“Which lord?” My eyebrows knitted together. “How would they have those sorts of connections? The firedrake wielders live in the south of Berovia, nowhere near Magaelor.”
He clicked his tongue. “How do you think your kingdom gets dragons’ eggs? Do such delicacies wash up ashore, or would they need to be trafficked?”
I didn’t appreciate his condescending tone but decided snapping back wasn’t going to get me anywhere. “Which lord?”
“A Lord Abor. I hope I’m pronouncing it correctly.”
I rolled my eyes. “Yes, you are, Kiros. As it happens, I can get him to do what I need, but he will need to offer them something in exchange, I imagine.”
He shrugged. “I’ll leave that to you and your council.” He paused, his expression softening. “I’m sorry.” Something in his stare changed. “They are looking for allies, probably to keep themselves safe against us in case we decide to go after them again. Which, we wouldn’t. My father wanted to use them, not me.”
I nodded. “I will write Lord Abor and tell him to be the negotiator. He will offer them Magaelor’s allegiance.”
“And Niferum’s,” he said.
My gaze narrowed. “Blaise isn’t a part of this peace treaty.”
“He soon would be, no? If you love him, then you will marry him surely.”
A lump formed in my throat. “We will be leaving Niferum out of any negotiating.” My jaw clenched as he stared off, finishing our dance.
He took a step back, then bowed. “We may continue tomorrow, in the meeting.”
“Before you go,” I said to stop him. “You promised Blaise the Ring.”
It was the first time I saw him smile since he’d arrived. It was unnerving. “If we agree to a treaty, then I shall hand it over.”
My fingers flexed. “That wasn’t the agreement.”
He looked at my hands. “I noticed when we arrived that you weren’t holding a staff. Don’t you all hold onto them like treasure?”
I pressed my lips into a hard line. “It’s in my chambers,” I lied. I wasn’t going to extend my curiosity about elemental magic to him. I had forgotten his arrogance in the months since I’d left Berovia.
“Fine. Well, we will speak tomorrow, Winter. Good night.”
I watched him leave, then forced out a breath once he’d joined a group of solises. Blaise spotted me from his throne. Daring glittered his smoky eyes. He gestured me toward him by curling two fingers, a mischievous smirk on his lips. I turned away, balling my fists at my side. I wasn’t going to let him off so easily.
Tonight had been wasted. Kiros had annoyed me, and Cedric’s brother’s presence made me want to kill people. I was in no mood to entertain. I pushed through groups of people, ignoring their curtseys and bows, looking for Morgana. Nissa saw me and tried to touch my arm to get my attention, but I ignored her, walking as quickly as I could toward the exit.
A breathless voice reached me. “Majesty.” I side-glanced Mai, who hurried at my side. “We were hoping you would—”
“Not tonight, Mai. Sorry, I’m not in the mood.”
“Is there something I can help with?”
“No, thank you. I will find you three if I need you.” I felt a little bad for shaking her off like that, but rage was rippling through me, and it was better for everyone if I was away from the party.
I left Mai standing in the hallway as I exited the ballroom. I needed Morgana. I had to know our plan was still underway. Spotting the entrance to the underground tunnels, I raced in their direction. If she was anywhere, I bet she was with Licia, giving him a piece of her mind or forcing his help. She’d be anywhere but the ball. She hated parties about as much as Aquarius hated mercreatures.
Once I slipped into the tunnels, I paused to catch my breath, placing my hands on my knees through my dress. I traced the lines carving the tunnel into a semicircle with my gaze. I moved on and my heels clicked against the hard ground and echoed toward the game rooms, which were alive with fae. They stood at green-felt-covered tables where dice were thrown and small chests were placed, filled with wishes or beauty. Fae’s trickery and games did not involve anything as common as coin, a fact Licia had once told me.
