Queen of Coin and Whispers

by Helen Corcoran

  Truth gripped the man on either side of his face, forcing him still.

  ‘Traitor,’ the man said.

  Truth smiled.

  A snap, a sound I’d never forget, and the man sagged in Matthias’s arms.

  I let out a shaky breath.

  ‘A lesson for you, Miss Bayonn,’ Truth said. ‘Not all death needs to involve bloodshed.’

  My mouth opened and closed, several times, before I said, ‘I-I’ll remember that.’

  Matthias took a breath breath through his nose. I practically felt him wrap a facade around himself, before he brightly asked Truth, ‘Ready for disposal duty and three to a room?’

  Truth sighed.

  I ripped off the bed sheets to wrap the assassin in. We worked in silence. A third assassination attempt was too soon for us to become comfortable at cleaning up, but paranoia and several brushes with death did wonders for motivation.

  Matthias and Truth disposed of the body.

  ‘We’ll reach Triala tomorrow,’ I said when they returned. ‘We must introduce ourselves to Patrinne’s family immediately.’

  ‘And meet our contacts,’ Truth said. We didn’t know the identities of each other’s agents. Matthias was becoming convinced that Truth was leading us into a trap. I suspected Truth’s contacts were high-ranked. If he’d wanted us dead, he’d had plenty of chances before reaching Triala.

  Matthias and I glanced at each other.

  ‘How much time do you need?’

  ‘A few days,’ Truth said.

  I chewed my lip. ‘We need safety, then. Patrinne’s relatives could hide us. A chance to breathe, and not worry we’ll be killed in our beds.’

  ‘That’s significant faith to put in people you’ve never met,’ Matthias said.

  ‘Patrinne said they’d help us. If I trust anything, it’s her ability to save her own skin.’

  Matthias sighed. ‘All right. Fine.’

  We had no other choices left.

  I’d expected Patrinne’s relatives to be like her.

  I was wrong.

  Their eldest daughter, Selene, still lived with her parents. The other daughter had married and lived elsewhere in the city. Their household was quiet: they were unpopular at Court and spent most days at home, or in the parks and theatres. The situation gave Truth and me time to visit our networks in the city, free from the Court’s eyes.

  Matthias justifiably feared that they’d betray us, but I trusted Patrinne’s tattered pride. It took some convincing even to be admitted – she had given us one final obstacle in the blank seal – but they eventually opened the letter.

  I’d expected them to be afraid, even worried, while reading it.

  I was wrong.

  They’d been angry, but not at us or Patrinne.

  ‘Of course,’ Selene’s father had said. ‘Spend as much time with us as you need.’

  I’d never take bathing and clean clothes, even slightly ill-fitting ones, for granted again. That first night, I slept through dawn, something I hadn’t managed in months. It made everything feel a little less hopeless, as if we still had a chance.

  As Truth and I established meetings with our contacts, Selene was an unexpected help. Almost a decade older than me, she helped me navigate the city so I didn’t have to depend on Truth or Matthias, and attempted to cheer me up when I teetered on despair.

  One day, after I’d returned from another fruitless meeting, she came to the fireside where I sat, staring into the flames. ‘Here.’ She held out a cup of spiced cider.

  I cradled the warm cup and sipped. ‘Thank you.’

  She settled in the opposite chair. ‘It’s not going well, then?’

  ‘Progress is slow,’ I said. ‘Truth is having better luck, but this is his country, his people.’ Families had stopped returning to Court, hinting that Lia hadn’t been moved from her current location, but the trail had gone cold. It was as if she’d truly disappeared on the road.

  ‘Only love for your Queen would drive you to this,’ Selene said, then went silent until nerves pricked my stomach.

  How much did she know, or suspect? How much could I admit?

  ‘I was… attached, some years back,’ she finally continued. ‘The woman I loved joined the Navy to prove her worth. She was prepared to meet all my family’s demands.’

  There had been no mention of her attachment before now, only her sister’s. ‘Are you still happy?’

  Selene smiled ruefully. ‘The Navy proved that my lady’s other love was the sea. I grew tired of sharing her, and demanded she choose.’

  ‘And she chose.’

  ‘She did.’

  ‘Do you regret it?’

