Page 34 of Forged in Fading

She looped a tight rein around her magic and glanced at King Ulivar. If there were certain protocols she needed to follow while speaking in his presence, she had no idea what they were.

The king smiled. “There’s no need to be nervous. I encourage everyone in my city to speak freely, especially here.”

Alvara swallowed. “Dalvi is remote enough that we almost never encounter humans. We don’t hold strong feelings about them either way. But I’m sure you have other contacts there or Dalvian elves here to give you better information.” She searched the room, but no light-haired and blue-eyed elves sat anywhere in the crowd, just as she hadn’t seen any in the city.

“Eloisa was the first elf from Dalvi to join us in years,” Boden said. “Since her loss…well, it’s been quite some time since we’ve had any kind of access to your kingdom. As you said, your people tend to keep to themselves.”

“So, the king is hoping to scare our queen into submission,” Alvara said. “But why use humans? Why not just invade Dalvi?”

“A common enemy,” Ravanel said from where he stood at the edge of the room.

“For what purpose? What could he possibly hope to gain?” another elf asked from across the table.

“The only thing he would need the support of other monarchs for—to become High King.” Murmurs broke out as Boden spoke, a sea of unease rippling through the air. “He is using the humans as a threat against Dalvi in the hopes that they will seek protection. Protection that King Einar can clearly offer, with his history of crushing their kind.”

King Ulivar’s face paled. “The only High King we’ve ever had was Vitharen, and that was before the Fracture when we were all alike. To try now? Uniting vastly different kingdoms and magics under one banner? It’s a fool’s errand.”

“You may be right. But,” Boden said, “if King Einar’s goal is to eradicate humans and demi-elves from our lands, the title of High King would give him the power and means to do so. I can assure you, his treatment of them has only gotten worse with every passing year.” He turned to Alvara once again. “Am I correct in assuming Dalvi wouldn’t respond kindly to us interfering?”

Alvara wished she could say no, that her people would understand and welcome help against any threat, but she knew better. The Dalvian royals trusted no one but themselves, ever since Malva had betrayed their short-lived alliance thousands of years ago. “The queen wouldn’t want Malva involved.”

“Aurilena,” Boden said, “we’ll need you to focus on infiltrating the upper reaches of the Valonian court, if you’re able to. As high as your illusions will allow you to go. We need as much information as possible on what plans there are for the alliance between the three kingdoms and what comes next.”

King Ulivar looked to an elf whose glossy black hair had been wrenched away from his face in braids so severe they smoothed out some of the wrinkles on his forehead. “Kaurald, what are your thoughts?”

“We must focus on increasing our defenses,” Kaurald said, his voice deep and commanding. “I have no doubt the day will come soon when King Einar turns his attention to Ilmanir. Katalen will need to increase patrols as soon as she is able to. I will strategize with Ravanel and my forces to prepare the city as best we can.”

“And I will return to Tasírath and uncover what information I can,” Boden said.

King Ulivar nodded. “We will reconvene when we know more.”

That apparently signaled the end of the meeting, and elves broke off into smaller groups, the hum of voices rising as Alvara followed Boden toward the exit. Her queen might not want Malva’s involvement, but that didn’t mean Alvara was willing to sit and watch while King Einar continued to send humans to murder her people. There had to be something they could do.

Any thoughts of Dalvi shriveled up at the sight of Aurilena in the doorway, her hands clasped together in front of her stomach as if it was the only thing stopping her from landing a blow to Alvara’s face.

“I need a word with her.”

Alvara sent Boden her most pathetic, pleading look, but he ignored her and shooed Aurilena out the door. “As long as you do it outside. This building is made of wood, and I’d rather not see it burned to the ground.”

Alvara sucked in a breath between her teeth and cautiously followed them into the cold. Boden stood between her and Aurilena, who was fuming, her anger hot enough that Alvara wouldn’t be surprised if her entire body caught fire.

“Well?” Boden gestured between the two of them. “I do have other duties to attend to besides preventing you both from killing each other.”

Aurilena only glowered back, dismissing him with a flick of her head.

“Aurilena, I already had to prevent Rav from committing murder. I can hardly trust you alone with her either.”

Aurilena tipped her head down a fraction, only intensifying the threat in her eyes.

Boden tilted his face toward the sky and let out a sharp puff of air. “Fine. I’ll allow it, as long as you promise to leave her somewhat intact by the end of it.”

“Boden!” Alvara squeaked as he sauntered away from them. She wouldn’t trust Aurilena not to incinerate the entire city right now, let alone her, who had almost killed one of her closest friends.

“You’ll be fine,” he called back. “If she bursts into flames, I’ll toss a handful of rocks at her or something equally menacing.” He stopped far enough from them that he wouldn’t be able to hear a syllable of whatever interrogation was about to ensue, but close enough that he could indeed stop any attack from Aurilena with his magic. If he chose to.

“I told you it was dangerous.” Aurilena’s lips barely moved as she spoke. If words could kill, Alvara would be faded ten times over.

“You can’t make me feel any worse than I already do.”