I craned my neck to see if I could see Morgana, but her long brown waves and peculiar dress sense was nowhere to be seen. Licia, however, was there. Gold glimmered from his teeth as he took someone’s wish. Licia was short with shoulder-length blond hair, wearing an emerald-green velvet suit. His eyes glistened gold when he spotted me storming toward him.
“Ah, young queen, I was wondering when I’d be seeing you again.”
The faery he was playing at his table with hurried away, anger in her features. She must have lost.
“You!” I scowled. I needed someone to take my anger out on. “You hurt my friend.”
“Morgana knows why I couldn’t involve myself,” he said deadpan, then took a seat behind the table.
I glared at him.
“Have you come to play another game? The third time might be a charm.” He’d duped me the other two times.
“I wouldn’t play another game with you if I was offered a thousand gold coins.”
“Did you come down here to simply berate me?”
I placed my hand on my hip. “You know something about the…” I lowered my voice to a whisper. “Necromancer.”
“I know many things.”
“Care to spill?”
“I’m never so careless.”
I rolled my eyes. “What is it you want from him?”
His gaze narrowed. “Telling you has no benefit to me.”
I shook my head. “You once said you were invested in my future.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“You served a higher purpose. You’re the reason the necromancer is back.”
My eyes bulged. Fury pulsing through me, I gripped my nails into the wood edges of the table between us. “You knew Morgana would bring me back. Yet another betrayal to her.”
“I needed him to come back. Your dying was going to happen no matter what I did. I simply took advantage of an opportunity.”
I spat through gritted teeth. “You slimy liar! You could have given us fair warning. Morgana’s gone through torment and torture.”
“It’s nothing she couldn’t handle.”
I shook my head, folding my arms across my chest. “You’ll get yours, Licia.”
“I’m sure one day I will.”
His honesty infuriated me further. “If you won’t tell me what you want with him, then we have nothing further to discuss.” I turned on my heel, then something in my brain clicked. “Wait, you said because of me he’s back. Wasn’t he always? I mean, people must be using sacrificial magic.”
His lips curved at the corners as he tilted his head just an inch. “They do, but he needed more power this time. He needed someone who could make things happen, and that person happened to be you. Morgana brought you back from the dead. Don’t you think if it were that easy, everyone would be doing it? Dark magic or not? Love can push us far past our normal boundaries.” The room darkened a layer. “He let her bring you back. Your spirit realm meant you were in the veil, a place where he could pull you from. The rest of us, when we die, we move on, but you lunas remain. You linger.” The disgust in his tone didn’t go amiss. “He granted Morgana the privilege of having you back, as queen, and in doing so, he took control. He will come back, in his full form once again, and in doing so, he will be more powerful than any entity that has ever existed.”
Realization washed over me, prickling my mind. “You told her the spell to bring me back.”
He smirked. “It took you longer than Morgana to figure out I was behind it then.”
“I’ll have you killed for this.”
“Blaise would never allow it. Remember, Winter, I have something over everyone.”
I clicked my tongue. “What could you possibly have over him?”
He leaned in, his voice still a whisper.
“Both of you killed kings to take your thrones. If the truth of which emerged, you’d be executed, and him, exiled. Who do you think made Blaise the potion that sent his father mad before he killed him?”
“So, what? You’re some twisted puppet master?”
“No.” He looked down, and for a hint of a second, I swore I could see sadness on his features. “I’m simply a man trying to save the person he loves. Just like you. Just like Blaise. Just like Morgana.”
My heart thudded to a temporary still. “Why are you telling me all this?”
“I’m merely divulging what is already known to Morgana and Blaise. Unlike them, you can’t do anything about it, and I had a few minutes between games and was bored, so…” He gestured behind me where a man approached. Thin cream screens separated us and the other tables. He clicked his fingers, and something around us lifted.
“What was that?”
“Do you really believe I would be foolish enough to have eavesdroppers listen in on our conversation? I protected us both. You’re the fool for not thinking of it.”
The man, a Berovian, hesitated toward the table.
“Don’t do it. He’ll just trick you,” I said as I swept past him, then glanced back at Licia, who was grinning. I hated that little wretch.
