Gemstones. The word plucked at Lara’s mind, important somehow, though she couldn’t think of why. “What sort of gemstones?” Every pair of eyes in the room shifted to her before moving to Aren. His jaw tightened with obvious irritation. “Answer the question.” “Rubies,” Aster said. “But Amarid has no mines, so it’s likely nothing more than a rumor.”
And here it is. Her father is smuggling them rubies. Probably in exchange for help in the coming war and weapons
