It was only hours later, after the feasting in the great hall had proceeded to a sufficient level of riotous noise that no one would mind Liv leaving, that she was able to sit down with her friends in private.

They used Baron Henry and Duchess Julianne’s solar, which Liv had still not gotten used to thinking of as belonging to Matthew and Triss, and which had begun to shift, in reality, away from the mental image she’d retained. Weeks of use by Keri, Sidonie, and Pandit Sharma had left furniture out of place, stacks of letters or reports piled where Liv wouldn’t have anticipated finding them, and a dozen other signs of all the ongoing work which went into organizing a duchy, or a kingdom.

“You’re really telling me that none of you knew what to expect?” Sidonie asked, a goblet of wine held up in one hand and her eyebrows arched. “After following her around the entire time she was working on it? After seeing the test?”

“We had an idea,” Wren admitted. “But we didn’t expect what we got. No one did! I don’t even think Liv did.” The huntress had claimed for herself a seat on the cushioned chair nearest the fireplace, where the heat given off by the burning logs was almost too much to be comfortable. Unlike in the jungles of Varuna, the nights in Whitehill were cool even in the early part of summer.

Like Sidonie, Wren held a goblet in her hand, though hers had been filled with fresh blood from one of the chickens slaughtered for the feast that evening. Though the kitchen staff might not be entirely comfortable with Liv’s orders to drain and preserve the blood of any animals they killed, they also hadn’t objected.

Next to Wren, Ghveris had carefully arranged himself on the floor, to take up as little room as possible. It was very nearly a vain effort, given that the pauldrons on his shoulders nearly measured, from one piece of enchanted steel to the other, end to end, the same length as a grown man stretched head to toe.

Sidonie and Arjun, in the meanwhile, had taken one of the couches, leaving the other for Liv and Keri, and a chair for Matthew, who’d arrived late in the evening. There were others who could have been in the room, Liv knew - and they would be, tomorrow. She needed to speak to Pandit Sharma and Osric Fletcher; to Lia Every and Master Grenfell; to Master Teller from the banking guild, and to the knights in service to Matthew and Triss, and to a line of people so long that it would take her days to get through them all.

But for right now, the only people with whom she wanted to spend her last hour of time before retiring to bed were all in the solar: the same people she’d fought beside in rift after rift, from the Foundry to the north, to Varuna and back again. The only one missing was Rosamund, and Liv felt a small stab of guilt at how long it had taken for that particular thought to occur to her.

“It was honestly more than I expected, too,” Liv admitted. “I thought the loop at the end of the invocation would get me another couple of spears, at most. Maybe three or four. I didn’t expect that so much heat would come from things falling through the air like that.”

“Friction,” Ghveris said, speaking in the ancient dialect he’d first used when they found him. Everyone in the room looked at him. “The word you want is friction.”

Sidonie stretched across Arjun’s lap, snatched a quill and a pot of ink from the desk, found herself a page in her notebook, and wrote it down.

“Karis once told me we were -” Liv tried to recall the exact words. “Savages rolling around in the mud. Something like that. I suppose it hadn’t occurred to me that you might know just as much as he did.”

“I do not,” Ghveris admitted. “I was a soldier. A commander. But before that, not well educated in magic, or the things the Vædim built. He worked more closely with Antris. Learned from the god of steel. He could have explained better.”

“Regardless,” Keri broke in, “it sounds like it was an effective attack. It broke the enemy ranks, and saved a lot of soldiers. Does this mean your guild will consider you an archmage, now, Liv?’

Liv shook her head and leaned forward to lift her own goblet from the low table at the center of the room. She wet her throat with wine before answering. “No. It’s more complicated than that.” She could see Sidonie and Arjun, and even Wren, nodding. “I have to go to Caspian Loredon and ask to be tested. The testing happens publicly.”

“That’s going to be more complicated than it sounds,” Sidonie told her. “Guildmistress Every pretty firmly threw the idea of merging the two guilds back together in the Ambassador’s face.”

“I would have preferred not to be in the room for it,” Keri admitted.

Liv frowned. “We’re going to have to talk about that. The guild we have in Whitehill isn’t anywhere near large enough to do what needs to be done. We’re going to need teams travelling all over the world, searching every rift, one by one. Even if I wanted to send our students out to do that, they aren’t ready.”

“They’ve made good progress,” Sidonie said, as if to defend the work that had been done while Liv was away.

“I’m certain they have. But people like Semilla, and Molly, and Rande have only just started learning. I’m not sending them across the ocean to dive into rifts that no one’s explored for twelve hundred years,” Liv responded. “The simple truth is that this search is too big. We need the entire guild, along with the Elden Houses, and everyone else we can get our hands on. Which means we’re going to have to make some kind of arrangement with Lucania.”

“I suppose it is good that I did not reject the ambassador’s invitation out of hand, then,” Keri grumbled. “As much as I wanted to.”

“It is.” Liv nodded. “I’m not going to Freeport alone, of course. They’re going to have to let us bring our own guards, and a sizable delegation. And I’m going to want to send people ahead to Acton House to make certain it's safe there.”

