by T. A. White
“You do it. Too tired.” His breathing deepened back into slumber.
She shot a wrathful glance at his still form. She huffed. Faster she got this done, the sooner she could go back to sleep.
She grabbed her boots before stumbling out of the tent. She held up a hand to shield her eyes and blinked rapidly at the early morning sun. Way too early for this.
Able to see clearly, she stomped in the direction of the commotion. Maybe she’d get lucky and Jost would have taken care of whatever idiot was waking up the whole camp by the time she got there.
Her legs protested the movement after their adventures of yesterday. She sighed. She needed to incorporate more exercise into her life. She’d thought the various forms she was already undertaking would be enough but apparently not from the soreness evident.
There were a pair of horses waiting on the edge of camp that weren’t there yesterday. In fact, Tate was pretty sure no horses had been at the camp as Jost had made everyone walk to the site’s location. What were they doing here now? And how did they get here?
Seeing two men clad all in black, including black cloaks with a silver tree embroidered on the back, Tate could guess whose horses those were.
What was the Black Order doing here?
Tate recognized Ward and her friend from the freezer. Judging by the anger on the faces of the Silva, the men had not been any more successful in making a good impression on them than they had on Tate.
“What’s going on?” Tate asked the first Silva man she reached.
He glared at her and moved away. Tate frowned as she watched him go, not used to having people literally walk in the other direction when she approached.
Something was up, and she was betting Jost was not going to be happy about it.
Tala stood behind Gabriella and Lennart as her guards argued fiercely with Ward. Her friend from the freezer looked like he was enjoying the discussion—an expression of smug glee on his face.
“What’s going on here?” Tate asked in her best authoritative voice. With Jost nowhere to be seen, it fell to her to figure things out. She really hated having to be responsible.
Ward’s gaze swung to her and he frowned. Her friend from the freezer straightened and gave her a smile full of innuendo.
“Well, well, look who’s here. The person at the heart of it all.”
“What are you talking about?” Tate asked him. She noted distantly the arrival of the Shodon and several of his people. The Duke of Spiritly and his guards weren’t far behind him, with Jost beside them.
“We’ve found the person responsible for the deaths of the Kairi and human and the poisoning of one Tatum Fisher, Dragon-Ridden.” Ward was matter of fact as he recited what he was there for. “As such, we are here to place one Tala Fireday under arrest.”
His words caused an immediate reaction in the Silva, several snarls and growls filling the air. Seigal’s hand dropped to the hilt of his sword at his side. If he drew that thing, he’d be dead before it cleared the scabbard. By the way he froze with his hand on the pommel, he knew it too.
They were fools to only have brought two men to try to arrest the doyenne. Especially when a good number of her people were there to watch and interfere.
Tate narrowed her eyes. It was enough to make her question whether they had motives not immediately obvious. No, she decided, the two were pawns in a larger game.
“What proof do you have?” Jost asked, stepping up to the fray.
“Testimony from the poisoner.” Ward’s voice was cool, giving no evidence of his awareness of the danger his friend’s actions and his own words put him in.
“You can’t still think Bridgette had anything to do with this?” Gabriella burst out.
Bridgette? Oh, the woman who had served the tea. The one the Ward and Seigal had assumed was the poisoner simply because she fled before they could question her.
“We do,” Ward said, his hands clasped behind his back. “She admitted as much to us when we caught her on the road outside the city trying to head back to Silva lands.”
“That’s it?” Tate asked. “That’s hardly enough evidence to prove anything. For all we know, Bridgette was paid to say Tala ordered it.”
“I would think as the person whose life was almost lost, that you’d be grateful to us for finding those responsible.”
Tate jerked one shoulder up. “Sure, if you actually found the culpable party. I’m not convinced you’ve done that. All you have to point to her is a testimony possibly gained under duress and the fact she was trying to go home.”
“Tate,” Jost said softly. “Careful.”
Tate’s eyes flicked to him and then back to the men of the Black Order. She didn’t think so. They weren’t using her name to go on a witch hunt. If that was their motive for this, she’d take the investigation back.
“It doesn’t even make sense. Why would Tala poison me in her own house? She would know she’d be the first person blamed.”
Dewdrop, eyes half closed and hair sticking up all over the place, walked up to the group. He rubbed his head, causing his hair to stand even further on end.
“What’s going on?” he said around a yawn.
Nobody answered him.
Ward was too busy glaring at Tate and Jost. Tate didn’t care, ignoring the slight sneer on his face as she folded her arms over her chest and lifted an eyebrow in question.
“We also have the vial of poison recovered from Tala’s personal quarters and Bridgette’s added testimony of seeing Tala order her guards to carry out the murder of the Kairi and human.”
“The same witness who tried to poison the dragon?” Dewdrop pointed out. “She could just be saying whatever she needs to survive.”
Dewdrop had an excellent point. The death of Ithor and Ronald coupled with Tate’s poisoning would ensure a lifetime punishment in one of the work camps in the mines of the west. That was a pretty good reason to say whatever needed to avoid that place. Tate had heard horror stories from people who’d managed to survive their sentence.
