“Fiona’s father is the hand to the King,” Quinn said. “He betrayed the Cormacs to put your father in power. If the Cormacs took back their throne, he would be one of the first dead.”
“The three of you could still survive,” Darby insisted. “Your parents may not survive their sins, but Flynn wouldn’t take it out on you. I know him—a little bit at least.”
They both looked at her.
“Okay, I don’t know him very well. But from what I do know of him, he is not ruthless. Not like my father.”
“He’s clearly after power in some way,” Brielle pointed out. “And who knows what he would do to get it. How can you give him any sort of benefit of the doubt?”
Darby sighed, unable to find the words to explain to them. “I believe you can both survive him. Fiona too. I just—I can feel it about him. He’s different. Me, on the other hand—in his mind, it’s me or him. There is no peace. There is no talk of peace. He told me himself, and his sister confirmed it.”
“If that’s the case,” Quinn said, “then we’re all in this together. If he kills our future queen, he can’t expect us to ever trust him, nor could he trust us.”
Darby shook her head. “No, no—he needs the three of you. You could broker deals with him. I won’t even be surprised if he tries to turn one of you, or if he has already.”
“So that’s it,” Brielle said in her appalled voice. “You think one of us has either already turned on you, or is going to turn on you.”
“And that’s why Griffin is spying on us,” Quinn concluded. “Not because you told him to, but because you were suspicious of us turning on you. How could you think that, Darby? Really? After everything that the two—three—of us have stood by you for. Your brother’s death, your process of becoming the heir apparent. We were there for you every step of the way. And now you don’t trust us?”
“You guys are potential weapons against me,” Darby said. “Can’t you see that?”
“We can’t be weapons unless we let ourselves be weapons,” Quinn said. “What makes you think any of us would ever choose that?”
“I don’t know, okay?” Darby said. “It’s not that I think you would. It’s just—the Fitzgerald name is at risk. If you are not a Fitzgerald, and there’s an opportunity to save yourself, exchange your support for your family’s pardon… I don’t know. It’s a possibility. And I have to protect my family.”
“Why does Griffin have your trust then?” Brielle asked. “What’s the difference? He’s no Fitzgerald.”
“Is it because he’s in love with you?” Quinn asked.
Darby sighed. “No, he’s not in love with me. He—you both know he’s torn up about what happened to my half-brother. He’s become an overprotective big brother to me as a result.”
“Come on,” Brielle said. “He’s in love with you and you know it.”
Darby didn’t, and she hadn’t known. But she couldn’t think about that now, whether it was true or not.
“My uncle Kerr trusts him too,” Darby admitted. “That’s why I trusted him.”
“Kerr trusts him because everyone can see that he’s in love with you,” Brielle pointed out. “He knows that Griffin would give his life for you. Anyone can see that on his face.”
Darby shook her head. “That’s not the point.”
“Yeah,” Quinn said sadly, “the point is that you don’t trust us.”
“That’s the thing,” Darby said quietly. “I do trust you. Both of you. But this situation is making me feel crazy, like I can’t trust anyone or anything. I thought the Cormac family was gone, but they’re not. And then I thought the school was safe, and it wasn’t. And then I thought I had nailed my earth faerie assessments but I got manipulated into choking myself with vines. And now—”
Darby hesitated. Professor Simmer had said she could tell her household about the spy school. But should she?
“Now what?” Brielle asked.
Quinn’s breathing quickened, as if she were waiting for an important decision.
Darby sighed. “The envelope I received yesterday. It was an invitation to take another assessment, this one for the Botânico Program. I’d be training to be a spy for the Alliance of Faeries when I graduate.”
“Instead of queen of the leprechauns?” Quinn asked.
“No, in addition to it.”
“A spy,” Brielle said slowly. “Wow. I never pictured you as a spy.”
“Me either,” Darby said. “But the professors who run it are the exact ones my uncle asked me get to know. And last night I found out why. If I can get into the program, and if I can complete it, I’ll probably be able to secure my throne and elevate the leprechauns’ standing in the Alliance. This program is highly respected and the positions I would hold afterward would make me much more powerful amongst the faeries and in the Archworld.”
Quinn looked surprised. She sat down. “Then you have to do it.”
Darby nodded. “The King and Queen couldn’t tell me this was what they wanted for me, but it’s clear that they intended to set me up for the possibility, at least.” She sat down next to her friend. “But there are… challenges. Flynn and Teagan Cormac are in the running, and so is Ming Mei Li. And several others. And they only have three spots.”
Quinn thought for a minute. “That means that if Flynn or Teagan gets it and you don’t, they could become more attractive to the other faerie clans as a leader of the leprechauns.”
“Flynn will get it,” she said dully. “He’s really good. I hate to admit that, but he is.”
Brielle shrugged, sitting down next to them. “That only means that you have to get it too.”
Quinn nodded, agreeing.
Darby shook her head. “I can’t even figure out the first clue.”
“Let’s see it,” Brielle said, holding out her hand.
She took a deep breath, handing it over. It felt good to talk this through with her friends. She felt so much less alone. Watching the other two pore over her clue, listening to them both declare their unending support for her reign, hearing what they felt they had on the line if her family fell… it all made her feel ashamed that she had ever shut them out.
