The lecture didn't last long.

It mostly consisted of pointing out where the monster's weaknesses were and which elements to use. I kept expecting Miel to say something like 'just crush it like a bug', which would have been funny because the second-floor boss was half hornet.

I spent the rest of the trip with Ether at my side in the booth. We were a few hours out when Trent came and sat down across from us.

"We have dinner tonight." The old man's eyes were accented by shadows. The exhaustion he was trying to hide was plain on his face, but he was pushing through it anyway. He looked at both of us. "Harror is demanding we attend one of her state dinners, and she's calling it the date." He growled as he said the word. "She wants the two of you there as well."

"Dad just messaged me." Justia announced. "He's been summoned to the weekly planning meeting and he wants me to go…" Her voice trailed off as the green woman glanced over at our driver. "He told me that I could bring a date."

"PARTY!" Aelin squealed. "YES! I've always wanted to go to one of these things!"

Trent shook his head. "I'm not sure that's a good idea."

"Why?" I couldn't stop myself from asking the question that I knew would leave Aelin's lips.

"This isn't just any planning meeting." Trent took a deep breath. "Gesai has been summoned as well."

"Wait…" I looked at my father. "This sounds like Farsch is doing something."

"He won't do anything to us since we're Harror's guests." Trent looked over at Miel. "You'll have to stay with the rest of the students."

"You can't be serious!" Miel bolted off of the couch on the wall behind Aelin. "You're going to have dinner with someone who wants to harm you, and you think I'm not going?"

"You might not be wearing your Scarlet armor, but you're still a threat." Trent shook his head. "Having you there would only make things more tense, so no. You're not going."

Ether's mother opened her mouth.

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"I'm in charge here, Miel Warray." Power crept into Trent's voice. "You take orders from me, not the other way around. The children will be safe at the dinner, but that's why I need you to stay with the others. Without Gesai there, Dacine will be the only one at the clinic."

A fire burned in Miel's red eyes, but she sat back down. "Fine."

Trent let out a deep breath and motioned for Ether and me to scoot so Justia could sit down. As soon as she slid next to my left side, he continued.

"This isn't just some weekly meeting. From what I can tell, not only will all the major families be there, but this summons has gone out to all the Alards in Harror." He paused to take a breath. "Celia was notified this morning to bring Gileon from the Cathedral. She just arrived with her whole class."

"Even Arlo?" I knew Trent's nephew was trying to keep a low profile since claiming the Wurn Mantle. Walking into another God's city seemed like a bad idea.

"Arlo kept his class at the Cathedral." Trent shook his head. "I hope there aren't going to be any issues?"

I looked at Justia, then over at Aelin. While we'd been kidnapped, Savyn Triscan, Andes Roge, and Glieon Alard had bullied Aelin and Ether. The last time we'd been in the same place, I'd started a fight to teach them not to mess with my people. I'd gotten the message across, and we'd worked together briefly when the cult had attacked Wurn.

"We're good." I nodded. "But what's this mean?"

It means that you won't be going straight into the Dungeon when we get there." Trent took a deep breath. "Once we get Trok situated with Dacine, Miel can take the green group into the Dungeon." He grumbled under his breath, then looked at Justia. "This is an important meeting, and you're an heir. If you bring Aelin, you're going to be sending a message."

"I…" Justia's voice trailed off as she looked from face to face as she tried to think.

"It's okay." I grabbed her right hand. "I've got your back."

"You have plenty of cousins." Trent shrugged. "Your father took over from his aunt. Plus, it helps that this isn't the main branch of your family, but still... if you do this, the other families are going to take it as you declaring your intent to abdicate."

"But she doesn't have to abdicate." I growled. Noble politics made no sense. "You just said that Hye took over for his aunt." I motioned at Justia. "She could raise a family member as her heir and run things until it was time to turn it over." I looked at my priestess. "There is no reason why you have to bend to their opinions."

"I never said that she shouldn't do it." Trent stifled a cough. "I'm just letting her know that she's going to be the focus of a lot of attention that she will have to deal with if she does."

Justia looked over at the driver's seat.

Aelin half turned, and considering she was the driver, it was a very dangerous thing for all of us. "You know what I want to do, but if it's too much, I can stay behind." She smiled. "I'll follow your lead."

The green woman next to me closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I'll do it." She opened her eyes to look at Aelin. "It can't be any worse than what we've already been through."

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