by Janeal Falor
Eldim sets me down in my chair, and we’re off, twisting through halls until we reach the area by the dungeons. We don’t go down the stairs, but instead, Jaku wheels me into an interrogation room.
I don’t want to be here, remembering Nash beating up my would-be murderer. The thing that broke us apart. Not that we could ever be together.
I force myself to think of something else. “Which prisoner will we be interviewing first?”
“The man. We don’t know his name,” Jaku says.
“Good choice.” This way we can gain as much knowledge from him as possible and use it against Milni.
Afet goes to tell someone we want the prisoner, and we wait in silence. When he finally comes in, heavily guarded, my personal guards stick close by my side, Jaku between us and the attacker. The man is set on the only chair in the room and bound, and his guards leave to wait outside.
“Who sent you?” I ask.
The man glares at me but doesn’t respond.
Jaku stalks forward. “You will answer Her Majesty.”
“I refuse to speak to that garbage, who treats my Kurah employer like they have no importance in the community.”
Whether he knows it or not, he gave us two vital pieces of information—it was another Kurah attack, and he has an employer.
I keep my expression neutral. “I’m trying to help all the people, not only Kurahs, though I do value what you can bring to this country. I don’t know what we’d do without you.”
He spits at me, but it falls short of hitting me.
“Who sent you?” Jaku demands. “Who is your leader?”
The man presses his lips closed.
Jaku lowers his voice. “Did you hear about the last person who tried to kill the queen?”
The man goes very, very still.
“I guess you have, then. Would you like to become him, beaten until you give us the answers we want?”
The reminder of what Nash did makes me a little ill, but it if that’s what it takes to get answers out of this scum bag, I’ll handle it.
But he doesn’t open his mouth.
Jaku continues to question him, trying different angles—threatening at one point and offering the man a lesser sentence if he speaks. But the man doesn’t say a word.
After what feels like a very long time, Jaku says, “Fine, then. We’ll see what fate awaits the man who tried to kill the queen and won’t give us any information.”
The man has the decency to look scared as Jaku gets the guards, and they take him back. Once he’s gone, Jaku asks, “What do you think?”
“He’s in league with the Kurah,” Eldim says. “Their attacks are getting more dangerous, if they reached Her Majesty’s room.”
“We’ll make sure that doesn’t happen again, but I concur.”
“How will we convince Milni to give up the leader? If she knows who that is.” I’m worried that she doesn’t. That we’ll be led back to the same man in the cloak. He could be almost anyone.
“We’ll do our best to suss it out. There’s something else to consider,” Jaku says.
“What’s that?” I ask.
“There were no attacks while Daros was in prison.”
“Not even ones that didn’t make it to me?”
“Not a one.” Jaku studies me hard, searching my expression.
If something’s going on with Daros, I’ll have Nash kill him. I wish I could do it myself. “There’s one problem—Daros is capable of orchestrating an assassination attempt while in prison. Even if it’s him in the cloak, he would have found someone else to do the job while I was weakened.”
“True. So if it is him, is he trying to kill you?”
“After last night?” Eldim asks. “I’d think so. That was a fierce attack. If we hadn’t gotten through the furniture Milni stacked in front of the sitting room door, Julina and Her Majesty would both be gone.”
I clench my teeth. Never did I think I’d be almost taken out by four people. Before, I could handle them, especially with Julina and Puneah at my side. But now… It doesn’t matter. They saved me, and I’m grateful for that.
Jaku tells Eldim to get Milni. When she arrives with her guards, she’s scowling, hands and feet manacled. They were not playing around when they brought her to the dungeons. They place her on the chair across from me, with my men in the same positions as before. Once her guards leave, I ask, “You need to tell us everything you know, and you need to do so now.”
She purses her lips and shakes her head. “Not going to happen.”
“We know a lot from what your man told us. Might as well make it easier on yourself,” Jaku says.
She pales. “He told you nothing.”
“You’d wish,” I say. “Tell us what you know.”
“And if I refuse? You’ll what? Threaten me? That’s all you ever do. I doubt you were ever an assassin; you don’t have the guts to do anything.”
I have the strongest urge to smack her across the face. It’s a good thing I’m stuck in this chair because I’m trying to be better, something she wouldn’t know a thing about. “Your fate will be left in the hands of the council. I’m sure execution is on their list of appropriate punishments.”
She smirks. Not the reaction I expected.
“If that’s how you want it to be, we’ll make sure they know you didn’t cooperate.” Jaku clasps his hands behind his back.
“If it makes you feel better, go right ahead.” Her tone is so snide, I’m not sure what to do.
“I never took you for someone who’d betray the crown,” Jaku says.
“You’re blind. I didn’t betray the crown. I’m trying to fix it.”
“What do you mean?” We’re getting close to discovering something. The question is, will she let us?
She snorts. “I’m through talking to you. I’ve said more than enough. Do whatever you want to me.”
“Then you wouldn’t want to tell us anything about the Kurah?” I say.
