The Merigolds’ estate looked like a small village from the air. It was several dozen kilometers south of Woadrok at the edge of the river canyons. Like the city, it rested on a green mesa, with stone bridges suspended over the gaps between the other plateaus. A large house with sloping roofs dominated the northern edge of the property while several smaller buildings dotted the surrounding fields. Even from the air, the smell of horse was strong as they approached.

  “There’s no way they’re going to miss us,” Andrew said as they got closer.

  Peter nodded his agreement. “It’s too open, even if we wanted to skulk around inside the canyon. I don’t think sending a stealthy letter will work here.”

  “So what?” Anna asked.

  Andrew thought for a moment. Then he shook his head. “I think all we’ve got is landing on their doorstep and hoping. You’ve got the enchantments in place to resist spells, right?”

  Anna nodded. “We should be able to escape even if they have some mages,” Anna said. “Assuming they don’t shoot us full of rocks like Sakir.”

  “Or ice spikes,” Peter chimed in.

  Andrew liked the idea less and less. But there wasn’t much of an alternative. They would land and insist on talking. He didn’t know if the Merigold’s would be actively helping the Wisp Stealers. He doubted they would just talk if they were. Of course, Sheil had seemed to think her reasons were obvious. Perhaps they’d get something, even if the Merigolds were in league with their cousin.

  Jarnvaror landed outside the big house. He made himself comfortable on the grass while the trio dismounted and waited for the noble family’s welcoming committee. It wasn’t long in coming. The door opened, and a very reluctant trio of servants peaked out. An older man, probably a butler seemed to be shielding two maids behind him as they approached slowly.

  “Greetings!” Andrew called. “We were hoping to speak with the Merigolds if they are in. We don’t intend to cause any trouble.”

  The three servants exchanged a glance. The old butler nodded, gesturing for one of the maids to take the message back into the house. The butler and the other maid both turned back to the Wisp Seekers, still looking a bit nervous. “What exactly is your business with the family?” the old man asked.

  “There’s something we’d like to ask them about,” Andrew said. “It’s important.”

  “Your arrival was rather sudden.”

  “Our errand is rather urgent.” Andrew replied.

  The old man opened his mouth to reply, then snapped it shut again and nodded. “I suppose, I suppose. It must be if you’re traveling…” he glanced at Jarnvaror. “Like that.” He looked back to the trio of Wisp Seekers. “I wouldn’t want to… to impose,” he started. “But you look… well you match the descriptions of… well.”

  “Are you the ones who kidnapped the king and queen?” burst the young maid. The butler’s face grew white as he turned to her. Andrew answered before the old man could start lecturing her, though.

  “We’ve been accused of that. But we’re not here for trouble. We just would like to talk with someone from the Merigold family who knows Lady Sheil of the Crimson Wood.”

  The two servants exchanged a glance. Andrew did not like frightening them this way. For their sakes he might have sent a letter in advance. But if the Merigold’s were working with Daniel, he didn’t want them having time to prepare for the dragon.

  A few moments later, the other maid returned. “Lord Merigold is willing to meet with you in the rear gardens. He requests only that you keep your dragon from trampling his flowers and hedges.”

  “That should be fine,” Peter said. He turned to the dragon. “The master of the house says he wants you to avoid stepping on anything pretty.” The dragon rumbled a reply. “Things like flowers and fancy bushes.” The dragon rumbled something else. “Fancy means they’ve been cut in a special way. And before you ask, I don’t know why anyone does that. We just need to be nice.”

  The maid watched Peter talk to the dragon in fascination for a few moments before remembering that she should be leading them around the house to speak with her master. She brought them around an outer path over grass and gravel to comply more with her master’s request.

  Once on the other side of the house, they saw a man walking through the gardens. His clothing was fine and white with black accents. His blond hair hung down between his shoulders and had yet to grey the way his beard had. There was something about him that even seemed familiar. The man turned to look at them, and Andrew saw it. The man looked like Arden Thornwood, the Lord of the Green Vale. He doubted they were brothers, but they must certainly be closely related, he thought.

  Two children waited on the porch. Andrew glanced at them again and had to correct himself. They couldn’t have been more than a year younger than Peter. The pair was almost identical and completely androgenous. They whore their blond hair at the same length and allowed it drip into their eyes the same way. They wore long silk tunics similar to the man who was presumably their father, though theirs were longer. And they had the same expression of delight as they saw the group approaching around the house. It was only their heights that were different, as if one was a miniature version of the other.

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  “It really is them, dragon and all,” said the taller of the teenagers.

  “Yes,” agreed the smaller. Even from the voices it was hard to tell, but Andrew guessed the pair were brother and sister. “We’re very lucky to get a visit from the group that captured the king and queen.” Andrew frowned, not liking the sentiment.

  “Hush, Gilliana,” the man said. “You as well, Gildan. We must be respectful of our guests.” The man didn’t take his eyes off of the Wisp Seekers as he spoke. He had almost a hungry look about him.

  Andrew glanced at Anna, who caught his look and rubbed her arm by her bracelet, tucking the gem inside her riding glove. Andrew took that to mean she was starting to sense their emotions through the Wisps, and he looked back at their hosts.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lord Merigold,” Andrew said.

