Ann had just about finished the last few signatures that had been requested on documents when Eva slipped into her office with a stack of printouts and that pinched expression that meant she was already a dozen steps ahead.
"Okay! As instructed, the supply lists are with everyone who needs them, the housing has already been assigned and people shown where to go, schedules are already drafted and I put myself on the first ward team as a liaison,because I don't trust anyone else to keep records a court can't twist later."
Ann looked up at her, speechless for a moment as she took one of the sheets and scanned it.
"Well you certainly don't waste any time." She laughed as she read it through, "Ok, good. Can you make a second copy of every schematic that they give us then? That way, if I die, you hand it to Coral and Adam. If you die, Coral hands it to me. If both of you die, I'll be furious because I'll have to readjust the plan."
"Rude." Coral snorted and Ann grinned up at her.
She actually felt like they were making solid progress now, because once the portals were up and running, things would be so much easier.
Maeve stretched in Ann's mind, pleased.
"Well would you look at that, little miss Queenie and her wolfy goddess did it again. Wolves, lycans and the magickal bloodlines all united under us."
"I wouldn't necessarily call it united Maeve…but it's a working unit for now."
"I can add prophet to my list of ever growing titles if you like…"
"No thanks. I'm not sure your ego will be able to fit through any of the doors in the palace and I can't afford to remodel right now." Ann snorted as Maeve glowered at her..
Ann glanced across at the high windows where the late sun slanted across the stone.
"Three hours until dusk. That's enough time to set posts and brief guards, isn't it?"
"You need to eat." Adam said.
"I will," Ann sighed.
He didn't move until Coral set a plate in front of her and reluctantly Ann took a bite to end the standoff. Only then did Adam's shoulders eased a fraction.
They left her office together, guards flanking them closely.
Outside, the yard was already busy with people moving about the new tasks.
Marked lines were going down as the ward crew supervised and the Tideglass kids trailed a scribe, pointing out where rainwater would pool in the design. A Bracken crew tested the materials for the strength they needed and Highwind carriers paced the steps for the pattern without lifting a stone.
It came together faster than Ann expected.
When the inner ward stones were set and the first chalk lines measured, Thalia raised her hand. The yard went quiet without anyone calling for it. Ann stepped to the edge of the marked circle with Adam at her shoulder, Eva and Coral behind.
"Ready," Thalia called.
"Then begin." Ann said.
Thalia spoke in a language that wasn't familiar to any of them, a short concise string of sentences with the Bracken elders joining in on the last few lines. The Tideglass leader poured measured drops of a shimmering liquid in rhythm with the steps that the people of the Highwind took.
Then, the air seemed to tighten around them, a pressure that rippled over them all before it released and settled over them evenly.
Ann stepped forward and glanced across at Thalia.
"You can move forward now," she beamed, "That was far easier than I expected it to be if I'm honest. If you walk straight to me, you'll pass through the edge of the inner ward."
Ann nodded and took a deep breath.
"If I burst into flames I'm telling Lexi." Maeve said suddenly, taking Ann by surprise.
"And what on earth is she gonna do from wherever she is?" Ann snapped back as she walked forward.
"I have no idea but maybe she can bring me back just so i can tell you what an idiotic idea this was."
"I thought you approved!"
"I approve until I find out that it was a bad idea, " Maeve answered haughtily, "Then, if it's a bad idea, it's your fault."
"Not much of a prophet then are you?" Ann snorted back and rolled her eyes as she took the final few steps and passed over the barrier.
Thalia had told the truth. There was no burn and no sting. Just recognition of a body passing through and then release. Adam followed immediately after Ann did, Eva grimaced like she had taken a sip of coffee that was too bitter, and Coral grinned, utterly unbothered.
A guard farther back flinched when he tried to cross and hissed through his teeth. He tried again but had the same reaction. He stopped on the safe side, standing awkwardly with his jaw clenched.
"Name and assignment," Ann asked, steady.
"Garen, third watch," he said, his cheeks turning a bright shade of red as his embarrassment rose.
"Report to Adam after your shift is finished." Ann said. "Quietly. We'll follow up with you afterwards."
One of the Tideglass refugees muttered to his neighbor, "Told you it would be someone placed close to the Queen that would be called out first."
Ann's head turned to the refugee. Her voice carried clean across the yard.
"You can stop with the callouts thank you. As Thalia has already said, this ward is not infallible. It doesn't care if you're a noble or a refugee. It shows truth, not rank, things that might be hidden in your blood that you have no idea about. No one gets a free pass, not them, not you. We all walk through. Same test. Same rules."
The mutterer ducked his head and the yard remained silent.
Across the circle, Thalia met Ann's eyes.
"The ward is holding steady."
"Excellent," Ann said. "Raise the outer ward next, when you're ready of course, and then the perimeter. The anchor points can be started at dawn."
Thalia dipped her head and moved to give orders and Adam let out a long breath at Ann's side.
"Well, you got your magick users." he said.
"Yes, I did," Ann said thoughtfully, "We'll see what else we can have them do to defend."
He didn't argue and he didn't smile either, as a grim look of resignation settled on his face.
They stood together and watched as old magick rooted itself in new ground, staying until the second ward locked into place.
Work crews rotated out without complaint, nobles kept their objections quiet and all of the refugees kept their hands to themselves. It wouldn't last forever, but it would last long enough to get done what needed to be done.
Ann turned toward the steps.
"Food, then reports. And make sure the guard rotations include every pack. This shield belongs to all of us, and everyone keeps it standing."
Adam's hand brushed her back as they walked.
"Food, then reports," he echoed.
Behind them, the ward settled into a faint shimmer as if it had always been there and seemed as though the atmosphere in the yard had lifted.
For the first time in days, Ann felt as though she could sleep a little easier, knowing that they had a good line of defence against the darkness that Ely and the Lycan King brought with them.