Chapter 9
Nine
In the end, Lady Jolushi found enough merriment—musicians and jugglers and one man who had tamed some of the wildcats that lived in the forest—that no one else was killed.
Still, everyone in attendance seemed to take it as the threat that it was.
Na? crept out of my bedroom, leaping onto the table in the middle of dinner and settling at the head of the table, between me and Tallu.
No one dared say anything, and she glared at the wildcats until they slunk away, hiding behind their tamer.
“They’re whispering about how Lady Jolushi caught your favor,” Lerolian reported. “Many of them are wondering if they should continue on with you, or rush home and find their own neighbors to kill. It’s giving many the excuse that they want to settle old quarrels by way of their swords.”
“They’ve become prey,” Na? said as she looked out over the crowd. She licked her lips and now more than the wildcats looked nervous, whispers fluttering between the nearest courtiers.
I kept my eyes on Domusho’s allies, who pointedly expressed their gratitude to Tallu, raising their glasses and toasting him at every opportunity.
I could see the sweat forming on their brows, the anxiety as Tallu stared them down, and it was obvious what Na? meant. These people, so used to being in charge, controlling those beneath them, were nervous.
On Tallu’s other side, Empress Koque raised her glass to her lips, her eyes flicking between me and Tallu and the room at large before her gaze returned to me.
I raised my cup. Tallu had not merely upset the natural order; he had taken the natural order, turned it on its head, and shaken as hard as he could, letting all of the fears of the court fall onto the ground.
These people who wanted to use his strength, wanted to use him, were only now finding out that Tallu didn’t demand abject loyalty, as his father did. He asked for something greater.
After dinner, Tallu retreated to his room, and I tried not to worry about the copper blood I could smell on his breath. My heart said to follow him, but I had other plans, ones I needed to fulfill or I would never be able to travel any further without looking at every shadow for threats.
I returned to my quarters, waiting patiently until the palace fell asleep.
Then, Homisu helped me into the dark gray worn by the Dogs and I walked out onto the balcony, drawing a scarf around my face.
Irad?o was already there, a snowy white owl perched on the banister beside her. She raised her eyebrow and I nodded.
Silently, I leapt over the banister, dropping onto the soft garden beneath my rooms. I was up on my feet jogging into the shadow of a tree when I heard Irad?o land behind me. We slunk to the road leading to House Jolushi’s estate. Then we waited for our prey.
Above me, in the tree, Terror made his displeasure known.
“Isn’t this what you have ghosts for?” His voice was a loud screech in the darkness, but not any stranger than any other night animal’s. “I won’t follow you. Don’t think I’m going to follow you or try and help you. I’m not that foolish.”
“I’ll follow you,” Ratcatcher said from a nearby tree. “Do you want me to follow you?”
Ever since he had earned a pig’s liver for dinner after informing me which servant in the kitchen was actually a Dog, Ratcatcher had been especially happy to show off his own loyalty.
“Don’t be a fool, Ratcatcher,” Dawn said. “We aren’t flying in the dark.”
“I would,” Ratcatcher said sullenly. “You don’t speak for all of us, Dawn.”
Movement in the dark caught my attention. A lantern, the flame hidden under a cloak, was easy enough to follow through the trees as we moved quietly.
Despite their words, I could hear the flutter of wings as my ravens followed Irad?o’s owl.
Zolle, my discarded servant now loyal to Domusho, wasn’t careless, but she wasn’t trained, either.
She was quiet in the way servants were, but as soon as she was out of sight of the estate, she pulled the lantern free from her cloak, hissing at the heat.
She muttered under her breath as she walked, too quiet for me to hear, but it made her easier to follow in the forest. Irad?o didn’t ask how far we had to go, and I didn’t want to guess.
Irad?o’s birds had followed Zolle to previous meetings miles from camp when she had been acting under Domusho’s orders. What would she do now that he was dead?
As we moved quietly, I wondered if it’d been me personally that had made her so eager to betray Tallu. I felt a stick under my foot and pulled back a moment before it cracked.
Zolle had been one of my servants in the Lakeshore Palace, and only Nohe’s arrival had shaken her loose from her position. She had disliked me, but was that distaste enough or had Kacha promised something else? Money? A position?
