Jac had no idea where the guards were taking her. Her escorts hadn’t responded when she asked about their destination and the windows were covered by thick cloth. A part of her worried that the men had taken her for nefarious purposes, but she suppressed the small worry. As insignificant as her family was, a noblewoman being snatched off the street would draw far too much attention for small-time crooks to bother.

The only reason she considered it at all was because she couldn’t think of an official reason for her treatment. Her first thought was to suspect her father and his shenanigans, but he wasn’t a stupid man. More importantly, he had spent a lifetime dodging serious consequences. She couldn’t imagine him suddenly growing reckless in his old age just to prove a point to a king that was going after her family’s oldest enemies.

The carriage came to a stop relatively quickly. Too soon to have left the city, alleviating most of Jac’s worries. She didn’t disembark immediately, growing more and more impatient as she waited in silence inside the carriage. Eventually, they started moving again, at a much slower pace. One that suggested moving through an estate. Her journey was coming to an end and she couldn’t wait to see who was responsible for it.

The door opened. Instead of the guards who had abducted her, royal knights opened the door. Jac barely managed to control her reaction as she took in the gleaming golden armor of the most powerful knight order in the capital, arguably in the kingdom.

“Get out.”

This time, she didn’t think of doing anything but immediately obeying. The presence of royal knights suggested it strongly but her own eyes had to confirm that she was indeed within the walls of the Summer Palace before she believed it. There was a time she would have done anything to ride through its golden gates and mingle with the royal family. Now, the looming spires filled her with nothing but dread.

“Walk.”

One of the guards stepped in front of her while the other walked at her back. Like that, they entered the palace, moving through the long, narrow halls at a quick pace. Jac had been raised to appreciate high society but her worries meant she couldn’t bring herself to appreciate any of the wealth on display. Fine paintings and colorful tapestries blended in with the gray stone of the building as she kept her head bowed.

One thing she did appreciate was how warm it was. It was almost too warm, but Jac didn’t dare slow long enough to shrug off her jacket.

Her escorts led her to a small sitting room and her worries immediately disappeared when she noticed her brother, Matthias Tome, seated in one of the plush chairs. “Matty!” she called, hurrying forward. She paused for a moment when she heard the door close behind her but dismissed the fear it induced with a shake of her head. The exit being shut off made no difference. There was no escaping the palace if they wanted her here. Rather than escaping, she needed to focus on navigating the situation.

She continued her path to her brother, wrapping her arms around him when he stood. “It’s good to see you, though I wish it was under better circumstances.”

He nodded and gestured for her to take the seat beside his own. Jac shrugged off her jacket as he crossed the room to a small table with a drinks tray arranged atop it. “Thanks,” she said as he took the glass he offered her, turning to him as he reclaimed his seat. “Don’t suppose you know what this is about?”

Her brother shook his head and sipped his now full glass. She wondered how much he’d had already. Matty had never been much of a drinker and only indulged when forced to by social obligation or incredibly stressed.

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She followed him, grimacing at the taste. It was incredibly smooth and the heat warming her stomach felt good, but it felt like she’d just chewed on a mouthful of wet earth mixed with mushrooms. It was disgusting…until it wasn’t. She smacked her lips as she tried to puzzle out the aftertaste. Then she took another sip.

“Father.”

Jac turned to her brother, but he was still looking at his cup. “That’s what I thought too. Do you think he’s gotten into some trouble with his new friends?”

Summoning was a dangerous art. There were creatures beyond their world that would give men nightmares. Things that could wipe out the whole kingdom. Like Aggro, if the elemental ever desired more than its small territory. Worse, it didn’t take immense skill to invite a catastrophe. The only thing that kept the world from being a playground for insanely powerful elementals was the discretion of summoners.

“Hard to imagine. Uncle is with him.”

While Jac could imagine her father being swayed to irrational action by ambition, Luke Tome was a much more sensible man. He would never allow them to take risks with a summoning. His presence was the reason Jac had walked away from her father’s scheming with peace of mind.

If she wanted to be unkind, she would say her uncle was a coward. Like a weasel, if he sensed something going wrong, he would be the first to scurry back to his burrow.

“I agree but Uncle only knows how to put his foot down when it comes to summoning. He wouldn’t be able to talk sense to Father when it comes to what to do afterwards. What if…what if they put us in this room together to listen in on our conversation!” Jac threw back the rest of her drink with a scowl. “If anyone’s listening, we don’t know anything!” she yelled at the walls. They didn’t respond. Grumbling to herself, she went to pour herself a refill.

“There are few things that would have us forcefully escorted to the palace,” Matty continued as she retook her seat.

Jac nodded in agreement. “I can think of three off the top of my head.” She raised a finger. “The first would be if we were suspected of something that threatened the capital. But if that was the case we would have been escorted to the dungeon, not a pleasant room with drinks and cushy seats.”

Her brother hummed in agreement. “The second is if we were being commended.”

“I haven’t done anything worth being congratulated by the king recently. You?”

“My team did good work remodeling several homes in the lower ring.”

“I’m sure the peasants are grateful but—"

“Hardly something the king would be interested in.”

“So we aren’t about to be presented with shiny daggers or banners for our service to the kingdom. That only leaves the third option.”

“An audience,” her brother finished for her. “Why would the king want to talk to us?”

“It has to be about summoning. We’re Tomes, it’s all we’re known for. Maybe it’s about these bans of his. He could be preparing for another round and wants the input of summoners this time.”

Matty shook his head. “The bans were not against summoners but against the Grimoires.”

“It’s the Masons now, remember? Besides, it might have started with them but the crowned pissed off the whole community. A united community, according to Father. It’s not hard to imagine them working together to ruin the king’s day.”

She took a long swig of her drink, liking her theory more and more. “This kingdom has no idea how to handle summoners. How to manage them, how to track them, saints, even how to fight them. Elementals are very different from monsters. For one thing, they’re intelligent. I wouldn’t be surprised if they need help.”

“Why us? We know nothing about summoning.”

Jac winced at his words. She had never put much stock in her family’s tradition. Gold and influence were much more useful than an elemental that would plot her demise every day it served her. “If it is help the crown needs, they should address Father. Or better, Uncle.”

“Both arrogant old men. I can imagine them refusing, especially Father. The younger generations tend to be more flexible. More… hungry.” For opportunities and approval. Jac couldn’t imagine many of her peers refusing the king anything if it meant he knew their name.

“I don’t disagree. Then, will you agree?”

“I guess? As long as it’s nothing too bad.” She could certainly use the crowns. Jac was feeling better about her sudden arrest and had a good feeling about the rest of the day. Or maybe she needed to slow down her drinking. Whatever it was, it was strong.