Another argument was on the tip of my tongue, but that little voice that always urged me to listen to Jax kept me quiet. It was hard not to agree that my presence here suddenly became more precarious.
"Fine," I said after a moment. "But before we leave, we have to retrieve something. You two," I said to Jorad and Jax, "stay here."
"We're coming," Jorad said.
Jax began to snicker, and I just rolled my eyes.
It took us longer than I wanted to cross the city with four people, but it also gave me a chance to watch Aline. She kept her feet surely along the tiles and showed no fear as we leapt over alleyways. At least I was sure she wouldn't slip off a roof.
We made our way to Sailor's Row, stopping every few minutes to wait out a Severian patrol, until we came to the pile of rubble that was Tasha's butchery.
"Stay here, for real this time," I said to Jax and Jorad. "Aline, Elisha, come with me."
I walked to the edge of the roof and beckoned them to follow as I climbed down to the street.
"What is this?" Aline asked quietly.
"I used to live here," I replied. "Before Felix found me and brought me back to the castle. The people who died here were good people."
She met my gaze. "What happened?"
"Ilara's bombs," I said, looking back at the rubble. "Because I'd been focused on the wrong thing. I don't want to make that mistake again. I'm going to the camp up north because I think if I stay…" I sighed. "But at the same time, I don't want to leave this unresolved. I'm putting a lot of trust in you to finish what I started."
She nodded. "My parents were indebted to Beswick. He paid for my commission and they died working their asses off for him. Knocking him down a few pegs would be…" She smiled, devilishly. "Very nice."
"My preference, and I can't believe I'm saying this," I added with a grimace, "is an alliance. He's a dirty crook and a liar, but his network is vast and I can't even begin to think about taking this city without him on my side or out of the way. At least if he works with me, I can temper some of his less-than-stellar qualities."
"How will you get him on your side?" she asked.
"I hadn't quite figured that out yet," I said. "But Jax suggested annoying him into an alliance, so you could start there. He's smuggling food into the city, so start there. Whatever avenues he's using are few and far between. Shut one down, he'll have to try another. Eventually, if you close all his doors, he might be willing to talk."
"And if he is?" Aline asked. "What then?"
"Tell him that due to his unreliable employees, he missed his chance to speak with me," I said, a smile on my face. "But that I'll be happy to speak with him upon my return."
She grinned. "I'll pass along the message. With pleasure."
"And what do you want me to tell him?" Elisha asked.
I looked down at her. "You need to do what you've been doing. Keep an eye out from above, and make sure Aline has cover."
"Are you sure it's wise to leave her here?" Aline cast Elisha a doubtful glance. "She's so young."
Before Elisha could respond, I lifted my hand and shook my head. "It's going to be you two against Beswick, and Beswick has more muscle. Elisha will keep your exits open." I smiled. "You'll be thankful you have her, believe me."
Aline nodded and held out her hand. "Sounds good to me, partner."
Elisha shook it with a growing smile. "I guess I gotta teach you the whistle code."
"Whistle…code?" Aline looked at me.
"You'll pick it up quickly," I said with a short nod. "But the gist of it is when you hear a whistle, get the hell out of there."
Aline nodded and smiled, but her gaze grew somber. "I want to say…I appreciate you trusting me with this. Captain Llobrega was out here while you were gone, night after night, and none of us were the wiser. I want to do the same." She swallowed. "I don't want to disappoint you. And by the Mother, I won't."
The earnestness in her gaze touched something deep in my soul. So with a sigh, I unclasped my cloak from around my shoulders and pulled the mask off my face. It was lined with gold—Luard had given it to me back in Kulka.
"Here," I said, placing the cloth in her hands. "I want you to use these. The cloak will help you jump off buildings—just grab the edges and it'll slow your descent. May take you a few times to get the hang of it, so don't jump off anything too big too soon." I cracked a grin. "You might break your arm. Speaking from experience."
She shared my smile, but there was still reverence in her gaze. "I don't know if I can take these."
"I think Felix took my spare. And here…" I unclasped my slingbag from my back and handed it to her. "I'm running low on supplies, but Elisha can help you make arrows for the crossbow and there may be a few Nestori in town. There's a list in one of my notebooks back at the bell tower. You'll want to get on their good side, and maybe pay them off. There's a whole bag of gold cutlery in the bell tower you can use. Elisha can show you how to wield knockout powder and anything else you might need."
Aline swept the cloak around her shoulders and tied the mask on her face. It was strange to see someone else wearing my clothes, and my bare back felt odd. But from the grin on her face, I had little doubt she'd fulfill the role with her whole heart.
"Where's mine?" Elisha asked with a frown.
"You're not Veil material yet," I said, patting her on the head to her utter disgust. "Soon, though. Just keep Aline out of trouble and I'll have a mask and cloak for you."
"Are you ready to go?" Jorad called from above. "It's getting late, and we need to get you out before the sun comes up."
"One more thing," I said, walking toward the rubble. With care, I lifted a couple of the large stones to reveal the small bag of ond I'd hidden here a few nights ago.
"Is that…" Aline began softly. "How did you get it?"
