Summary

Iris struggles to feel at home in Maven’s capital, Archeon, as she sees Norta itself as a godless country. She prays whenever she can, but wonders if her gods are listening anymore. She is shocked at how obvious the people are to War, but keeps to her Queenly duties to distract herself. She gives a memorial lunch for the soldiers lost during the battle in Corvium. While she tells them to never give into the Red rebels, she secretly knows her family will rule them all in the end.

After the luncheon, she returns to her transport where she finds Anabel and Julian hiding inside. They promise not to hurt her, as they wish to make a deal. Anabel tells Iris that Cal wants peace with the Lakelands. Iris calls him a traitor, but Anabel says that Maven is...