Chapter 15
Fifteen
NEGOTIATION
The princess’s friendly manner was immediate and disarming in its sincerity, and I found myself smiling without effort. I couldn’t sense any ill will in her whatsoever. Did she not know who we were?
The king’s gaze ran up and down the beautiful princess. His smooth voice interjected, “I don’t believe we have been formally introduced.”
Sophie took another step forward, but Gregory rushed to her side.
Huffing urgently, he tugged her behind him, as if to shield her. “Don’t get any closer to him.” His tense gaze slid toward us, but didn’t land on the king, almost as if he couldn’t stomach the sight of his face. “This is my sister, Princess Sophie.”
The Wicked King needed no introduction. He wasn’t in the least daunted by Gregory’s hostility. He gestured to me. “This is my witch, Allie.”
Exasperated, I resisted rolling my eyes. “Your Highnesses.” I sank into a low curtsy. “I’m not a witch. I assure you, those allegations are absolutely unfounded. I’m actually a scientist.”
Gregory’s gaze found me again and lingered as he inclined his head slightly. “Ah, indeed? I happen to be a very enthusiastic patron of the sciences. Lucerne houses the best observatory in all the land. A great telescope crowns one of our highest towers.”
Eyes widening, I couldn’t hide my eager curiosity. “Oh, I would so love to see it.”
“Then I would be happy to arrange a visit.” Gregory smiled properly then, warmth replacing his earlier mistrust—at least of me.
Interest flickered there, unmistakable, though carefully contained beneath the discipline of courtesy.
“If time permits, I would be more than happy to accompany you. I promise you will see the stars in a way you’ve never imagined. It makes the world feel… larger.”
“That sounds lovely.” I beamed.
The air shifted, the moment breaking cleanly, as a shadow fell on me when the king moved. He nudged me back this time, as if to shield me. His face was even darker than before.
Determined, I elbowed my way back in front of him, giving Sophie and Gregory another smile.
“Apologies, Your Royal Highnesses, this wasn’t how this morning was supposed to go.
We haven’t yet had a chance to communicate our reason for this visit.
In truth, His Majesty has come to Lucerne to ask for your help. ”
The king’s face twitched. He grabbed my elbow, likely to protest, but I shrugged him off.
Gregory’s sharp gaze darted back and forth between the Wicked King and me. It seemed he was struggling to reconcile my sincerity with the king’s obvious displeasure. “Ask for our help? How? By destroying our kingdom?”
The king hissed in offense. Before he could launch himself in anger, I caught his arm to pull him back.
His blue eyes, like daggers, shot back at me in indignation. “What the hell do you think you’re—?”
I shot him a pointed look and snapped, “Who’s negotiating? You or me?”
Like a lit match and a gust of wind, the wild rage in the king’s face blew out in an instant. Huffing, he spun to one side and folded his arms across his chest.
I let out a soft breath and glanced back at Sophie and Gregory.
“You’ll have to forgive His Royal Majesty.
His presence here sets an entirely new precedent for his court.
We are hoping to re-establish diplomacy for all of the kingdom’s future dealings.
” I gestured vaguely to our surroundings.
“I assure you, Your Highnesses, the phenomenon this morning was not His Majesty’s doing.
We are as puzzled as you over what just happened here. ”
Gregory’s forehead was still creased in apprehension.
Sophie’s eyes were wide. Surprise? Amusement?
I didn’t want to go into whether or not he was truly responsible for any atrocities committed against other kingdoms in the past eight months.
With the destruction caused by the phenomenon this morning in Lucerne alone, it was more important to get to the bottom of things and prevent any future catastrophes.
“Though we do have a query that appears to be related. In fact, I have a feeling it’s exactly the matter for which we have come to ask for your assistance.
Have you heard of any similar occurrences, much like this morning’s, happening elsewhere in or around your kingdom?
” I gave Gregory my best imploring look.
“We’re wishing to explore working with you to get to the bottom of what is going on. For the good of all of Wünder.”
His eyes narrowed for a moment. “Diplomatic matters must go through the royal council. I shall convene the table as soon as I can.”
I lowered my head. “Thank you, Your Highness. I sincerely hope you find our proposal agreeable.”
Gregory gave me another brief, assessing look, obviously unsure what to make of me, then he turned to his sister. “Come, Sophie.”
