Interlude – Lord Luccan Riis, House of the Ice Spider #3
“How did you get him out, Father?” Luccan asked.
“Best that you remain in the dark on that score.”
He hated when his father said such things but had learned not to argue. When he set his mind to keeping a secret, Lord Leyv Riis did not budge.
Duran turned to the Lord of Tongues. “I wish I could give you something in thanks, but I’m afraid I have no money and little leverage at the moment. My father could make you a zuprian steel sword, but—”
“That’s unnecessary, Duran,” Lord Riis stopped him. “I ask for nothing but your silence that I was the one to free you. And that my sons will help you escape Avaldenn.”
“Of course.” Duran said nothing more, and Luccan suspected the studious l?rling was fighting shock. Though part of the cabal, Duran contributed through scholarly means and opted out of the more adventurous activities the others relished.
“On our way here, I saw these.” Lord Riis held up one of the posters the king had shown them earlier. Upon further inspection, Luccan saw that the poster also named Neve as ‘the Slave Queen’. “They’re all over the city.”
“No posters lined the streets when we came here,” Arie confirmed. “So they must have put them up this afternoon.”
Lord Riis huffed out a breath. “Let us get a drink. Other, more important things have happened since you left Frostveil Castle, and we have much to discuss.”
They moved back into the sitting room, but instead of sitting, Luccan went right to the bar and poured his father a small glass of Dragon Fire.
“Me too,” Thantrel shouted from where he lounged, one leg thrown over the arm of the chair, close to the fire. Across from Than, Duran perched, looking anxious in Luccan’s home, though Duran had been here many times.
“Get it yourself.” Luccan held up the glass he had poured for Father. “My hands are full.”
Air swirled, and the glass lifted from his hand on a bed of air to travel to the Head of House Riis. Luccan hid his amusement. Though it was the weakest of Thantrel’s powers, air magic was dead useful at times.
Luccan turned to pour two more glasses. Thantrel lifted those as well and distributed them to Arie and Duran. The dwarf took the elegant glass in his misshapen hands and sipped, pulling a face as he did so.
Luccan carried the last two glasses back, handed one to Thantrel and took the final for himself, settling into a seat next to Arie.
“What happened, Father?” Arie asked.
“The Courting Festival should be long over. King Magnus has dragged it out,” Lord Riis said and paused to sip his drink. “There’s a reason for that. One Vale told me before he left.”
He explained to his sons that King Magnus was searching for a lost Hallow—the Ice Scepter.
The king believed a noble house possessed it, and had thought that house would bring it to Avaldenn, if only so the Crown Drassil growing in the heart of the castle could bless the Hallow.
That had not happened. It seemed that no one was in possession of the Hallow, a fact that, Lord Riis was sure, was infuriating the king.
“He thought we had it?” Arie asked in the middle of the story.
“He did,” their father replied. “Vale, who was aware of the plan all along, did not. Hence, he told me. Smart lad, as only those with Winter’s blood can wield it.”
Their house, so newly raised in society, had not a drop of Winter’s blood. On the back of that revelation came another. The idea of finding the Ice Scepter had to be part of the reason Vale had acted so oddly of late.
“I believe the king was setting the poor matches partly to punish those he did not agree with,” Leyv Riis continued, “and partly to force the holder of the Ice Scepter’s hand.
After all, with Winter’s magic in upheaval, he was not wrong to believe that the holder would bring the Scepter to court and ask for a blessing before the Crown Drassil. ”
“Wouldn’t that establish them as royal?” Luccan asked, trying his best to assimilate the information his father had known for weeks.
“It is one sign of legitimacy.” Lord Riis gave a nod. “However, now that Neve’s truth is out, whoever holds the Ice Scepter will have another person to contend with.”
“You all knew about her?” Duran’s voice was small as he stared at the group. “She’s really a Falk?”
“Are you surprised?” Thantrel asked, olive eyes shrewd. “You made the Liar’s Salvation for her. Didn’t you ask what it was for?”
“I tried, but they wouldn’t tell me. Vale asked for a favor, and I granted it. He’s a friend.”
And that was that. Dwarves were loyal down to their bones.
“She is a Falk. Born Isolde Falk, as the king said.” Lord Riis drank the last of his Dragon Fire and set the glass down. “Now that the king knows who she is, though, he will hunt her. Vale and Neve cannot return to Avaldenn, and I wish for you, my sons, to leave as well.”
Luccan gaped, and his brothers mirrored his expression.
“Father, the king will be furious if we leave. And we cannot leave you here too,” Arie countered.
“I will take care of myself,” Lord Riis replied. “Besides, you will not be the only ones leaving.”
“Of course we’re taking Duran,” Luccan said.
“Him yes.” The Lord of Tongues cleared his throat.
