CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
SECRETS OF A POWERLESS MAN
It is so rare to see scum remove itself. Yet just today, Former Honorate Selva Sixmen formally resigned from his position, leaving one question on everyone’s mind: Why?
I have heard the whispers. Some claim Selva was merely growing old.
Others speculate that perhaps the former Honorate is sick.
This Queen of Shadows has her ear and nose to the floor, and she smells something far more devious—a scandal.
What secrets is Former Honorate Sixmen trying to hide with his abrupt exit from the council?
I suspect time will reveal all. As will I.
In the meantime, congratulations are in order for all of this Great Republic. Selva Sixmen’s replacement leaves nothing to be desired. Flynn Sixmen is a decurio who needs no introduction. Whatever the reason for Selva’s departure, I think we can all agree his successor more than makes up for it.
Fondly,
Shadow Queen
It was Kaidren. I know it. He blackmailed Selva into resigning from the Honorate, he killed Arliss. If only I could prove it. The sooner I do, the sooner I can get rid of him altogether.
Sef and I meet early. We exchange gossip and theories over breakfast pastries.
She tells me about dinner with her parents, and I tell her about the evening I spent with Kaidren Vale.
When we part ways, Sef is off to dig up anything she can about the second trial, while I go to find Flynn in one of the rooms built into the base of the stands.
He sits at a table, cleaning equipment. He’s facing away and doesn’t look up when I enter. I clear my throat. “Honorate Sixmen. It’s a good name. Glides off the tongue.”
Flynn chuckles as he twists to face me. “That’s because it’s my father’s name. Well, it was.”
“It sounds better on you.”
He’s still smiling, but he shifts in his seat, looking uncomfortable.
“It’s good to see you, Mira, but I can’t continue your training.
I have new responsibilities with the Honorate now, which means I’ll be spending less time with the decurio.
But don’t worry. I’ll find someone else to work with you.
” His somber expression turns teasing. “Though it’ll be a challenge finding someone who can handle you. ”
I grin back. “I figured things would change now. I actually came to thank you. For everything. I’ve learned a lot from working with you.” I nod to the equipment. “Do you want help?” I sit and pick up a cloth before he can object.
These weapons are used for training, so they’re coated in snow, sludge, and blood. Cleaning them is disgusting work, but I have one last chance to pry information about Selva from Flynn, so I need to take it. Subtly.
After a few moments of cleaning in silence, I prick my finger on the edge of a sword. “Ouch.”
Flynn’s head jerks up. “What—” Seeing the droplet of blood on my finger, he curses. “Dammit, Mira. Be careful.” He rushes to a cabinet for gauze, then kneels at my side to gently wrap my finger.
“It’s just a small cut,” I say defensively.
“These blades are sharp.” He’s finished but stays crouched beside me. “Cuts aren’t always as shallow as they appear. You could’ve been seriously hurt.”
“Sorry,” I mumble. “I was distracted. I’m having a bad day.”
Some of his frustration lessens with concern. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“No, it’s nothing, I just—” I sigh. “Do you know Yelina? She’s my stepmother.”
“Of course I do.”
“Oh, right. I forgot. She’s close with your mom.
Or—” I look down, pretending to be embarrassed.
“She was. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up something so .
. .” I let my sentence trail. “Sorry. Yelina’s been yelling at me all day.
I forgot—” I swallow the rest of the sentence, hoping it’s enough to get Flynn talking about his mother.
His expression darkens in agitation. “Forgot what? That my mom disappeared?”
Disappeared?
“I’m sorry,” I say again.
Flynn rises and starts pacing the length of the equipment room. “Don’t be. You’d think I’d be able to talk about her by now. Maybe I’ll never get used to it.”
I feel guilty, forcing him to speak of his mother, but if Selva killed her, I need to know. If Kaidren found out about it, I need to know how.
Before I can reply, the door to the supply room opens.
General Tarek Fain pokes his head inside.
He glances at me, then focuses on Flynn.
“When you’re finished here, there are some new recruits who need uniforms by the entry gate.
” He grabs at a flat metal disk hanging around his neck and holds it up. The silver winks in the torchlight.
“Understood,” Flynn says. “I won’t be much longer.”
With another swift look at me, General Fain ducks out without a word.
I frown after him. “What was that around his neck?”
“A medallion. Decurio leadership flash them when they give orders. We spend a lot of time with our faces covered. Medallions signal to fellow soldiers that the person giving the order is who they claim to be.”
I nod along. “Do you have a medallion?”
He reaches into his collar and shows me. Like the General’s, it’s silver. “I do.”
“You’re young to have so much authority in the decurio.”
He shrugs it off. “It’s just because of my dad.”
“The General of the entire decurio turns to you as his right hand. That’s more than your father, that’s all you.” I smile. “I’m sure your mother would be proud.”
That sad look returns to his eyes. “She was.”
“I’m sorry,” I say softly. “What you said before . . . I didn’t know she disappeared.”
“Two years ago. They never found a body, so she was only officially declared dead last year, but I’ve known for a while now that she’s gone. She disappeared one day, and no one ever saw her again. But I know she’s dead. If she was alive, she’d have come back for me.”
“Did the decurio investigate?”
“Yes, but they didn’t find anything.”
I feel a rush of heat. I can’t exactly accuse the grieving son of lying, so I move to stand before him with a soft, coaxing smile. “You’re sure? Nothing?”
“Nothing that made sense. A maid who worked in our home was arrested for stealing around the same time. My dad said it might have something to do with Mom’s disappearance.”
“You think she was involved somehow?”
Flynn looks as if he’s about to answer, but then shakes his head. “I’m sorry, Mira, but I can’t talk about this. She’s gone. The investigation is over.”
There’s more I want to ask, but I hold my tongue. Selva Sixmen accusing a maid of theft might not sound suspicious to an outsider, but I know better. This wouldn’t be his first time lying to the decurio.
Years ago, he falsely testified to keep himself out of prison for pilfering public funds.
Selva pocketed the money, the man he accused went to prison in his stead, and the Republic was none the wiser.
The Shadow Queen has threatened him with that secret before.
And now he’s accused someone else of stealing.
Is this maid truly guilty? Or just another victim of Selva Sixmen’s lies?
“I’m sorry.” I lay a hand over Flynn’s.
He sighs sadly. “Thank you. I spent a long time obsessing over what happened to her. Sometimes, I swear I still hear her voice, telling me she loves me.”
“Trust me. I know the feeling.”
Flynn smiles gratefully at me, and I smile back. All the while, my suspicions are piqued. Somewhere out there is a maid who knows something Selva Sixmen fought like hell to keep buried.