by Drae Box
She waited by a bush as Raneth re-formed, keeping an eye on his burnt shoulder. He was reforming without his top, which Aldora knew meant it hadn’t been lined with his griffin feathers. At some point she’d ask him where the clothes went when they weren’t lined with his feathers. His shoulder wasn’t as bad as she had expected; his griffin feathers seemed to have taken the brunt of the heat. His bare torso lost the feathers as they sucked back into his skin, going wherever his blood-gift-self went when he wasn’t in gift-form. His brown trousers loosened around his legs as they finished reforming with him, his boots hiding the last of his feet’s re-formation. Under his beautiful blue eyes, purple half-moons nestled, warning that he needed at least one night’s worth of good sleep.
“Raneth,” she said, stepping closer and taking his right arm. She looked over the side of his shoulder carefully. There was a shininess to his olive skin. He had been burnt by the Shotput. It could have been worse, she remembered, thinking of the dead inspector they had seen who had been burnt by the Shotput of Power.
She inspected the rest of him, feeling heat prickling her cheekbones as he watched her. There were a few cuts and scrapes across his chest from going through the wall and window of the overseer’s house, but nothing that looked too serious. She touched a new scar at his side. It hadn’t been there the last time she’d seen his upper half without clothing. He must have got this before he formed.
“When I fell down that crack,” he explained. “Got jabbed by some rebar.”
“What are we doing here?” she asked, hands lowering to her sides.
“Algernon,” he said.
“What do you mean?”
“We can’t go home without putting the pieces together, and Algernon’s a big part of that.”
“What pieces?” asked Prince Pedibastet.
“All that stuff Lodema said.”
Raneth strode past the bush, stepping onto the pathway that led towards the Newer Queen’s front door. The Newer Royal Guard were already streaming from the door, Rena’s familiar face leading the way. They lined up on either side of the pathway.
The Dagger Bearer was almost surprised that they didn’t salute. Why did this feel dangerous? Why was her stomach flipping, enough so that she felt sick? She lifted a closed hand to her mouth and swallowed hard. I just want to leave this place and go home. She had made a decision in their first hour of flight; unless she couldn’t avoid it, she would never be returning to Newer. If Newer wanted to hate Giftens, then she would hate it right back. It hadn’t been enjoyable being here, except for those brief moments when Raneth had forgotten his assignment and focused on her.
“Raneth, wait.”
She darted to his side and Prince Pedibastet rushed to join them, his tail already flicking at the tip. Raneth strode towards the palace door. Aldora looked towards the doorway just as Commander Algernon stepped into the sunshine, followed a moment later by Queen Regina.
“Raneth!” Regina beamed a large smile at them as they came to a stop in front of her and Algernon. “It’s wonderful to have you here, but if you don’t mind me saying so, we weren’t expecting you again so soon.”
“We need to talk to you and Algernon.” Raneth didn’t even smile.
Aldora’s stomach flipped again as she looked at Algernon. His shoulders and back were straight, his moustache freshly waxed. He frowned at her, but a corner of his lip was turned upwards, as if he couldn’t quite help but smirk. Wipe that smile off your face, Newer. She slipped her hand to the Dagger of Protection at her waist, assuring herself it was there. Algernon wouldn’t get it. In her bag, the Shotput of Power was nestled safely. I won’t let it leave my side, she decided. The last thing they needed was for Algernon to steal Giften’s missing Weapon of Protection after they had risked their lives to find it.
“Then we’d better go inside.” Regina motioned to Rena, who jogged over to them. “Get the dining table readied and have the staff bring out a light lunch for us.”
Rena nodded and slipped through the doorway behind the queen, jogging off somewhere.
Aldora followed Regina, Raneth and Algernon into the palace; Pedibastet stayed at her side. She clasped her elbows, trying to swallow down the nausea that was bubbling through her. She looked at Raneth. His shoulders were relaxed but straight, his back rigid. The sound of metal scraping behind her made Aldora flinch. She looked, but it was just the tip of Raneth’s sword scraping the ground. She slipped her hand to the pommel of the sword and repositioned it at her waist, and then almost bumped into Raneth’s bare chest as she lifted her gaze.
