by Allison Pang
I scooped up the silkworm cloth from the bed. “I know this was a gift, but if she fights you on wearing anything other than silk, at least we know it’s not contaminated.”
Talivar nodded gravely, gathering it beneath his arm. “We will need to burn all of her clothing.”
“But that’s evidence,” I pointed out.
“Evidence we might never want to come to light,” he countered. “An extended illness we can explain away. To admit we let our own mother be poisoned before our very eyes?” He shrugged helplessly. “This is a very fine line we must walk, Abby. Assuming Thomas even believes it.”
Jimmy tugged on his sleeve. “I’ll go wit’ ye, lad. He canna’ fault my nose for finding it, aye?”
Moira nodded and the two of them left, Jimmy trotting comically beside the prince. The princess shook her head.
“I don’t deserve him, you know. My brother. Anyone else would have blamed me for what happened to him, but he never did.”
“Blame you for what? I thought his father was involved.”
She sank onto my bed. “Yes. That is the gist of it, but there were rumors in the court that Talivar’s injuries were caused simply to strengthen my own claim to the throne. By all rights, he should be next in line, but …”
“It’s a stupid fucking rule,” I said, my frustration at the political situation boiling to the surface.
“I agree.” She swished her feet against the bed like a child. “It’s why I brought him to guard you, you know. He’s never been the same since it happened. I thought by giving him a purpose or by getting him out of the palace for a while, he might start to focus less on what he lost.” A sad smile curved the corner of her mouth. “It’s not nearly enough and it never will be, but thank you for all that you’ve done for him.”
What the hell had he been like before I met him? From the way people went on about it, perhaps Talivar had been far worse off than I’d known. Anger rippled through me again. Despites all its beauty, there were some very ugly sides to Faerie.
“I’ll bet. Funny how much concern you seem to have over someone you’ve essentially tossed by the wayside simply for having physical flaws.” I tapped my own head. “I’m surprised you can stand to be around me, frankly.”
“I do not make the rules, Abby. This is who we are as a people and I cannot change it. Not yet.” She sucked in a ragged breath, frown lines creasing her perfect brow. “First things first.”
“Can’t you force your mother to abdicate the throne to you, then?”
“We could try, but that wouldn’t solve the issue of the CrossRoads being closed. That’s too deeply entwined with her own magic at the moment. The only way to force her hand would be to kill her … and I’m not ready to do that.”
“And what about your son?” I cocked my head at her. “Do you sacrifice one for the other?”
She flinched. “It’s complicated.”
“No shit. If it weren’t for me TouchStoning him, he might have faded by now. He still might. You might want to consider trying to ‘convince’ her a little harder.”
“I’m bound by protocol. I’ve done what I can.”
“Then I guess we’d better find someone a little more willing to draw outside the lines,” I told her. My sympathy only went so far, and I was tired of letting my “destiny” spin me wherever it would. “Your world needs you—hell, your son needs you—and you need to stop hiding behind the old rules of what ‘used to be,’ and start living in the now. This isn’t some Faerie legend of old.”
“And what would you propose?” Talivar asked softly as he leaned against the doorway. His hands were empty, so I could only assume he’d found my father, though I didn’t see Jimmy with him. Perhaps the pig-man had remained behind to speak with him; how Thomas chose to handle that bit of information was his business.
“Well, first I’m going to go eat the rest of my breakfast because I’m starving.” I fingered my necklace, yanking down on it so it bit into my neck. “I imagine it might be faster to get to the Barras via the CrossRoads, don’t you think?”
Moira stared at me. “You can’t possibly be thinking about asking the Unseelie Court for help?”
I shrugged. “The irony of it all is that if you all hadn’t banished the Unseelie Court or destroyed it or whatever you all did, you would have probably discovered the poison a lot sooner. And if you think about it, a united front of both Courts might be enough to give the daemons pause.” My gaze rested on both of them for a moment. “We have two days left. I don’t think your mother is cognizant of what she’s doing anymore. Kitsune has the one person who might be able to get us some real answers.”
