Chapter 30 #2
“Who do you think arranged for you to enter the city? Who bribed the guards and cleared the way for Mrath into the palace’s gardens?
Who helped her attack him during the masquerade?
I’ve been feeding her everything from inside the Dominion.
I’ve spent a long time working in this place, sweet one.
I am important to this court, Liana. You need me. ”
I let the dagger drop a fraction, but my stance doesn’t soften. “Then what news do you bring?”
“Not good news.”
My shoulders tense and a chill runs over me. “Mrath is dead.”
He shakes his head. “No, but she is wounded. When she saw Arion, he unleashed some sort of dark magic on her. Likely from the Throne of Living Wood, but we are not sure. He killed almost all of the assassins she brought with her. She has been transported out of the city,” he says.
I take a deep breath. “This is very bad. This would be her second failed attempt on the throne. Is she really up to this?”
Castien hums. “Arion is meddling with dark things. The power you see now will not last forever. When I left, the king had ordered everyone to keep everything silent till morning. Then he will send out callers with an announcement. You should have tonight, at the very least, to escape.”
My heart drops. “And the king’s bride. What happened to her?” I study him through the veil of shadow. His face is older, sharper. There’s something haunted in his eyes I don’t remember.
“One of yours took her. They were intercepted by Arion. The king is hoping to distract from Mrath’s attempt on the throne with a public execution.” He frowns. “Star-crossed lovers betraying the king. They’ll be forced to fight in the arena.”
Something in his voice makes me shiver, and ice slowly spiderwebs across my skin. Arlet and Vann. Star-crossed lovers.
“But they are not dead yet?”
Fuck. “Vann, the troll you speak of, was given something by Mrath. Something that would turn the power of the throne. A seed. He was supposed to use it with Arlet. If he has been taken into custody, they could find the seed and destroy it.”
He shakes his head. “I assume they have been taken to the dungeon. I will visit him.”
My mind races, and I step away from him and the strange, cocooning warmth that he has always provided.
What will happen if that seed has been taken?
“So what now? We just retreat? Give up?” What am I going to tell Teo and Estela?
He gives me a knowing look. “Breathe, sweet one. There is a plan. Mrath will heal and bring more women. There will be another attack soon. She just needs a day or two to visit with her healers.”
“There are hundreds, if not thousands of soldiers swarming the city. Do they not pursue her?” I continue.
He nods. “They do, but Mrath is wise. She prepared for something just like this to happen and has misdirected them effectively. It should buy her that extra day or two to finish the job.”
“Why didn’t you help Mrath fight? Surely your services were needed. You could kill Arion with your shadows.”
“Liana, you have been gone a long time. I am integral to this court. If I kill Arion now, I could lose everything. The other courtiers would turn against me. Mrath must kill her brother and take control of the throne if there is to be a new sovereign. My plan is to be one of the first to accept her as queen. That way I can keep…my people safe.”
“Your people,” I scoff. Then I think of the child I’d known all those years ago. His child. My eyes widen—I had been told that the informant had a family member who was helping to get close to Arlet. I blink, a strange surge of emotions building inside me.
I step back again. “You’ve played both sides before.”
“I had to,” he replies. “To keep her alive.”
Something in his tone makes my gut twist. “I am glad she still lives.”
He hesitates, then meets my gaze. “Vesilane remembers you.”
My breath stills. “She was young when I saw her last.”
“Children are very smart. They soak up everything they see like a sea sponge,” he says softly. “I was able to get her into a position as the consort’s attendant before this mess happened.”
I sheathe the dagger slowly. “You killed someone to make space for her, no doubt.”
He gives me a half smile, one that tells me not to ask questions. A part of me revolts when I feel myself softening. How could I have ever believed that this was a good man?”
“Hmm.” I turn toward the shuttered window. The festival music outside swells, muffled by distance. “Will you rescue Arlet and Vann from the dungeons?”