She thought for several minutes as they read over the clue, about how they could prove themselves to her, until she realized they couldn’t. They couldn’t prove what was in their hearts any more than she could prove her ability to lead and protect them.
Anyone in her household could turn on her and cause her downfall. Anyone, anywhere in the world could do so. She couldn’t prevent it, even by shutting them all out.
And she couldn’t shut them out anymore.
“I think I know what this means,” Brielle said.
Darby turned to her in surprise. Clues and riddles weren’t exactly Brielle’s interest or forté.
“By land, by air,” she said, reading the clue out loud. “The only thing we know of that can travel by land and by air at Alanza are the pegasi.”
Darby sat up straight. “Of course,” she said. “Brielle, you’re brilliant!”
“Shall we go now?” Quinn asked, standing up.
She shook her head. “The assessments for the pegasus stables are tomorrow afternoon. Ragna runs the stables, and I’m sure she’ll have hidden the clue somewhere in the assessment or on the stable grounds.”
“So you will try tomorrow,” Brielle said.
Darby nodded. “Thank you.” She looked between her two friends, seeing and feeling their true devotion to her in that moment.
She needed to trust them. She wanted to trust them.
And she would need them if she hoped to get into spy school.
8
The next morning, they burst into the hospital ward and found Fiona awake, finally, and—to Darby’s surprise—Professor Keoni Kane at Fiona’s bedside.
“Fiona!” Darby exclaimed. She and the other two ladies rushed to Fiona, engulfing her in hugs.
“Whoa,” Fiona said, laughing. “It’s good to see the three
of you. And I definitely need all the details of what’s happening at Alanza so far.”
The three of them spent several minutes talking about classes, people they had met, and places they had gone around the school.
Darby wanted to share everything that had happened to her, especially regarding Flynn, Mei Li, Teagan, and spy school, but stopped herself when she noticed that Professor Kane still sat gruffly on his stool on the other side of Fiona’s bed, clearly bored by their small talk.
“Hi, Professor,” Darby said. “What are you doing here?”
He stepped down from his stool. “I’m here as a representative of the earth faeries and liaison to the Alliance of Faeries in case this situation escalates. I’d like to be present to hear Fiona’s side of the story, in case we need to bring it to the Alliance.”
“I didn’t think the school cared about this incident,” Darby said. “I haven’t been able to get anyone to take it seriously.”
“Darby, I’m a former war general, and I know trouble brewing when I see it. Your father has already filed a complaint with both the school and the Alliance. Your uncle has also taken the matter to his network of higher-ups in America. I have contacts in California who are asking me about the incident, as I’m one of the few Americans among all the teachers and students at the school.”
“And the Dean,” Darby asked. “What does he think?”
“The Dean continues to call it a prank, but I have warned him that your family is very powerful and connected. He’s agreed to conduct a deeper investigation, especially after the incident with the vines yesterday, which, while also starting as a prank, could have caused significant damage to the heir apparent of the leprechauns. I understand you have not told your family about that yet?”
Darby shook her head. “I haven’t had the chance.” In truth, between the many assessments and the mystery of the clue, she hadn’t had much time to think about the vines incident.
“I plead with you, then—please don’t.”
Darby frowned at him.
“For now,” he amended. “I have met your father several times, Darby. We have shared drinks. And you and I both know that if you tell your father, he will take immediate, terrible, and permanent action against those he suspects. You have already lost one heir apparent, and he will stop at nothing to protect the rest of his family. But this action would be a mistake. It will send your family and your people into immediate war with the faerie clans he deems responsible, and the Alliance of Faeries will not support his kind of justice.”
Darby eyed her professor. “When I return to my father at the end of the week, I will tell him, unless something changes in the situation. It’s my duty. I will not stand by and cover up Alanza’s loose security policies from my King.”
Professor Kane dropped his eyes, nodding with understanding. “I have a few more days then to conduct a thorough and fair investigation. Thank you.”
“Fiona,” Griffin prompted. “Can you tell us what happened?”
Quinn frowned. “If you need time, we understand.”
“No,” Fiona said. “I’m ready. I know how much the Fitzgeralds need the information.” She took a deep breath. “When we first landed, everything was in chaos, trying to set up our household late in the day combined with getting ready for the presenting ceremony. I received a letter among my packages from one of the maids. The letter said the Dean needed to see me about some paperwork before the presenting ceremony.
“We were rushed, so I got dressed and made up as quickly as I could and intended to pop over to his office before meeting up with the rest of you.
“The next thing I remember was walking back through the halls, having been to the Dean’s office. The Dean had given me a drink for Darby—” she glanced apologetically in her direction “—and all I could think was that it was important that I delivered it. I was confused though, as I couldn’t remember anything about the paperwork I had completed or submitted to the Dean. But knew the completed paperwork was in the pockets of my dress.” Fiona paused. “Then, I reached into my pockets, but the paperwork wasn’t there. In my mind, I thought it was, I really did. But in my hands, all I could feel was a small bottle. So I pulled it out, examined it. It was shaped like an hourglass and empty, with drops of liquid similar in color to the drink in my hands.”
