Santino sent a flock of maids to help me get ready for my meeting with the emir. Penelope had requested to meet him immediately. The situation with the Detoris was not something that could be put off. We needed to get Emir Valasis on our side and convince him to shut down the mines. Once he was convinced, it would be easier to get the other emirs to agree.
I welcomed the bath and the pampering, but this time I refused to wear the flimsy Brandorian clothes and veil I wore last time I was here, and instead remained in my High Fae training leathers, with my sword and daggers strapped in place and a black cape that was embroidered lightly on the borders with silver stars. With glamour I created a silver diadem, twisted to look like ivy. I placed it on my head for effect. I would not cower or hide anymore. I was a queen and a warrior, and that was who the emir would meet this time.
I pecked at the trays of delicious Brandorian delicacies laid out in my room while I got ready. The clotted cream, topped with fresh whole honeycomb and sprinkled with pistachios and apricots, was my favorite dish and just too good to resist.
Penelope came to get me from my room as I finished the last piece of walnut bread generously daubed with white butter. She had changed into a simple green chiffon dress, over which she wore an emerald-green sleeveless robe lined with gold-embroidered flowers. Her hair was plaited and woven with gold thread and fell to her waist. She always looked so regal and calm, and I wondered how she managed to pull it off.
Tristan was waiting outside, his weapons strapped in place.
I rolled my eyes. “No one is going to attack me in my room, Tristan.”
“Have you forgotten last night?” he said, walking beside me. Cade appeared suddenly on my other side.
I huffed and strode ahead as I attempted to traverse the blue-and-white mosaic walkways that connected the different parts of the citadel. I knew my way around the emir’s fortress to a degree, but it was still confusing. I let Penelope lead us through courtyards of orange blossoms and fragrant rose bushes until we came to the massive silver doors of the throne room, which were guarded by the emir’s big, spear-wielding warriors. I definitely remembered them. Dark-skinned, massive, and trained to be killers since birth, the emir’s guards were not to be trifled with.
“I presume you don’t need me in there,” said Cade, stepping to the side. “I’ll just wait out here with these big guys.” He threw a charming smile at the emir’s guards, who didn’t smile back.
Penelope gestured me forward before her. “You need to walk in front—it is protocol.”
I shuffled my feet as the massive silver doors opened. I wasn’t a politician, so how was I supposed to convince the emir I was worth aligning with instead of Morgana?
The emir was seated on his throne in the vast reception hall, and beside him stood a short, squat man with a round pockmarked face under his massive green-and-gold turban. He was dressed in the opulent manner of the Brandorian nobility in an emerald-green robe lined with gold thread. Santino was already there, standing at the foot of the stairs that led to his father’s throne.
“That’s Varian, chancellor of Brandor and military advisor to the emir,” whispered Penelope as we walked the long plum-colored carpet toward the emir. “He was away on a diplomatic mission when you were here last, and he just recently returned.”
I did not bow to the emir, nor did Tristan, but Penelope did.
“So we meet again, Princess Aurora,” said the emir, his amber eyes studying my attire. “Looks like you are a High Fae warrior now. We heard you defeated the Archmage of Avalonia. That is no small feat. It seems you are not as weak as we first perceived.”
At least he got straight to the point.
I was a queen in my own right and refused to cower before him to earn his sympathy. “You could have denied them entry through Brandor, yet you let the Drakaar come to Elfi.” The accusation was clear in my voice.
The emir shook his head. “What could we have done? The Drakaar would have laid waste to all our lands in their effort to get to you. We never expected Izadora’s wards to fall. If even the fae queen’s magic cannot stop Morgana, what chance do any of us have? We had no choice.”
“You always have a choice,” Penelope said, stepping forward. “Aurora stopped Morgana from getting her hands on Elfi, and she can do the same for you if you will let her. We can protect Brandor from Morgana and the Drakaar, but we need your support.”
The emir turned his gaze on Penelope. “You also need my ships and my mounted cavalry, not to mention supplies for your army.” His words were sharp. It was a statement. He knew at this moment he had the upper hand—we needed his troops. His eyebrows rose. “I did not expect to see you again, Countess Penelope. Santino has only recently informed me you have been in Illiador for the past fifteen years. That was quite an accomplishment, to remain undetected by even Santino’s men. But you are Queen Izadora’s sister, so we would expect nothing less.”
Penelope inclined her head in response to the praise and cleared her throat. “The problem is much larger than we first believed.”
The emir gestured for her to continue. “Go on.”
“The mines outside Nedora have been opened.” Penelope’s gaze was laced with steel as she glanced between the emir and the chancellor.
Varian took a sharp breath.
“That is not possible.” The emir shook his head. “I had those mines closed decades ago. The other emirs would not open them without informing me first.”
“Darius Detori just did,” I said plainly.
Emir Roderigo Valasis turned his gaze on his chancellor. “Varian, did you know about