  The man nodded. “Thank you. And you three need no introduction yourselves. But I hear you have urgent business. Let us not use pleasantries to keep you from it.”

  Andrew nodded. “We were hoping to ask about Lady Sheil of the Crimson Wood.” As he spoke, Andrew watched for any reaction from the man. His face remained a passive mask. The children, though, oohed. The smaller one, Gilliana, leaned forward. “We haven’t seen Sheil in ages! Is something going on with her?”

  “Hush, child,” the man chided voice calm. “As for Sheil, what about her? She stayed with us while she studied magic, but that was years ago.”

  “We’ve encountered her during our missions regarding Wisps,” Andrew said. “Was this where she learned about them?”

  At this, Lord Merigold did look confused. “I’m afraid I wouldn’t know,” he replied. “We housed her here while she studied under a mage in the city. She’s family of course. But I haven’t the talent for magic myself.”

  “We do,” said Gildan. “Sheil taught us a bit. We’re not as strong as she is, though,” he added, voice heavy with disappointment.

  “Quite,” Lord Merigold said. “If you’re interested in her magical studies, I could have one of the maids check to see if she left any of her notes behind for you.”

  Andrew was taken aback by the offer. He hadn’t expected the family to be so cooperative. He was even more surprised as, without waiting for an answer, Lord Merigold snapped his fingers and gestured to the house, sending the maid who’d lead them to the garden back inside.

  “I’m afraid we cannot promise much,” Lord Merigold sighed. “Sheil was a good student. I don’t imagine she left her books behind. But, if you need them, we can hope.

  Andrew blinked, not sure what to say. He turned to Anna, who looked just as confused as he was, despite being able to sense their emotions. It was Peter, though who voiced what they were thinking.

  “You guys are being awfully helpful,” he said. “It’s like you don’t care if we kidnapped the king and queen.”

  Andrew shot him a nasty look, but when he turned back, he saw Lord Merigold was smiling. “Well, I suppose. Things have been unstable for a while. Anybody who paid attention would have seen that the old dynasty of Horace Greal was doomed, the way they’d set things up. It was just a matter of time. So what does it matter if you removed them?”

  He smiled brightly at them. And it seemed so genuine. Anderw couldn’t find the words to say what he was thinking. But the shock must have shown on his face, for Lord Merigold’s smile faltered. “You did… no, you didn’t.” The smile twisted and became a mirthless laugh. “Well, that makes things awkward, now doesn’t it?”

  “So they aren’t the ones who kidnapped the king and queen?” asked Gildan.

  “We protected them from assassins, and hid them to keep them safe,” Andrew said. “We don’t know why people were targeting them, though.”

  “People like Sheil,” the lord said, shaking his head. “So that’s what she’s been up to all this time. I suppose she couldn’t have risked writing about it.”

  “I don’t get it,” Peter said. “Aren’t you related to them? Is this just some sort of family argument?”

  The two teenagers burst out laughing. “What does that matter when they’ve shunted us to the side like this?” Gilliana said.

  “Treacherous Half Elves,” Gildan muttered.

  “Children. Why don’t you go inside,” Lord Merigold said. “I’m not sure it’s good for you to talk to these people.”

  “Father,” the pair chorused.

  “Now. And let Delila know she needn’t keep searching through Sheil’s things.”

  As the pair walked off, Andrew followed them with his gaze, his mind spinning. He looked back at Lord Merigold. His ears were rounded, like any other human. But if he was related to the royals... The lord looked back at him, face twisting into a scowl.

  “Your son mentioned Half Elves,” Andrew said. “But you’re part of the royal family. You must have Elven ancestry.”

  “Oh, yes. A quarter or so,” the man spat. “But that doesn’t mean anything according to the law or even in nature. I’m merely human.”

  “What do you mean?” Anna asked.

  “Look at me,” Lord Merigold said. “Do I look like an Elf? Or even a Half Elf?” He paused a moment for the trio to consider. But he didn’t bother waiting for their answer. He knew he didn’t have any Elven features. “Not only that, we have none of the Elves’ giftings with magic. And quarter humans like Sheil share none of our human traits, either. She is just an Elf.”

  The whole thing seemed to snap together in Andrew’s mind, all at once. The simmering Anger Anna described in Sheil and Daniel, the comments made by the Merigolds. “The law treats you the same way, doesn’t it?” he asked.

  “It does,” the Lord said. “And I see you realize what that means, even if your companions haven’t caught on yet. Is it really so hard to understand? Maybe it is, for people like you who didn’t have to grow up with that divide.” He shook his head. “I’m tired of this. If you’re not helping Sheil, then I think we have no further business.” He turned and started marching around.

  “I still don’t understand,” Peter said. “What is it about the law and Half Elves? Do they have some benefit no one else gets?”

  “Just one,” Andrew said. “Grealand is the nation that united Human’s and Elves. One race may feel slighted if they were ruled over by the other. So the only figures allowed to rule are the descendants of both.”

  “Well, isn’t he that anyway?” Peter asked.

  “Apparently not,” Anna said. “But how must if feel to see your cousin’s advance so much higher than anyone else, just because their blood is a little more balanced than yours?”

  Andrew saw the understanding come to Peter then. “They must feel cheated,” Peter said.

  Andrew nodded. “Badly enough that it’s worth breaking the country in order to fix it.”