The prince shook his head. “I don’t think Tresa can come back here. If what she said before was true, the hedge condemned her for a traitor when she left the first time.”
I bit the inside of my cheek, my short-lived TouchStoning experience with the woman suddenly making a bit more sense. The thorns had been what I’d seen when our bond had formed. I snapped my fingers, shuddering at the memory. “Tresa told me Maurice has her son. If she can’t come here to testify, perhaps he can … if we can find him.”
“That’s a big if, Abby. Assuming we even find him in time.”
“Best plan I’ve got. Unless you can think of something else. Like strangling Maurice into a confession, perhaps?”
“No.” Moira sighed. “As satisfying as that would be.”
“So … breakfast?” Talivar reached for my hand.
“Abso-freaking-lutely,” I muttered, as my stomach growled. “Priorities, people. And then we’re going to go save your kingdom.”
Twenty-five
The Door opened faster this time, the Key bending to my will easily. I would have thought the Queen’s power would have been stronger here in Faerie, but it seemed as though the CrossRoads liked the taste of freedom I’d given it earlier. As I snipped through the last of the golden threads, the power eagerly rushed forward, the Door glowing with a silver light.
“Think that’s it.” Talivar’s hand steadied me at my elbow as I released the amulet.
We were standing in an empty part of the castle, this Door apparently left to extreme disuse in the dusty room of some forgotten elven noble. The prince had assured me that there were many such Doors in the castle, but the less a Door was used, the less likely it was to be found. Easier for sneaking out of the palace, anyway.
I glanced behind me as Talivar took my hand to lead me through. Melanie, Brystion, Jimmy, and Phineas followed suit, although Moira had elected to stay behind. Just as well since she’d been less than impressed with my plan; more to the point, she could easily distract the Queen from what we were doing.
Brystion’s gaze burned into my back, but he made no move to claim my other hand. Also just as well.
The coldness of the silver enveloped us, plunging our group into a moment of darkness until the familiar silver cobbles of the CrossRoads materialized beneath our feet.
“How far are the Barras?” I asked Jimmy as he shuffled toward the front of the line with a quivering snout.
“Not too far. Kitsune has decided to move to a more sheltered area for a bit until some of this other stuff blows over.”
“Wise of her.” Not that I could blame her, really. Holding fast until the major players showed their hands was probably the best way to go. Foxes were known for their cunning, after all.
Still. If things were coming down to some sort of internal revolution, I wasn’t exactly sure I wanted to be smack in the middle of it. I said as much to Talivar and he chuckled.
“In the old days, warring factions would have terrible battles, and at the end of the day all of the wounded would be dunked into one of the larger healing pools.” A soft snort escaped him. “And then, of course, we’d get up the next day and do it all again.”
“It’s a wonder you got anything done,” I said. “Seems like a stupid way to fight a war.”
“Aye. These days we prefer to settle things with hurling matc
hes.” He winked at me. “Just think, with you and Melanie here, we’ve got enough for a full team.”
I smiled weakly. “You know, somehow I don’t think I’m up for that this morning.”
“We need a mortal for each side, even if you all you do is sit there.”
“I’ll pass. Besides, I think we have other things we’re supposed to do today. Save the world or something, right?”
“Or something.” He sighed. “I owe Kitsune a very great debt, Abby. I would prefer it if we stayed on her good side.”
Sanctuary.
I left the word unsaid, but it didn’t take much to start connecting the dots. At some point, Talivar had felt the need to claim protection from the fallen Unseelie Court. Whether that was before or after his scarring was the real question, but he’d been dancing around the subject for days now. As curious as I was, I couldn’t see pressing the issue.
Behind us I could hear Brystion and Melanie speaking softly. The rhythmic rise and fall of a question. A terse answer. A pause and then an awkward laugh. And all around us, the wash of silver dust floated as we trudged along in the dark.
