Siris was keeping his distance, as well as a sharp gaze on the courtyard’s activity. Whether he was fearful of Nevis’s knights or a possible ambush, his caution and paranoia were evident.
“What question?” the jester now asked.
Aharon moved closer, leaving perhaps half a dozen paces between them. Meeting the man’s look, he then asked, “Do you truly believe you can outmaneuver me?”
It was clear this wasn’t the question Siris had expected, and he gazed back a long moment without responding.
When the silence only stretched, Aharon spoke again. “Think it through, jester. I admit, I haven’t determined whether it’s Tosis or Padus you’re helping, but the fact is, only four royal siblings remain. Do you honestly think you can do away with Neco and Aya before I finish this?”
“I would never harm Aya,” Siris insisted.
“No, but you’d stand aside and let someone else do it. Much like what happened last night, yes?”
The jester took obvious care with his response. “You don’t know what you think you know,” he finally said, revealing nothing.
“Just answer my question,” Aharon demanded in reply.
Siris indulged in another long silence, again sending furtive glances about the courtyard. “What are you proposing?” he finally asked, looking back.
“One way or another, I’m going to defeat you,” Aharon stated. “You took a gamble revealing those tunnels, and it didn’t result to your favor. I know what you were hoping for, but it isn’t going to happen—not until Neco’s safety is secure. So unless you intend to take the action yourself, you’re out of moves.”
“Not quite,” the jester returned darkly.
The words prompted some quick thought, and ultimately gave Aharon the clarity he’d be seeking. Furthermore, the jester’s insinuation was alarming.
“You wouldn’t dare,” he finally said.
Siris shrugged back at him. “As you said, I’m out of moves. All except this.”
Aharon frowned and took a breath. The jester had essentially just admitted to helping Padus, and due to how the situation had unfolded, the young prince truly did have only one option left. To retain any hope of survival, Padus would have to instruct his knights to descend on Neco’s quarters and engage his brother’s defenders in an all-out clash, private guard against private guard. The victor of such a fight was impossible to predict, but either way the scenario would place everyone involved in extreme danger.
“This is a tactic borne of desperation,” Aharon now said.
“You can thank yourself for that.”
“It also makes no sense that you’d lend me forewarning.”
“Not unless I was confident that you asked me here to offer a different solution.”
“You’ll hear me out?”
“Not you. You’re nowhere near as vile as Neco, but I certainly don’t trust you.”
“I’m not allowing Aya anywhere near you.”
“Then it appears we’ll all be hinging our lives on the knights.” The jester stepped back.
Aharon threw him a glare. “Just give me a moment to think.”
“Fine, but time runs short, and we’ve little left to waste.”
His glare deepened. “Very well. I’ll bring Aya, but I’m staying with her. Acceptable?”
“I suppose,” Siris said. “Where?”
“The tunnels. Dawn.” Pausing a moment, he then added, “I trust you’ll make no moves beforehand?”
“While tempting, no. I don’t actually want to die, you understand.”
Indeed, Siris’s survival instinct was the only reason he was here now. If Neco’s and Padus’s knights clashed, and Padus’s men were defeated, Siris was as good as dead too.
“Two things,” Aharon went on.
“Yes?”
Taking a step closer, he gave a quick glance about before speaking in a low tone. “Will you admit to killing Nevis last night?”
“Yes,” Siris said. “Will you admit to killing Heni and Seret?”
Aharon simply nodded, not wishing to bring Aya’s involvement to light.
The jester was beginning to look impatient. “Well?” he demanded. “What else, then?”
Taking another step forward, Aharon spoke even more quietly. “Tosis remains a threat to both Neco and Padus. I expect this issue to be resolved by the time we next speak.”
The jester gazed back at him, unimpressed. “Fine,” he then snapped.
Aharon nodded. “Dawn, then.”
He watched the jester start away, then resumed his retreat from the grounds while wondering how Neco and Aya would receive this turn of events.