“I’ll take that now, Aldora,” he said softly, giving her a tight smile.
He curled his hand around the simple grip of his sword and drew it to him, slipping it into his belt. Then he looked ahead at Regina and Algernon. They had already entered the dining room. He gently clasped her shoulder.
“You look like you’re going to throw up,” he whispered. “You alright?”
“No. We should just go home.”
“We need to know if Regina knows anything about what Lodema said.”
The Dagger Bearer frowned. She was aware that Lodema and Raneth had exchanged words when Lodema and the inspector had forced her head into the bucket of water, but Raneth hadn’t been able to tell her about it, not as his griffin-self. She rested a hand on his cheek, looking more closely, noticing the worried way his strong eyes looked back at her, the way his dark eyebrows were lowered a little more than normal, and the thin set of his lips. He was just as worried as she was.
“What did she say?” asked Aldora.
“I don’t quite understand it yet myself,” admitted Raneth. He took her hand and kissed her cheek. “Come on. Like you said, the sooner we get home, the sooner I can ask your dad if he’s OK with you marrying into the Bayre-Frey Feud.”
Aldora’s heart squeezed a little too tightly and she smiled at him. If it wasn’t for what they were about to do, she might have crushed Raneth’s bare chest in the tightest hug she’d ever given him, but instead they walked into the dining room and took the seats they had taken when they’d been here before. Pedibastet did likewise, tail still swishing.
Algernon picked at the dirt under his nails as they waited for whatever the servants would bring out to them. Aldora hoped that whatever it was wouldn’t come spewing from her lips a few minutes later, but her stomach was calming now, her heart hammering at the idea of her father and Raneth having the marriage conversation. She smiled at Raneth as he looked her way.
“Well?” asked Commander Algernon. “Why did you need to speak to us both again so soon? We’re busy, you know.”
“We know,” said Raneth. His voice was almost neutral, but it came out slightly harsher than Aldora suspected he intended. “We found the Shotput of Power.”
Regina clapped her hands together, a smile lighting her whole face, her eyes sparkling. “I’m so pleased! Cray’s right about you two. There’s nothing you can’t do.”
Frowning, Aldora watched Raneth thank her. He sounded more like himself with Regina. What did Lodema tell him? She smiled as Regina turned her smile her way. But Algernon wasn’t smiling. His eyes were on her bag. Aldora shifted it to sit on her shoulder nearest Queen Regina.
Three servants rushed out of the side door, bowls in their hands. Aldora looked down at the bowl placed in front of her. A fruit salad. She didn’t feel all that hungry, but it would take a few more days of flying before they reached the Giften palace, and a little more time after that before she would be able to slump onto the sofa in her living room. She couldn’t waste the free meal.
“The woman that had it, Lodema, said some things,” explained Raneth. He stabbed a slice of kiwi with a fork and popped it into his mouth. He chewed, swallowed and continued. “And–”
“Algernon,” snapped Prince Pedibastet. Aldora looked at the Prince of the Cats. He’d been given a small bowl of frothy milk, but he was ignoring it to glare at the commander. “Why did you ransack Raneth’s room in The Bron
ze Compass?”
Algernon’s eyebrows shot up. “I did nothing of the sort, Prince Pedibastet.”
Aldora swept her gaze to Raneth. He didn’t look too impressed with the cat.
“Algernon,” murmured Regina. “Have you been interfering?”
“I’d never interfere with a royal official’s assignment,” snapped Algernon.
Raneth frowned at the commander before taking another bite of food. Aldora turned her attention to hers, using the large spoon the servants had placed at the side of her bowl. She chewed a mouthful of the mixed fruit. Of course he’s denying it, and technically he’s not even lying.
“I have better things to do,” added the commander.
Regina reached for Raneth’s hand and gently patted it. “Thank you for tending to the moth dragon in Oreg, Raneth. I assume those are your beak marks on its corpse.”
