It took a long couple of hours before Matius returned from the Arch Mage's chambers and Fiona practically broke her chair jumping out of it when he emerged.

"Did...did..." she stuttered and Matius gave her a smile.

"The Arch Mage has agreed that the true culprit of the crime is the Iron Queen. Although I would recommend keeping your gallant rescuer out of his sight for the rest of your stay."

Fiona gave Matius a huge hug and he gasped a bit, her strong enthusiastic arms crushing his ribs. "Right. Well. Glad I could help."

She loosened her grip and kissed him on the cheek before rushing off to tell her father. Fenrin laughed as Matius rubbed his side. The scarred man leaned over and righted Fiona's chair before standing.

"You really do have a way with people, you know."

Matius turned a bit pink at the compliment. "I couldn't just let the girl get executed. She's just a kid."

"She really as innocent as all that?" Fenrin asked, his grey eyes flicking to the hall his niece had disappeared down.

"Kiana's a bit incredible actually. She reminds me of you. The poor girl was groomed to be a weapon, but, on her own accord and at great personal risk, she realized what she'd been taught was wrong. You should go talk to her, you've a lot in common."

"What? Me and her?"

"Yes. You've both got blood on your hands and are trying to learn to live with it. Royal blood too as I'm sure you've been reminded."

Fenrin winced. Fiona's father had been giving such a cold shoulder that Fenrin would have believed he was casting ice magic. Regardless of Fenrin's changes or the many chances at redemption and forgiveness, there was no changing the past or the consequences of his part in Eirik's tragedy.

Matius gave him a sympathetic pat. "How's that been going by the way?"

"Civil enough. I just feel bad that Fiona's caught in the middle again. Without Kiana to worry about, she's going to realize what's going on soon and, well, I can't really blame the king."

"Give it time. You both love Fiona and I believe, eventually, that'll be enough."

Fenrin shrugged. As worrisome as his extended family was, it was his more immediate that had his attention. "I'm worried about how their escape will change Lyra's plans. I can't imagine it'll be long before she finds out they're gone."

Matius nodded and the two began walking down the stairs. Fenrin tried to ignore the way the walls seemed to speed past. Matius, unbothered, asked, "Do you think she'll delay her attack to figure out what's happened?"

Fenrin shook his head. "I doubt it'll take her any time at all to figure it out. She's got that fae mage and I'm sure between the two of them she'll realize they're here." He lowered his voice. "I'm worried she'll attack the valley out of spite."

Matius's hand froze on the doorknob to his study. "You think so? Should we send warning?"

Running his fingers through his greying mane of hair, Fenrin shook his head. "Not yet. Not until we know she's actually got an army tucked away to attack with."

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When the two walked into the study, Jayln got up from her chair and kissed her husband. "How'd it go?"

"What? Oh, oh, good. Kiana'll be fine."

Jayln looked at Fenrin and Matius's faces, raising an eyebrow, "What is it then?"

Fenrin sat down on an armchair and winced, pulling out a book from beneath him and setting it guiltily on the table. "When Lyra finds out her family's flown the coop, she might go after the valley."

To his surprise, Jayln just nodded. "That makes sense. It'd split our attention right before her attack and we might not have time to regroup."

With a groan, Matius leaned against the door. "It's always something, isn't it? You were right, Fen, there's simply not enough of us and too many places to protect."

Seeing Matius acting pessimistic really took the wind out of Fenrin's sails and he leaned his head back echoing his friend's groan.

Jayln looked between the two men, her brows furrowing before she clapped her hands loudly. "Alright, enough of that. Honestly you two, you'd think we'd never faced impossible odds before."

Fenrin glared at her. "What are you on about?"

Jayln gave Fenrin's shin a light kick. "Get up, we've got work to do."

"You have a plan, love?" Matius asked, pushing himself off the door.

With a wry smile, Jayln said, "You said we've got too many places to defend, so let's change that. We'll take the non-combatants from the valley and hide them in the mountains. With the Avins’ help that should be easy enough. The rest of our people can go south into the Mothingwing Woods and make their way to Invader's Pass. If there is any hidden army there, they'll find them and run interference as planned. If not then they can hold the pass from western reinforcement.”

Jayln waved a hand. “Lyra will have no idea we're gone and she can throw all the troops she wants at the empty valley."

Fenrin stood up and rubbed his chin. "Splitting her forces is good."

"What if we upped the game?" Matius asked and they turned to him. "She'd attack the valley out of hatred, right? If that's what we want—to drain her resources and all—what if we made her even angrier?"

"You're not thinking of setting a trap are you? Because Lyra's too smart for that,” Fenrin warned. “She might be a spiteful bitch, but she won't be able to leave the main attack to others, she's too much of a control freak."

Matius shook his head. "No, I agree with you on that. I just meant every ship we redirect in one less we have to deal with on the Mage's Sea."

Fenrin pictured it. If she was angry enough, she might not be able to resist the temptation to send a few ships of troops to Southport instead of towards Zi'giza. "What do you have in mind, Matius?"

The smile on Matius's face could almost be described as wicked. "Oh, I have some ideas."

When the Arch Mage heard Matius's plan he also grinned like a school boy. Fiona and King Eirik were summoned but when the Arch Mage told them the plan, they were a bit skeptical.

"So we're just supposed to pretend we're in the valley?" Fiona asked.

Matius patted her shoulder. "Precisely. We'll set up a believable backdrop, the Arch Mage is quite good with illusions you know, and all you have to do is be happy."

Fenrin gave a wolfish grin. "It'll drive Lyra beserk."

"I thought she wasn't able to scry us here?" Eirik asked carefully.

"She can't, but we'll take you off the island and wait for her to notice. Fernilda will let us know when Hickory is looking and we'll set the scene," Matius explained, "what do you say, Your Highness, up for a little mischief?"

The king frowned, not sure if he was being teased or if they just weren't taking Lyra seriously. Fiona took her father's hand.

"We can do it. I'm good at pretending, I did it for seven years, remember." She laughed and Eirik's heart felt tight.

He wasn't sure he could do what they asked. If he was being honest with himself, he still couldn't believe they'd made it to Aziron. He kept waiting to wake up, to find himself back in the dangerous darkness, his wife's laugh ringing in his ears mocking him for even daring to dream...

A hand touched his shoulder and Eirik flinched before Matius said, "We'd appreciate your help, Your Highness. Think about it, how would Lyra react if she thought you and Fiona were happy and safe."

Eirik shuddered and that made him angry. He found the spark of a long dead fire and blew on the ember. Maybe it was time for some payback, time to risk making her angry.

"Alright. Lead the way."