“This is your decision?” asked Malong, one of the three Magistrates of the Council of Unity. She arched her long neck, the better to loom over those beneath her. With the movement, the sunslight streaming through wide windows caught on her scales— clear like diamonds, so much so that they bent the light and cast rainbows throughout the chambers.

Between her prismatic hide, her low voice, and her size— she stood nearly twenty-five hands tall— it was hard not to be impressed by the Magistrate. But Rheamarie and Leandros had spent their entire afternoon being postured at by Representatives and Magistrates alike; it stopped getting to them sometime during their hours-long meeting with the human representatives.

The man beside the Nochdvors, Aaron Biro, didn’t so much as blink at Malong’s display. Of the three branches of Unity, Biro represented the humans and Malong the dragons. Biro met Malong’s gaze, inclining his head in acknowledgement. “This is the decision my Representatives reached. We entrusted it to them, after all.”

Diomis, the third and final of Unity’s Magistrates, stirred in their seat. Their eyes, round and wide like a fish, stared unblinkingly at the two alfar. Atop their head sat something like a crown made of kelp.

“I like it,” the nympherai said in their thin, rasping voice. “It’s very…diplomatic.”

Rheamarie pursed her lips. Usually so restrained, she seemed closer to losing her temper than Leandros had seen her in years. He knew the signs, the warning glint in her eyes.

Leandros wished he could speak with her privately, talk her down, but they’d been ushered from the hearing room straight to the Magistrates’ chambers. Leandros losing his temper was a common thing, formidable but easily diffused. Rheamarie doing so, on the other hand, was rare and cataclysmic.

They’d come to this Island for help, but instead, Unity toyed with them, taunted them, jerked them around. Leandros couldn’t blame Rhea for being frustrated with it all.

“It is,” Biro agreed. “This must be handled delicately. We need to investigate the situation, and we need to do it without escalating it.”

At this, Rheamarie couldn’t keep her silence any longer. “With all due respect,” she began, “The orinians escalated the situation when they stole my father from me. Leandros and I didn’t come here for diplomacy. We came to ask for your assistance – barring that, your permission, to do whatever it takes to get my father back. I fear diplomacy won’t be enough.”

“We understand your fears, Princess,” Biro said. “You’ve expressed them several times over. But Unity won’t sanction a war over one girl’s fear.”

Rheamarie didn’t rise to Biro’s prodding. “We’re not asking you to sanction anything. We’re only asking that you don’t get in our way.”

“Princess, do try to understand,” Malong said, her long neck dipping to get a better look at Rheamarie, “Allowing you to act would be seen as a sanction to the rest of the world. If we allow Alfheim to engage in war, then the next time any conflict emerges elsewhere; we’ll have to do the same.”

“Allow?” Rheamarie asked.

“Yes, allow. Alfheim will not engage with Orean if we say it cannot,” Biro said with utter surety, the way one might say, “It’s raining outside.”

“Is that a fact?” Rheamarie asked.

Leandros frowned. In his personal experience, Unity only intervened when they had something to gain from it. They didn’t care about preventing conflict, they only cared to protect their own interests. So what interest could they possibly have in stopping Rhea?

Diomis rose from their seat. Rheamarie, Leandros, and Biro were all tall for humans, but Diomis stood heads taller than all of them. Their legs tilted oddly, just enough to draw attention to their gait: smooth, like they might have been floating. Hooves peeked out from beneath their skirts.

They said, “Unity was created to keep the peace, not help break it. Biro’s plan holds to that purpose, but I believe it is in your father’s best interest as well. Whoever took him did so for a reason— if not, why not kill him on the spot? The orinian you spoke of, if your story is true, could have done it with ease. If we can learn their reason, we may be able to get him back.”

“What’s more,” Biro added, “Orean is clearly ready to use violence— responding with more could push them to extremes. While they have your father, this is not advisable.”

It was subtle, but Rheamarie’s shoulders slumped and Leandros knew she’d been convinced. He, on the other hand, grew more suspicious the harder the Magistrates pushed.

He knew the plan was a wise one— better than anything Rheamarie would come up with on her own, surely. But the motivations behind it…he wasn’t convinced. Unity didn’t keep the peace; they destroyed it. They crushed rebellions, buried disputes, executed the people he loved and made him watch. He couldn’t believe them capable of such consideration.

Besides, he’d been paying close attention in the earlier meeting. Biro may refuse to take credit for his Representatives’ plan, but Leandros had been watching for it: Biro had steered them the entire way. Then Diomis had taken to the plan so quickly, now painting it as if it had been conceived for Amos’ benefit all along.