"It's Beswick's," I replied, making sure the bag was tied tightly before lifting it up. "I thought taking it and hiding in the city might persuade him to speak with me, but that clearly backfired. I think it might be best for us to get it out of the city. Just in case."
Aline nodded then saluted, and Elisha attempted the same. "Best of luck, Your Majesty," Aline said.
I took them both in, praying I wasn't signing their death warrants. "And to you, as well."
Chapter 16
The sun was breaking over the horizon when Jax, Jorad, and I arrived at the small city outside Forcadel's walls. While Jorad went to get the horses from the stable, I stood facing the south, watching the sun's rays fall on my city.
Something tugged at my heart—perhaps guilt, perhaps just anxiety at what I was leaving behind and also heading toward. If I'd had my preference, I would've been the one under the mask, and Aline would be on her way to the army camp to lead them.
"Your Majesty," Jorad said behind me. He had two horses by the reins and offered me the second. "If you're ready."
"And here I thought I'd be walking," I said with a grin as I climbed into the saddle.
"Why would I make you walk to camp?" Jorad asked with a curious look. "You are a queen."
I opened my mouth to argue that I wasn't technically a queen, but Luard's voice came echoing through the past.
"You're a queen. So act like it."
"Yes, I suppose I am," I said.
Jax, seated on a third horse, snorted. "Mother above, now your crown won't fit."
We rode over the dewy grass and misty stretches of plains as the sun slowly burned away the night's chill. The thundering hooves did little to shake loose the uncertainty in my stomach. It was easy to hide behind the mask, to disappear into the shadows and be a symbol. Taking the mantle of queen was to be at the forefront, to have an entire kingdom look to me to save them. To protect them without a mask.
Perhaps that was also why I'd been so intent on Forcadel. I'd focused on the easy problems—Beswick, criminals, disruption—and given myself some breathing room while I figured out what to do. But I was merely avoiding the hard decisions.
As our horses approached, a pair of soldiers appeared with their swords drawn. Jorad called out to them, and they quickly moved to allow us entry into the camp.
"Your Majesty," the one closer to me said, saluting me and bowing. "It's a pleasure to have you back."
"Thank you," I said with a forced smile.
More soldiers had heard Jorad's call and were arriving to greet us. They saluted me, bearing grins on their faces, then followed as we walked our horses deeper into the camp. More shouts of excitement and cheers erupted from all corners, and half-asleep soldiers rolled out of their tents to join the ruckus.
Two boys who didn't look that much older than me took my reins and allowed me to dismount.
"Brynna!"
I barely had time to turn before a black-haired blur landed in my arms, holding me close and kissing both my cheeks with furious passion. I stepped back, laughing as Beata's tearful face came into focus.
"Where's Katarine?" she asked, looking behind me. "And Felix?"
"She…" My face fell. "I couldn't… She's still with Ilara. And Felix is still… I'm sorry."
"I had a feeling," Beata said, her disappointment firming into resolve. "Don't worry about them. My Kat's the smartest woman I've ever met. She'll keep herself safe. And Felix is strong. We'll get him out of there in no time." She gripped my face. "Your hair is a mess, and your clothes—have you been climbing walls again? You look nothing like a queen."
"Aren't I lucky you're here to take care of me?" I said, taking her hands from my cheeks and kissing them.
"She's been taking care of all of us," Jorad said with a warm smile. "Thank you for sending her here."
"Speaking of which, I've got to get back to the dining tent and get ready for supper," she said. "I've put together quite a menu for tonight, just for you. You will be staying for a while, won't you?"
Another forced smile as guilt nipped at my heels. "Yes. It appears I will."
"Good," she said, tapping me on the nose. "It's high time you showed up and resumed your role. You can't govern from behind a mask, Brynna darling."
Even though her words cut, I couldn't help but smile at them. "I missed you, Bea."
"When you've finished getting settled, come visit me and we'll catch up," she said, squeezing my hands before letting them go.
"Your Majesty," Jorad said. "If you'll follow me, we can speak about the events in Neveri."
"Sure," I said. "Lead the way."
As we made our way to the center of camp, I received more bows and shouts of welcome. It was odd to be immediately recognized after spending so many months incognito—and it made me a little uncomfortable. Still, I pressed on until we came to a large tent that bore the Lonsdale crest.
My tent, I supposed.
Inside, there was an older-looking soldier leaning over a map. He straightened, saluted, then his face broke out into a smile.
"Your Majesty, it's wonderful to see you," he said, walking toward me. "My name is Captain Tarvo Mark."
I nearly fell over. "Captain Mark? As in, the captain who let my brother and father be murdered? As in, the captain Felix replaced?" I was also fairly sure he'd been stripped of his rank, but I was going to let that slide. For now.
His mouth twitched, just a little, as he straightened. "The very same."
"What in the Mother's name are you doing here?"
"I'd been retired to a nearby town when I heard about a rogue group of soldiers who'd set up camp here. When I arrived, it was clear that these young men and women were in need of some guidance, so I offered my services. I've been monitoring the situation both here and in Neveri so I could assist you when you finally returned to us."
I tried not to look guilty for my initial outburst. "Please, tell me all you know."