We were walking through thick brush, branches and leaves tugging at my clothes. We were past the borders of House Jolushi’s estate, well into the wilds of Pine Thorn Province. The flora here certainly lived up to their name.
In the light of Zolle’s lantern, I caught sight of a spider web stretched between two trees and just had time to duck under it. Irad?o followed, and we avoided the arachnid.
The damp soil sank slightly as we walked, and a river roared as it drove a groove into the valley. Ahead of us, Zolle raised her lantern, turning and looking before calling out.
“Are you there?”
No one responded, and she made her way unsteadily toward the riverbank, calling out every few paces. Finally, someone answered her.
They had their own lanterns, lighting one of the narrow boats used for fishing the river. I could see the electric motor on it that would send it back north into the Blood Mountains against the current when their conversation was done.
Five soldiers stood around their lanterns, cloaks covering their armor.
“Is he there?” One of the soldiers had a large gold clasp on his cloak, and it didn’t take extensive knowledge of the Imperium to recognize him as the one in charge.
“They’re all there. He’s given Lady Jolushi control over Pine Thorn Province.” Zolle stumbled over one of the rocks, barely righting herself before she fell. None of the soldiers moved to help.
“How long is he going to stay there? More than a night?” the one in charge asked.
So, this was more than a report. They were planning on killing Tallu now. Maybe they had already heard about what happened to Lord Helli and didn’t like their chances of ambushing Tallu when he wouldn’t travel through the province once controlled by a traitor.
“We stayed two nights at each of the estates we passed through. I can find out if we will stay longer here. His Imperial Majesty—” She broke off, shaking her head. “He seemed satisfied by Lady Jolushi. I know some of her servants. Perhaps I can suggest that she provide more entertainment for him—”
“Don’t bother,” the captain said, waving his hand in the rude dismissive gesture I had painfully trained myself out of. “You’ll only tip our hand.”
Zolle didn’t react to the cold words. Instead, she leaned forward, wetting her lips. “You’ll make sure the consort is killed?”
“We aren’t planning to leave anyone alive. Anyone who allies themselves with the fake emperor deserves what they get.” The captain grinned, his teeth stained yellow in the lamplight.
I glanced at Irad?o. She raised her eyebrows. Five was a lot. Six, if Zolle tried to fight.
I tilted my head, and Irad?o nodded, finally giving in.
They were still talking, Zolle exposing all of the secrets of the estate, every way in, everywhere she had seen a guard posted.
Irad?o and I circled the group, hiding in the shadows, her on one side of the men, me on the other.
The forest was thick near the riverbank.
There were only ten feet or so of exposed shoreline.
I could cross ten feet before the men could draw breath.
“Jolushi doesn’t have that many guards. But they must be capable. She killed Lord Helli—”
“She didn’t kill Lord Helli,” the soldier sneered. “Tallu’s Dogs did that.”
Before Zolle could ask another question, a single white owl crossed over their heads, distracting them. Irad?o was such a show-off.
Only one of the soldiers had the wherewithal to look around. The others stared at the gorgeous bird, seeming to come out of nowhere and disappear into the darkness over the river.
I buried my sword in the smart man’s throat, one swift motion in and out. Then I spun, ducking low as another soldier threw electricity with his hands. I used the flat of my wolf’s claw to direct it into the ground.
The space between the rocks was wet, and the electricity crackled briefly, lighting up the rocks with a brilliant flash. I sliced up, under the man’s arm, hearing him scream, clutching his shoulder. He turned straight into Irad?o’s blade.
She had taken care of one of the soldiers, leaving us with the captain and another electro mage, already gathering a ball of electricity in his palm.
He spread his fingers wide, creating a blanket of electricity.
I ducked low, but the rocky shore was dangerous to roll on, and a stone hit my shoulder hard when I tried.
Springing onto my feet, I shrugged my shoulder, hoping it was just bruised.
The captain finally had his blade out, and he circled me, holding it level with my chest.
“One of the Dogs.” He grinned. “I always knew I could beat you. Now I’m given the chance. I’m going to enjoy this. All of you, so sanctimonious. So full of yourselves.”
He lunged forward, his blade passing next to me as I turned, grabbing hold of his wrist and pulling him off balance. I hoped Irad?o was there, ready for his exposed throat as he stumbled, but I glanced and saw she was busy dancing with the electro mage.