Contents
Chapter 23
Overview
Jo convenes a late-night council after Acker’s arrival with Irina, Wells, and pregnant Olivia. She refuses Acker’s alliance, stations guards over the Kenta party, sends Sam to brief Chryse, and tasks Beau to assess intentions. That night Jo realizes Acker may be entering her dreams through the Bond; she wakes to a mysteriously sharpened dagger.
Summary
Near midnight in the palace kitchen, Jo meets with Beau, her mother Evelyn, Messer, Drake, and General Samasu. Jo confirms Acker has arrived in Maile with Irina, Wells, and pregnant Olivia, and that she refused his offer of alliance. She assigns guards to house Acker and Irina in an abandoned cottage, while expecting Wells and Olivia to seek refuge.
The group reviews intelligence: Acker revealed Wren has switched sides and hinted at Edmond’s crimes. Sam objects to harboring the Kenta party and presses Jo about restraining Acker with mangi stones; Jo withholds details. Beau volunteers to meet Wells and Olivia—and to face Acker—for clarity on their intentions. Jo orders Fredrich to accompany Beau.
To secure alliances, Jo sends Sam to find Chryse in Roison and deliver a direct update, avoiding intercepted messages as winter closes in. They plan likely routes on a map. Drake departs to confine the Kenta crew aboard their ship offshore and to keep Acker’s arrival contained.
Afterward, Beau tells Jo she doesn’t truly hate Acker. Alone, Jo layers extra stones to suppress her magic and drinks a lighter dose of sleep tea. As she drifts, she fixates on a fantasy she sensed in Acker’s mind at the wharf and recognizes specific details of her own bedchamber within it.
Jo realizes Acker may have visited her dreams through their Bond while she slept before, unseen and uninvited. Clutching a dagger, she finally sleeps, trusting the blood oath and stones to protect her. She wakes to find the weapon on her bedside table—its blade inexplicably sharpened—confirming her fear that Acker can intrude despite her defenses.
Who Appears
- JoQueen of Maile; refuses Acker’s alliance, directs security and diplomacy, and suspects Acker invades her dreams via their Bond.
- BeauJo’s ally with aura-sight; volunteers to meet Wells, Olivia, and Acker to gauge intentions; challenges Jo’s claimed hatred.
- General Samasu (Sam)Teleporter-general; protests harboring Kenta nobles; dispatched to Roison to brief Chryse in person.
- EvelynJo’s mother; calms tensions while stress-baking and affirms Jo’s authority over decisions.
- DrakeOfficer loyal to Jo; places Acker’s party in cottages and confines the Kenta crew offshore.
- MesserAdvisor who confirms Acker sought alliance; provides levity, assists during the kitchen council.
- AckerKenta prince; arrives seeking alliance; possibly intrudes into Jo’s dreams through their Bond.
- WellsKenta companion; sheltered under watch in Maile, expected to remain with Olivia.
- OliviaPregnant Kenta noble; receiving Maile midwives’ care; likely to stay in Maile.
- IrinaStrou heiress and Acker’s wife; kept under guard with Acker in an abandoned cottage.
- FredrichShielder assigned to accompany Beau to assess the Kenta party.