“But my spiders tell me that other houses are leaving Avaldenn as we speak. The Virtoris family sailed home after the scene in the throne room. I have heard whispers that the Armenils and Baliks plan to move tonight. The Courting Festival has gone on too long, and it has not gone their way. Many great houses are angry with the king, and more pressing, they do not wish for their families to be kept here if Neve claims the throne and Magnus declares war. That, more than anything, tells me of their loyalties, which is something we can use.”
“You didn’t mention their leaving to the king?” Thantrel asked.
“Not until you all are gone and safe.” The spymaster arched an eyebrow.
He knew full well that when they left, they’d not be using the city gates, but the king did not and the spymaster wanted his sons far from harm’s way as quickly as possible.
With the potential for war upon them, keeping Luccan’s gateways a secret had become more important than ever.
“And then there is the matter that if Neve is to claim her title, she will need allies. Some of those houses might be sympathetic to her. Specifically, the Great House of the North. Queen Revna’s mother was an Armenil. ”
“The pack endures,” Luccan spoke the house words of the far north, a way of saying that if the Armenils stuck together, they’d prevail. In the long history of the great house, those words had always been true.
“And where the Armenils ally, the Baliks are likely to follow,” Arie whispered. “They’re so connected.”
“Yes,” Lord Riis agreed. “As for House Virtoris, I believe that Lady Fayeth would not take much convincing to side with Princess Neve. Not after the disrespect that King Magnus has shown her children. They are likely the safest from war as well—with their impressive armada to protect their island, no one will attempt to sail their way.”
“A war of houses is on the horizon then,” Thantrel said, his tone hollow.
“I fear so, and we have already claimed our side.” Lord Riis leaned forward and placed his elbows on his knees. “We are all in agreement there, my sons?”
No one spoke, and though he believed in what his father said, Luccan’s heart pounded in his chest. War. They’d all been too young—or in the case of Thantrel, not even born—during the White Bear’s Rebellion.
And yet, there was no way Luccan would side with King Magnus over Vale.
“For Vale and Neve,” he said, and his brothers echoed him, Duran’s voice joining in with devotion.
“Very good.” Lord Riis stood and wiped his hands on his trousers.
“I wish for you to gather weapons, whatever effects are most important to you, and leave for Riis Tower now. From there, you will take Clemencia with you—she is too associated with Princess Neve to remain safe, and join Prince Vale, Neve, Sir Caelo, and Anna.”
Luccan’s eyebrows knitted together. “Wouldn’t it be smarter to wait until they return to our Tower? Surely they will, if only to rest after their travels.”
Lord Riis gave a sly smile. “I would not wish for them to come so close to Staghorn Castle. House Vagle will ally with King Magnus, so we must intercept Neve long before she arrives at the Tower and keep her safe.”
“But how?” Luccan was a gatemaker, and given enough time, might make a gateway to anywhere. That was useless, though, if he did not know where the others were.
“This map will tell you where they are.” Lord Riis pulled a piece of parchment from his pocket. “Right now, they’re in Vitvik. Move quickly, using the gateways you’ve already established, Luccan. I will join you when I can.”
Luccan ignored the utter look of shock on Duran’s face when his father admitted he was a gatemaker. He took the parchment and opened it.
On the map of Winter’s Realm, a dot of red that looked like blood glowed in Vitvik. Three other dots glowed in Avaldenn. Small names hovered above the dots. Vale’s was in Vitvik.
“And these are us?” Luccan pointed to the dots in Avaldenn, clearly labeled with his name and that of his brothers’.
“Obviously,” Lord Riis said. “I gave Vale a potion with his wine while he was in Riis Tower. One that would allow me to follow his progress. He disappeared for a time in the mountains of the southwest, which I cannot explain; however, he reappeared a couple of days ago.”
“And you’ve given us the potion at some point,” Arie muttered, annoyed.
“You’re my sons, I have a right to know where you are. Some of you needed supervision.” His lips curled slightly as he cast a side glance at Thantrel.
“I don’t see twenty other dots on the map,” Arie shot back. “And the Fates know you have a few daughters that should be monitored at all times.”
Luccan bit back a laugh, knowing exactly the half-sisters that Arie referred to. Triplets who thrived on a touch of chaos. The sisters had been terrorizing the city of Grindavik practically since the day they’d emerged kicking and screaming from the womb.
“The mothers of my other children would not allow my monitoring,” Lord Riis replied. “I can respect that, and all that matters is that you are safe, and you can find Vale.”
“But how will you find us if we take this?” Luccan asked.
“I’m the spymaster for a reason, son. Trust, I will find you.”
Luccan folded the parchment back up and stood. “Then I suppose we should get going. Duran, come with me. I’ll get you a weapon and clothing. Brothers, meet me downstairs when you’re ready.”
The brothers Riis and Duran left the spymaster in the sitting room, standing before the fire, staring at the flames.