“So someone cast an illusion on you?” Darby asked, glancing at Professor Kane. She had experienced the same confusion with the vines, having never felt a cast from a spirit faerie before.
“I believe so,” Fiona said. “A powerful one, too. Everything flowed seamlessly in my mind. I truly felt like I had spoken to the Dean, I truly felt like I had sorted paperwork with him, I truly felt like he had given me a task with the drink...”
“Interesting,” Professor Kane said, the look on his face uninterpretable.
Fiona caught her eye. “I’m so sorry. I know it was stupid—when I felt the shape of the bottle, I felt suspicious of what the Dean had given me. I was so close, but I couldn’t connect a few dots. I didn’t think it would possibly be dangerous, but I should have known. I decided to take a sip.”
“There is nothing to apologize for,” Darby said. “You are the victim of a crime.”
“But I’ve messed up your big week and embarrassed my family—”
Darby shook her head, grabbing her friend’s hand. “Your mind saw through the illusion cast on you. You saved your princess from a poisoning. You have protected me more than you know this week.”
Professor Kane sighed. “It’s as I feared. The school will be opening an investigation into who might have done this.”
“It sounds like it could have been a spirit faerie,” Darby said loudly. “One at the top of her class, perhaps. Any ideas who that could be?”
Professor Kane gave her a warning look, not missing her implication.
“I thought the Dean was at the entire presenting ceremony,” Brielle said. “But Fiona, you didn’t disappear until after the ceremony had already started.”
“So she couldn’t have actually met with the Dean,” Quinn said. “And Darby, you spoke to the Dean the next day. He didn’t mention anything about meeting with Fiona right before the attack.”
Darby nodded. “Professor Kane,” she said, “Can you confirm with the Dean that he didn’t meet with Fiona?”
“Of course,” Professor Kane said. “I suspect that he didn’t. He rarely handles student paperwork.”
Griffin spoke up. “We didn’t find you with either a glass of liquid or a bottle in your pocket.”
“Someone must have picked them up after Fiona had already fallen,” Darby said, anger building in her voice. “And then left her there alone and unconscious until you found her, Griffin.”
Professor Kane looked troubled by this explanation, though it was clear he was thinking it too. He stood up. “I will take all of this to the Dean.”
Darby stood up as well. “Do you think he will listen? He dismissed me when I tried to speak to him.”
Professor Kane sighed. “In this case, it sounds like Fiona was not only targeted and lured from your household and dressing rooms through falsified notes from the Dean’s office, but also left lying unconscious in the hallways by the perpetrator, who tried to cover his or her tracks by removing the evidence from the scene. Additionally, the clear end target was you, the princess and heir apparent of the leprechauns. I believe this goes far beyond a school prank, Darby. And given this school’s long relationship with the Alliance of Faeries, if we find that there is foul play amongst the faerie clans, this could start an internal war.”
“What can we do to find the culprit?” Griffin asked.
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Professor Kane said. “If we do find the culprit, and if we find that the culprit’s clan has larger motives, or that the student was directed by a family member or advisor to cause trouble within the school, this could become an international matter.”
Darby nodded. “Please keep us updated.”
Professor Kane bowed to her. He seemed less gruff to her, now that he was clearly on their side and ready to fight for her. “I will send word as we investigate. In the meantime, please do not make assumptions. I know you have your ideas about who it is, but please note that all the mogwai and elf royals were also at the presenting ceremony, and on stage long before you or your ladies joined them.”
Darby nodded, though she knew—she knew—that Ming Mei Li had a hand in this.
When Professor Kane had left the room, she turned to Griffin and her ladies. “I know it was Ming Mei Li. She was the best in the class when we watched the spirit faeries, right Griffin?”
He nodded. “But as the professor said, she couldn’t have swiped the evidence from Fiona.”
“Maybe that’s where Teagan Cormac comes in,” Darby said. “Or one of their household. They could still be at the ceremony if someone else is carrying their orders.”
“The stain!” Brielle exclaimed. “Remember, Quinn, I told you Teagan had a stain on her dress. It was red and near the pocket, just like the drink Fiona described.”
Yes!” Darby said. “She must have stashed the empty cup and bottle in her dress pockets just before she came on stage. Brielle, will you go to the Dean’s office this afternoon and tell him this?”
Brielle nodded, just as Quinn said, “But it’s not enough.”
“What do you mean?” Fiona asked.
“A stain on a dress,” Quinn said. “She can say she spilled something on herself. And Ming Mei Li has an alibi. How did she maintain an illusion cast from a completely different place in the castle?”
“I’ve heard that’s possible,” Fiona said. “Advanced, but possible. You cast the illusion while in contact with the person, and it persists until the end of the illusion.”
“She would have to be quite advanced for that,” Griffin said. “It’s something spirit faeries don’t even learn until their third year here.”
“She’s advanced,” Darby said. “Or she got help from someone who could do it.”
“We need more proof,” Quinn insisted. “We need the bottle or the cup, or both. We need to be able to tie it to the person who did this.”
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