Chapter 11
In light of Siris’s threat the day before—and despite his assurance that it wouldn’t be implemented before they spoke again—Aharon wasn’t partial to the idea of leaving Neco behind while he and Aya entered the tunnels. On the chance Siris was lying and aimed to have Padus’s knights attack while he wasn’t present, Aharon decided that the prince would have to accompany them.
While also a dangerous scenario for Neco, Aharon didn’t intend to reveal the man’s presence to the jester. He further instructed Neco’s private guard to remain on high alert during their absence, and to barricade the chamber’s entranceway door. Displeased with having their prince removed from their protective sight, however briefly, the knights nonetheless did as he asked.
Looking to arrive early, it was still dark when they entered the shaft within the fireplace. Aharon crawled in first, followed by Aya and then Neco. Per Aharon’s suggestion, and much to Neco’s displeasure, the prince then halted at the end of the shaft, remaining concealed within.
“This is extremely uncomfortable,” he mumbled.
“Deal with it,” Aharon replied, now standing within the oddly-shaped room beyond, “and keep quiet.”
Neco fell silent, and Aharon hefted the candle in his hand, its flame glowing dully. In an effort to keep Aya’s pyromancy a secret, she wouldn’t be accessing her Magic unless a threat arose. Given how the jester was also a mage, Aharon was very much hoping this wouldn’t happen, since any Magic-fight to occur in these tunnels was guaranteed to end disastrously, particularly when the powers involved included fire and lightning.
With Neco remaining wedged inside the shaft, his presence successfully concealed within the darkness, Aharon and Aya were left to wait, neither speaking as the minutes passed by.
The jester arrived a short time later, his figure noiselessly appearing from the downward-sloping corridor. Holding aloft a small torch, he drew to a stop on the other side of the room and gave a cautious look into the surrounding shadows before speaking.
“Princess,” he then opened to Aya, before glancing over and adding, “Aharon.”
Aya moved a few steps closer, and Aharon kept with her. “Siris,” she responded, her tone calm and inviting. “I’m glad you were open to speaking with us.”
“I was open to speaking with you.”
She nodded. “Aharon relayed your threat, and I think we can all agree that the outcome is far too risky for everyone involved. With your help, we can avoid this uncertainty.”
The jester frowned. “I know you mean to ask me to kill Padus, but before you do, there’s something you must know. Something I can only hope will give you pause.”
“I’m listening,” Aya told him.
“Padus,” Siris started, “wanted none of this. He’s not been masterminding me, but rather, I him. Besides yourself, he’s the only one of you I deemed worthy of living, much less gaining the crown, and he’s therefore the heir I chose to support.”
Aharon was frowning but remained silent, giving Aya control of the dialogue.
“What exactly are you saying, Siris?” she asked.
“After his majesty made his announcement,” the jester explained, “I went to Padus to learn his thoughts on the matter, and he confessed his horror over the situation. The very idea of murdering his siblings and father repulsed him, and he swo
re that he’d take no part in such brutality.”
Now Aya was frowning. “If that’s true, why didn’t he just accept the exile? Why stay and risk his life?”
The jester shook his head. “Padus is barely a man, and has known no existence but for palace life. The idea of venturing forth into the world, with no support and no experience with its workings, terrified him more than remaining here and taking his chances with Death.”
Grudgingly, Aharon had to admit this made a certain sort of sense. Still, he wasn’t yet of a mind to just believe whatever tale Siris fed them.
“Are you saying Padus has no care for the crown?” Aya now inquired.
Siris looked at her a moment, and inhaled a breath before answering. “Padus is content being a prince,” he then answered, “but with the circumstances being what they are, he wasn’t given much choice in the matter. Or so I convinced him.”
Aharon’s eyes narrowed, and he spoke before he could stop himself. “How did you advise him, exactly?”
The jester glanced at him only briefly before looking back to Aya and replying. “I told him that in order to survive, all he needed to do was keep himself safe. I knew the rest of you would turn on each other, and that the bodies would pile up as they now have, meaning Padus merely had to wait out the tumult.”