THIRTY-TWO
Kiros sat on the largest armchair. The gold crown on his waves reflected orange hues from the crackling fire beside him. Unlike the council meetings back home, this was far cozier. We were in Blaise’s office, and Kiros’s advisor took the chair next to him. Mine was bare, and I partially regretted not bringing Adius.
“Will it just be the three of us?” the advisor asked.
Kiros pointed at the door. “No, bring in a witness for anything agreed upon here.”
The advisor hurried off to fetch someone to stand in. Kiros turned his attention to me as the door closed. “Why did you not bring an advisor?”
“He has matters to attend at the castle. Our high priest is missing.”
He scoffed. “A meeting with Berovia is more important. This is a peace treaty with the largest, wealthiest kingdom in this world.”
“A kingdom who desperately needs our help,” I said, sitting back. “I have written to Lord Abor, and on my command, he will set up an allegiance with the firedrake wielders, promising our military backing if their dragons are attacked again.”
He watched me carefully. “I have the Ring.” He pulled it from his pocket, and it beckoned for me to snatch from his palm. He clenched his fingers around it, then pushed it back into his pocket. Brushing down the front of his ruby-red jacket, he blew out a tense breath. His advisor, a mousy-faced man in a white shirt and shiny black shoes, walked back in with Nissa.
“You chose Nissa?” I asked.
“We need two witnesses, one solis and one luna.” His advisor glanced at her, then back at me.
“Nissa.” I gestured for her to sit next to me. “You don’t need to stand.”
“Thanks, Your Majesty.”
“First order of business.” Kiros cleared his throat, leaning forward. “Aside from you ordering your lord to broker peace with the firedrake wielders on my behalf, you will allow the transportation of pixies between kingdoms. You told me of their healing powers when you were in Berovia.”
My eye twitched. Nissa’s eyes widened as she looked from him to me.
“How many?” I asked.
“As many as we need.”
I shook my head. “You’ll deplete us. Your kingdom is far larger. I need a number.”
His advisor nodded and whispered something unintelligible in his ear. Kiros straightened. “Initially, we will ask for three hundred.”
I almost coughed. “That’s a small army of them.”
“Charles,” he said to his advisor. “How many pixies does Magaelor have?”
He flicked through his papers, landed on one, and trailed his finger down the words. “There are an estimated eighteen thousand pixies in Magaelor and on its surrounding islands.”
I looked at Charles. “Did you come and count them yourself?”
Nissa suppressed a laugh, instead letting out a soft gurgled sound.
Kiros placed his hands on his knees. “Three hundred initially, to see how they fare in our climate.”
I swallowed thickly. I knew they’d be okay, because Cedric had had one, and I was sure others secretly had one they’d imported through shadow markets. “I’ll agree to three hundred, if you agree to three hundred oxen in return. Berovia has a plethora, whereas Magaelor’s farms dwindle.”
He looked to his advisor, who agreed over hushed whispers. “An ox is not a match for a pixie,” Kiros said.
“I’d like to think it’s a fair trade,” I said. “While their size may differ, they are both valuable.”
“Two hundred.”
“No.”
Charles countered. “Two hundred fifty.”
Nissa gave me an appreciative look. Our resources were scarcely low, and the truth was we needed cattle and grain. “Grain too,” I said. “Also, I want to discuss keeping the Forest of Tranquillium preserved.”
His light eyebrow arched. “What do you care for one of our forests?”
“I just do.” I didn’t want to have to explain how I owed the elves and wanted to keep them safe after they’d kept me safe. “In exchange, I know you require wood for ships.”
Kiros leaned forward. “I thought your forests were sacred.”
My heart pounded. I was glad he couldn’t sense it. “There are parts we can cut down. We need more space anyway.”
