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The fae re to look up at them, but I cross my arms, lean back, and wait for Aren to speak

"Tell us what you know about the Court"

Even though aze steady and--I hope--defiant

"It’s your syste with a universally known fact Well, universally known in the Real Atroth, a Descendant of the Tar Sidhe, as elected by the high nobles of the thirteen provinces The king’s--"

"The king told you there are thirteen provinces," Sethan interrupts It’s not quite a question

"He’s shown me maps," I say, then immediately wish I hadn’t

"What kind offor He wants to know if gates were marked on those maps That’s what this war is about, after all Control of the gates means control of the Realm’s commerce While fae may be able to fissure froons full of goods unless they open their fissure at a gate Anything more than what they can carry will be lost in the In-Between Several decades ago--long before I firsttheir use, requiring hout the Realm The enius to figure out why sofor an alternative Descendant

Sethan reates were there?"

"None," I lie There were thirty-one, over a dozen more than are marked on the Realm’s public maps

"Then ere you shown the maps?"

"For the same reason he"--I nod toward Aren--"probably shows raphy" I needed tothe naht as well be randoion out loud for the ic to lock in, and for the fae I’m with to be able to fissure to the location I ic that shadow-readers likeShe knohere the Missing Gates are She’s used them"

"I’ve used the Provincial Gates," I tell Sethan I’m not sure why I feel like I have to explain myself to this fae He’s important--of that, I’m certain--but why haven’t I heard his name before?