She flinches. It’s small, but it’s there if you’re looking for it.
“Hit a pressure point, did we?” Jaku asks. “Might as well tell us the rest.”
“You’re guessing.” But there’s fear in her gaze that wasn’t there before.
Jaku moves closer and leans over her. “You’d like to think that, but you know it’s wrong.”
He says something else I can’t hear and places his hand on her shoulder.
She shrinks away from him. “I’ll tell you nothing.” She winces, but otherwise keeps a straight face.
Jaku lets her go and gets her guards. After they take her away, he says, “What do you think?”
“We should let her escape, and then follow her,” Eldim says.
“You think she’s going to try to escape?” I ask.
“Just a hunch, but she might. She knows this palace really well and has lots of connections, which I know you have plans to interview, but they might not know anything. If anyone can escape, she can.”
“All right,” Jaku says. “Set it up, but make sure you have someone you trust on her. I don’t want to lose her if she gets out.”
“I will keep Ilko on her.”
“Perfect. He’s almost as much of a shadow as Ryn.”
As I was, he means, but that’s good to know. If he trusts this Ilko to stick to Milni, I’ll have to trust him to do so as well. I wish I could send one of my more trusted men, but they’ll never go for it. I can only send good wishes that they find the leader.
Chapter 14
“Shillian Nilmac here, requesting an audience, Your Majesty,” Kada says.
She doesn’t often come personally to tell me these things, but she must think my mother’s ask for an audience is worth attending to in person.
When was the last time I saw my mother? It’s been a long time. I don’t want to see her again, but part of me is curious. What is it she wants?
Most of all, do I want to reconcile with her?
By all accounts, she hasn’t been doin
g anything suspicious, but it’s hard to trust her. Hard to believe she wants what’s best for me. “Did she say what she wanted?”
Kada shakes her head. “There was no word, other than that she wished to visit with you.”
I glance at Eldim in the corner. If I agreed to see her, at least I wouldn’t be alone. I have others here, and it’s unlikely that she’d try to hurt me.
Kada says. “She’s been quite insistent on seeing you.”
“But you can’t get out of her why she wants to see me?”
“I’m afraid not.”
“Send her in.” Where did those words come from? I’m not certain they were mine. Does the First Queen want Shillian in because she’s a danger to me? Or am I the one who wants to see her?
“Very well.” Kada bows and is out of the room.
If I could walk, I’d pace now. It would do some good to stretch out my legs and get my worries worked out. I don’t know how to deal with her coming. Instead, I drum my fingers, trying to think of what Shillian could want.
There’s a knock. I’m about to find out. I stop drumming my fingers as Kada peeks her head in.
“Shillian Nilmac, Your Highness,” she says.
My mother enters the room, her gaze not leaving me even as she curtsies. “It’s so good to see you well, Ryn.”
I almost snap at her not to call me Ryn, but I was the one who told her to call me that in the first place. Better than the birth name she gave me, Keera. I’m mostly angry she thinks I look well when I’m stuck in this chair. “What is it you want?” I ask.
She flinches.
My tone was a bit harsh, but I have a hard time caring.
“I wanted to make certain you were well,” she says. “I heard about the attack and was worried for your safety.”
Is that all, or does she have some hidden agenda? “Or you were hoping I was about to die.”
She flinches. “I deserve that. I know it’s hard for you to understand, after everything you’ve been through, but I want what’s best for you. I want to know you’re safe and taken care of, even if I can’t be the one to do it.”
“You proved that by giving me to Daros.”
She hangs her head. “I can never tell you how sorry I am, but it’s true that I am. I wish so much that things could be different.”
Why do I feel like I kicked a puppy? I soften my voice. “I wish things could be different too.”
She looks up, eyes wet with unshed tears. “Do you think you can ever forgive me? I promise I knew nothing about Carver’s plan to betray you. If I did, I would have done everything in my power to stop him. You’re my daughter, and I haven’t protected you like I should.”
No, she hasn’t.
It’s such a confusing array of emotions. I don’t know whether I want to welcome her back into my life or throw her in the same prison cell as Carver. I stare at her, trying to decide her fate in a way that’s fair to us both. I don’t know what the answer would be.
The First Queen is here, hovering close. I have the overwhelming urge to put her in jail. Because of the combination of the two, I find myself saying, “You are forgiven.” Can’t have Androlla ruling my life more than she already does. I add, “But I’m not sure if I can be around you yet.”
“I understand. And thank you so much. It’s difficult to express my gratitude for your words.”
For the first time since she came in, I study her. Not just her expressions. It’s difficult not to be shocked by what I see. She’s thinner, her clothing frayed. She reminds me of the way Daros has been falling apart, and the comparison bothers me. I don’t want the two of them to be in the same category, so I find myself asking, “What has happened to you?”
Her cheeks are stained red. “I—I didn’t want to tell you, but I’ve been living on the streets since I was turned away from the palace.”
Guilt stabs at me, and I brush it aside, though it’s hard. It’s my fault she was on the street. No house. No food. “We should change that.”
