Chapter 25
Leaf
As it turned out, I couldn’t meet Arrow for the next two nights because Prince Bakhur barely let me out of his sight. He insisted I accompany him to one dull event after another—fencing lessons, meetings with his tailor, drinking sessions with his creepy friends, even watching him nap as if we had nothing better to do.
Which he clearly didn’t.
Standing by while he mocked and belittled courtiers and servants was a terrible challenge. Wearing a fake smile, I did my best to move the bully prince along, silently thanking Esen for never leaving my side. Her presence protected me somewhat from Bakhur’s cruelty. If he’d tried to burn more runes into my skin, I would have broken his nose.
And probably gotten myself killed.
Now, dusk had turned to night, and I was perched in Taln’s Great Hall, nodding and smiling at an unusually talkative Bakhur during dinner. When I finished my dessert, I noticed that Arrow, who often sat beside Estella, still hadn’t appeared in the hall, and I began worrying something terrible had happened to him.
I scanned the room again, checking he wasn’t seated at the table reserved for the Light Realm fae, when a firm grip tugged my elbow. Dust, not Bakhur again.
“When we have children, Zali,” he said between loud slurps of wine, “do you realize they’ll be heirs to not one, but two, possibly even three kingdoms?” He rolled a big mouthful of half-chewed crepes on his tongue, flecks of cream dotting his chin.
“Mouth closed while you eat,” I said, tapping his nose in a revolting show of fake affection. “It’s an Earth Realm custom. Indulge me?”
“I’ll try,” he said, gazing at me with regret, as if disappointed that I had no desire to study his mashed-up food.
Mirroring his pitying smile, I squeezed his velvet-covered forearm. “Why don’t you have any brothers or sisters, Bakhur?”
“I do. Stepsiblings. After my birth, Mother claimed to be unable to conceive further children, so the king fathered three more sons off his concubines.”
“Really?” I studied the faces of the fae below the dais, searching for Azarn’s sharp nose and bright green eyes, set in youthful faces. “And they’re at court?”
Bakhur scoffed. “Of course not. They’re illegitimate and work in the kitchen.”
My mouth hung open for so long the prince grew impatient and barked out, “We can’t have them trying to usurp the rightful heir, can we?”
“I suppose not,” I replied, thinking I’d very much like to help his stepsiblings start an uprising.
“Oh, look,” said Bakhur, interrupting my careful inspection of the servants that were collecting dishes from the nearest tables.
It was difficult to make out features in the dimly lit hall, but from what I could tell, Azarn’s children weren’t among them.
“Zali,” said the prince, elbowing my ribs, “look who has arrived.”
My head shot up, and I scanned the hall again. Near the entrance to the kitchen, a bright form shone in the shadows, slowly moving closer, like a golden beacon. Then under the light of a large candelabra, the solemn, dear face of the Sayeeda emerged. I leaped to my feet before quickly sitting back down, confused how to react in front of the Fire Court.
“Ari,” I breathed, unable to contain a grin.
Azarn laughed as he rose from his chair and strutted along the front of the dais, his calculating green gaze fixed on me. “Well, Zali, are you happy to see the Sayeeda?”
Not looking away from her, I said, “Yes. It’s quite lovely to see a familiar face.”
“Then you should greet her accordingly,” said the king, sweeping his hand toward the three fae who had stopped below the dais on the black marble floor—Ari flanked by Arrow and Raiden.
I bolted down the stairs and sprang into her arms, sending her stumbling backward. Arrow reached out to steady us as Ari’s low laugh tickled my ear.
“Little Leaf,” she whispered. “It warms my heart to see you looking so well.”
I thought of the rune marks burned into my back but knew it wasn’t the time or place to mention them. She would discover them soon enough.
“I’m so happy to see you,” I whispered back. “Are you all right? How are Ildri and Stormur?”
“I’m excellent now that I’ve seen you, and your friends in Coridon are all fine and looking forward to reuniting with you. Now, please, get us out of this dreadful hall as quickly as possible.”
