect…”

  The rest of the strategy talk doesn’t involve me. My mind wanders, and while I find Liz and Darian focused on the plan they’re sketching over the illusioned battle field, I notice Quell’s attention is elsewhere, too. He’s staring at a spot on the blankets in front of him, the focus of his gaze far away, and deep in thought.

  Finally, Darrian calls for a break.

  “It’s early in the night, still,” Constance says. “Use this time to rest and prepare. We’ll make our move at daybreak.” He nods to the generals. “See to it that our troops are ready.”

  “Yes, Prince Constance.”

  He turns to us. “And the rest of you—”

  “I’m coming, too,” Quell blurts out.

  Darian and Liz object at the same time, but Quell raises his voice. “No, let me speak! I’m coming. And you all might as well accept it now because you can’t force me to stay.” He glances toward me. “Nye doesn’t need me there, but it’s better I think if I am. If somehow Moonfall did manage a counter attack and I was in danger, the distance between us would be dangerous for Nye. Right?”

  “Yeah.” Worry and appreciation wage within me simultaneously. The fact that he cares this much, that he’s willing to put himself in danger just to shield me from potential harm, is kind of touching.

  And given that he has no combat abilities of his own, it’s also extremely dumb. Touching, but dumb. That seems to be his brand.

  “Not to mention,” he quickly adds, “if Nye experiences a Bloodlust again, I can be used to direct their attention so as to keep others out of harm’s way.”

  My feelings sour at the reminder, but he’s right. He’s the only one who can do it.

  Quell is looking at me expectantly, so I nod. “Everything you said is right. I think you should come.” It’s strange how I simultaneously do and don’t want him there with me. Maybe I can blame that on the Role Requirement.

  Quell looks up at his brother defiantly. I can tell he’s ready to fight for this. “What, nothing to say?”

  Constance smiles faintly. “No, actually. After the stunt you pulled with Captain Darian, I was expecting you to sneak out after us even if we left you behind.”

  All the air seems to go out of Quell. “Oh.”

  So much for that fight.

  Constance notes Darian’s displeased expression. “I understand your reservations, Captain, but we all need to be of one mind if this will work. Speak your misgivings now.”

  Slowly, Darian lets out a breath. “I’ve already spoken them, my prince. I believe the royal heirs heading behind enemy lines is too dangerous to justify. But I see attempting to dissuade you all now would be futile. If we’ve only one night to prepare, then I agree we should all go ready ourselves now. We’ll need every advantage we can gain for this operation to be successful.”

  Constance nods respectfully. “Agreed. In that case: dismissed.”

  The rest of us depart, splitting off to speak with generals, grab food at one of the camp fires, or prepare in our tents.

  Quell heads off to the north side of camp, and with little else to do, I follow him. For a time I think he’s wandering aimlessly, his forehead pinched in a frown and his gaze downturned in thought. Perhaps he needs to walk off his worries. Then he stops outside a tent where two guards are posted.

  “I would like to speak with the prisoner,” Quell says.

  The guards shift uncomfortably. “No one but Prince Constance is allowed entrance.”

  “I’m Prince Quell,” he says. “If he has authority, so do I.”

  The guards exchange a look. “I’m sorry, my lord. Prince Constance was very clear.”

  Quell stares at them for a moment longer, but they don’t budge. He gives a frustrated sigh, then spins away, nearly running into me.

  “Oh.” He stops short. “Sorry. Didn’t realize you were following.”

  “Your ability to remain oblivious to your surroundings is astounding.” I step aside to let him pass, but he falls in step with me instead.

  “My mind was elsewhere,” he says as he heads back through camp.

  “Like the Ambassador?” I ask.

  “I suppose.” He scratches at the stubble on his chin, once more lapsing into silence.

  I decide to wait until we’re back to his tent. When we arrive, I hold the flap open for him. “So what are you actually thinking about?”

  “I don’t know,” he admits, ducking inside. “Puzzles.”

  I raise an eyebrow. “Puzzles?”

  “Or missing pieces,” Quell says. “Or maybe… no, not missing. Just… not fitting right.”

