We didn’t get attacked as we reached the gate.

  The gate didn’t open either, which made me feel like even more of a target, sitting with my back against the silent stone walls. We’d dismounted once we reached the closed gate and it became apparent that they weren’t going to be letting us in anytime soon.

  “Shouldn’t we announce ourselves?” Starna looked over at the Kharm, who was meditating with his eyes closed in front of us.

  Psider opened one eye to look at her. “Irritating the guards will only make them move slower.” He closed his eye. “If they haven’t summoned someone to talk to us yet, then they’re dealing with something important enough that disturbing them will only irritate them.” He motioned at my brother. “It won’t be long before everyone will know our group is waiting in front of the gate and once word reaches Master Krav, he’ll be here.”

  “Unless he’s busy.” I added dryly.

  “Almost everyone in Hilde is Nevnua.” Psider opened both eyes to look at me. “They’re at the end of the road and have just been attacked.” The landshark motioned at the narrow path we’d just travelled. “They’re preparing for an attack and may even be dealing with an attempt to breach the city from below. While the Camadt may have helped us get close to the city, his presence is also a problem as most of the city isn’t compatible with him.”

  “Too much magic stuff to break?” Vin smirked.

  “There’s a Camadt-friendly area in the front, but until they have a guard team to escort us around, they aren’t going to let us in.” Psider closed his eyes and leaned back against the stone wall. “Trying to hurry them will just make them move slower.”

  “They could at least let us inside so we can get out of the heat.” Vin grumbled. “My fur is black; does that scream, ‘I like the heat in full sun’ to anyone?”

  Psider motioned with his finger, and rocks rumbled under us to answer his command. The stones rolled on each other as they rose out of the ground, building and fusing together until a few minutes later, there was a four-foot-high canopy.

  “At least we have shade now.” The Camadt grumbled as he plopped on the ground.

  The gate started moving the moment he sat down, drawing another groan out of him. “But I was just starting to get comfortable!”

  A large guard, encased in armor from the tip of her horn to her cleft toes, walked out to greet us.

  “I am Commander Hinbali Ferdinous.” She turned her attention to Psider. “Master Krav told us to expect you next week at the earliest.”

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  “I ran into some friends who have business with Master Krav, and I thought I’d guide them here since they helped me secure Gedu.”

  “The master is busy sealing off the lower tunnels after the last attack.” She eyed us. “Cultists look like anyone; there’s even a rumor that they have a Sineater working with them.” The Nevnua turned back to Psider. “You sure they’re legit?”

  “This is Starna Shellock—.”

  “Ambassador Starna Shellock.” The dark gray woman corrected. “To the Malus Kingdom.” She grabbed my hand. “And this is my promised, Prince Sectum Malus.”

  She eyed us, then turned to Vin. “What are you? The Illuminati’s latest prodigy?”

  “I’m the world's greatest lover!” Vin bounced his feline eyebrows. “I can be whatever you want me to be.”

  “He’s Sectum’s adopted brother.” Starna sighed. “He causes trouble more often than not, but there’s no one more loyal that I’d rather fight beside, err, you know what I mean.”

  Vin scrunched his brow as he tried to decide if she’d just insulted him or given him a compliment.

  “You’re all good friends and come from royal blood. Good for you!” The Commander looked at us again. “But we’re dealing with Demon worshippers, and just because you have fancy titles and love each other doesn’t mean you won’t summon a portal the moment I let you inside.”

  “Master Krav will vouch for us if you fetch him.” I tried to think of someone’s opinion they cared about more than Psider’s, because the commander was making it very clear she didn’t trust the Kharm.

  “I already told you, he’s busy.” She looked at my brother. “And before you ask, there’s no way that any of you are going to the lower floors, especially not him. Gods know that we just got the wards fixed; we don’t need a Camadt shorting them out again.”

  “Then how about you take the two of us to meet with a Seeker?” Starna looked around. “We just came from the Iron Forge, where the Dwarves are dealing with cultists who are trying to break into a living box in abandoned Exindo ruins. We were sent here to seek Master Krav’s aid, but it appears—”

  “A living box!” The Nevnua grabbed Starna’s left arm, earning the rhino woman a nip on her own arm from the demigryph mount. She pulled back and inspected the unmarred armor with a glance before continuing. “Seeker Kombali needs to hear this right away.” She paused and looked over at my brother. “I’m sorry, but this is in the Camadt restricted area. You’ll have to wait at the Dream’s Rest.”

  My brother looked at me, his yellow cat eyes promising that he was about to argue.

  “Don’t harass the waitresses too much.” I played on his biggest weakness. I hated that we had to leave him behind again, but his innate ability to destroy magical objects made it difficult to take him places.

  Vin perked up. “Nevnua waitresses?”

  The commander rolled her eyes. “No means no; if I have to arrest you, I won’t be nice about it.”

  “Shackle play isn’t my thing.” My brother grinned. “But I could make an exception for you.”

  “That’s not what I…” The commander spun around on her heels. “Just don’t cause any trouble.”

  “She wants me.” My brother poked me in the rib with his lower right hand. “I can feel it.”

  I grabbed the reins of my wolf and followed after them. With everything that was happening, at least my brother was still acting normal.

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