My eyes widened. “You are?”
I had expected my grandmother to forbid me again and even threaten me. I was ready with a retinue of arguments which I apparently didn’t need.
“Circumstances have changed,” said the fae queen. “If the new archmage becomes King of Eldoren, that will be one more kingdom joining Morgana’s growing army. He must be stopped, and Prince Rafael put back on the throne where he belongs.” She turned her gaze on Santino. “I assume the pirate prince can handle the Detori problem?”
Santino gave the fae queen a wary, considering look and nodded once.
“Good,” said Izadora, turning her golden eyes on me. “Because until the mines are shut down, the Elder Council has refused to give their consent to send the fae army to your aid.”
I clenched my hands into fists and tried to keep calm. “But you said—”
“I know what I said,” my grandmother snapped, cutting me off.
“What about the alliance? Without the fae army we will be completely outnumbered.”
“I know,” she answered, completely stone-faced.
“But I’m still a descendent of the house of Eos-Eirendil,” I argued. “I am the rightful Queen of Elfi and your heir.”
Izadora nodded and her eyes softened, ever so slightly. “Yes, but on matters of war, the Elder Council rules and has decreed they will not send the fae army to follow you into battle until you retrieve the Dagger of Dragath and shut down the mines.”
This was unbelievable. After everything I had done for the High Fae, they were going to abandon me to my fate.
“I didn’t expect it to go so far,” my grandmother continued. “Now with Silverthorne gone—” her gaze flicked to Serena, who flinched at the sound of her father’s name, “—it is up to us to make sure the mages of Eldoren follow you, and not Morgana.”
Tristan spoke up. “What about Andromeda and the book?”
“I have dispatched Aiden to retrieve the book. He will liaise with Cade, and together they will track Andromeda.”
Tristan nodded and so did I. I did not like Aiden, but he was one of the most powerful High Fae. If anyone could take on Andromeda, it was the insufferable Prince of the Day Court, her own son. He was unwaveringly loyal to his queen, even if it meant stopping his own mother from going ahead with her plans.
My grandmother’s golden gaze turned on me. “You concentrate on growing your army and retrieving the Dagger.” Izadora waved her hand and closed the mirror portal.
Penelope clasped her hands together and turned to face us. “We will portal into the closest town, but we will not be able to portal into Caeleron Castle itself. Lilith can detect that kind of spirit magic, and the castle will be warded with powerful spells. If Andromeda is tracking our portals, she will think we have lost her trail. She may let down her guard and slip up. It will be easier for Cade and Aiden to pick up her tracks.”
Tristan raised an eyebrow and glared pointedly at Penelope. “You can create a portal over such a distance?”
“I can’t,” Penelope clarified. “But Aurora can.”
“No one but the queen of the fae can do that.” Tristan’s tone was low and serious.
“The queen of the fae and the Dawnstar.” Penelope’s eyes were pure steel. “Or have you forgotten who she really is and what she is capable of?”
I nodded eagerly. This was my one chance to help Rafe and those children. I could do this.
“You don’t know how much of her magic it will drain,” Tristan argued. “You know as well as I do, Penelope, when her spirit magic depletes past a certain threshold, it affects her other fae powers as well. She will not be able to defend herself should you encounter one of the Drakaar or their minions.”
“That’s why we have you, Tristan.” I smiled sweetly.
Tristan was not amused, which was glaringly apparent from the scowl on his face.
Penelope shook her head. “I know the risks, Tristan. But we will have some time for Aurora’s magic to recover while I figure out a way to get the children clear and stop Delacourt from crowning himself king.”
“And how are you going to manage this grand feat of espionage?”
Penelope’s mouth twitched slightly. “Leave that to me.”
She turned to the pirate prince, who was standing quietly, his keen mind absorbing everything. “But if we leave right now, my other concern is what to do about the council with the emirs. We need this alliance, Santino. And we must make sure Morgana doesn’t get her hands on all the blackened iron.”
“I will handle it.” Santino’s shrewd eyes flashed. “Soon the streets of Sanria will be a battlefield, and it is better if you are all far away from here when it happens. Once I have brought the council to its knees, they will do as they are told. I have waited too long for this day to come. Varian has given me an opportunity. If I don’t use it now, the Detori family will have its chance to take over Brandor. I will send word once it is done.”
Penelope nodded and looked at Tristan. “Did you find out anything else about Andromeda and her whereabouts?”
“Yes, we heard she was in Sanria a few days ago and was seen boarding a ship to Orion.”
Penelope looked at Marcus. “Orion is near Mist Falls, is it not?”
Marcus nodded. “It is also the simplest route into Illiador. You bypass the Cascade Mountains and take the main caravan route to Nerenor.”
“The mines around Mist Falls are the largest in Brandor,” said Santino.
“Andromeda must be involved with moving the shipments to Morgana,” said Penelope. “That’s why she has been in Brandor for so long. She must be in league with the Detoris. If we find Andromeda, we find the rest of the blackened iron.”
Tristan crossed his arms. “And we destroy it.”
“Exactly,” Penelope confirmed. “If Cade leaves now and meets Aiden, we may have a chance to catch her before she reaches Illiador.”
“Why do I