  Inside, a new set of armor is laid out on my bed roll. It’s nicer than the standard issue stuff I’m wearing, though not as fancy as Quell’s or any of the other royal children. I crouch down next to it, picking up an arm guard. It’s more flexible and better fitted to my proportions, the maroon and gold coloring more stark, and the designs embossed into the surface more intricate and sharp. A note is tucked into the chest piece.

  About time you started looking like a real knight.

  -Darian

  I snort, showing Quell the note. “Guess I better change.”

  “Oh, that’s kind of her,” Quell says. “Good. I’ll feel better about you being dressed in armor more fitting to your station.”

  I raised an amused eyebrow. “My station? As your Knight, you mean?”

  “No!” he backtracks. “I just, I mean, with you always jumping in to protect me—better armor would be—”

  I grin, sitting down as I unclasp my shin guards. “Calm down. If I can’t rib you a little, what’s the point?”

  He hesitates. “Should I leave while you change?”

  I freeze, buckle halfway undone. I hadn’t even thought about it. We’ve been changing in the same tent for weeks, but that’s been inside magically darkened tents to keep out the sunlight. You pretty much couldn’t see anything anyway. This tent, though, has a small red spell circle at its ceiling, which casts the tent in a dim glow.

  “Uh, no, that’s not necessary,” I say, continuing to swap out my armor. “I mean, it’s your tent. I’m not going to kick you out of it. And it’s not like I’m stripping naked or anything.” Even so, I can feel a betraying heat creep up my neck.

  “Of course,” he quickly agrees, sitting on his bedroll across from me. He watches me remove a shoulder guard, then seems to remember himself and quickly glances away.

  For a minute, neither of us say anything. Somehow, this just makes it worse.

  “So do you want to tell me what you’re thinking about without using metaphors?” I finally ask, breaking the unbearable silence.

  He jumps. “Sorry?”

  “Those puzzles you’re working through,” I say.

  “Ah. Right.” He takes his glasses off and wipes them down with a cloth, then continues to fiddle with them. “I just have this strange feeling that I’m not seeing something. That when we get to the city, there’s something waiting there we’re not prepared for.”

  “Like the trap Constance almost walked into?” I ask.

  “Yes.” Quell turns the glasses around. “Something like that. I’m just not sure what’s nagging at me. And I’m worried I won’t figure it out until my family’s all in danger. Again.”

  He must feel so helpless. No magic, no swords, no cursed shields. Just his mind, and even that’s not enough for him now.

  It’s probably a lot like how I feel about álvaro. For all the strength I’ve gained, it can’t help me find him.

  “You thought the Ambassador might help?” I wonder, tightening my greaves.

  “I’m not sure,” he admits. “But having more information is always better than less.”

  “Unless it gets in your head.” I sit up as I adjust my chest guard next. “I’ll need you sharp when we’re sneaking back into the city. Keeping an eye out for external threats rather than imagined ones. I don’t have a second set of eyes watching my back.” At least, not while I don’t have the Crimson Aegis resting there.

  Quell’s posture straightens. “I’ll do my best. I’ll make sure I’m not a hindrance to you. I promise.”

  I breath a laugh out my nose, standing up to adjust the new armor. He’s so transparently earnest—no wonder he can’t figure out illusion magic.

  I stretch my arms and twist from side to side. The new gear feels good. It covers more vulnerable areas than the last set, and the pieces feel stronger, but I’ve got just as much flexibility as before. It makes me feel confident and powerful.

  I wished I felt as confident wielding the Crimson Aegis.

  “Well?” I turn to Quell. “What do you think?”

  He puts his glasses back on, then turns back to me. He stares, eyes widening slightly. “You’re stunning,” he says quietly.

  Heat rises in my cheeks. “Um—oh. Thanks.”

  Quell stiffens. “I—I mean! Your armor—it’s stunning. Darian picked out an excellent set—it certainly suits your physique. Which is to say, you’re fit! I mean, it’s a good fit. The armor.”

  I laugh uncomfortably, the heat still crawling into my cheeks and spreading across my shoulders. “Yeah. I think I’ll go find Darian and thank her. Be back in a bit.”

  I hastily duck outside the tent. The midnight breeze is a relief against my burning skin. I look to the stars, exhale a breath, and strike out into camp to cool off.

  And I’d been telling Quell he needed to keep a level head.

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