  ‘Sometimes. I had other marriage offers, but they weren’t right.’ Selene smiled. ‘Perhaps I’ll marry, perhaps I won’t. I’m not lonely. Some enjoy having me in their bed.’

  Apart from my family, I had no other support if I didn’t find Lia. Books could provide only so much comfort. Not even my vengeance for Papa was sustainable these days. Fleeing had ensured I’d never recover my reputation, so marriage was doubtful.

  ‘I love my Queen,’ I said. ‘And, yes, my love for her is beyond duty.’

  Selene knocked our cups together, and drained hers. ‘Farezi is not respectful of women anymore. The number of women in our Navy has dwindled in the last decade. They’re not banned, but there’s subtle discouragement.’

  ‘Why?’

  Selene scowled. ‘The Othayrian and Eshvon Queens haven’t compromised well with us lately. Our King has made his feelings clear on their rule. Female sailors are mocked and endangered.’

  ‘That’s despicable.’ Diana would never allow such behaviour. I paused, then asked, ‘Why is your family helping us? You have no reason to. You’d have royal favour if you turned us in.’

  Selene stared into the crackling fire. ‘One of my uncles married into Eshvon. Two summers ago, his daughter and one of my other cousins swapped places to experience another Court. She fell into Rassa’s company, despite our warnings. He swindled her, and humiliated her before she fled home. The families still hardly speak.’

  The Eshvon noble, the catalyst for Isra coming to Edar, was distantly related to Patrinne. That was what she hadn’t told me, unable to admit how deeply Terize’s betrayal hurt, and how much she despised Rassa. There was always a high price for betraying family.

  ‘So your family has personal investment in Rassa’s downfall,’ I said.

  ‘Even if it’s only a place to stay, we’ll help you find your Queen,’ Selene said. ‘And we’ll enjoy our darling prince’s ruin.’

  The next morning, Truth informed us his latest drop had been successful. We now had a day, time, and meeting place. He’d tested the paper for any hints of a trap, but each marking and delicate flourish in the text passed his intricate examinations.

  ‘Bathe,’ he’d said. ‘First impressions matter to this contact.’

  We went to a respectable eating house in a merchant neighbourhood. Despite the clientele’s polite quietness, Matthias and I stayed close.

  For the first time since we’d left Edar, no one seemed perturbed by Truth.

  He handed the barman something like a tab settlement. The barman flicked it open under the counter, then gestured for us to follow him to a plain door at the back. Matthias met my anxious look with a tense smile.

  The hilt of my knife rested in my hand when I stepped through the door. I whirled. A woman moved, faster and stronger, better trained than the man in the passages. In moments, she sent my knife spinning and pressed me against the wall with hers at my throat. Matthias was similarly disarmed and punched in the head. He slumped in the grip of two others, furious despite the blow.

  ‘Don’t worry,’ the woman said, before she knocked me out, ‘we’re not allowed to kill you.’

  Chapter Forty-Eight

  Xania

  I woke to the smell of over-steeped tea.

  ‘You should drink something,’ Truth said.

  The ac
he at the back of my head strengthened as he came into focus. Squashing the urge to spit at him – my mouth was too dry, anyway – I croaked, ‘Tea.’

  He held the cup to my mouth as I forced down lukewarm sips. ‘How long?’ I asked. Exhaustion pulled at me, enticed me towards sleep and oblivion, to give into weeks of worry, stress, and fear.

  I gritted my teeth, though it made the pain worse. I had to find Lia, even if the idea of her still being alive felt increasingly hopeless. The longer Rassa ruled Edar, the less useful she was.

  ‘Barely an hour,’ Truth said. ‘Can you walk, or do you need help?’ His gentleness and consideration only made me more wary.

  ‘I can walk,’ I said, though the room lurched when I stood. I closed my eyes, waiting for it to subside. When everything was still again, I gestured mockingly at Truth. ‘Lead on.’

  ‘I apologise for the deception,’ he said. ‘I dislike such actions, but my employer insisted you couldn’t know any locations in the network.’

  I didn’t reply.

  I followed Truth through a compact maze, the hallways painted brown with unfinished wood. There were no windows to hint where we were. We finally stopped at a brown door, same as all the others. Truth knocked: three staccato raps.