Linking my arm through Ari’s, I turned toward the dais. “King Azarn, do I have permission to return to my chambers with the Sayeeda?”
“Yes, you may,” he said, resuming his seat next to Estella. The queen stared blankly into the middle distance as though unaware an esteemed reaver elf, the Zareen’s sister, had arrived in her hall.
Arrow and Raiden sat on the dais stairs, stretching their long legs in front of them as they watched servants use fire magic to remove tables from the hall, clearing space for the after-dinner dancing. They appeared uninterested in what Ari and I were doing, but I knew the opposite was true. Both males valued our safety beyond measure.
Before I turned away, my gaze met Arrow’s. He winked at me, then resumed chatting with Raiden, settling in to watch the fire courtiers caper about below them.
“I can’t believe Azarn allowed you to come to Taln,” I told Ari as we left the hall by a side exit. “Why did you arrive through the kitchen?”
“I take pride in my role as Mistress of Spices, and in each new city, the kitchen is the first place I visit. The way a kingdom stores and prepares food, treats their staff, reveals much, and Taln has shown itself to be a city in decline.”
I didn’t doubt it for a moment.
We hurried along the palace’s shifting hallways until we found a familiar small landing, and then mounted the stairs to my chamber.
“Azarn is a fool,” Ari said as she stood in my bay window looking out over black cliffs and the silver sea. “Because we reavers maintain the Gold Accord with the Light Realm, the fire fae believe we are a passive, harmless species. They do not fear us. Not even the Zareen. But they should.”
“Tyrants don’t have enough sense to be afraid of anything,” I said, joining her at the window. “Where are your sleeping quarters?”
“One floor below yours. Our rooms are an exact match.” She leaned on the sill and studied the whitecaps crashing against jagged rocks. “Azarn is aware of your reputation as an escape artist.”
I laughed, squeezing her in a tight hug before sitting on the bed. “Unfortunately, yes.”
“Arrow tells me that you thought he orchestrated your abduction, and he’s worried part of you still believes it.”
“Oh, Ari, I’m an idiot. I should never have doubted his loyalty, but when Esen and the fire fae who’d transformed his face into Raiden’s arrested me, doubting Arrow was the only thing that made sense. Is that why he hasn’t visited me and renewed the Aldara bond the last two nights?”
“No. It’s because he doesn’t want to weaken you. But he has told Azarn he’s still subjecting you to the feedings.”
Subjecting me? Whenever Arrow sank his fangs into my flesh, it was hardly an ordeal. I had begged him to drink from me on more than one occasion, possibly hundreds of times.
“Moving on to more important topics,” I said, waggling my brows. “How was your trip? It must have been very nice to finally have Raiden all to yourself.”
Ari pushed shining curls behind the long blade of her ear, golden cheeks darkening to russet. “It was… wonderful. Lying with him was everything that you warned me it would be. Astonishing. Blissful. Life changing.”
I pressed my fingers against my mouth. “So why did you two wait so long? Every fae in Coridon knows you’re mad for each other. Nice pendant, by the way,” I added, nodding at the tear-shaped ruby framed by black pearls I’d watched Raiden purchase at Taln market four days ago.
“It’s the loveliest necklace in the realms.” Ari rubbed her fingers over the central jewel. The bed barely dipped as she sat next to me, a glittering smile on her lips. “Reavers only share our bodies with our sworn mates. The Zareen flew to Coridon and made our union official before we left for Taln.”
“Oh, Ari, that’s brilliant.” Gripping her hands, I kissed her cheek. “I’m so happy for you. Raiden must be bursting with joy. I can’t count the times I watched him skulk around Arrow’s chambers, hoping for a glance of you. It was very entertaining. And the Zareen doesn’t mind that he’s not of royal birth?”
“Not at all. Reavers bond for love. Position and power means nothing to us.”
“Who made the leap first? Who finally decided to be brave?”