Raneth nodded, sliding his hand free from under the queen’s. Aldora tried not to wince. Even she knew that was probably along the line of an insult.
“Aldora killed it. It must have smelled me after I formed and been close enough to come after me to fight for territory. How is Oreg?”
Out of the corner of her eye, Aldora saw Algernon visibly relax, leaning back in his chair. That’s all the confirmation I need. She reloaded her spoon and then nearly dropped it when she noticed Raneth had somehow wolfed down his whole bowl already. He was hungry. She shoved the loaded spoon into her mouth and hastily chewed, smiling as Pedibastet started to lap at the milk. Is the Prince of the Cats really content with Algernon’s answer? And why isn’t Raneth pushing the question? Did Regina purposefully change the topic?
“Oreg is fine, Raneth. I sent some of the royal guard to clean up the mess, and Rena did a good job of hanging the two inspectors that took issue with you, Aldora.”
“Thank you,” said Aldora. The scream of one of the Newers falling from the arena crackled in her mind. “Your Majesty, I’m sorry about the deaths I caused in the arena.”
With a soft smile, Regina nodded. “Thank you, Aldora. I don’t blame you for those deaths. I hope you don’t blame yourself?”
“A little,” admitted Aldora. With everything that had happened in the capital, she’d barely had time to dwell on it. Small mercies.
“Lodema killed your city overseer for Chaol,” explained Raneth. “She thought he had a hand in the death of her son, Rocco.”
“How awful.” Regina hadn’t touched her food. “Is she alive? I’m happy to ask Rena to go and pick her up for you.”
Aldora shook her head. “She’s dead. She tried to kill us.”
Raneth nodded. “But she said some stuff. Do you know of anyone called Koyla?”
“Koyla?” asked Algernon. “No. Isn’t that a Giften name?”
Pedibastet lifted his gaze from his nearly emptied bowl. “Yes.”
“Who is he?” asked Regina.
“I don’t know,” admitted Raneth. His gaze was on Algernon, and his left hand was twirling his fork back and forth. “Commander, do you know of anything called Broken Crown? Lodema implied they could brainwash or manipulate people. She was worried we and Cray were being manipulated to come after her.”
The commander stood up and ran a hand down his jacket. “No,” he said, his voice firm. “And I don’t appreciate being questioned like this, Captain Bayre.” He tilted his head to Regina. “If you’ll excuse me, I have more serious, real, matters to attend.” He strode out of the room, passing behind Raneth’s chair. He slammed the door hard behind him, making Aldora’s chair rattle.
“Hmm.” Regina frowned at the door. “He was a little sensitive.”
“Regina,” uttered Raneth softly. “We’re certain Algernon ransacked my room. Pedibastet heard them referring to Algernon, a commander.”
Regina frowned, saying nothing straight away, until she gave a slight nod. “I’ll see to it that I find out why he did that. Then I’ll send word to you through Cray.” She took Aldora’s hand in hers and Raneth’s in the other. “Do you need supplies before you head out? You’re welcome to stay until tomorrow morning,” she said, looking at Aldora. “Assuming you’ve more control over your gift now, Aldora.”
Aldora tried to quell the blush, but the heat prickled her again. “If Algernon hadn’t surprised us in the shower,” she murmured, “that never would have happened.”
Regina shrugged. “And a shirt for you, Raneth.” She smiled, slipping her hands free of the Giftens’ and placing them into her lap under the table. “Although I must admit, this bare-chested look is good on you.”
Raneth scowled at Regina. “Aldora and I are going to get married.”
“Regina, do you know anything about an organisation that could try and manipulate a king?” asked Aldora. “Or people high up in law enforcement like me and Raneth?”
“I’m afraid I don’t. I wish I did know something.” The Newer ran a hand over her hair. “Didn’t that sorceress Cray knew as a teen want to brainwash him three years ago? You know the one. She kidnapped him. You two saved him. She had a name like mine.”
“Reinette Osric,” said Raneth, nodding. His blue eyes turned to Aldora. “Do you think? Do you think the Shotput turning up after all this time, and Lodema, could be related to the attack on your village?”
