Chapter 16 #2
“Dallaida is protective of her borders. It’s as unacceptable for someone to visit the Nasties uninvited as it would be for them to come to the upper levels without permission.
The one time I showed up without sending Dallaida a letter in advance, her creatures attacked me, too.
” He shook his head. “It wasn’t personal.
You violated a taboo, so she did what she felt she had to. I’ll smooth it over.”
My face was beginning to feel hot. “I didn’t know there was a taboo.” Another area of ignorance revealed.
Hector spoke up. “When no one teaches us, we learn by attempting.”
It was strange to be offered comfort by the Void prince—if that matter-of-fact statement even counted as comfort. It made me think of what Kallen had said about him: that once something was done, it was done, and Hector saw no point in dwelling on what else could have happened.
“I do question whether Dallaida is trustworthy,” Hector continued, switching his attention to Drustan.
“Why?” Drustan asked, crossing his arms. “Because she’s my ally and not yours?”
Hector’s smile was thin. “Because she’s notoriously violent and unpredictable and has taken to calling herself a queen. The Nasties have been stewing in resentment for centuries. Don’t you think they might enjoy a taste of fresh air again? Perhaps the taste of vengeance?”
I realized I had no idea why Dallaida had been helping Drustan, other than her hatred for Osric. “Did you promise Dallaida something in exchange for the use of her soldiers?” I asked.
Every eye in the room fixed on Drustan.
He sighed. “As you have intuited, she craves more freedom for her people. The opportunity to begin reintegrating into Fae society in some limited way, as well as access to the world above.”
“Nasties roaming the corridors?” Lara sounded appalled.
The prospect was disturbing, but they had fought beside us in the throne room.
I thought about the golden snake who had protected me and the uncovered corpses of the Nasties who had been killed trying to overthrow Osric.
None of us were defined by the leaders we served, and their leader hadn’t even led them in the battle she’d sent them to die in.
“They deserve something,” I said. “I just don’t trust Dallaida. ”
“We can decide where and when they’re allowed freedom.” Drustan looked at me with a serious expression. “You should know she originally asked for ownership of Blood House. I obviously refused.”
The revelation knocked the breath from me. “She wants my house? How would that even be possible?”
“If no magic-wielding Noble Fae are left in a house, the ruler of Mistei may petition the Shards to gift that house to another. It’s an archaic law, one which has never been invoked. The one time it was applicable, Osric chose annihilation instead.”
A chill raced over me. “She wants you to kill me, then give her the house.” And they’d have to kill more than just me. Lara didn’t have magic, but the five Earth House deserters did.
“I refused even before you became princess. The last thing we need is for the Nasties to gain a stronghold on our levels or access to whatever weapons or gold Blood House kept locked away.” Drustan’s gaze was unflinching, like he was willing me to see the truth in his eyes.
“Blood House is not on the table, Kenna. I promise you that. At this point, we’re negotiating for shared events, some free passage through Mistei on certain days, and possibly ownership of territory aboveground. Nothing more.”
Drustan had lost my trust when he turned on Selwyn, but I actually believed him. Not just because he looked and sounded adamant, but because he’d brought the issue up to begin with. There was no strategic reason to do that if he meant to offer Blood House to Dallaida.
I pressed a hand over my fast-beating heart, then nodded. “All right.”
Drustan returned my nod. “All right,” he echoed quietly.
“That is a dangerous door to open, no matter what,” Hector said.
“Yes,” Drustan agreed. “But before Kenna gained her powers, I believed the Nasties were the only ones who could slay Osric.” His gaze swept around the table.
“If Dallaida refuses to accept any constraints on her power or movements once the war is done, I will take care of it. This may only be an alliance for a season.”
He would use the Queen of the Nasties for her soldiers, then turn on her if she wanted more than he was willing to offer.
It would be yet another betrayal to add to Drustan’s list, but I couldn’t fault him for this one—so long as he didn’t treat all her people the same.
“If you’re thinking about her that way,” I said, “she’s probably thinking about you that way as well. ”
Kallen slid me an approving look. Perhaps I was getting better at politics.
Drustan chuckled. “Oh, she certainly is. Dallaida’s appetite is endless.
But I’m her best chance at breaking her creatures free, so she will entertain me for a while.
Then it will be a matter of who is cleverest at forcing the outcome they want, and if that falls apart, it will come down to who is fastest and most determined to win.
” He met my eyes again. “Which will always be me.”
“We needn’t rely solely on her,” Hector said. “Queen Briar is sending shipments of liquid fire, and she can likely be persuaded to send troops in exchange for more favorable tariffs and a mutual defense promise.”
Drustan’s fists clenched on the table. “You’re negotiating with a foreign power without consulting us?” His voice lashed like a whip.
Hector leaned back in his chair, spreading his arms. “I’m consulting you now, aren’t I? I brought Briar’s latest terms for us to discuss.” He reached into his black tunic, then pulled out a scroll and slapped it on the table.
“Who is Queen Briar?” I asked. Lara looked as lost as I was.
Kallen explained. “Elsmere’s new monarch as of a month ago.
Her father, King Godwin, grew tired of ruling and selected her over her older siblings.
She’s a controversial choice because of her age, but she’s popular among the lesser nobles in particular, and she doesn’t lack ambition.
We were in negotiations with her father for years, but she has a much better appreciation of the urgency of our cause. ”
Elsmere was a faerie kingdom located in the country of Lindwic, to the west and south of Enterra—and Kallen had learned they were seeking new leadership from me after I’d eavesdropped on Drustan and Gweneira.
“Yes, you were whispering in Briar’s ear at Beltane, weren’t you?” Drustan asked, still looking irritated. “How did you learn of that power change before it happened?”
“One of my spies,” Kallen said, not so much as glancing at me.
Gweneira cocked her head like an inquisitive bird. “I thought I was the only one who knew about it. The information didn’t leave Godwin’s inner circle until after Beltane.”
“Then how did you learn it?” Kallen asked.
Her smile was small and secretive. “I have my sources, same as you have yours.”
The meeting quickly veered into territory I couldn’t understand.
Tariffs, trade routes, agreements of mutual defense against places I’d never heard of.
The only taxes I knew much about were the ones my mother and I had been forced to pay for the upkeep of Tumbledown’s temple.
I didn’t know how countries traded with one another or arranged for military defense or… any of it.
Useless , I thought, hating myself for it. But Lara looked equally overwhelmed as she scribbled notes, and I would never call her useless, so I tried to reframe my thinking. Politics, warfare, and economics could be learned, like anything else.
Assuming I had time to learn. Our enemies were clearly targeting the weakest link in this alliance, and I didn’t know when they might try to kill me again.