Augustus was at first rendered speechless. It was fortunate that Felicity and Tybalt chimed in first, for it gave the royal a moment to gather his thoughts. To order all the pieces of evidence that were emerging as the conversation unfolded. As Scout spoke, Augustus’s eyebrows raised with surprise, and his expression hardened with grim disappointment. He did not interrupt her. He let her mount her defense, even standing in an act, as far as Augustus was concerned, disrespect for his title. It was simply not done—and all for the sake of an Allemeade he, up until now, he hadn’t realized she had any connection with at all. It begged the question: Why him? Why now?

When Felicity spoke, he was happy to have his gaze redirected—something he’d never thought he’d say regarding Scout Kane. Felicity’s words summed up his thoughts entirely. If Remiel wanted to serve, service would come at a cost. A true patriot would be willing to stomach it. Trust must be earned, and it seemed those assembled had forgotten just who Remiel Allemeade had demonstrated himself to be.

Once Tybalt had finished speaking, Augustus paused for a moment. This meeting was slipping. They had to refocus. He turned his gaze on Scout.

“Please sit down, Lady Kane.” He would not wait to see if she did but expected that she would. If she didn’t, that would escalate things to a different place entirely. Augustus would then shift his attention to the rest of the group, not speaking to Scout directly but clearly addressing her words. Why in all the kingdoms were they spending so much time on one man in a moment of such urgency?

“How we approach the Eldouir in the weeks could make the difference between peaceful negotiation and violent bloodshed. Remiel Allemeade is not our enemy, no, but neither has he established himself as a trusted ally. For let us not forget…” Augustus looked to Scout at this moment.

“Remiel Allemeade lived among the Eldouir. He confessed to falling in love and courting one of their own—one who now rests her head in your queen’s palace. After the trial, he went to the Eldouir estate and in anger slaughtered children. Non-gifteds. Innocents who had no hand in the Eldouir’s misdeeds. So it does not inspire confidence in me that he defended your uncle against the Eldouir, or struck back at them during the queen’s speech. Holding a personal grudge you are willing to act upon given the opportunity does not make you a patriot. Who is to say he will not attack the Eldouir the first chance he gets, whether it is in the best interests of the kingdom or not?” Augustus looked to Tybalt now.

“Perhaps I am right, perhaps I am wrong, but I will not gamble the security of the kingdom for the sake of one man’s pride. Remiel Allemeade is welcome to continue to serve his kingdom in his current capacity—to lay low, as you say, and assist the gifteds moving south—but should he desire to be part of military operations, wearing a collar is non-negotiable until such a time his trust has been earned. The matter is settled.” Augustus turned to Felicity.

“You shall have the collars, but Commander Zane is right—they should be seen as a last resort rather than a tool on hand. I trust your discretion in this matter.” He signed, scratching his beard.

“As for Honora Allemeade—I have not received word from Arynn Frey. Until such a time that better precautions can be taken…” Augustus turned to Florina Bellerose , “Adviser Bellrose, you remain our best defense. You will be able to tell us when her gift is being used—at the very least allow us to understand when we may have been tampered with. For the time being, I ask you to accompany Tybalt Zane and me at the palace during the day when we might encounter Honora Allemeade . Every precaution will be taken for your security. Unfortunately, I see no other way.”

She was already seated again by the time Felicity Zane started speaking, so Augustus wouldn't need to tell her to sit down. Her face would be serious and lacking all emotion while she and Tybalt Zane spoke, until Tybalt talked to her. She nodded in agreement when he mentioned pushing the other gifted families into the arms of the Eldouir. Collars were not an option in her book.

And then Augustus Rainecourt spoke. It was clear that he was not pleased with her. Although only a little amount had passed since she had drunkenly kissed the man, and since they talked while waiting the mountains, something had changed. Scout felt that a rift had appeared between them. They did not see eye to eye on certain matters, matters that Scout was passionate about. Such as making sure Remiel wasn't compared to Hiram.

She sunk back a little in her chair when Augustus mentioned that Remiel had been in love with an Eldouir, and that he had slaughtered innocent children. Subconsciously, she found herself looking at Florina Bellerose for a moment, wondering if she felt the same sadness as she did. Scout was reminded of her child again.

But the blonde didn't say anything. She had said her piece, and now she would listen. Florina had nodded when she spoke, and Scout was starting to feel like Florina, Tybalt and herself were the only ones who realised that they needed Gifted to defeat the Eldouir. Maybe Tybalt did to a lesser extent, but still.

She opened her mouth to protest when Augustus requested Florina to go to the palace with them. She did not think it was a good idea at all, but she had been loud enough already.

Felicity, too, had said everything she needed to say; everything she had the capacity to say. She was left observing the table. She didn’t have to know the people around it personally to see that it didn’t seem to carry any kind of unity. Had this been a gathering of marshals, she liked to think they would have been a little more cohesive.

