At first, Karina reveled in the feeling of the ground falling away beneath her. But long after her body should have started its descent, she was still rising, up through the clouds and atmosphere to the world only birds knew.

She screamed for help, but there was no one to help her. Rain sharp as needles pelted her faced, followed by stinging bits of hail that ripped her skin to shreds. Lightning rent the sky in two, sending her tumbling head over heels, and still she rose. She couldn’t see her family anymore, couldn’t understand why they had thrown her into this maelstrom with no guidance at all. The next bolt of lightning hit her in the chest, and Karina screamed again as the force ripped through her, burning her from the inside, but still she was rising, going higher and higher with the stars laughing as she rushed past and—

Karina awoke with a start and immediately wished she hadn’t. The world blurred before her eyes, the familiar shapes of her bedroom little more than unformed blobs. It had been months since she’d last had the flying nightmare. In the years after the fire, it had come frequently, but now it only visited her every once and again, a reminder that her childhood demons were poised to strike at any moment.

Her temples throbbed from the sunlight streaming through her windows, well past sunrise now. Today was Moon Day, the second day of the week. Moon Day was meant for reflection and healing, but all Karina could reflect on was how she was going to murder someone if that damn window remained open even a second longer.

Karina forced herself to her feet and wobbled for several unsteady seconds. Lights flashed before her eyes, now yellow, now pink, now blue. This was what the healers called the aura, a warning symptom that a migraine was on its way. She knew she could call Aminata or one of the other maids to close the window before the pain became too great, yet somehow it felt imperative that she do it herself. After her failure at the Opening Ceremony, this was the least she could do.

Karina was halfway across the room when pain throbbed behind her eyes, and she dropped to her knees. A dry laugh escaped her lips. Here she was, the last descendant of the greatest ruler Sonande had ever known, and she couldn’t even do this right. How pathetic.

No, not pathetic. Mediocre. Just like her mother had believed her to be.

Another person entered the bedroom, and Karina was in too much pain to send them away. They leaned over her, and tears formed in the corners of Karina’s eyes as she squinted at them.

“Mama?” she breathed out.

Commander Hamidou’s face swam into focus. Karina pulled away but she was too weak to stop the Sentinel from carrying her back to bed. After Karina was safely tucked in once more, Commander Hamidou closed the shutters and curtains over all the windows. Blessed darkness returned to the room, and the pain in Karina’s head subsided somewhat. She was so grateful she could cry, but doing so was a new level of humiliation she wasn’t quite ready to reach.

Instead, she regarded the commander warily. No Sentinel had ever visited her privately before, and being alone with one sent her head buzzing in a way that had nothing to do with her migraine. Sentinels were living weapons forged in battle and pain. They didn’t draw curtains.

Still, Karina wasn’t sure what it was about the warriors that made her so nervous. They were sworn to protect her and her family, after all—she was likely safer with the commander than with anyone else in Ziran.

“What time is it?” she asked.

“Nearly three bells past noon.”

Karina shot up. She’d slept halfway through the second day of Solstasia. The council was probably livid.

“Summon Aminata. I need to get dressed at once.” As Karina began to rise from the bed, Commander Hamidou gently but firmly pushed her back down. Karina would have quite literally bitten anyone else for laying a finger on her without her permission, but even she wasn’t reckless enough to lash out at the leader of the Sentinels.

“Farid has already told the council you’ll be resting until your dinner with the Champions tonight.”

Bless Farid, always thinking ahead, though no doubt the Kestrel would have been up and about were she in Karina’s position. However, Karina wasn’t sure she could sit through any events that day without collapsing to the ground. “Is that all you came to tell me?”

“Not quite. I came to tell you that we have found the servants that had access to Haissa Sarahel’s private quarters.”

Karina’s expression did not change, but her hands curled into fists. Drops of blood welled up in her palms. “Is that so?”

She had pondered since the assassination what the most acceptable punishment would be for those involved with the Kestrel’s murder. Death was too merciful for them. They deserved to suffer a thousand times over for every breath the Kestrel would never get to take. They deserved to feel a fraction of the pain Karina had felt when she saw that blade pierce her mother’s back, for even a fraction was more than one person could bear.

But these fantasies went nowhere, for Commander Hamidou said, “All five of their bodies have been found at the bottom of the canal that runs behind the stables.”

A chill ran down Karina’s spine. “Someone killed five servants in one night without anyone noticing?”

“My investigators have checked in with their supervisors, and all their alibis are in order. But it wasn’t just the servants. We also found the bodies of the two Sentinels who were supposed to be on watch at that time.”

So eight people in total had died Solstasia Eve, murdered by someone with the skills to defeat the best warriors in Ziran. Karina shuddered. “Are there any more leads?”

“That’s all we know so far. I came to tell you as soon as I found out.” Commander Hamidou’s eyes darkened. “I came to tell only you.”

Karina leaned forward. “What do you mean?”

“The knowledge of who had access to Haissa Sarahel’s quarters was a secret even among the palace staff. The only people who could gain access besides those servants, you, me, Farid, and your mother—”

“—are the council,” said Karina, her stomach turning over. Pain pulsed in her skull in time with the music wafting from outside. “Someone on the council murdered my mother, or at least aided the murderer.”

“I’d rather not jump to such concrete conclusions, but that is where the evidence is pointing. Someone we know has betrayed us.”

Commander Hamidou’s gaze fell on the signet ring on Karina’s hand. This woman had seen three generations of Alahari women wear this ring—first the Kestrel’s aunt, then the Kestrel, now Karina herself. The thin wrinkles lining her face deepened as grief welled in her eyes, a sharp contrast from her usual steely demeanor. Commander Hamidou had been there for the Kestrel’s birth, had watched her become sultana and raise two children of her own. Karina wasn’t sure what their relationship had been, but it was one that ran deeper than a soldier losing her queen.

“Your mother had colic as an infant,” said Commander Hamidou softly. “When I was young, I was stationed outside her nursery as she’d cry and cry through the night. That I’d live to attend her funeral is . . .” The Sentinel coughed awkwardly. “My apologies, Your Highness.”

Karina hadn’t known a Sentinel could sound so sad. Somehow, this display of humanity only unsettled her further. “No need to apologize.”

The Sentinel bowed and took her leave. Karina sat for a long time, trying to process this new information.

If what Commander Hamidou had said was true, and the murderer had been aided by someone on the council, she needed to complete the Rite of Resurrection sooner rather than later, so that the Kestrel could deal with the traitor. She was already on her way to obtaining the king’s heart, and between the other two items, nkra was the only one she’d heard of before, and so it made sense to start there.

If Karina wanted any chance of performing this ritual, she needed to find the one person who had ever spoken the word nkra in her presence.

It was time for her to track down Afua Boateng.

13

Malik

No one seemed particularly surprised that Princess Karina did not attend the Champions’ lunch on the second day of Solstasia. Word of the incident on the Widow’s Fingers had spread throughout Ziran, and by the time the rumor made its way back to Malik, it had evolved into an epic battle of life and death with the princess hanging off the bridge by one finger while bush walkers gnawed at her leg. Though part of Malik was grateful that he wouldn’t have to face her so soon after his botched murder attempt, a larger part of him grew antsy.

But Princess Karina missed not only the Champions’ lunch, but also the poetry recital hosted by the university and the lizard beast race. Now she was missing her dinner with the court and the Champions, even though the palace had sent word she’d absolutely be attending. The court’s shift from sympathy to suspicion was lightning-quick.