Elsabet
“It was a message,” says. “Intended for me.”
She is weary, but she will not show her exhaustion. It is early morning; later today the Hierophant of this city will bless the Prince’s accursed marriage—for all the good it will do. sits in the priest’s chair, back straight, her eyes fixed on the fire burning in the gold brazier. It is always chilly in the old temple, so Janos keeps it lit.
Seven had been pacing back and forth across the cracked tile floor. He stops now and turns to look at her. “Who would be using Artal’s death to send a message?” he demands, an edge to his voice. “I thought no one knew that we—that he was working with you.”
She smiles into the fire. Little flames lick up around the brazier like bright tongues. has always loved fire. It is in her blood to love it, and in her family’s blood. “You’re worried about your own skin.” She doesn’t mind; it is one of the things she appreciates about him. He has a relentless self-interest that makes him easy to predict.
He ducks his dark head. “A little,” he says. “I like it when my skin is not whipped from my body and displayed outside the Trick to teach the other Charter holders a lesson.”
“Calm yourself,” she says. “The Palace remains unaware of our activities. The message was from Prosper Beck.”
A frown. “Beck? Doesn’t he own a string of gambling houses in the Maze?”
“Not everyone important in this city is a law-abiding citizen, Seven. I had thought that if we could win Beck to our cause, he could challenge the Ragpicker King for dominance of the city’s underworld.”
“The Ragpicker King—?”
“He has too much power. They call him the King in the City. I do not wish there to be a king in Castellane I do not control. But Beck has been... recalcitrant.”
Seven grunts. “So you wanted to recruit Beck to replace the Ragpicker King, and he refused?”
“He showed me disrespect. I put his messenger in his place. Now, it seems, Beck holds a grudge.”
It had not occurred to that Beck would mind the death of some low-level functionary all that much; she would hardly have taken it personally if someone had murdered Janos or Bagomer, but it did not seem like a good idea to say that to Seven. “The man who cut Artal’s throat was Beck’s man. I recognized him. I had the chance to kill him once, and missed it. I will not do so again.”
“I don’t like this,” Seven says. “I don’t like the complications.”
No one cares what you like, thinks. In Malgasi, her mother would have had a minor noble imprisoned for telling the Queen what policies he did or didn’t like. The Aurelians had truly let things get out of control in Castellane, all these foolish little Charter members thinking of themselves as the kings of small fiefdoms. She was looking forward to showing them how a real monarch ruled.
And not just a real monarch, but one who reigned as the Sorcerer-Kings of old had reigned. Once she wrested her power away from the Aurelians, she would be able to rule as her ancestors had, with a radiance of power that compelled loyalty. She does not like to think of the unrest of the Malgasi people now, of their treachery, their lack of dedication to the throne. It will all go back to the way it was, she tells herself. As soon as the Belmany dynasty snatches back its power, Malgasi will be great again.
“Beck was only aware of Artal,” she says tightly. “I brought him to a meeting. That’s all. No need to fret yourself into an early grave.”
“One of us was murdered,” says Seven. “Hardly reassuring. And Artal had his amulet. I thought it was meant to protect him.”
“It seems Beck was able to replace the real amulet with a false one.” does not feel as calm as she sounds, but she does not want Seven to know how much it alarms her that Beck had circumvented her so easily. She had made a mistake in trusting Artal not to be a fool. Now the amulet, one of her family’s most trusted possessions, is in the hands of someone she does not wish well. Beck will need to be destroyed—but not yet. She needs to establish her position more strongly first. “You’re a gambling man, aren’t you, Seven? You shouldn’t be averse to a little risk when the reward is so high.”
“Engaging in high treason is not a little risk,” snaps Seven. “Can we even do this without Artal?”
“It will require a change of plans. A closer eye kept on Liorada and that daughter of hers. But most of all—we need the Sword Catcher. We need him out of the game, and where we can lay our hands upon him.” She narrows her eyes at Seven. “Did you discover whether the Prince is aware that the Sword Catcher has been arranging meetings between Anjelica Iruvai and the Ragpicker King?”
For the first time that day, Seven smiles. “Conor has no idea,” he says. “When it comes to Kel, he has a blind spot the size of the Jiqal desert.”
“That might be all we need for now,” says. “Keep a watch on Saren. Be prepared to bring all of the Charter Families together, and the Prince with them. Once you lay all your proof at his feet in front of the Hill, he will have no choice but to act.”