Her husband’s firm declaration of loyalty for Remiel was surprising. If only Tybalt had been as dedicated to standing by Felicity when she had asked the Queen to do something, maybe they wouldn’t be here. Had Myla’s attack on Felicity’s army at the border been brushed under the rug? It had been a precursor to this very thing, and nothing had been done. Where had Remiel Allemeade been then? No, there were other gifteds in the Royal Legionnaire who had been faithfully serving the kingdom all this time. Let the focus be on them, not the random Allemeade who had clearly had his mind tampered with. Such faith placed in one man; did any of them have that kind of confidence for anyone else?

These were war times. Collaring Eldouir as a last resort? She wondered if either Tybalt or Augustus had thought about those statements. Would Hiram and his family kill only as a last resort? Or should Felicity and her remaining soldiers cross their fingers and say quiet prayers that they survived long enough to get to their last resort? No. Felicity had faced the Eldouir in battle, something only Tybalt could also claim. Slapping a collar on a throat, should the opportunity present itself, was a first line of defense.

But they weren’t marshals here, and she wasn’t about to push the point. She only nodded at Augustus.

Scout thought for a moment, allowing the words everyone spoke to enter her mind, but she was focused on coming up with a plan herself. But she was stuck on the Florina situation.

"At the ball, Hiram showed a particular interest in lady Bellerose. I saw it, and Lady Porter told me about it as well as she was leaving." The Porter name tasted sour on her tongue. "Asking lady Bellerose to enter the palace would put her in danger. As long as we don't know why Hiram seems so interested in her, bringing lady Bellerose to the palace would be like throwing her to the wolves. I strongly advise against it."

She then turned her focus on another subject. "Does anyone know to what extent Hiram is capable of sensing blood? It might be a ridiculous idea, but if we pour animal blood on the floors of the palace, would it confuse him enough to sneak up on him and slap a collar around his neck?"

She glanced at Felicity for a moment, before addressing the group again. "I am against collaring Gifted. History has shown us that it is not the way to go about things. That being said, collaring harmful Gifted like the Eldouir, I am in support of. We need to nullify their magic to be able to deal with them."

Augustus listened. In his opinion, a true leader should spend the majority of his or her time listening. While he was a loquacious man by nature, he tried to remember that as best he could. After all, it was the people he served, and as exceptional as they may all be, the people in this room were all citizens of Lorendale, and their views therefore worthy of consideration.

“The collars are a means of protection that must be used with restraint, but they have their place and purpose—forgetting that is part of what brought us here in the first place. A trusted gifted employed could serve her kingdom to greater effect than ten of her non-gifted counterparts, but one who wields their power irresponsibly?” Augustus shook his head, “We’ve already seen what damage can be done. And that is not a threat to be dismissed on principle alone.” He looked to Felicity.

“Commander Zane is right. Call upon the marshalls, have them at the ready. Lady Marshal, gather your forces and post them throughout the city. They should be ready to march on the palace at a moment’s notice if necessary. In any case, they can provide the citizens of Loren additional security. A show of force, if you will. For now, we make no bold moves against the Eldouir. We will meet with the king and the Arynnites to see what might be possible.” It was next that he addressed Scout Kane and Ikisina Navarro .

“We’ve underestimated the Eldouir before, I am in no hurry to do it again. Hiram is, after all, not the only monster to haunt the halls of the palace.” He knew enough of what Myla Eldouir was capable of to know Hiram wasn’t their only problem.

He looked to Florina Bellerose and then back to Felicity Zane . “You will understand the possible combative applications of any gifts in the registry. Work with Adviser Bellerose and determine which ones should be offered the opportunity to serve their kingdom. Offered, not forced. As for her presence at the palace…” Augustus’s eyes turned to Florina, looking more like her uncle than the prince. His eyes and tone were kinder. Softer.

“We needn’t all speak for Adviser Bellerose. She knows the risks. She will decide.”

Peter listened thoughtfully to the conversation, taking in all the points. Ultimately he knew that decisions would now come down to him but that he could provide valuable insight that was the focus of his role on the council. The people. The current arrangement in the palace and the military was nearly all but decided but they had yet to mention to rest of the Lorendale citizens.

“Perhaps we ought to consider a subtle evacuation? Starting with the upper class of course we can move those who are not involved in this fight to travel into the outskirts of Lorendale. We all are aware of the damage that can be done from the palace throughout the city. Last time it was a dragon. Who knows what else they might have at their disposal this time.”

Augustus was gratified to hear Florina Bellerose was up for the task. Perhaps it was foolish to bring her into the Eldouir’s domain, but he knew that if Hiram was already aware of her, then no amount of geographic distance would keep her safe. No, perhaps she was safest in fact under the watch of the palace guard. He smiled at Florina: a smile of pride and gratitude in equal measure. Phaedra Rainecourt-Marx was going to kill him.

Peter Kingsley entered the conversation, and the prince’s attention turned to him. He would not have been the prince’s first (nor second, nor third) choice for the role of Lord Steward, but he would withhold judgment. He nodded at the man’s suggestion.

“It should be done quietly,” Augustus responded, “We needn’t prompt a mass flight from the city, but neither should we risk the lives of allies we’ll need moving forward.” He fully turned his attention to Peter, and his assistant Cahaya Sinaga, now.

“Narrative will be essential. It will be the difference between mayhem and calm.” There was a pause. An opportunity, or perhaps a test.