I take a deep breath. Listen to the sound of my own heart. “If the Silver Prince does return, he will be considered an enemy. But I don’t want to make an enemy of Byrn or this delegation. If any of you want to return, now, you’re free to go. But I hope you’ll stay. Stay and help me rebuild the trust between the worlds.”
More murmurs. People exchange glances or look down at their plates. My senses seem fuzzy, the sound of the room staticky in my ears, faces blurry. But maybe that’s a good thing. If everyone looked skeptical, I don’t know if I could go on.
“We will be scrapping the Accords and crafting a new treaty starting at noon tomorrow, in the observatory. Anyone who wishes to have a voice in writing it is welcome to attend.”
Muttering, louder than before, erupts. Someone gets up from the Byrnisian table and walks from the hall. The door closing seems ten times louder than normal. My heart skips a beat, but I force myself not to react. To hold steady.
“Our goal,” I call, “is to build a new alliance that incorporates people from all the Adjacent Realms, anyone whose goal is peace. Including Haven. Including Fiordenkill. Including Byrn. And including Solaria. The war with them is long over, and the survivors have been blamed for others’ violence. Our quarrel with them is over, and now is the time to work on healing.”
As soon as I sit back down, dizzy with nervousness and exhaustion, the room erupts into chatter. It washes over me, less a collection of distinct words than a tide of feeling: anger, confusion, relief, hope.
There are so many voices at Havenfall, so many different directions this delicate balance could tip. The Silver Prince told me I wasn’t strong enough for this. That the inn would decay into chaos in my keeping. And maybe he’s right.
But I know, too, that I’m not giving up, not walking away. As long as I’m the Innkeeper, official or not, I’ll be whatever Havenfall needs me to be. I will become strong enough. Whatever it takes to make this place safe again, home again.
Home to anyone who needs it, with its doors open wide.