They approached the center of the enormous pavilion. Sitting on marble chairs on a dais were four women surrounded by people—it was clearly some kind of meeting. The man who’d fetched Lilette and the others from the ship approached a desk off to the side and spoke to half a dozen women in simple gray dresses with matching veils covering their hair.
Jolin leaned close and whispered to Lilette, “Each Head represents one of the elements. The redhead, Garen, is Head of Plants. The older woman, Brine, is Head of Water. Tawny is the dark one with the cropped hair—she’s Head of Earth. And the young one is Merlay, Head of Light.”
Merlay. She was the one Sash had said to trust. Lilette would have to speak with her when the council ended.
The women looked nothing like each other—old and young, light and dark—but despite their differences in appearance, they all wore the same mantle of authority. Lilette counted a dozen guardians stationed around the pavilion, their gazes wary.
One of the veiled women rose and went to whisper in Brine’s ear. The older woman clapped her hands. “Everyone out.”
“Who are the women with the veils?” Lilette quietly asked Jolin.
“They’re wastrels—servants of the keepers.”
The term was vaguely familiar, and the associations Lilette had were not positive.
Brine inclined her frothy gray head. “We’ll keep this short, as we are all very busy with the situation in Harshen. I recognize you, Guardian, though I don’t recall your name.”
Geth half bowed. “I am Geth, second to Leader Gyn.”
“I’m assuming Gyn is dead?” Brine asked, then scrawled something on a parchment a wastrel held for her.
“I believe so,” Geth responded.
Brine waved the wastrel off. “Most unfortunate. He was a good guardian.” She removed some of her own parchment and took out a quill. “We already know much of what has passed in Harshen. We simply need you to fill in the gaps.” Geth nodded. “How many of you returned?” Brine asked.
Geth swallowed. “Of the thirty-six witches to depart, only nineteen have returned. Of the sixty-eight guardians, only twenty-two.”
Remembering how so many of them had died, Lilette winced.
Brine marked it down in her notes. “I’ll assign someone to debrief the survivors shortly.”
Fury flashed through Lilette at Brine’s matter-of-fact attitude. She was suddenly there again, soaked to the skin as lightning flashed. Her last glimpse of her sister’s face. The elephant’s heart-rending cry. Lilette squeezed her eyes shut and tamped the memories back.
“And Point Sash?” Brine went on.
Lilette had to bite her tongue to keep from screaming. Geth cut a glance at her. “She and the others stayed behind to create a circle so we could escape.”
Merlay covered her mouth with her hand.
“The ones left behind—I assume they’re dead?” Brine didn’t even look up from her notes.
“Chen has a temper,” Han spoke up. “But he needs those witches. There’s a good chance they’re still alive.”
“And who are you?”
“Han, second son of the Golden Dragon.”
Brine’s eyebrows rose. “That makes you a prince.”
“Yes. A prince and a representative for Harshen. I have come to negotiate our peaceful surrender.”
Lilette gaped at Han as if she’d never seen him before. The emperor had over five hundred children, and only one of them was named heir. Han didn’t have the authority to negotiate anything.
The Heads seemed equally shocked. “Your father authorized this?” Brine asked.
“He’s dead,” Han said in a voice like steel.
Brine’s gaze narrowed. “So you’re the new emperor?”
Han’s his face went red, making his scar stand out. “No. My brother Chen is emperor now.”
Merlay watched him through lowered lids. “You said our witches might be alive. You don’t know?”
“Not for certain.”
Brine pointed her quill at him. “You have no authority to act for Harshen. Why are you wasting my time?”
Lilette stepped forward. “He can help you.”
Brine shot her a look full of impatience. “And who are you?”
“I’m the empress.” Creators’ mercy, she really was. She hadn’t realized it until now.
“It cannot be,” Merlay said, her face pale.
Tawny gaped at Lilette. “But you’re white!”
“You’re not,” she replied.
A slow smile spread across Tawny’s face. “I see we’re both observant.”
Brine rolled her eyes and looked at Lilette again. “Are you authorized to act in Harshen’s behalf?”