“So what was up with this morning?” I asked the prince.
“Mmm. Call it an insurance policy.”
I cocked a brow at him, catching the barest flush at the tip of his ears. “An odd way of paying the premium.”
“I notice you haven’t asked the incubus about it.”
I shrugged. “I know what his motivations are.”
Talivar’s flush grew darker. “It’s difficult to explain. It has been an exceptionally long time since I was found worthy of a rival. And while I cannot say I necessarily welcome competition for your affections, just know how grateful I am to have been afforded the opportunity.” He paused. “However things turn out between us.”
Our fingers entwined briefly before he strode forward to catch up with Jimmy. I looked at Ion and Mel, catching the flicker of interest in the incubus’s face. He inclined his head graciously and I turned away, not sure of what was written on my own expression to warrant it.
Our approach to the Barras was preceded by very little fanfare, though this time my ears caught the sounds of the upcoming settlement without much trouble. I had expected things to be a bit more subdued under the circumstances, but excitement pattered through the crowd. Runners dashed this way and that, black banners flying at every corner. Music and laughter still filled the air, but the punctuated raucous cries of the vendors had taken on a brittle edge of anticipation.
I had the feeling that weapon sales had probably skyrocketed, particularly anything made of iron, but I kept my suspicions to myself.
Melanie tugged on my arm. “Not so sure about the presentation, but at least it sounds like these guys know how to party.”
“I’m just waiting for the White Rabbit to run by shouting ‘Down with the bloody Red Queen!’”
She sniggered and Talivar shot me a sour look. “That would be my mother you’re talking about, you know.”
“The Red Queen?”
“Close enough.” His mouth twitched. “Even if it’s sort of true.”
Ion eyed the goings-on with strange expression. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say they’re gearing up for an extended campaign.”
Talivar shook his head. “They cannot involve themselves in an official capacity.”
The incubus let out a chuff. “Who’s going to stop them? Your mother? It looks like they’re going to stake a claim unofficially, one way or the other.” His eyes narrowed. “They’ll be open for bargaining, Abby. It will be to our advantage, but be careful what you promise.”
“Not really an issue. I don’t have anything to bargain with. Besides, I’m not interested in playing Storm the Castle.”
“We’re not storming anything,” the prince said. “Let’s try to stay focused, shall we?”
And then there was no more time for talk as Jimmy led us through the cavernous maze of tents to the Lower Crescent, straight to Kitsune’s tent. Tresa was kneeling outside, her head bowed. A red thread ran from her neck and into the tent.
I shivered. If Talivar had gone after her instead of me, would this have been my fate? Tresa looked up as we approached, snarling when she saw me. “My mistress bids you enter,” she coughed out.
“My thanks,” Talivar said formally, pushing back the flap to gesture the rest of us through. The ginger scent rushed out and Jimmy paused, his eyes watering.
“I think I’ll just waits out here, if ye dinna’ mind?”
Phineas shook his head, his nostrils flaring as he entered the tent behind me, the dark warmth enveloping us. “Jesus, that smells obnoxious.”
“But I like it,” Kitsune said calmly from where she was kneeling beside the low table, dressed in a sanguine kimono. Her dark hair hung plaited like a liquid black river over her shoulder. Her lips parted into a wide grin, the candlelight glowing eerily upon the smoothness of her face. “And that is all that matters.”
Talivar knelt before her, inclining his head. “Of course. And thank you for granting us audience. We apologize for the informality of it, but we have a need to speak to Tresa.”
Kitsune’s grin became wider and she tugged on the red thread attached to her wrist. “My handmaiden? I should thank you for the gift, my lord prince. She has been a delight to train. Haven’t you, pet?”
“Yes, mistress.” Tresa crawled in through the flap, keeping her eyes fixed on the floor.
“There, now, ask what you will of her. But mind she belongs to me,” Kitsune warned. “You may not undo this binding until I cut it.”
