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Bowbaq’s bed in a sort of improvised meeting. Grigán filled Yan in on the basics of their trip, and then continued.
    “Inside the Small Palace, I’ll admit, the danger is limited. But things will be altogether different as soon as we’re outside. The guards try not to let everyone leave all at once, but one or two Züu could easily follow us. It seems like an insufficient measure, considering that people like the Züu meet in there. Not to mention the Grand Guild, of course.”
    “But the Züu aren’t expecting us,” explained Corenn. “I’m sure they haven’t planned an ambush of any sort, whether it be inside the building or at the exit. Unless they systematically prepare ambushes, of course, but nothing could justify that kind of excessive planning.”
    “Unless they’ve been warned about us,” Grigán noted. “Those two minions of Bellec, Raji’s accomplice, were in Berce and might have died on the island. Or perhaps not… we could very well find ourselves face-to-face with them next time.”
    “Two street thugs: We could get rid of them, no problem,” Léti intervened confidently.
    Corenn’s eyes opened wide, scandalized, but Grigán responded before she could start lecturing.
    “You really believe that? No one is ever victor before the fight even starts! No one. And even if that were the case, we wouldn’t be able to recognize those two. They could very well pretend to bow at our feet and then run off to fetch the Guild as soon as we turn our backs.”
    Léti refrained from arguing. The warrior had promised to teach her how to fight. Until then, she didn’t want to do anything to upset him or make him change his mind.
    The two leaders of the group picked up their conversation where they had left off. Grigán sighed before addressing the Mother with pleading eyes.
    “Corenn, do you really think that it’s worth it? The Züu will never listen to us. It would be easier to have a conversation with a daï snake than with those maniacs. As soon as they see us, the only thing on their minds will be how to stab a dagger through our hearts.”
    “I know, Grigán, I know. But, unfortunately, we don’t have many other options. If we cannot meet our
real enemy
, for lack of knowing who it is, we must try to stop the Züu’s wrath.”
    The warrior locked eyes with his companions, one by one. He knew how it was to live as a hunted fugitive. He wouldn’t wish it on anyone. Besides, he didn’t think his friends could survive very long on the run, even under his protection.
    He answered with a silent nod, but couldn’t hold back a scowl.
    The discussion would have stopped there if Bowbaq hadn’t continued, in a concerned voice. “And if the Züu refuse to listen to us? If they want to hunt us to the end? I mean, what will we do then?”
    Everyone had been asking themselves these questions, but no one could offer any encouraging words to the giant, a father of a family.
    “I think the best thing to do would be to go to the Baronies,” Corenn responded bleakly. “To Junine, to meet Queen Séhane. To our knowledge, she’s the only heir left alive besides us. Obviously, that wouldn’t bring you any closer to Arkary…”
    Bowbaq was lost in thought. Three dékades before, his steppe pony, Wos, woke him up as he fidgeted in his pen. Now he was laid up in a Lorelien smuggler’s depot, his stomach wounded by a dagger. Soon he might leave for the Small Kingdoms. It had been two moons since he had seen his wife, son, and daughter. He wasn’t even sure they were still alive.
    “All right,” he declared reluctantly. “If it settles things… we’ll go to Junine.”
    Rey comforted him with a thump on the shoulder. The sight of such a nice, gentle soul gripped by melancholy saddened them all even more.

     
    Léti wouldn’t let Grigán rest for very long. The warrior hardly had time to eat a light meal, which was already late, before Létiquickly reminded him of his promise. The first lesson would be