Chapter 12
SINAN
S inan tried to call up his shadow armor as the Lioness of Abdju started walking beside the conference table toward him—and failed.
To make matters worse, while Meri strolled along, flipping the blades in her hands as if she was entertaining an arena crowd, Gallmau began to move parallel to her along the other side of the table.
He wasn’t the only one alarmed by the actions of the Tomb Fighters.
Jacques stood up with an expression of offended outrage, but the prince didn’t as much hit him as merely flex his biceps as he passed, and the fire mage ended up sprawled on top of the table.
Valentina, possessing a good deal more sense, stayed in her seat and kept her hands folded on her lap as the King’s son walked past her.
On the other side, Meri passed Abarsam, who lifted his palm and conjured a small sphere of water to float above his hand.
A silent warning about the truce curse, no doubt.
Meri’s weapons, if she used them against Sinan, would invoke the curse.
Any relief that might have given him vanished when he realized it was the young prince he needed to worry about.
While Meri was making a beautiful and deadly spectacle of herself, Gallmau was walking up to him without any weapons or powers that would trigger a gruesome death if he attacked Sinan.
Without his shadow armor and without the ability to magically retaliate without bringing the curse down on him, Sinan would be no match for the prince’s strength.
Gallmau could tear him limb from limb, if he felt like it.
The pair moved closer, neither in any hurry, and it took all of Sinan’s self-control to maintain his casual posture on the throne chair. This would be an excellent time for Letha to make another appearance.
No undead saints rushed in to help, and Sinan tensed as Meri came within striking range.
The Lioness swung around to stand next to him and crossed both swords against her chest in an arena salute. Sinan had barely begun to process she wasn’t trying to kill him when Gallmau clapped a huge hand on his shoulder and tossed a rolled sheet of parchment onto the table.
“We’re going with Bone Boy.” Gallmau grinned down at Sinan after that insult, ignoring the glare Sinan gave him in response. “We have an invitation, our schedule is wide open tomorrow, and I think our spooky friend here has proven he can fight his own kind.”
“He even has a fancy new chair.” Meri eyed the infant skulls lined up on the throne, symbolic of the murders of Blessed infants slain before they were old enough to protect themselves, and gave a pretend shudder. “Not my decorating taste, but I think it suits him.”
Sinan glanced from one Tomb Fighter to the other, still in shock at the stunt they had pulled off, but doing his best not to show it.
“Are you both mad?” Jacques had recovered from being thrown onto the table, and now he sounded more incredulous than furious. “The two of you make a living killing his kind, and now you plan to join forces with him.”
“The Lioness of Abdju thinks we’re all witches.” Valentina didn’t appear as surprised as Jacques and Abarsam, or for that matter, Sinan himself. He had not seen this coming. “You told them they needed a mage who could fight a necromancer. They decided to get one who is a necromancer.”
“The full Synod will not approve this.” Abarsam shook his head. “Nor should they.”
“The Synod should not refuse to abide by the rules they have set up for my daughter’s rescue.
” Queen Xiaolian spoke up at last, and her words had a hard edge, despite her serene expression.
“You have outlined what is required of anyone wishing to return my daughter. My husband’s son has met all of the Synod’s requirements, and he will go with my blessing. ”
“With all due respect, Your Majesty, this is not a decision the Queen of Soissons can make.” Jacques turned to Xiaolian. “This affair has taken the life of a Synod member, and as an independent sovereign state, the Noviodunam has the final say in the matter.”
Queen Xiaolian rose to her feet. She was not a tall woman or physically imposing in any way. Still, Sinan held his breath as she approached the incensor.
“The Noviodunam is an independent state, yes.” Xiaolian placed both of her hands on the table and locked eyes with Jacques.
“A tiny enclave, inside the great city of Lutecia, and the much larger country of Soissons. I cannot overrule the decisions of the Synod of the Noviodunam, but I can make decisions for my country. And if those decisions require making it difficult for anyone or anything to go in or out of your compound, I think you’ll find the Noviodunam to be quite small indeed. ”
The threat hung in the air as Jacques sat, stunned. Sinan would have enjoyed the moment, if he hadn’t still been wondering if Gallmau and Meri were going to kill him.
Abarsam finally spoke. “Your Majesty, you have my sincerest apologies. I consider myself a mere guest in your country. If, in your wise opinion, you wish Monsieur de Rohan to join our company with his chosen companions, I will support this at tonight’s meeting.”
Jacques opened his mouth to speak, then shut it again, which was the smartest thing he had done all night.
“I doubt my opinion will be deemed important by the Synod, Madame la Reine.” Valentina inclined her head toward Xiaolian.