  It opened a crack, revealing a pair of bright blue eyes and a scowl. After an exchange of rapid Farezinne, we were ushered in.

  A woman sat facing us. Her hair was pulled into a loose bun at the nape of her neck. She’d edged her eyes with kohl, and her pale skin was smooth and clear. Her expression made me feel, as with Mama, that I’d inexplicably done something wrong.

  She wore a long dark red jacket, and trousers tucked into leather boots stamped with gold vines. Her jewellery was subtle, compared to what I’d seen of other Farezi women: only a single ring, necklace, and earrings. Her clothing reminded me of Lia’s: their simple elegance showing their lavish cost.

  Her thickly-lashed eyes were familiar.

  I lingered on her ring, stamped with a lily: the Farezi royal seal.

  Matthias arrived through a different door, tired and shaken. Relief flooded his face when he saw me.

  Truth bowed. ‘Baron Farhallow, Miss Bayonn, may I present my employer: Her Majesty, Queen Arisane of Farezi.’

  Rassa’s mother smiled at us, cold and stern. ‘I believe you need my assistance.’

  I dropped into a shaky curtsey, then turned on Truth. ‘But you’re Rassa’s spy!’

  ‘I’m employed by Farezi royalty. You came to your own conclusions.’

  ‘He followed our orders,’ Queen Arisane said coolly. The royal we quelled me to silence. ‘The less knowledge you had, the better your chances of survival.’

  Lia had always spoken respectfully and fondly of Rassa’s mother, a lady who suffered neither fools nor nonsense. I was officially out of my depth, hiding my terror with indignant anger, and I didn’t know how to handle it.

  Queen Arisane eyed me like Mama did when I was gripped by a childish temper. ‘Sit. We have much to discuss.’ The servant produced food and drink, while we sat around a table. The food was decent inn fare, but my mouth watered just from the smells.

  Matthias and I hesitated. The Queen glanced at Truth, who ate from our plates first.

  ‘If you’ll pardon my saying so, Your Majesty,’ Matthias said, ‘it’s unusual for a Queen to be in such... plain surroundings.’

  ‘Several branches of my line were extinguished through rebellion,’ Arisane said. ‘We’re raised to appreciate our wealth and lives for how quickly they can be taken from us. Lia was raised with similar ideals.’ She pressed her lips together. ‘Rassa could learn much from an old-fashioned rebellion.’

  I stared, openmouthed, at a Queen holding her son in such contempt. If Lia had kidnapped Rassa, Arisane might have congratulated her.

  Even more interesting was how she and Truth regarded each other. She leaned towards him as he spoke. She showed no wariness or uneasiness; his demeanor was of courteous respect.

  I drained my water for courage. ‘When did Truth become your Shadow?’

  Matthias bit down on his fork. Truth smiled and cut a slice of pork.

  Arisane patted her mouth with a napkin. ‘Perceptive, as you said.’

  ‘I can’t stop you from underestimating her, Your Majesty,’ Truth said. ‘I wouldn’t have done this if I didn’t respect them.’ He paused. ‘Farhallow is vexing, however.’

  Matthias grinned as if Truth had complimented him. Perhaps it was a man thing.

  ‘The Farezi Court,’ Arisane said, ‘requires both monarchs to have their own Shadows. They usually work together, but also focus on concerns specific to each monarch. Imagine my upset upon learning my previous Shadow, in my employ for well over a decade, had devoted himself to my eldest son’s concerns.’

  Rassa had stolen his mother’s spymaster, even though heirs weren’t entitled to them. I couldn’t decide whether to be impressed or appalled.

  ‘Truth took over the position before Lia’s uncle died,’ the Queen said. ‘When we discovered a new Edaran agent in Court, Truth decided to investigate. Don’t be angry: he wasn’t able to discover your identity.’

  My agent who’d had to flee. My stomach tightened. I didn’t know if she’d survived. ‘Are they alive?’

  ‘She reached the border,’ Truth said sourly.

  I let out a relieved sigh.

  At the end of the meal, Arisane snapped her fingers. The servant rolled out a map.