“Are you certain it isn’t in someone else’s hands?” Arjun asked. “Wouldn’t Benedict’s people have seized anything the Summersets owned?”

“They did,” Sidonie confirmed. “But Keri and I have already talked that over with Ambassador Ridley. All of the inheritances from Julianne and Henry will be recognized by Lucania. Including that wand of yours, Liv.”

“As if I’d let that family have it back, with everything they’ve done,” Liv said, with a huff. “I’d give it to Matthew in a heartbeat if he wanted it, or to his child. But as far as I’m concerned, the Loredons lost their claim to this when they chased Julianne up north.”

“I’m not staying behind, this time,” Keri said, from beside her, and Liv turned to face him. “I can walk and I can ride again, Liv. I’m not back to what I should be, but I can fight beside you. And I’ve been learning from Vivek Sharma. I’ll be able to see who’s telling the truth, and who’s lying to you. But most of all, I remember what happened the last time you went to Freeport. You nearly died twice over. I’m not letting you go without me.”

“Not letting me?” Liv raised her goblet between them, and couldn’t help but smile. “I’m told that I’m a queen, now. Who gave you the right to stop me?”

“I’m not fool enough to do that,” Keri grumbled. “But I’ll follow you there if I have to ride the entire way myself. In any event, you don’t seem to have any problem letting Kaija tell you what to do.”

“It’s her job to keep me safe,” Liv told him. “Even from my own bad ideas. But don’t worry, Keri. I need you.”

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“Do you, now?” Wren joked. In the chair where he’s mostly remained silent, even Matthew grinned.

Liv blushed. “If you were sitting close enough, I’d reach over and swat you! What I mean is, I need Keri to come to the Hall of Ancestors with us,” she continued, placing extra emphasis on the words to be certain her intent was clear. “I’ve only heard about it, I’ve never gone myself. I only have the vaguest idea what we’re walking into, but we need to be prepared.”

Keri shrugged. “I’ve only been once as an adult, myself,” he said. “But of course I’ll tell you everything I can. The first thing is to know that there’s no waystone nearby: everyone has to come overland. That means the Houses trickle in over the course of days, and while nothing officially begins until all the elders are there, unofficially, people use the time to visit and to talk.”

“What you’re saying is that we want to be there early,” Sidonie said. “Otherwise we risk showing up once everything has already been decided, once all the deals have already been made.”

“And we need to get the Red Shield Tribe there, as well,” Liv said. “I convinced the elders to give them seats at the table, but I wouldn’t count on anyone but us to go out of their way to actually reach out and provide transportation. Wren, I’m going to send you and Ghveris to do that tomorrow.”

“No chance to rest, is it?” Wren complained, though Liv could tell from her friend’s tone that she wasn’t serious.

Liv shook her head. “No. There’s no time to spare - we’ve got less than a month to get whoever they send into the north. I’ll send you both by waystone to the bridge. You’ll have to ding them from there, and then get them to the nearest waystone we control. You can take that to here. If we’ve already left by the time you’re back, go straight on to Al’Fenthia.”

“Neither of us can activate a waystone ourselves,” Ghveris pointed out. “It would be best to send someone with us who can. I do not wish to count on finding assistance where we travel.”

Liv mentally ran through a list of names before settling on one. “Miina. She’s capable of using a small waystone on her own, if necessary. I’ll see whether I can scrounge up any mana stone before you leave, but don’t count on it.”

She turned to Sidonie. “In the meanwhile, I need messages sent to Baron Crosbie, requesting his presence.”

“He’ll be the second Whitehill seat on the council, then,” Keri reasoned. “But not his son at Gold Creek?”

“No.” Sidonie shook her head. “We want three different families represented, if we can. And the Crosbie’s have already made a marriage alliance with the Summersetts, in any case. The Grenfells?” she asked Liv.

Liv nodded. “If they’re alright with it, I’m thinking Kazimir.” It felt odd to refer to her old master by only his first name, but it was the easiest way to be clear.

“Lady Grenfell will want nothing to do with it,” Sidonie said, with a nod. “I’ve spoken to her. She’s focused entirely on her children, and I honestly don’t think she’ll ever be quite right again after everything that’s happened. Bryn could be a possibility.”

“No.” Keri shook his head. “The older, the better. This council is based on age and experience. Arnold Crosbie is visibly older than Liv.”

Liv bit her lip. “I’m not certain. Is he?”

“The man’s fifty-three,” Sidonie scolded her. “You aren’t that old yet.”

“Regardless,” Keri said, “Bryn is clearly a young woman. Kazimir gives the impression you want. You’re going to get enough trouble from being so young yourself, Liv.”

“I’m thirty-eight this year,” Liv groused.

“Which is nothing in Elden terms,” he reminded her. “You’d be too young to even think about finding a partner in the north.”

“Where do you need me most?” Arjun asked.