She blushed again. “It wasn’t me. After you left Mydorian, I received a raven courier from Arrow asking me to return to the Light Realm as quickly as possible. By the time I arrived, he and Raiden had left, leaving word that they’d gone to the Fire Court on urgent business.”
“They didn’t tell you I’d been taken?”
“No. It wouldn’t have been safe. They had to play their parts in Azarn’s game and couldn’t risk giving themselves away.”
“No, I suppose they couldn’t.”
Ari cupped my cheek with her palm. “Dear one, I knew something was terribly wrong. I felt it in my blood. But I also knew Arrowyn would do everything, stop at nothing to fix the problem, and my role was to bide my time, pretend all was well in his kingdom and await further instructions.”
“And so Raiden spoke up when he came to collect you?”
“Yes. It had frightened him to learn that even the king’s Aldara could be stolen from him. Raiden didn’t want to waste a moment more without me knowing how he felt. He got down on his knees in Coridon’s kitchen in front of the staff and declared his undying devotion.”
Clapping my hands, I screeched, and Ari covered her ears, laughing. “Raiden’s a true romantic, then. You’re very fortunate.”
She gave me an odd look. “As are you, Leaf. You’ve been blind to Arrowyn’s love, that is all.”
With a meaningful glance toward my anklet, I held my finger to my lips, remembering we should be careful in case Melaya happened to be listening. Then I focused internally, checking for the tell-tale signs of activate magic and finding none.
Silk rustled as Ari shrugged her cloak off and walked to the window again, stopping with her body half-turned toward me.
“Taln is a horrible city. Fire geysers spew sparks and sulfurous gases day and night, a merciless sun scorches the arid ground, and yet everyone wears cloaks and burns fires in their rooms as if they were in the Ice Realm.”
“The weather is strange,” I agreed. “It’s sweltering one moment, then cool the next.”
“The Fire Court’s magic is mysterious and unstable. But the Zareen knows about the ancient mergelyn anklets and assures me they cannot be used to spy on you. It’s impossible. Queen Estella’s people are capable of such magic, but the fire fae’s skills lie in transformation and dragon control. They’re fast, efficient fighters, but like most power-hungry species, over-confident in their capabilities.”
Relief washing over me, I said, “A passage in an old Taln book hinted that the city’s mages are the key to bringing Azarn down, but Melaya… he seems almost indestructible.”
“No one is unbeatable, Leaf,” she said, fanning herself with the hem of her gold tunic. “I know from experience you pay attention to your enemies. Surely you’ve already learned Melaya’s weaknesses.”
“Yes, his twin, Nukala. Remember how Quin believed if I died, then he would too? That misconception was the only reason he kept me alive instead of having me murdered. I’d bet every auron kanara in Coridon that he heard about the foolish twin-soul idea from his dealings with the Fire Court.”
“Without a doubt,” she agreed.
Pointing at the knives strapped to the Sayeeda’s hips, I stood up. “Azarn really does think you’re harmless, doesn’t he? We need to kill Nukala. The verse in the old Talnian text made me certain of it.”
“That may be so, but for now, we must be patient. Watch me carefully.” Ari disappeared, reappearing a heartbeat later as her laughter soothed my anxious heart.
“Melaya’s block doesn’t work on you!”
“I am the Storm Court’s bonded reaver elf, the sister of the Zareen. I’m made of stronger stuff than a mere fire mage.”
“Then we can use your invisibility cloak to get Orion out of the fire cave. Did Arrow tell you what Azarn has done to your friend?”
Fury twisted her features. “Yes. But if I have my way, Orion won’t be there much longer.”
“I’d give nearly anything to escape Taln,” I said. “But I’d rather stay here forever if it meant I could get Orion out instead. I can’t bear that he’s suffering because he helped me.”
Ari patted my arm, comforting me. “My cloak can cover up to five others if they stay close to me, but we need a fire fae to help us break the spell of the pyre.”
“Not just any fire fae, either. It must be a member of the royal family,” I said. “Will you ask Estella to help?”
“Leave it to me. The less you know for the moment, the better.”
Three soft raps sounded at the door.