Tresa raised her head, hatred burning deep within her eyes as she stared at me, but there was a definite tremble in her limbs whenever she looked at the fox-woman. “I will not talk,” she said finally. “There is no need. After all”—she let out a mirthless chuckle—“you cannot hurt me more than Maurice has.”
“My kingdom is under rather dire straits at the moment. There’s not much I wouldn’t do.” Talivar pulled out a piece of one of the Queen’s dresses from a pouch at his side. “We know about the poison, Tresa.”
The blood drained from her face. He’d been bluffing, of course… aside from the Protectorate issue, we didn’t know for certain she was directly involved, but her reaction made it certain. She looked away, her eyes going dull. “You can’t prove anything.”
“We don’t have to,” I said. “All we have to do is parade our evidence in front of Maurice during the hearing and let him know you told us everything.” A part of me felt like a total piece of shit at making her squirm—after all, she was trying to protect her family, the same as I was. On the other hand …
“If I were free I’d tear out your heart,” she snapped.
“If you were free, you’d be dead,” Talivar said bluntly, his voice simmering with a dark promise. “The thorns would have seen to that.”
Kitsune chuckled. “Ah, yes. Nasty business, that poison hedge. Easy enough to heal if you know how.” Her hand swept out to grasp Tresa’s arm, sliding back the long sleeve to reveal the newly pinked flesh. “It was a deep infection.”
“Thank you, mistress,” Tresa said, her eyes dropping low again.
I gave the fox-woman a shrewd look. “And could you heal poison from spider silk? Long-term exposure to it?”
“I might.” Kitsune’s grin disappeared. “But I would need access to her body, or someone else who’s been exposed to it to the point of sickness to figure out the antidote. And there are no terms I could think of that would grant me that level of access to the Queen.” Her ears flattened. “And no reason for me to either.”
“Never mind all that,” Melanie said to Tresa, her face thoughtful. “What do we need for the high ground here? What’s going to get you to give us the information we want?” I eyed her bemusedly. Never one for confrontations, Melanie would usually rather make a bargain to get her way. Most of the time, it worked.
Tresa let out a desperate laugh. “My son, of course. He is in
nocent in all of this. A child.” Her nostrils flared out in a shuddering sigh. “Rescue him and I’ll tell you anything you want to know. I can give you proof that the daemons are backing Maurice’s actions.” Her gaze met Talivar’s, but there was nothing sly about her now. No bargains save what she was offering. “Grant me this and I’ll even tell you the antidote for the poison.”
A terrible silence gripped the room, the tension between Talivar and Kitsune wire-tight as they exchanged a glance. It wasn’t hard to tell what the answer would be.
“Where is your son?” Melanie asked it simply and without preamble.
Tresa’s face fell, her eyes rolling wildly. “I don’t know. Maurice took him.”
I frowned at her, something not quite right about the story. “He took your son, for no reason at all?”
Her limbs squirmed as though she might try to scuttle from Talivar’s sudden scrutiny.
“Did the Queen take any interest in my plight when she cut off all contact with the lesser Fae?” Her head whipped toward Talivar. “Did any of you? I was a seamstress before the silkworms were no longer allowed to sell to me. I made the cloth for those fancy dresses the Queen wore. We had a good life, my Timan and I.”
“And as soon as it went sour, you decided killing your liege was the thing to do?” Talivar’s face had gone blank, his eye narrowing.
“I didn’t intend to kill her. Just make her sick enough that she would step down. If trade were to be reopened between the Courts, I’d have my livelihood back. Maurice discovered my duplicity but kept his silence. In return, I agreed to help him.” She shook her head. “Your capture of him merely slowed things down, but much of this was set in motion a very long time ago. When the poison did not progress as fast as he wanted, he decided I should take over the role of Protectorate to keep you in the dark. If I could take Moira’s child from her, I was to do that as well. I balked and Maurice had his daemon mercenaries take the boy in return for my continued compliance.”
