My hands shook as I placed my crown on my head. I needed to look the part of what I was about to do. I had never been invited to sit on a war council before, and now I was going to invite myself.
The Master Tutor was waiting by the door with his hands full of papers and a bag full of rocks. He appeared just as nervous as I felt.
“This will work. It has to,” I whispered.
He gave me a reassuring nod.
I opened the double doors to the war council room. The afternoon sun was spilling into the room, momentarily blinding me. I moved out its light to see the entire room watching me. A large rectangular table sat in the middle and every chair was filled.
I walked forward holding my head high, hoping to show a confidence I didn’t feel.
Father said, “Isadora, what is the meaning of this?