Aya spoke again. “Are you saying Padus isn’t responsible for any of my siblings’ deaths?”
“Correct,” Siris said.
“You’ve been helping that process along, though,” Aharon threw in. “Are you claiming Padus doesn’t know of your actions?”
The jester frowned, and took a long minute to respond. “As far as he’s aware, all deaths were dealt by those directly involved,” he then admitted.
Aharon exchanged a look with Aya before she spoke again. “How many of them did you kill, Siris?” she asked.
After a brief hesitation, he answered. “Three,” he told them.
“Who?” Aharon followed.
The jester shot him a glare. “As per your instructions, I moved on Tosis last night. And truth be told, sending me after her was a wise move on your part, for Tosis wore a Secondary of Magic. Unless you wear the same,” he went on, pausing to eye Aharon’s inverted Secondary, “it’s unlikely you would’ve survived confronting her.”
Not responding, Aharon silently agreed. He’d had no idea Tosis bore Magic.
“Who else?” Aya now said.
Siris looked back to her. “I slit Nevis’s throat two nights ago, as I’m sure Aharon’s told you. Also, there was Borohm. One of the tunnels led to his quarters, and I took advantage by tossing a cobra into his bedchamber. After it struck, I stunned it with a spell and removed it.”
Aharon’s eyes narrowed again. “I overheard Nevis speaking of this same thing happening to him. Also your doing?”
Siris nodded. “I hurled it through his window, but he spotted and killed it before it could make its move. I was then forced to take a more proactive approach.”
Aya looked thoughtful. “This accounts for all deaths except Loh’s and Selmon’s,” she said, before looking curiously back to the jester. “Can you shed any light on these?”
He nodded. “Tosis killed Loh—she was a mind-mover, and used this power to shove him from the terrace.”
Aya took that in with a frown. “And Selmon?”
Siris shrugged. “I have no idea.”
Selmon was the prince who’d been stabbed in the corridors following a nightly tryst. Given everything he’d now learned, Aharon still couldn’t narrow down who was responsible, as there remained numerous suspects. Not that it truly mattered at this point, he supposed.
“Wait,” he then said, straightening and looking to Siris. “Who killed Aya’s handmaidens? We presumed Padus’s knights were responsible, but if what you’re saying is true, he wouldn’t have commanded such an action.”
“He didn’t,” the jester confirmed, “but you’re right to suspect his knights. Padus’s private guard is very determined, and they came for you, Aharon. It was blind luck that you and Aya weren’t present when they arrived.”
“And did they do this at your direction?” Aharon asked, now working to rein in his temper.
“No. Padus’s refusal to engage has only frustrated the knights of his private guard, men who will go to any lengths to protect him. I’ve spent much time eavesdropping on their discussions of late, and it appears they’re done waiting and ready to take matters into their own hands. They came for you first in order to get you out of the way, so they could next target Neco.”
Aharon nodded. “My father’s threat clearly didn’t intimidate them, as it did Nevis’s knights.”
“I’m afraid not,” Siris told him. “These men are utterly committed to seeing Padus crowned, and will do whatever is necessary to achieve this—with or without their prince’s knowing.”
“And what would Padus think of this rabid devotion?” Aya asked.
The jester shook his head. “I’m not sure, but I doubt he’d be pleased.”
Aharon exhaled a long breath and shifted his stance. “You didn’t come here to listen to a proposal,” he then said. “You came to make one.”
“Yes,” Siris said. “Padus is no threat to Neco, so I’m asking you to spare him. There is nothing to be gained by his death.”
“Except peace of mind,” Aharon replied.
Siris shot him a hard look. “Are you so anxious to spill the blood of a young man who’s done nothing wrong?”
“No, but how are we to know this isn’t all an elaborate ruse to gain our trust and betray us?”
Sighing, the jester looked back to Aya. “Is this your thinking too?”