Nissa’s pained stare moved from me to Kiros. The decision wouldn’t go well with the lords, but once I explained to my people the truth about the spirit realm and the elder ancestors, then the forest’s sacredness would be questionable. We needed this agreement. I was doing the best for the kingdom, even though they wouldn’t see it to begin with.
“Then we are agreed,” Kiros said, standing. “There are still many things my advisor needs to go over with you, fine print and other military agreements.”
“Naturally.” I stood too and extended my hand. Hastily, he shook it, and I stepped back.
“To friends,” he said, though I wasn’t entirely sure I wanted to be friends with him anymore. Still, I’d pretend, for Magaelor. The heartbreak in his eyes reminded me his demeanor might simply be down to feeling hurt and betrayed. Those feelings didn’t just disappear with words exchanged.
“To friends.” I gave him a small smile and took the seat next to Charles. It was going to be a long night, and I needed to prepare. My heart ached as I thought of the part of the agreement that didn’t exist, that I’d be taking Kiros’s sister for my own arrangement with the necromancer.
Breathing in a slow breath, my stomach twisted when I saw it. Kiros placed the Ring of Immortalem on the table. My stomach flipped, and my heart raced. I couldn’t help but smile. Blaise could finally be free.
“Don’t put it on,” Kiros said. “I assume it’s why you’ve been intent on getting it back, so you can be immortal at Blaise’s side, but it’s not worth it. It will be the death of you.” He lingered for a few seconds before he exhaled slowly, then left.
I smiled and took it in my hand. I had no plans on wearing the horrible thing. Once we were done with it, I hoped to lose it to the depths of the oceans, but for now, it was the final thing that would bring Blaise peace, and for that, it was the most valuable thing I owned.
***
The meeting had lasted an additional two hours, and as midnight clawed into early morning, the large ballroom had mostly emptied, save a few couples left dancing. Neoma danced, her black dress billowing around her knees. She laughed, holding onto Cedric, who looked genuinely happy. There was yet another dance, but I could swear there was one every day in Lepidus. Sadness rippled through me when I looked at her, an innocent, to be given to him. If we didn’t kill the necromancer as planned, she’d surely die.
Someone stepped behind me, their shadow castin
g next to me. Prickles of my anger sensed him first.
“I do beg your pardon, but I had hoped to get a moment alone with you.” His voice was slicker than Cedric’s. He sounded older, educated, and royal. “I’m Rory Evermist the Second.”
“I know who you are.” My breath hitched. Nissa had found out everything she could about him for me before he came here.
“Then you know I am successor to my father when he chooses to retire.”
I wondered how old he really was. They aged far, far more slowly than mortals, and their lives could span centuries. Speaking of, I had never really thought to ask Cedric how old he really was. “Yes.”
“Congratulations on your peace deal with King Kiros, yet you haven’t negotiated with us.”
I gritted my teeth. “If I must negotiate with the light fae, it will be through Cedric.”
“My younger brother is still a baby when compared to us. He will not be holding such important deals.”
I looked at him, and everything in me wanted to punch him square in the face. “Your parents should have sent someone else. Literally anyone else.”
“I do understand your anger over your brother.” He snapped his fingers for me to follow him into the well-lit corridor. “As a queen yourself, you understand the casualties of war. We were attacked first, and your brother fought me. I was left with no other option. He did, however, fight valiantly.”
“First things first,” I clenched my jaw. “Do not snap your fingers at me again. I am not some servant. And secondly, you struck down the next king of Magaelor.” I balled my fists at my side, struggling to keep up with him. “You didn’t think there would be consequences.”
“I did not know the queen of such a revered kingdom would give in to anger and sentiment over a treaty that will improve your people’s lives dramatically and end a centuries-old feud.” He put his finger up to silence me as he continued.
“Don’t you dare!” I scathed. “Politically, you killed the heir of the kingdom. It has nothing to do with sentiment.” That wasn’t true, but I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction. “I will work with Cedric and only Cedric.”
The Fate of Crowns: The Complete Trilogy: A YA Epic Fantasy Boxset Page 78