“In all honesty?” Liv said, turning toward her friend. “Probably right here, at least until we’re ready to go to Freeport. There’s no one better than you to teach healing magic. Triss has apparently been crawling all through the ring and taking notes on everything she can find. I want you to get me a plan of what we can do to bring Vædic-level medicine down here. It’s not doing anyone any good locked away up there on the ring.”

Arjun blinked. “That could take a very long time,” he cautioned her. “And it could be very expensive.”

“I don’t care,” Liv told him. “Look, for a long time, what fueled this duchy was the export of mana stone. But if we’re going to keep a kingdom, or an alliance running, we’re going to need more than that. Especially because I’m not even certain how much mana stone we’re going to be able to safely take out of Bald Peak, now. What if, twenty years from now, sick people from Lucania, Varuna, and Lendh ka Dakruim all come here to be treated, because they know we’re the best place for it? What if Lucania knows that our soldiers will receive the best treatment in the world, and our losses won’t be as heavy because of that?”

“It’s both a military and economic investment,” Sidonie concluded.

“Exactly.” Liv nodded to her. “Take charge of it and make it happen, Arjun. This is what you’ve wanted since the beginning, isn’t it? To push the limits of healing magic? Go ahead. We need it.”

Arjun considered a moment, and then nodded. “I’m probably going to have difficulties with your chirurgeon’s guild,” he pointed out.

“They don’t have a charter in Whitehill yet,” Liv told him. “If they want one, they’ll have to learn to accept this.”

“I suppose that if Keri is going with you to the north, you’ll want me to sit as regent, then?” Sidonie asked.

“No.” Liv shook her head. “I want you at Nightfall Peak, learning everything you can. Put together a team and get over there. Check in with Silica, when you do. Anything you can learn about where Ractia went, or what she’s doing, might save us months of searching. Now that Triss is stable, I’ll leave Matthew as regent.” She turned to her adopted brother. “Anyone who wants to talk to you can go to Bald Peak.”

Matthew nodded. “I assume that was why you asked me to be here,” he said. “I won’t remain long, but it’s been good to at least be able to hear everything that you’re planning to do first hand.” There was a moment of silence after he finished speaking.

“We’re going in four different directions, then,” Wren observed.

“And after we’ve only just got back together.” Arjun frowned.

“I’m sorry.” Liv leaned forward, and set her goblet back down on the table. “It’s probably going to be like this for a while. There’s no immediate battle to fight against Ractia, but I think that’s actually going to make things harder.”

“A common enemy keeps people together,” Keri said. “United. Once the enemy goes away, everyone wants different things.”

“Exactly.” Liv turned to him, smiled, and nodded. “Our job isn’t just going to be finding Ractia - we also have to keep the alliance from falling apart. For however long the search takes. So. Enjoy the night while we have it.”

☙

Thora had just finished brushing out Liv’s hair when a knock came at the door to her chambers. “I’ll see who it is, m’lady,” she said, setting the brush down on Liv’s vanity.

“No need.” Liv pushed her chair back and stood in her cotton nightgown. It was one of the pieces which had appeared in her rooms at some point, either when she was away, or when she wasn’t paying attention. The piece was soft and light, with embroidery about the neck and shoulders, mother-of-pearl buttons, and no sleeves, leaving her arms bare from the shoulder. “Kaija’s guards would only let a few people at my door this time of night, anyway.”

Barefoot, she crossed out of the bed-chamber and through the sitting room, with Thora trailing behind her. When Liv opened the door, she found Keri standing there, using his cane to keep his balance, while his friend Linnea loitered with Liv’s own guards in the corridor.

“Liv, I wanted to tell you –” Keri stopped talking, and Liv was suddenly conscious of his eyes on her bare arms; conscious of her bare feet, and her unbound hair tumbling down over her shoulders.

The weight of someone else’s attention made her aware, in a way that she normally was not, of the presence of the thin, pale scars left behind by Arjun’s work in Lendh ka Dakruim.

“My bones,” she explained, struggling to find the right words and suddenly embarrassed. Of course, Keri had never seen her so lightly clothed before. She was usually wearing armor when they were together. “Arjun had to carve sigils into my bones, after what happened at the Well of Bones. I don’t need them anymore, but –” Liv shrugged.

“Do you have scars like that all over your body?” Keri asked her, his voice quiet.

Liv nodded. “I don’t really notice them anymore.” It was only half a lie. She tried not to notice, and not to mourn all the things that had happened to her body. Rose, at least, had never seemed bothered.

“I can only imagine how painful that must have been.” Keri looked up from her arms, and met Liv’s eyes. “I wanted to tell you that I tried to do, as best I could, what you would want. Not what I would want. I’m certain that you won’t agree with every decision I’ve made, but I hope that you will be mostly satisfied.”

“I’m certain I will.” Liv hesitated, then reached out and took Keri’s hand in her own. “Thank you. Thank you for staying behind, and doing all the work that you’ve done. It means a lot to me.”

“Of course.” Keri inclined his head to her, then withdrew his hand. “Good evening, Livara. Sleep well.”

He turned and walked off down the hallway, and Liv closed the door between them.