“I’m sure you are well aware that her mental faculties aren’t such that she would easily come up with such an imaginative tale,” Ward said, giving Gabriella a side look.
Gabriella flushed, her mouth snapping closed. She’d told Tate herself that the Obeziku mind was simple—that of someone who never fully stepped into the harsh reality of growing up.
It was possible she was lying, but her mental status would make her a very sympathetic witness. Easily believed. It would be all too easy to take advantage of someone like that and turn that person into a tool to carry out some dastardly deed.
“What possible reason could I have for doing all this?” Tala asked, her voice filled with scorn.
Ward shrugged, the motion careless. “I don’t know, and I don’t care. I have my proof. You’ll come with me to face judgment.”
The Silva closed ranks around Tala, facing Ward and Seigal with claws and blades. Jost ran forward, stepping between the Black Order and the Silva and holding his palms up facing both.
“By the Creator’s hairy balls, this is not good,” Danny muttered next to her.
“Why?”
“A situation like this is what we’ve been trying to avoid from the beginning. If the Silva spill the Order’s blood when they are acting under a writ of arrest, there will be dire consequences.”
“What kind of dire consequences?”
Danny’s face was grim as he watched Jost try to motion for everyone to calm down. It didn’t look like it was having a lot of effect.
“The kind that involves open war, retaliation. The possibilities go on and on.”
Not exactly what Tate had been hoping for when she came out to see what was going on. And to think, she’d thought they were just arguing about who was going to cook breakfast.
The men from the Black Order and the Silva looked like they were about to lunge at each other in a full out brawl. Jost, trapped in the middle, probably wouldn’t fare well.
The Shodon and the duke looked like they found the whole thing vaguely amusing.
“Dewdrop, if you please.”
“You’re going to owe me for this,” he said with a put upon sigh that was entirely for show.
“As long as I owe you, you’ll never be broke.”
He rolled his eyes at her as he moved in front of her and Danny. Tate covered her ears and leaned away from him. Danny, noticing her actions, followed suit with a questioning look.
A piercing wail spilled out of his mouth. The people cowered away, some falling to their knees as they covered their ears.
Dewdrop’s mouth closed and he gave Tate a sardonic look and gestured her forward with a flourish.
“So helpful,” she said as she stepped past him.
“Remember that the next time I steal your breakfast.”
“Not that helpful,” she tossed over her shoulder as she moved into the crowd. “Since I don’t really feel like starting the day with a side of bloodshed, I’m going to tell you how the next few minutes will go.” Tate walked between the Order and the Silva.
Jost pulled himself off the ground, looking spitting mad. He glared at both of the groups but let Tate continue.
“Tala, you and two of your guards are going to accompany these two idiots back to Aurelia.”
There was an outcry. Tate pointed at Dewdrop and they quieted again, shooting looks at the teenage boy, who looked even younger with a nasty case of bed head.
“As for you two.” Tate shot the two men in black a hard look, trying to impress upon them her nonexistent authority. “You’re going to accompany the Doyenne of Clan Fireday and treat her with all the respect you’d give any high ranking noblewoman in the Aurelian Empire. Since she is a high ranking noblewoman, that shouldn’t be too hard.”
Seeing the disgruntled disagreement on the face of her nemesis from the freezer, Tate gave both of them a razor sharp smile, letting Ilith through enough for them to see what the dragon would do if given half the chance.
“You’re going to take her back to Aurelia, and she is going to come to no harm. Do I make myself clear?”
She waited with bated breath.
Ward looked like he’d bit into something unpleasant as he stared at her for a long moment. Finally he jerked his head down in a sharp nod. His friend didn’t look happy, but he followed Ward’s lead.
“Good, because the Kairi Shodon and the Duke of Spiritly just witnessed this whole debacle. If she doesn’t arrive safely and in one piece, it’ll be you two facing charges before this is done.”
Seigal looked around as if just now realizing the situation in which he’d found himself. Ward’s eyes didn’t stray from Tate’s. He had an odd little smile that said he knew exactly what she’d done, and he’d find a way to repay her in kind.
“If it pleases you, we’ll take our prisoner now.”
Tate looked back at Tala, knowing that despite what she said, if the Silva woman didn’t want to go, they’d have a difficult time making her. If she resisted, it would mean bloodshed and a political clusterfuck that would send waves of repercussions for years to come.
Tala nodded, looking resigned and furious. She understood. Good. Tate just hoped these two men took her warning to heart. She wasn’t bluffing when she said bad things would happen if Tala ended up dead while under their care. It was still undetermined whether they or the organization they reported to would care. She hoped for all their sakes that they did.
Tala’s people gathered around her, saying their goodbyes.
Ward stepped up beside Tate. “You should be careful whose side you choose. Things are changing in Aurelia. It would be unwise to side with those that will soon be shown for what they really are.”
Tate arched an eyebrow, letting amusement tug at her face. “What about my actions said I was unsure of my choice? It’s already been made. Thanks for the advice but I’ll have to pass.”
He didn’t look happy to have his advice thrown back in his face.