“That will be Arrowyn,” said Ari.
“Just a moment,” I called out. “I’m not dressed.”
“Fine with me,” Arrow murmured, laughter in his voice. “Azarn’s guards are cowering some distance down the stairwell.”
“I’m still with Ari, gossiping about Raiden. Give us a minute?”
Arrow grunted, likely worried we were talking about him—which we soon would be.
I reached for Ari’s arm, tugging her close and hitching my chin toward the door. “Why did he bring Zaret to Taln? We both know he’s not fond of humans, especially gold addicts.”
“Thanks to Arrow, Zaret is now an ex -addict, and he refused to stay at Coridon with Ildri and Stormur, who are his foster parents. Many times, he has heard the tale of how you made Arrow promise to take care of him. Leaf, Zaret would die to protect you.”
With my heart melting, I got up and opened the door, flinging myself into Arrow’s arms. “Thank you,” I said, peppering his face with grateful kisses. “Thank you for keeping your word.”
Laughing, he walked me backward into the room and kicked the door shut. Strong arms banded my waist as he lifted me off my feet, dangling me in the air for a moment. “Tell me straight away what I’ve done to deserve this spontaneous affection so I can repeat the action several-hundred times a day.”
“Ari just told me what you’ve done for Zaret. I’m so grateful, Arrow. Thank you.”
“Zaret is a good man. He reminds me of you, Leaf. Uncompromising in his opinions. Never afraid to criticize me when he disagrees. In your absence, he has acted as my conscience.”
“Because you don’t possess one?” I teased.
“I’ve always had one,” he said, strolling over to embrace his Sayeeda and kiss her cheeks. “But after the death of my family, it took a tiny human spitfire to remind me how to use it.”
He stalked forward and guided me to the window. Dropping into the seat, he tugged me onto his lap and wrapped his arms around my waist. “So what did I miss?”
“We were speaking of Orion,” said Ari. “About getting him out of the cave.”
Arrow gripped my chin and turned my face toward his. “Leaf, it is an extremely dangerous task. One I’d prefer you not to be involved in.”
“No. Promise you’ll include me. It’s my fault Orion is suffering. I need to see him released.”
Arrow’s sigh ruffled my hair. “Fine. We may need to use the orchid petals that made you invisible the other night.”
My entire body flushed hot as I remembered how he’d kissed me in his room while I flickered in and out of visibility, and for a selfish moment, I wished we were alone. I quickly told Ari about the serpent fae and the orchid petals he’d given me.
“If there are only a few of us, we should save the petals for our escape and use my reaver cloak instead,” she said.
“Did the Zareen tell you anything about how Melaya’s blocking power works?” I asked her.
“It’s veiled in mystery. But it is true that the twin mages, not the king, possess the most power in the realm. Melaya has set blocking wards throughout the kingdom. Beyond the Fen Forest, your own reaver cloak would likely work, as would Arrowyn’s storm power.”
“If the brothers are so powerful, why don’t they get rid of the king and take control of the city?” I asked.
“Estella,” Arrow replied, his thumb stroking the sensitive skin of my forearm and his chest plate of feathers rough against my back. “She is the key to Azarn retaining power.”
I sat up straighter, twisting to face him. “The queen is?”
“Why do you think he took her from the Star Court?” Arrow plucked me off his lap, placed me on the window-seat cushions, then got up and paced across the room. “As you’ve probably realized, theirs was far from a love match.”
I frowned. “I thought it was an arranged marriage that benefited both kingdoms.”
On my bed, Ari folded her legs beneath her. “They may frame it that way now, but no, it was far from amicably arranged. With Melaya’s help, Azarn tricked her, subdued her formidable cosmic power and just… took her. The queen has no lust for gold or desire to control kingdoms. She keeps the mages in line for the sake of Bakhur.”
“Exactly,” said Arrow. “Estella hates Azarn and will no doubt move against him eventually. Her realm only wishes to be left in peace. The star fae can stop time, suck matter into black holes, uncreate life, and do unspeakable things with their power. Thank the gold they are mostly a peace-loving species.”