Her eyes widen, and her eyebrows jump higher.
“I mean it,” I say. “I want you to come back and live at the palace.” Perhaps not near me, but there’s plenty of room. She should be able to live here without me seeing her at all.
And if I did see her, would it be so bad?
“You don’t have to do that,” she says.
“I want to.”
This time, her tears let loose. “Thank you. So much. Thank you. It will only be until I can find work and have an income.”
I hesitate but wave away her concern. “It’s not a problem to have you here. I’ll make arrangements, and you can stay for as long as you need.”
“Thank you. I’m truly indebted to you.”
“Nonsense. You housed me for a couple years. It’s only fair I do the same.” Though I don’t plan on giving her away to an assassin master when I’m done having her around.
“Nevertheless, I owe you all my gratitude. I’m afraid I haven’t earned your trust as a mother, but I will do everything in my power to do so.” She stands and gives another curtsy. “Thank you for seeing me. I appreciate all you’re doing for me.”
I nod. My throat closes, so I can’t make a real response. She exits the room, and even as I make mental plans to have a servant take care of her, I wonder if I’m doing the right thing.
Chapter 15
Inkga and I are getting ready to practice enchanting objects when a servant announces Venda.
“Good timing,” I say. “We were about to try more magic.” Since Jaku is the only one guarding me at the moment, I feel safe in saying so.
“I will be happy to help, but that is not why I came,” Venda says. “I would like to join your personal guard.”
“You want to what?” Surprise drips from my words.
“I want to join your guard. I know it is unorthodox, since I am not of your country, but I assure you I have your best interest at heart. Until you can again protect yourself, I would like to assist in keeping you safe.”
What do I say to that? Inkga, with her wide eyes, looks as surprised as I feel. I say, “That’s very generous of you. Please forgive me, but I don’t want you to think you have to help. I know you were only here to teach my people about Puneah.”
“If I may be honest—I believe you trust these people and gather that they will not break my confidence.”
“You’d have to ask them.”
She looks at Inkga, who says, “I’m apt at keeping secrets. I can keep yours as well as Ryn’s.”
Then Jaku. “I, as well, will keep your secret, as long as it will not harm Ryn or Valcora.”
Venda turns her unnerving gaze back on me. “Very well. Much like you, I am an assassin.”
Inkga gasps. Jaku has had enough training to not look stunned—or maybe he already knew. I think about her grace and ease. Her use of magic would be a great tool, and a fila would also be a good tool to work with. The more I think about it, the less it surprises me.
“I have the skills to help,” she continues.
“We can test those,” Jaku says. “But why would you and your country want to save our queen? Why did they send you and place you close to the queen, where we’re supposed to trust you?”
“My ruler does not know about this yet; it is my choice. I was sent here to deliver Puneah, yes, but also to discover what type of queen was on the throne. One we could work with, to widen the passage between our countries and open trade, or one for whom we should block the passage. Valcora has been bouncing between an unknown and a perceived danger for a long time, and Queen Swaja, my current leader, would like that to change, as would I. The last queen was seen as a threat, making our country nervous.
“I have discovered you are a queen with a lot of heart, despite what some may say. In contrast to your predecessors, you are endeavoring to do what’s right for your countrymen, even if you don’t always succeed. I see you opening trade among your people, and I think it would work well to do the same between our cou
ntries. That may not happen if another queen takes the throne. I’m determined to see you live until either you can take care of yourself or I die.”
I was mostly following along with her words until the last line. Sure, I don’t think I’m the best queen, but I do work to do what’s best for the country. I also want to open trade between countries. But is that enough for her to be willing to die for me?
It’s a bigger statement than her being an assassin.
Giving your life for another is the highest honor of love and respect.
That’s what Wilric did for me.
I don’t want to lose another person like I lost him, but my guards could use the help. If I’m honest, I could use the help. “I want to see what you can do, and then we will decide if you can join the guard.”
One moment she’s standing in front of me, the next she’s at Jaku’s side with his own dagger to his throat. “My skills are sufficient.”
“Clearly.” I’m surprised Jaku is taking it so well, not moving an inch, even to glare at her. “Please let my Head of Guard go.”
She releases him, flips the dagger around, grabs the blade, and hands him the hilt.
Jaku takes it. “Thank you. But it begs the question—how do we know we can trust you? We can’t even trust our people. What makes you different?”
Venda finally looks at him. “I have had opportunities to kill Her Majesty and I did not. I could have had Puneah harm Ryn early on, yet I did not—the fila would be the last creature to harm her now, though.”
“Fair enough.”
I lift my eyebrows at Jaku, but say nothing. He says, “We would like you to join us.”
“I would like it to be a secret,” she says.
“It would give us an edge if she was with you, and no one knew of her skills,” Jaku says to me.
She nods. “I will continue to act in a similar manner, saying I need to be near the fila, now that she is injured.”
“Speaking of Puneah—is she going to be all right?” Concern laces my words, though I try to hide it.
