man the King is really holding Nives and Gunnar back they’re so ready to go beat some witches and he’s like “no we can’t possibly take the offensive we can only defend ourselves sweaties ;)”

THIS IS EXACTLY THE SAME STUPID ATTITUDE THAT GOT YOU IN THIS MESS IN THE FIRST PLACE YOU GOD DAMN MORON

It is entirely possible that Neil is the prince – if he went crawling back to the witches for help after failing, Mai Nominata might well have imprisoned him.

It’s also entirely possible that he’s someone we haven’t met yet, since we still have 3 books to go.

Samah continues to be the smartest princess…locked in Mai Nominata’s dungeon with our mysterious prisoner (who we now know is “Neil”) she gives him a fake name.

After all, you never know what’s going to happen.

Sulfurea. Honey.

“why would [Mai Nominata] hinder us if we’re tools in her hands?”

because she’s a manipulative bitch who doesn’t want you guys to form alliances?? because she’s a sadist who likes watching people fail so she can punish them? because she’s bored of you guys and wants to start over? because she just wants you to weaken them a bit so she has the satisfaction of killing the royal family herself?

I mean I can think of ten reasons off the top of my head that Mai Nominata might be sabotaging her own witches and I haven’t lived with her for centuries.

Literally every single time Rubin talks about the prince it just makes me more certain that they were dating on the side like I am 100% certain this is not intentional but also you’re doing a really shit job of making them look like anything other than bisexual disasters, Tea.