Tala stepped forward, her two guards flanking her, and presented her wrists. She barely winced as the manacles were placed on them and tightened. Seigal jerked them, causing her to stumble and cry out. Several of Tala’s people growled, a few stepping forward in threat.
“Which part of treat her with respect did you not understand,” Tate said. “Do they educate your sort when you sign up or do they just take you from the worst parts of the city?”
“Listen here,” Seigal started.
Danny stepped forward, using his much greater size to intimidate. He didn’t say anything, merely stared down. That was threat enough and the man backed down.
“We will not warn you again,” Jost said, his eyes chilly. “Treat the Silva Doyenne with the care you’d show the Emperor or I will have you up on charges of insubordination.”
The man grumbled but was considerably gentler as he finished cuffing Tala.
When he approached the two guards who’d be accompanying Tala on the journey, Tate stepped between them. “Nope. They’re not under arrest. They’re her escort and as such will be making the journey manacle free.”
She gave them her nicest smile, one that didn’t even come close to warming the rest of her face.
“This is ridiculous,” he snapped. “They could decide to murder us on the way and then take her back to their territory where she won’t face justice.”
“You have about the same assurance that we have that you won’t try to kill our doyenne while she is mostly defenseless,” Gabriella said joining Tate. She was not one of the guards chosen to accompany Tala.
“Who are you?” the man’s eyes were insulting as they ran up and down Gabriella’s body.
She straightened, her smile cold and her eyes dark chips of amber. “The acting Doyenne until we can prove our lady’s innocence.”
That was a surprise. Gabriella’s promotion to the leader seemed odd, but what did Tate know of Silvan politics.
“Let’s go,” Ward said, before his friend could say anything else.
Tala and her guards were led to the horses. Since there were only two, they would have to walk while Ward and Seigal rode. Tate hoped there would be additional horses once they got to the main road. It was a long walk back to the capital.
Gabriella gave Tate a curt nod before she and the rest of her people dispersed to break up their camp so they could follow their doyenne back.
Jost paused at her side. “How sure are you that she isn’t responsible for what they’re accusing her of?”
Tate frowned, watching the trees where they had disappeared. “Anything is possible, but this doesn’t make sense. The death of Ithor, maybe. My poisoning? I doubt it.”
“Then you need to find a way to prove her innocent in front of the Black Order, and you need to do it fast. I’m supposed to make my decision today. I can’t delay much longer and right now any decision I make will result in massive political upheaval.”
“I have a theory,” Tate admitted. “But I’ll need to go back to Aurelia to prove it.”
“Do it. Quickly.”
“What will you be doing?” Tate asked.
His sigh was heavy. “Trying to keep them from killing each other. With her arrest, the Silva will be even more rabid to retain control of this site, and the Academics will use this as proof to support their case. I’ll try to delay things as long as possible, until you have what you need.”
Tate wasn’t sure which of their jobs was more distasteful or difficult.
He clapped her on the back. “Good luck.”
Tate had a feeling she was going to need it.
*
“Where are we going?” Dewdrop asked, hurrying along behind her.
“To see old friends.”
“I don’t remember you having friends in this area of the city,” Dewdrop said, looking around them.
He was not wrong. They were in the Lower. Not just any part, but the slums where law was more of an idea and less of a reality. This was where t
he Night Lords held the most sway and where walking more than a few feet while dressed in nice clothes without armed escort invited pickpockets or kidnapping.
Tate and Dewdrop had arrived in a carriage on the outskirts of the slums and walked inside. His face was still recognizable from the time he’d been a part of Lucius’s court. Tate hoped it would be enough to prevent them from having to deal with too many people looking to prey upon them.
She was pressed for time and didn’t want to have to deal with scaring the denizens away. She would have preferred to avoid the area, but it was one of the few shortcuts she knew to the catacombs. The only other access point she knew of was in the temple under the cliffs, but at this time of day there were entirely too many people about to slip unseen into the tunnels.
“They’re less friends and more uneasy acquaintances.”
Dewdrop shot a skeptical look at her, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. His expression turned to one of outrage. “You’re trying to see Lucius, aren’t you?”
She didn’t answer.
“You are.” His voice dropped to a scathing whisper. “I can’t believe this. Do you know how dangerous he is?”
“You don’t have to come.”
“Why are you even going down there?” he burst out.
“You said it yourself, Lucius has something to do with all of this.”
“I said I ‘thought’ he might have something to do with this. ‘Thought’ being the most important part of that sentence. The barrel anchored in a cave is a common smugglers trick. I’m sure there’s a crew much closer to the site who operates that way.”
Tate took a deep breath, stopping and facing Dewdrop. He halted and turned towards her. “It’s more than a guess. Lucius Two and Blade stopped the carriage Night and I were in after I’d been poisoned. He had a lot of questions about the discovered tunnels and the politics around them.”
“And you didn’t tell me this sooner?” He turned and kicked a pile of trash.
“I meant to, but then other things happened.”
“Did they threaten you?”
“It wasn’t me they were threatening.” Tate’s eyes were sympathetic as his shoulders hunched and he avoided her gaze. She laid one hand on his shoulder. “They wanted something. You were just the stick they were willing to use to get it.”
