16. Keira #3
“Truth Templars!” Jasper spits from where he leans against a column, just outside the group. “I loathe that name. They only care about their own fabricated version of the truth. They twist reality so much that they believe their own lies. They are nothing but gangsters.”
A deep sadness rolls through me. They never should have been left to deal with this alone.
“We will stop them. We must,” I promise, but it doesn’t seem enough.
“Is there a large Winter community in the City of Vertical Gardens? It doesn’t seem right that they have to abandon the lives they have built here to remain safe. ”
Drake scratches his chin. “After the war many refugees fled from Winter to Spring, because even though they had been enemies, the living conditions were much better here.”
“We were thrust into bankruptcy.” Sasha’s eyes are glazed.
“There was famine—too much land was ravished by war and too many farmers died fighting, and no one planted seeds for the future. After my uncle was slain, my cousin Erik built our court back up to the functional, thriving state it is today, but the road was long and hard.”
Rainier joins Sasha at her side, picking up the narrative when her words falter.
“Aldrin sponsored a program that helped bring many orphans from Winter to Spring, placing them in good families and giving an allowance to raise the child to any who might not be able to afford it. He also helped widowed mothers migrate here with their children. For some reason, the fae of the Spring Court have far more difficulty reproducing than those of Winter.”
I suddenly appreciate the gravity of Silvan’s mother fleeing here after the war, alone with a small babe. How he identifies as a citizen of Spring, who helped them, one of the reasons he is so loyal to Aldrin.
The smallest smile forms on Rainier’s face, and my heart skips a beat because I know what he is going to say.
“You have probably noticed I look nothing like either of my parents, because I was one of those orphans, adopted by Spring nobles who couldn’t have children.
” He turns to Drake, his true father, and they share such a warm, loving look it makes my heart melt.
“I have always wondered if I was a forbidden love child between soldiers of warring sides, considering my hair is the white of Winter and my skin is the deep tan of Spring. I have no recollection of my birth parents, considering I was only days old when I was given away, but I think it is better that way.”
Sasha wipes a tear from her eye. “They were harsh times. Families were torn apart. I don’t like to dwell on the loved ones I lost to that war. It pains me to see history repeating, and Winter families being destroyed here and now.”
Deep shame fills me. “I am so sorry. We had no idea any of this was happening.” I glance desperately to Drake. “Aldrin has no idea.”
“We knew she was mismanaging the court to fill her own pockets, and that she did nothing to counter the corruption, but not that things had deteriorated this much since the last time we were in the capital,” Drake agrees.
“We spent a year in the human realm to fight Finan and win the trade and migration agreement we needed,” I say.
“That’s three years here with the way time moves differently across realms.” All eyes fall on me.
By the gods, it is hard to resist the urge to apologize profusely for tying up Aldrin and his people in what felt like my fight.
“A lot has changed since then, and nothing at all,” Jasper grumbles.
“After Titania hired the Assassins of Belladonna to kill Aldrin, she shed any reservations that held her back. Things she did in the shadows before, acts we only suspected, became atrocities she committed before all, without a hint of shame. It was like she had already written him off as dead, and believed no one else could challenge her.”
“The High Chancellor terrorizes the low fae as well.” Juniper’s quiet voice slices through the conversation.
“She claims they are lazy and the fact they are diminishing under the rot of the corruption is their own fault. That they want high fae to expend their power restoring lands that they aren’t taking care of.
Accusations are spread that their children are dying from neglect, and not from fading magic.
Every so often she will put randomly selected low fae on trial to solidify this point.
They are always executed publicly in the end.
Their businesses and homes in the city are also burned down in the night, just not at the rate of those of the Winter migrants. ”
“Surely the masses don’t believe this? Anyone can travel the court to know the truth!
” I don’t mean to raise my voice. I am so fucking tired of the pain caused by one woman’s hunger for power.
I clench my fists so tight my nails dig painfully into my palms, likely drawing blood.
I almost shake with the unrestrained anger that churns through me.
Juniper scrunches up her delicate nose. “Some people will believe any propaganda that tells them they are the superior race. Born better than everyone else, by no effort or achievement of their own. That puts the blame of their shortcomings on someone else’s shoulders.
That allows them to delude themselves into thinking they deserve more rights than others.
Some people love convenient lies. They will do anything to protect them, even when they make little rational sense.
Unfortunately, that radicalized minority of high fae have the loudest voices and the most destructive actions, making the rest cower.
I believe the majority are on our side, your side, but they are not organized as the Truth Templars are. ”
She glances at Rainier, then back at me.
“My mother holds the seat in the Senate that represents the low fae interests, as she is half tree nymph, but she is weak. Afraid to speak out. All I can do is try to make up for her failings. I am very aware of the fact that both Rainier and I are immune from the persecution of our people because we have grown up a part of the Spring Court nobility.”
“And what of the humans?” I ask, remembering derogatory comments Titania made on the journey to the City of Vertical Gardens. A telling silence greets me. “How have the humans fared in the capital under the High Chancellor’s rule?” My voice wavers as panic flares within me.
Both Rainier and Juniper look away. Sasha’s lip wobbles, but she says nothing. Drake’s eyes are wide, glancing between each person, the color draining from his face as realization dawns.
It is Jasper who runs a hand over his face and finally speaks.
“In truth, nobody knows. One night, almost three years ago, she had the Truth Templars and Wildrose Guard round up every single human in the city and transport them out through portals. None were ever accounted for after that, and the druid communities in this court searched high and low for their people. We don’t know if they were sent to camps or exiled from the court, or if she merely had them all slaughtered as soon as they were out of sight.