They were up to something. Leandros felt like he was watching a strategy game being played— he could see the cards as they were being put down, but he didn’t know the rules and could only guess at the objective.

Biro met his gaze. “You’ve been quiet, Mr. Nochdvor,” Biro said. “How do you feel about your cousin’s warmongering? You used to be quite against that sort of thing, I recall.”

“It’s never been his own family before,” Rheamarie said, answering for Leandros.

Biro only smiled. “Hasn’t it, though?”

Rheamarie’s eyes widened. “You dare—,”

“My Lords,” Leandros said, interrupting Rheamarie before she could say something the Magistrates wouldn’t forgive. “Sending a team to negotiate my uncle’s return is an excellent first step. I thank you for not only conceiving a plan that will keep the south peaceful, but for considering my King’s safety in making it.”

Rheamarie looked at Leandros like he’d suddenly sprouted a second head. Quick as always to control herself, though, she schooled her expression into something neutral.

Leandros pushed away the anxious twist in his gut and said, “I’m sure my cousin will show the utmost prudence in assembling the team.”

The decision, as reached by a quorum of the human representatives: send a small team of diplomats to Orean to investigate the situation and negotiate for Amos Nochdvor’s return.

Biro twitched and Malong let out a low hiss.

“We will be assembling the team,” Biro corrected. “Not the Princess.”

Their reactions told Leandros everything he needed to know: whatever their interest was, it wasn’t in keeping the peace. It was in Orean.

He may not know what game they were playing, but that wouldn’t stop him from dealing himself in.

He frowned, feigning innocence. “Really? While my cousin and I are grateful to Unity for devising a peaceable alternative to war, it seems to me that this problem is Alfheim’s and Alfheim’s alone. I see no reason to pull Unity into this further.”

“But what is Unity for, if not assisting in matters like these? Diomis asked. Their strange eyes were narrowed to slits, focused entirely on Leandros.

“I suppose,” Leandros conceded with a bow. “But then, as you yourself said, it would be unwise to provoke Orean while they have my Uncle. Orean would certainly be more open to receiving diplomats from Alfheim alone than a full team of Unity officials.”

Leandros paused meaningfully. He could hear his own heart beating in his ears, fast and frantic, readying for the foolish stunt he was about to pull. He added, “And should Unity insist on taking over this situation despite Alfheim’s open resistance, it might seem to some like you have…ulterior motives.”

Leandros was met with silence. All three Magistrates stared at him, their anger palpable in the air. Finally, Malong drew herself up, wings fanning out like a predator trying to appear larger. “What are you implying?”

Leandros usually failed to conceal his emotions the way a good alfar should, but fear was another matter. Fear, longing, helplessness— these were things he knew well. Things he could hide well. “Nothing, Magistrate. I only mean to say that it’s best for everyone if Alfheim had a hand in the team’s choosing.”

“That’s not going to happen,” Biro said.

Leandros tried again.“Perhaps we can come to compromise— Unity can assemble the team as it pleases if Alfheim chooses its leader.”

Rheamarie pursed her lips, considering. “I agree with my cousin. If I get to select the leader, then…then I suppose I will accept your plan.”

Biro twitched again, his face turning slightly red. It was Diomis who spoke, a rueful smile on their thin lips. They addressed Rheamarie but didn’t look away from Leandros. “And who did you have in mind for this position?”

Rheamarie glanced at Leandros, who met her gaze.

“Leandros,” Rheamarie answered without missing a beat.

Diomis’ smile spread and they nodded.

“You’re not considering agreeing to this, are you?” Biro asked them.

“We don’t have time to keep wasting on negotiations with the Princess,” Malong said. “Her compromise is a fair one.”

Biro sighed. “Very well, then.”

Relief flooded through Leandros.

“So it is decided,” Diomis said. “Unity will assemble a diplomatic team and Mr. Nochdvor will lead it. Mr. Nochdvor, we will contact you once we begin planning.”

Diomis bowed to Rheamarie, next. “Princess, leave this matter in our hands. We’ll see that your father is safely returned to Alfheim.”

Rheamarie bowed without answer, then turned on her heel and swept out of the room. Leandros dipped into a more formal bow before following suit.

As the grand doors to the Magistrates’ chambers swung shut behind them, Biro turned on Malong and Diomis. “Why did we agree to that? I thought the plan was to—,”

“Mr. Nochdvor was unfortunately astute in his threats. It would appear suspicious if we forced Alfheim out,” Malong said.

“Don’t fret, Aaron,” Diomis said, their smile slow, certain. “This will be resolved.”