  She tapped a point near the centre. ‘You’re deep in Farezi now. If our information is correct, Rassa has sequestered Lia here.’ She pointed at a new spot further down in the south-east.

  ‘I was right,’ Matthias said, stunned.

  Rassa had hidden Lia in Goldenmarch: the Farezi heir’s estate. It was deep in forest country, popular for hunting and inevitable poaching. As Matthias had predicted, Rassa had chosen the obvious path.

  ‘Damn him.’ I wanted to take a knife to Rassa until he couldn’t breathe anymore. It would only be a fraction of the pain he’d caused us, never mind Lia.

  ‘It’s about a day’s ride from here,’ Queen Arisane said. ‘The proper provisions will be provided, naturally.’

  ‘While your help and resources are appreciated…’ Matthias hesitated. ‘You’re blatantly working against your son. It’s – unexpected.’

  ‘We tried to curb our son’s ambition.’ Arisane’s nostrils flared. ‘Our lord husband aspires for Farezi to regain its Empire. Rassa shares his ambitions, despite my efforts. He hasn’t been as subtle in his maneuverings as he imagined.’

  She knew about Vigrante, and the money and the treason. She knew – or at least had suspected – that Rassa had intended to usurp Lia’s throne. She knew, and had sent Truth to Edar as her eyes and ears to discover the extent of her son’s plotting, but had only acted after Rassa broke international law and she couldn’t ignore his treachery anymore.

  Lia wouldn’t remember Arisane fondly after this.

  ‘I thought I’d managed to raise Rassa well,’ she continued, ‘despite his father’s indulgence. But we’re blood-related to Edar, thin as it is. There is always a high price for betraying family.’

  She had no idea how high the price would be when I got my hands on Rassa.

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  Xania

  Lieutenant DuBois, one of Truth’s spies, waited for us near Goldenmarch. She struggled to hide her trembling, but bowed flawlessly. On the Queen’s orders, she would help us take Lia from Goldenmarch.

  After inspecting the Queen’s mark, she said, ‘Captain Lafaure is waiting for you.’

  We dismounted, tethered the horses, and followed DuBois quietly. Goldenmarch, along with magnificent forests and land, boasted a large orchard inside its north-western border. DuBois led us there. She scaled the wall easily, waiting as we hoisted ourselves over. Winter was reluctant to ease its grip: we crunched through frozen grass stained with lengthening dusk shadows.

  ‘Those loyal to Rassa have been s
ubdued,’ she said. ‘The Captain will bring you to her. No one will prevent you from leaving.’

  Despite her assurances, Matthias didn’t put the Queen’s mark away.

  As we approached the manor, solid and proud in the fading light, DuBois paused. ‘A warning, however. Rassa’s people tried to kill the lady while we were on the road. They – they thought it would solidify his claim.’

  Panic burst in my chest, clawed up my throat, echoed by the terror flooding Matthias’s face.

  ‘My captain killed the men responsible. Our orders were to keep her hidden, not attack or threaten her. Nothing has been attempted since–’

  ‘I find it difficult to believe you’d allow a kidnapped Queen freedom of Goldenmarch,’ Matthias said.

  DuBois clenched her jaw. ‘Abdicated Queen. You… you…’ Her defiance faltered. ‘You may not like what you see.’

  ‘What did you do to her?’ I demanded at DuBois.

  ‘They call it the White Silence.’ DuBois’s voice cracked. ‘It came from the far north, where it snows almost year round. The prisoners are surrounded by white: white rooms, white clothes, and given pale simple foods. The windows are barred. They’re allowed no darkness to sleep. No one speaks. No one touches them. They’re left in white silence for weeks. It’s supposed to break them for information. Mostly it just breaks them.’

  I wouldn’t cry. I had to be strong for Lia. We had to be strong for her.

  Matthias turned pale. Lia had been gone almost two months. ‘Can the damage be healed?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ she said.

  ‘Take us to her,’ Matthias said. ‘Immediately.’

  Captain Lefaure didn’t bother with introductions. He led us through the front doors and into the white horror Goldenmarch had been twisted into.

  He stopped before a set of double doors and faced us.

  ‘Her Majesty ordered the lady’s chambers to be unlocked. It was… They were locked again for her own safety.’