“But what prevents Estella from taking action or from leaving?” I asked.
Ari sighed. “The bonds between Azarn and Estella cannot be broken without bringing harm to her son.”
“She’d have to kill Bakhur to be rid of her husband?”
“That’s right,” said Arrow.
Hugging my knees to my chest, I thought through what I’d learned, not entirely sure it all made sense. “But why would Melaya help Azarn bring a queen, whose power was considerably stronger than his, to Taln in the first place?” I asked.
“There’s more to it than just Estella keeping Melaya in check, Leaf,” replied Ari. “For him to keep his position and full powers, he must always obey Azarn’s directives.”
I rubbed my temples. “Why?”
“Because at the twin mages’ birth, unbreakable blood bonds were woven through their bodies, making it impossible for them to disobey whoever had been officially crowned the current King of Fire.”
“How do you know?” I asked.
“The Zareen shared ancient knowledge with Ari, and since our arrival in Taln, Zaret has been spending a large sum of my gold bribing select fae. His sources hint at a similar story.”
Excitement bubbling over, I clapped my hands together, grinning. “So given her hatred for Azarn, surely Estella will help us get Orion out of that fucking cave.”
“No, Ruhh will,” said both Ari and Arrow at the same time.
“ Ruhh ? The girl who killed herself because you wouldn’t marry her? The same one who asked me to kill you while you were in bed recovering from a battle wound?”
“Ruhh has forgiven me, and Ari relayed a special message to her from the Zareen. One that means more to her than anything.”
“So you did kill Ruhh,” I said, shooting onto my feet and pacing in front of the bed.
Arrow sat next to his Sayeeda and watched me with a wary expression.
“Leaf, I admit it was a… a terrible situation. When I came to visit Azarn to make amends for your attack on the Sun envoy, Neeron, she threatened to have you killed in Coridon. And I knew she had the means to do it. We argued at the Lake of Fire, and she slipped and fell in. I simply… well, I didn’t help her get out. I couldn’t let her hurt you in any way. Ever .”
“Then why did Ruhh tell me she jumped from the palace?”
“I threw her body from the tallest tower to make it look like she had. Azarn has no proof that I was responsible for her death, but blames me anyway.” Arrow laughed. “In truth, he isn’t wrong.”
“It’s really not a laughing matter, Arrow. You’re quite deranged. Do you know that?”
He gripped my shoulders, stopping my restless pacing. “I don’t think you understand how far I’ll go to protect you. No atrocity would be too vile and no being safe should they make the mistake to stand between us. Don’t you think I would’ve already razed Taln three times over if it would ensure your safety, love?”
“No more,” I said, pressing my face against his chest plate. “Promise me that from now on, only good deeds will be committed in the name of our love. And by the way, are these gold feathers still poisonous in Taln?”
“Unfortunately, no.” His deep voice rumbled against my cheek. “My first good deed in honor of our love will be to free the orc from the fire cave.”
I stared up at him. “How? And when?”
“Tomorrow at dawn we’ll meet at the moat. Ari will bring you under her reaver’s cloak, and we shall save the petals for defeating Melaya and his brother.”
“Wouldn’t it be safer to do it at night?”
“No,” Ari said, guiding me to settle on the chair in front of the mirror. “They won’t expect us to make a move in plain sight. Arrow must leave now and finalize the plan, and you and I will prepare for tomorrow by conserving our energy and getting a good night’s rest.”
Arrow moved Ari out of his way and stole a kiss from me. “Good night, my Aldara. Sleep well.”
As the Storm King exited, Ari began unpinning my braids. As she brushed my hair, the slow strokes soothed me into a frowning silence as I thought over everything that had been said tonight.
Ari put the brush on the dresser, then squeezed my shoulders. “Leaf, I can hear you worrying. Please try to relax. Arrow and I have a plan in motion. A good one. Trust us.”
What choice did I have? I couldn’t rescue Orion on my own.