“Honestly, Siris,” she replied, “I’m not sure what to believe, and Aharon has a point. How can we be sure you aren’t just saying this so we’ll continue clearing Neco’s path to the throne, only to have you eliminate him in favor of Padus once we’ve removed all obstacles?”
“Because Padus doesn’t want the throne,” the jester insisted. “He just wants to live, and continue the only life he’s ever known.”
“If that were true, why would you reveal these tunnels to me?” Aharon demanded. “Was it not so I’d eliminate the king?”
Siris hesitated a moment. “I figured you’d try. And that you’d fail.”
Aharon gave him a humorless look as further clarity surfaced. “You didn’t need the king dead,” he realized, “only Padus’s brothers and sisters. And their protectors.”
“Yes. Padus is no threat to his majesty, and upon emerging as the final heir, it only would’ve been a matter of time before he was crowned.”
Aya nodded. “This also would’ve left your role as jester secure—first with my father, and eventually, with Padus.”
“I’m not claiming to be unselfish,” Siris told them unabashedly.
“Then why did you come to me two days ago and speak a warning?” Aya asked him. “If you truly meant me no harm, and if Padus refuses to enact any violence, why would you go to the bother?”
“Because I knew someone would make a move on you sooner or later, and due to Aharon’s return, I figured sooner was more likely,” he told her. “Whatever you may believe, princess, I’ve never wished you harm. You and Padus are the only decent ones amongst you, and I don’t care to see either of you hurt or slain.”
The jester looked sincere. He sounded sincere. But unfortunately, Aharon still couldn’t bring himself to trust the man. What he needed to know was whether Aya felt differently on the matter.
“What of Padus’s knights?” he now asked. “Before we can even entertain your suggestion, they’ll have to be dealt with.”
Siris nodded. “I’ll see to the knights, if Prince Neco will agree to appoint me his jester,” he said.
Aharon withheld a wince, envisioning his friend’s response. Thankfully though, he heard nothing from the shaft, implying Neco was at least keeping his reaction to himself.
“Step away and give us a moment to confer,�
� he now told Siris. Waiting until the man had retreated a slight way down the corridor, he then turned to Aya and spoke quietly. “What do you think? Can we trust him?”
Her expression was troubled. “He strikes me as truthful. But given the severity of the consequences, I’m cautious to believe him and risk making a fatal error.”
Aharon nodded. “What would you suggest?”
She seemed to think a moment, then met his gaze. “I need to speak with Padus myself. If he substantiates Siris’s claims, and truly is an innocent in all this, we’ll have no reason to kill him.”
Convincing Neco of this might be challenging, but overall Aharon agreed. “I’m not sure I’m comfortable with you being alone with Padus,” he then said.
She briefly brought a hand to her Secondary. “I’ll be fine.”
Contemplating a moment, he then nodded. Like all male royal heirs, Padus wore Justice and Commerce, and therefore retained little to no chance of overpowering her. “You’re definitely not getting anywhere near his knights,” he added.
“We’ll have Siris bring Padus through the tunnels, to one of the vacant apartments. We can convene with him there,” she said.
Nodding again, Aharon stepped back. “All right, we’ll see if Siris is amenable to the idea. If he is, we can decide what to do after hearing Padus’s side of things. Otherwise, there’s nowhere left to take this.”
“Agreed,” she said, before turning and calling to the jester.
Amid much reluctance, Siris finally came to accept the proposal, but only after making them both swear on their Patrons that they didn’t intend Padus any harm. Once they’d complied, the jester departed, withdrawing back into the darkness as silently as he’d appeared.
Aharon waited a couple of minutes before stepping over to the shaft where Neco lay concealed. “Still alive in there?” he issued lightly.
“Yes,” the prince replied, his head emerging as he wiggled forth, “and never in my life have I felt so undignified.”
“Your dignity is the least of my concerns,” Aharon told him. Offering a hand, he helped the man free himself, then waited for him to straighten before him. “I presume you heard everything?” he asked.
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