Their homes, their communities—they became abandoned ghost towns.
Dinner still laid out on their tables. Clothes in their drawers.
Nothing packed for a journey. It is not how people are moved on from a place peacefully. ”
“How can this happen? Why did no one stop her?” My blood boils as it races through me. My magic sparks within my fingertips, but there is no one here to unleash all my seething rage upon.
Jasper lets out a shaky breath. “It was her first open act of tyranny. Before that, she wore a mask of the benevolent ruler before the court. Fae watched the proceedings in the streets, but there was so much confusion they didn’t understand what was happening until it was too late.
” He shakes his head, as though to clear the horrid memories.
“Titania claimed they were criminals being flushed out of the city, and we were naive enough to believe her. She made sure my Royal Guard was out of the capital when this happened, because no matter what, she never quite trusts us. This is another failure of this court that I hold myself and many others responsible for.”
Drake curses profusely under his breath.A tear drops from my eye as I visualize all those scared people being herded to some unknown doom by vicious force, and how we were a realm away when they needed us.
“No more,” I growl as I hold each of their gazes in turn.
“No fucking more. This stops now. All of it. There is untapped power in the masses. Those who don’t agree with Titania and her brutal ways, but don’t know where to turn to stop her.
I intend to be a rallying point. To organize my people into a force to be reckoned with and empower them.
But to do that I need to be able to speak to them en masse.
Are there trade guild halls or large taverns where people gather and we can target the politically minded?
We need to work out which groups are the most disgruntled under Titania’s rule. ”
Pride flickers in Drake’s eyes as he watches me. Both Rainier and Juniper perk up at the suggestion. Did they not think I would be willing to put my neck on the line for my people?
It is Jasper who comes forward. “There is a meeting at the merchants’ guild hall tomorrow night.
One that is somewhat rebellious in nature.
Some of my guards are working as unofficial security at the event.
These traders specialize in imports and they have a lot of suspicions about the food shortages and Titania’s hand in them.
These merchants are taking a huge risk in having such discussions behind her back, and they are ripe for the picking.
It is a good place to start. They will be amenable to what you have to say. ”
“Make it happen, Jasper,” I say. “This is an opportunity too good to miss.”
Rainier’s scrutinizing gaze never leaves me. “What makes you think you can leave the palace? Does the bargain you made with Titania not hold you here as her prisoner?”
“Has she not already twisted and warped its bounds? Let’s see if we can do the same. I must test the limits of the bargain.” I smile at him. “Besides, I made an oath against escaping her, but I am merely suggesting going for a walk, with every intention of returning.”
Rainier opens his mouth to say more, but muffled voices ring out from the warded doorway at the far end of the hall, drawing our attention.
My heart stutters to a stop. Have we been discovered by Titania’s agents?
Drake places an arm around my shoulders and leads me toward the entrance. “Did I forget to mention that I planned a little surprise for you?”
I don’t get a chance to ask. The milky barrier of the ward breaks, the swirling mists part—and my father steps through.
I stare at him, stunned, for several seconds, then I am running and laughing and colliding with him as he wraps his arms tightly around me, almost knocking us both to the ground.
My father wipes tears from his eyes, but he doesn’t let go of me. “Why are you always the one who makes all the trouble?” he growls in my ear, then laughs. “You were such an easy child.”
“I guess I have to make up for it now.” I cling to him, suddenly that little girl again, all her problems melting away because he is here. “Why? Why did you travel here when you know it is so dangerous for our family?”
He pulls away from me. “Why? I would march an army to the end of the universe to protect you, that is why. Did I not prove that when I upended the North in open rebellion because that mad king wanted to take you?”
“Enough, Edmund. Let me see her.”
My mother’s voice has me whirling with shock. She places both hands on my face, touches my arms and adjusts my dress, all while tutting.
“My poor child. I dare say you have been through a lot.” Her cold fingers run through my hair, fixing it. All her fussing fills my chest with growing warmth. This is as affectionate as my mother gets. It is how she protects and shows her love. Then she shocks me by pulling me into a quick embrace.
“Mother, you should have stayed away.” My voice breaks. “Titania wants you as a hostage too, and I can’t allow that.”
“Nonsense. It will take more than an army to regain your throne.” She places a hand on my cheek.
“We need clever political maneuvering to win the support of the people and nobility before descending into violence—though I do agree both will be necessary. Luckily, this is my greatest skill, and I am here to advise you. My king has appointed me as the fae ambassador. And your father…” She glances at him with affection.
“He will wave his sword around and command his army to keep you safe, as he does best.”
“And burn things,” he grunts in reply.
For the first time in days, I can finally take in a full breath.
Behind my mother, Cyprien stalks toward me like a riled-up cat. The sight of him is a beacon of hope, and I smile broadly, opening my mouth to greet him. I only take a single step in his direction before he descends on me, grabbing me by the shoulders.
Cyprien holds me close and scrutinizes every line of my face. He looks haggard, his lips twisted downward and deep, dark grooves beneath his eyes. “How does he fare? Tell me he is alive and I don’t need to slaughter a league of assassins.”
I realize with horror that he is looking for signs of grief on me. “He lives, and he is coming for this court with a dark army at his back.”
Cyprien lets out a long, heavy breath and tips his face up to the ceiling. “Well, thank fuck for that.”