“But if the malandanti have formed themselves into a government and agree to hold others of their kind accountable for their crimes, I think this should be encouraged. I would ask, if you would allow me the honor, to have your blessing to join the quest as well.”
“Of course, Dottoressa de Almania.” Xiaolian took her hands off the table and looked straight at Sinan. “Do you agree to this arrangement?”
“So.” Meri leaned over to whisper in his ear, her breath soft and warm on his cheek. She was far too close to him, even if she wasn’t touching his skin. He felt an aching want that was all but unbearable. “Are you in?”
Sinan snapped his fingers, finding he needed a physical movement to perform even the simplest magic, and shut off the sound around them before he spoke. “I don’t want or need your help.”
The first part of that statement was true, but the second was a lie. Sinan could either agree to join two Tomb Fighters with a grudge against him or admit defeat. The Synod would only let him help if Xiaolian gave them no other choice.
“We don’t need or want a Bone Lord, but this is the only way we can save Rixende.
” Gallmau put his hand on Sinan’s shoulder again, and this time his fingers brushed against Sinan’s ear.
The touch sent a familiar jolt of lust and revulsion through him.
He had enough reserves left to lash out with a remnant of his shadow wards, and the prince yelped and removed his hand.
“Touch me again,” Sinan put as much threat and malice into his words as he could, “and I’ll shrivel the skin off your fingers and leave you nothing but uncovered bones for a hand.”
“We’ll take that as a yes.” Meri pointed to the expectant faces of Xiaolian and Abarsam. Valentina had leaned over to argue with Jacques. “Let the Queen hear your answer. And your conditions, which I’m sure you have.”
Sinan tried to steady his breathing and block out the closeness of the two Tomb Fighters.
Being near them threw off his ability to think.
Taking on an unknown and powerful adversary while trying to avoid being killed by Meri and Gallmau would be insanely risky.
Not agreeing to it would be admitting defeat.
If there was one thing Sinan hated more than Noviodunam mages and Tomb Fighters, it was personal failure.
He snapped his fingers again, and the sound enchantment vanished.
Queen Xiaolian stood waiting for his reply, and Valentina cut short her heated exchange with Jacques to hear his response.
“I’m not joining a rescue party for your daughter, Your Majesty, if you’re planning to invade my home at any moment. ”
“I’m satisfied with your response to my letter,” Xiaolian said. “You may send word to your Councils, if they are the proper authority in Karakoncolos, that I will not authorize any military actions against your city-state or support those from other parties while you are aiding this effort.”
Sinan wasn’t naive enough to think Xiaolian couldn’t change her mind, but given it was in her interest not to get involved in another foreign war, this was the best he could hope for.
“As for yourself, Monsieur Kaya, I would be happy to extend the protection of the government of Soissons to you tonight and for as long as you are involved with the rescue.” Xiaolian pinned Jacques with her gaze again.
“I’m sure the Synod will as well. I ask only that you not harm any of my subjects with your magical talents. ”
“He can’t walk out of here and onto the streets without causing a riot.
” Jacques spoke for the first time since the Queen had threatened both him and the Noviodunam.
“If anyone attacks him—and I can’t even guarantee the Shields will follow orders when it comes to the Prince of Shadows—his version of self-defense will leave a large body count. ”
“Allow us to help you leave the Palais de Feu.” Abarsam turned to Sinan, his voice now resigned. “I understand you wouldn’t want to go with the Shields, but I can offer you an escort by my son Baahir.”
No, Sinan would not let himself be walked out like a stray cur on a leash. The trouble was, he didn’t have a better way of leaving the compound safely. He tugged at the shadows around him with his mind, but without much effect. The entire Noviodunam was warded against shadow-walking.
Sinan gave up trying and glanced at Meri. “The three of us need to speak tonight in private about this partnership.”
“We’re not interested in joining you at whatever gravesite you’re haunting while in town.” Meri turned to Gallmau. “Where are we carousing this evening?”
“La Pissotte.” Gallmau gave Sinan another grin. “Best cider in Lutecia. It’s right behind the east wall of the palace. Look for some drunks getting tossed out onto the street and you’ll find it without any trouble.”
Not only was Sinan stuck with these two, they were both quite smug about trapping him in this arrangement. To make it worse, he’d need to expose himself to the general public to even meet with them.
He pulled at the shadows again, and this time added in a silent prayer to Saint Letha, asking for her assistance as the humble worshipper who had brought back her throne.
Shadows slid up the sides of the chair, responding to his command.
The Throne of Letha was restored, and he could use its power to escape the Noviodunam.
“La Pissotte it is, then.” Sinan stood up and without further comment stepped off into the shadows.