Sraddi hopped down onto the desk, the sound of her brassy feet muffled by the papers littered across its surface. She bent her head to Helly's construct and chattered quietly to it.

< Ah, > Helly gasped, remembering, < Liya also said that the Archipelagans call you a--a monster who eats human hearts. Do they really? >

The Cynn linked his hands together and stretched, shoulders popping. A terse sort of smile crossed his face.

< Oh, probably, > he said indifferently. < They're getting more aggressive, it seems. Do you know, the assassin who tried to kill me tonight is the first Archipelagan to infiltrate the Palace? > He paused, and then amended, < That we know of, I suppose.>

Helly's shoulders sank. < You're being dreadfully casual about this, Highness, > ne said dryly.

Cynn Numair shot nem a strange look from under his fringe of messy hair; the terse smile hardened some. < Well, > he said, < A 'heart-eating monster' is hardly the worst I've been called. >

He straightened in his chair, seeming a little more energetic now.

< Now, let's get back to the matter of Liliya Kiski, hm? > he suggested lightly. < She'll be in need of Aetherian citizenship, if she's going to stay. I'm sure we can find a loophole for her to get through somewhere. >