He shakes his head. “The king will want retribution to reaffirm his throne and demonstrate to the court that he is still in control. Those who stand against him must be punished.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Gods on their stony thrones. Arlet cannot fight.”
He raises a brow. “Are you sure?”
I think of the curse she’d been plagued with in Enduvida. But surely all of that is gone now, right?
“How exactly will they be put on trial?”
Castien frowns. “I think he will have it be a tethered fight to the death against beasts and monsters. But the good news is, if I can find the seed, Arion will likely have the throne transported to the arena in a show of dominance.”
I raise a brow. “I wasn’t aware such a thing could be moved. Does it not have…roots?”
“Only magical ones. Besides, it is in the king’s best interest to show the entirety of his subjects just how powerful he is. How the gods smile upon him.”
I nod, absorbing all the information. “Very well. I must notify my king and queen. There are other assassins I came with, I should meet with them also.”
I pull out the crystal I’ll use to contact them, and prepare a few speaking stones to share a message with Teo and Estela as well.
Only then do I look at him again. “When will you tell me the next move?”
“Soon.”
“And where will we meet?”
“I’ll find you.”
“Very well, I will find lodging,” I say, and cross to the door.
He moves to stand beside me. “Does that mean we have an alliance again?”
I glance at him from the corner of my eye. “The Enduar Court, which I serve, has melded with humans. They have an alliance with Mrath. If you are with her, then I will cooperate.”
“Merely cooperate?” His voice is testing.
I turn back around. “What more do you want?”
Suddenly, he is too close. Again. His hand snatches my chin and I resist the urge to snap my jaws at him.
“I…” He hesitates. “I don’t know. I’ve waited a hundred years to see you again. If that is all you will give me, then I will respect your word.”
I am there, locked in his grasp, for a moment longer. Then I say, “The woman marrying Arion is the mate of a member of my court, and my dear friend. I need to get both of them home, and I don’t fully trust Mrath. If you wish to prove yourself, help me do that.”
A part of me is uneasy to have admitted that aloud. Mrath has done many things for my people over the years. It’s not that I think she would betray us, but I don’t wish for anything to happen to Arlet because she bound herself to Arion.
Castien’s grin returns, faint but real, and his fingers caress my jaw. My neck. “That sounds like the Liana I remember.”
“Then you remember too much,” I murmur, and pull my hood back up as I forcefully carve space between us once more.
I slip through the door into the narrow back street, the cool night air thick with the smell of smoke and jasmine. I quickly send a message to Ayla and the others, then pull out a speaking stone, uttering a few words that I hope will bring comfort to the sovereigns back home.
They both live. I will help make sure they come home.
Then the festival music that had filled the city earlier turns to chaos. At first, I think it is the regular drunken changes that happen after too many hours of party.
But as I make it to the end of the street, I see soldiers swarming the roads. Crowds of elves push past one another, scattering from the main avenues.
“Search every street!” a commander bellows. “Attack on the king—but he lives! Find the rebels! No one leaves the district!”
The words freeze my blood. I thought they were keeping it a secret.
Castien curses under his breath, and my head snaps to the side, shocked to see him yet again. “It seems I was mistaken. This is bad.”
I tighten my cloak around me and pull Castien deeper into the shadow of a broken archway.
Across the street, two soldiers drag a bleeding elf past us. She’s alive, but barely. That’s when I recognize Elanila. The sight twists something deep in my chest. This isn’t good. Not at all.
“She’s one of the women I traveled with,” I say, trying to rush forward.
Castien draws me close and looks down at me. For a second, I can’t breathe. “No, Liana. We can’t be discovered. Think of your friends. I think it’s better if you come with me.”
I nod, stilling my body even as my heart races.
“You remember how to travel with me through the shadows?” he asks, and I swear I can hear him slightly breathless.
I nod.
“Come, I will take you to meet with the others.”
“I can find them on my own,” I respond.
He shakes his head.
“I must keep my people safe.”