Aldora shrugged. “She had a boss, didn’t she? A guy. Maybe it was this Koyla?” She wished she could remember more of what Reinette had said on the bridge in Keepaldel, but it was so long ago and so much had happened since then.
“It could be,” said Pedibastet. A drop of milk fell from his chin.
“And Thane was smuggling weapons for whoever Reinette worked for,” added Raneth. “Drigoe stopped working for Thane partly because of whatever that person was getting Thane involved in.”
Aldora nodded. She still remembered Drigoe’s honest conversation clearly, the shock of his helping her having burned it into her mind.
Regina spared glances for both the Giften humans before shaking her head, a tired sigh slipping free from her painted lips. “It sounds like there’s a lot of work waiting for you when you get home. Maybe Cray knows about this Broken Crown organisation.”
“There’s one more thing,” admitted Raneth. “Regina, does Newer have a friendship with Mening Kingdom?”
“Mening?” asked Aldora.
“It’s part of the Silver Kingdoms,” offered Pedibastet. “To Giften’s north, past the Northern Barbaric Island.”
“Only for importing silver and for some other trade agreements. Giften has the same sort of friendship with them,” replied Regina.
“How does Mening factor into what that crazy woman said to you?” asked Pedibastet.
“I don’t know. Lodema said Mening and the capital’s overseer were funding Broken Crown.”
Aldora scooped up more of her fruit salad and shovelled it into her mouth, waiting for Regina or Pedibastet to reply to Raneth, but they didn’t. The silence continued, giving her enough time to finish her bowl. She set her spoon down.
“Perhaps Raneth and I should go and lie down for a while,” she said. “We’ve had a trying time in the capital.”
Regina stood up, gesturing at the cuts across Raneth’s bare torso. “Clearly,” she said, her voice soft, gentle. “Go and rest. Your guest room, Raneth – I’ll make sure you have everything you need for tomorrow personally.” She eyed Raneth’s sword. “Including a sheath for that. We should have one somewhere that you can use. Will you need some glue?”
Aldora frowned.
“Yes, please.” Raneth turned to Aldora. “I’ll need you to pluck some feathers off me when I form tomorrow, and glue them onto the back of the sheath Regina gives me for my sword.”
She nodded. “I can do that.”
Raneth took Aldora’s hand and excused them to Regina, then he led her out into the corridor, heading towards the guest room he had stayed in when they were last here. Prince Pedibastet trailed behind them. Aldora repositioned her bag as Raneth opened the door, and they stepped insi
de. The room had already been prepared.
Regina followed through with her promise, providing them with a few spare clothes each, food that would last the few days’ flight back to Giften, and the sheath and glue she had promised Raneth. As the sun rose, creeping past the bars over the window to brighten the guest room, Aldora sat at the end of the bed, cross-legged, and watched Raneth take everything out of her bag – not that there was much left.
“Did you get any sleep?” she asked. “Or did you stay up waiting for Algernon to try something?”
“I got a few hours,” he admitted, pulling out two bars of royal official rations – all that remained from their original food stock – one bottle of water and a few clothes she had packed. He slipped his hand back into the bag and withdrew the Shotput of Power.
Instantly, an orange flame rushed over the Shotput. Raneth yelped as twin tongues of fire crept down his wrist and forearm, crossing each other just the once before the fire vanished, as suddenly as if it had never been there at all. It was over before Aldora could jump to his side. Raneth dumped the Weapon of Protection on the ground, his right hand quickly sliding over his forearm and hand.
Aldora jerked to his side. “Are you alright?”
“I think so,” he murmured, lowering his hand. He ran a hand over his arm again. “It didn’t hurt me.”
Aldora took his arm and looked it over carefully. His skin was cool to the touch. He was right – there was no sign of the two whips of fire that had just curled around his hand and forearm.
Raneth plucked a top Regina had given him from the floor and shrugged it on. He then took another top off the floor – one of hers – and used it to pick up the Shotput. He plopped it back into the bag and packed the other items around it.
