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misguided in some ways. I’ve been watching him recently, and with the new found power he has now, I think it’s getting to his head. Just be careful.”
    “I will. Thank you for telling me.” Aaric stood, and Luna passed the jewel back to him with a regretful sigh. She reached the door and then turned to him again. “You know, I stumbled across a manuscript years ago that spoke of the sky dragon, Varduu. It said he lived beyond the mountains to the East. Wouldn’t that be something?”
    “It would,” Aaric agreed, “but he’s a nomad legend. I highly doubt dragons are real. Not in our age of science and industrialization, anyway.”
    Luna nodded. “You’re probably right. And with the Scholar’s Guild at the helm, Sen Altare won’t be behind Ruis in technological advances for long, I hope. Farewell, Aaric.” She smiled again, lines creasing around her eyes, and left, walking down the hall, reading some crumpled notes she’d pulled from her skirt pocket.

12
Adaryn
     
    Y ou plan to do what?” I stared at Sirius in shock. Over two weeks had passed since Matias had been overthrown. I stood in the throne room, hands on my hips, glaring at the old man.
    Sirius had the gall to sit on the throne, but had brought in several other chairs for Guild members. He hadn’t offered me one.
    At the moment, the throne didn’t seem to be very comfortable. Sirius squirmed uneasily, not making eye contact with me.
    “We simply want Matias to pay for all the wrongs he’s done,” he said, putting a hand out as if to calm me.
    I wouldn’t be calmed. “Then kill him, blast it! You can’t make him a slave!”
Sirius snorted with disgust. “Killing him isn’t good enough, girl. He needs to suffer.” He tilted his head a moment. “His wives, however,” he added as an afterthought, “won’t be subject to slavery, as they almost certainly had no part in this. I had them released into the city, to earn their living like any other self-respecting individual.” He smoothed his mustache. “They may have some difficulties in finding work, but it’s only fair, after they’ve lived off the people’s labor for so long.”
    “What gives you the right?” I shot back. “You aren’t the king. Throwing women out into the streets and making Matias a slave. You’re just as bad as he is.”
    Sirius stood angrily. “I’m doing what’s best for the people, Adaryn. How could a rover possibly understand the complexities of running a city and its people? You know nothing!”
    Rover, was it? Stupid old goat.
    “He won’t agree to it,” I said at last. “He’s a magic user. Freedom is in his blood. He’ll die before being humiliated so.”
    Sirius smiled coldly, smoothing his mustache. “He won’t have a choice in the matter.”
    My eyes narrowed as I folded my arms across my chest. “How so?”
    Sirius turned to face one of the windows overlooking the city. “We have a . . . device of sorts that we are creating. Similar to a slave collar from Ruis, but different.”
    I couldn’t speak through the tightness I felt in my chest. A collar.
    “We won’t use it on anyone else, of course, just Matias. He will serve as an example, warning those who would abuse their power.”
    Sweat trickled down my back, and my mouth was dry. Sirius seemed to think my silence was agreement to his plan, and he continued.
    “I thought I’d start by having him rebuild the gate.” He chuckled, leaning back a little. “Maybe clean stables when he’s finished with that. I’m a creative man. I’m sure I can come up with plenty of work for him.”
    I mumbled something non-committal and left the room, jaw clenched. I couldn’t bear the thought of anyone wearing a collar, even Matias. I was so distressed I walked right into Aaric before I saw him. He steadied me.
    “Hello, Adaryn, is Sirius in the throne room? I need to talk to him about—” He saw my expression and his eyes grew worried. “Adaryn, what’s wrong?”
    “The collar,” I