Sophie’s gaze had been pinned on the king. “What?” Her green eyes were glazed, nearly mesmerized.
I tamped down a chuckle.
I had seen it before—and often. There was truly no woman across the Land of Wünder who could resist the king’s magnetic appeal, especially when they were in close proximity to him.
His particular talents had often come in handy when he was an assassin.
I imagined they had also served him well on many occasions since then.
Not many people knew it was truly a kind of spell. It simply came with his powers, though I had never been able to confirm whether or not it was something he could control. Like a tap he could turn on or off.
For that matter, I certainly wasn’t the best judge to begin with.
The king was still turned away, eyebrows furrowed, arms still crossed over his chest. His chiseled jaw, tall figure, and broad shoulders were even more striking in profile.
Gregory’s hand thumped on Sophie’s shoulder. “We have many things to attend to.”
“Oh, of course.” Sophie blinked, still a bit flustered, and gathered up her skirts. “I must see to the injured immediately.”
“Is there anything we can do to help?” I offered.
Gregory’s eyes narrowed again. He was absolutely not under any illusion that the Wicked King would be so charitably inclined.
Following Gregory’s gaze, I glanced up at the king. He barely showed signs that he knew we were all still in his presence. “Um, I mean, I…” I corrected. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Why, that would be most appreciated.” Sophie’s eyes lit up. “And I would be honored to show you our beautiful kingdom along the way.”
I smiled. “The honor would be mine, Your Highness.”
To this, it seemed Gregory had no objections. He merely shrugged and turned to go.
“Lovely!” Sophie reached for my hand. “Come, we shall start at the terraced lift districts.”
The king gripped my arm.
I flashed him an expectant look. “What?” Looking back, I cast Sophie a weak smile. “I’ll be right there.”
“Is it your goal to undermine me in front of this kingdom?” His glower was fierce, but nothing I wasn’t used to by now.
I shrugged his hand off yet again. “It is my goal that nobody else gets killed for no good reason—especially if they’re innocent.”
“These people are not innocent,” he hissed.
I put my face in his to mutter under my breath, “Look, Gregory and Sophie were just as shocked at what happened this morning. I could feel it. And isn’t that the reason why I came here in the first place?
To feel all this out?” I tilted my head to concede at least one thing.
“Though I think you were right—someone in Lucerne is responsible for all these things. But it is not Gregory or Sophie. What matters now is that we find who is actually responsible before things get any worse.”
“Miss Allie,” Sophie called out.
“I have to go.” I raised an eyebrow. “Unless you actually would like to join us to help other people? This would, of course, involve helping other people.”
The irate, suffering look in the king’s sharp eyes served as his response. With another huff, he spun and left.
The great liftworks that normally moved with seamless precision groaned in strained, broken rhythms, their gears misaligned and their cables hanging slack.
Blowing out a puff of breath, I tucked my cloak closer around me to stave off the crisp, cold mountain air.
Against the crumbled mountainside, workers on scaffolds were already performing repairs while others were still inspecting the landslips for casualties.
The princess had been right. This was the area that had received the most damage from the morning’s chaos. She certainly knew her kingdom and her people well.
Situated beneath the canvas tent, which had been raised at the edge of the damage, rows of simple cots held the injured in varying states of recovery.
It was a relief that there didn’t seem to be any serious injuries or deaths, though there were enough casualties—cuts, bruises, and the lingering shock of near disaster.
Sophie moved among them, unwavering, her hands glowing faintly as she knelt beside each patient, knitting wounds, wrapping bandages for deeper cuts, and calming the fear that clung beneath the surface, lifting their spirits and tireless in her efforts to comfort them.
I could only watch the princess work her magic in awe.
When we were inspecting the land slips earlier, with my limited abilities, I had been able to help detect and retrieve a few trapped workers beneath fallen rocks. But that was all.
You are truly not one of us. The only reason you have any use at all is that you wear my mystical heart.
My stance shifted instinctively, my fingers already reaching into my pockets for the vials of herbs I’d brought with me. I found a corner table and set to work concocting a small batch. Borrowed magic was not all I had to offer.
Sophie looked up at me with something soft and bright in her expression. “Are you creating a potion?”
I ground the herbs in the bowl. “It’s for easing pain. I hope it helps.”