The other lands

Would that be so bad? Dariel thought but did not dare say.

"We ca

She inhaled, ran her hand over her face, and changed her demeanor. With warmer, more complacent tones in her voice, she said, "It's fine that you have already given so much and that you wish to continue with such work. Father would have been proud. Aliver would have been proud. The delay between now and when you may return to such work will be a small thing, I'm sure." She set down her tumbler, untasted as far as he could tell, and leaned forward in her seat. "I am proud of you, too, Brother, but I have an important assignment for you. There has been a mishap in the Other Lands. I will need your help to mend it."

As he listened, Dariel teetered between dread and excitement. The league had been in contact with the Auldek, those mystery people to whom so many children had been sent. It had not gone well, and now the league needed help. It was hard for him to fathom.

Cori

"You will be my ambassador," Cori

"You don't mean to start that again?"

"I do. Stop! I know what you think about it. I know what Aliver promised. But he's not here. We ca

Dariel started to protest, but she spoke over him.

"And I mean that in two different ways. One, we have partners-the league, the Lothan Aklun, even the Auldek-who expect things of us, are invested in us, have so much in place. Do you want them all as enemies?"

Again, Dariel would have spoken, but Cori

"No, of course not. Two, the people of the provinces are growing disgruntled. Tell me you don't know this is true. They gripe and plot and scheme to cause mischief. It's only a matter of time, Dariel, until they rebel. And that would do no one any good. It would be chaos. Suffering."

This time she did give him leave to speak. Words failed him, though. She was not wrong. There was discontent out there. He had felt it thinly veiled behind men's eyes. Even as he worked to help the people, he knew they did not accept him or his work as completely as he wished.

"And know this," the queen said. "I will not drug them as we did before. It won't be the same, Dariel. I promise that."

Do you promise it won't be worse? Dariel thought. In new ways?

Cori

Dariel took a moment to respond. Part of him wanted to refuse her, but that was not easily done. And surely he could be a better emissary than anyone else she might send. Perhaps, in seeing the Lothan Aklun and Auldek in the flesh, he would learn things about them and find ways to alter the nature of their trade. She wished him to go for her reasons, but perhaps he could find a way to trade in something other than quota and mist. She wouldn't fault him for that-not if he brought a new arrangement to her that would replace the old. Perhaps this was a first step toward that. He tried to believe he heard these possibilities behind her words, but something kept him from mentioning them directly.

"When will I leave?" he asked, surprised that the first thing he uttered indicated acceptance of the mission.

"You sail with Sire Neen in two days' time. He began preparations as soon as he knew of your safe arrival here. Take no distractions with you. Understand? Wren does not go with you." Dariel must have registered his disappointment on his face, though he was not aware of doing so. "Very little of what falls on us as leaders is easy. You know that. Much of it challenges us. I've no doubt you won't love your time with Sire Neen, but for now we have no choice but to stay allied with the league."

For a moment, Dariel felt himself a boy again, as confused and helpless as when his guardian spirited him from Kidnaban and into years of hiding. This, in turn, made him think of Val, his protector during those years, as much his father as Leodan. "Is this the real Cori

Cori

"And what of my work?"

"Oh, it will go on. I'll see to it myself."

Dariel, despite his disquiet, laughed. "You, Sister, will do charity work among the common people?"

"I will," Cori

A little later, Dariel padded barefoot through his chambers. The rooms were fragrant with the heavy incense Wren favored. The lamps burned low flames, not actually lighting the room at all but just allowing the outlines for him to navigate toward the i

He found her sitting on the bed, waiting for him. He cleared his throat to a