"As Lieutenant Llobrega has told you, Ammon let Maarit go. I expect she'll return to Forcadel shortly, if she's not there already."
"And we're sure she went to Forcadel?" I said. "After all, I don't think Ilara's in the mood to entertain failure right now. Maarit might want to just disappear."
"The pair of Kulkan soldiers accompanying her might feel differently," Mark said. "I believe Ammon's sending Maarit with a request to forge a new alliance with Ilara."
"He's doing all this without his father's permission, then," I said. "I had an agreement with Neshua that once Neveri was in their control, he would help me take back the kingdom."
"Neshua's three days away by boat, and even longer by foot," Mark said. "Plus, he's advancing in age. Perhaps he's willing to let Ammon do more than he had previously." His expression warmed into a somewhat patronizing smile. "Your father did the same with August."
I forced myself not to respond to that. "How many soldiers do we have?"
"Seventy," Jorad said. "Additional soldiers came from the borders when they heard we were here."
"Let's hope our number continues to grow," I said, pressing my finger on the city of Neveri, thinking to myself. "What does Ammon gain from allying himself with Ilara? He already has Neveri. He can control the border. What more could he want?"
"Your Majesty, if I may," Mark began with an overly-large smile. "I don't know if trying to understand his motives is pertinent. It's not about what he wants, it's about showing him that going back on your agreement won't be tolerated. It might be worthwhile to ride into the city with our might and have a meeting. If you remind Ammon that you have the Forcadelian military behind you, perhaps he'll reconsider his decision."
What I needed was to buy myself some time. "Do we still have scouts in Neveri?"
"Two," Mark said. "We receive daily reports from the soldiers we have stationed there."
Soldiers were good at ferrying messages, but making people talk, that required a different skill set. "See if Jax will go to Neveri. He can find out more information than they can—and faster."
"Who is Jax?" Mark asked.
"He's…" I glanced at Jorad. Somehow, I didn't think Mark would take too kindly to having a thief in his camp. "One of my best spies. He can get in where others can't."
"I've never heard of such a man. Is he from your royal guard?" Mark asked.
"No," Jorad said. "But he's been with Her Majesty for weeks now, and if she feels he's the best equipped to retrieve information, he is."
I offered him a small smile as thanks.
"I disagree," Mark said. "We have some of the best soldiers Forcadel has to offer."
I can see why my father and brother were murdered. I forced a thin smile onto my face as I buried that thought. Mark had come in my hour of need, and he'd clearly kept my troops together. So I kept my tongue.
"Jax is quick. We should know something within a few days. I'll go find him and send him off now."
"That's inappropriate," Mark said. "Jorad can find him and tell him what to do. Queens must delegate."
I sighed, feeling the beginnings of a headache in my temple. "Fine. Go get Jax and bring him back here."
Jorad saluted and left me alone with Mark. I turned back to the map of Neveri, hoping for a moment of peace, but I didn't get it.
"It's quite wonderful to see you alive," Mark said. "When the soldiers told me, I have to say, I didn't believe them. You were such a young thing when you disappeared. And when I heard Felix had found you mere blocks from the castle…"
"Yes, hiding in plain sight," I said, under my breath. Something about him made me uncomfortable, almost like I was having to prove I was supposed to be there.
"And where have you been these past few years?"
I glanced at him. "They didn't tell you?"
"Well, they said you were masquerading as a vigilante in the city, but that has to be a lie," he said with a laugh. "I mean—"
"Why is that so surprising?" I asked, putting my hand on my hips.
"You were a mischievous child, but a knife-wielding, cape-wearing hoodlum?" He tilted his head. "I suppose it's just hard for me to reconcile that with what I knew of you. Your father would've been horrified."
"From what I heard, he knew," I said, evenly. "At least, Felix knew. So I assume August did as well." I had an itch to continue that thread, but I swallowed it with a grimace. "In any case, I'm here now, so we can move forward."
"Indeed," Mark said. "Without guidance from you, the camp has been a bit restless. I hope we can make a decision soon on how to proceed. Neveri would be an excellent option. Many of our soldiers lost friends there. Seeing Ammon go back on his word has been unnerving to them."
Further conversation was blissfully cut short by Jax throwing the tent flap out of his way and sauntering inside. "What d'ya want?"
"Are you really going to allow your subordinate to speak to you that way?" Mark asked, stepping forward with his hand on his sword.
"Jax doesn't really work for me," I said, deciding to leave out the Celia's-paying-him detail. "I need you to go to Neveri and find out what Ammon's thinking."
"I think Ammon's a rat," he said. "And he probably thinks he can do what he wants, because you're going to fail in the larger goal of taking Forcadel from Ilara."
"Thank you for that observation," I said dryly. "Will you go, please?"
He rolled his eyes and sighed loudly. "I guess."
"That was highly inappropriate," Mark said as Jax left. "If he's going to stay in this camp, he'll have to show deference to you."
"You work on that," I said, patting him on the shoulder. "Let me know how it goes."
Chapter 17
"Mark does have a point," Jorad said as we walked away from the tent. "Jax can't openly defy you like that. It's bad for morale."
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