by SM Blooding
“What are your motives? What do you hope to gain?”
She moved to rise. “I will get Queen Dyna.”
My hand snaked out and caught hers. Heat radiated up my arm, mimicking the feel of my Mark being called. “What game are you really playing, priestess?”
She stared at my hand. “There is no game, Synn.”
“With the Hands, there is always a game. The stone chamber? That wasn’t some sort of torture?”
She flinched as she attempted to pull her hand out of my grasp. When she failed, she let out a long breath. “I needed your walls down. You are very strong.”
“You needed in my mind.”
She nodded. “For what I do? Yes.”
“And what do you do?”
Her big, brown eyes met mine. “I extract information. Synn.”
I breathed, trying to decipher just how bad that could be.
Her hand shook.
My arm went cold. “And what information did you extract?”
“I do not trust my queens with everything.” Her breaths were shallow. “I only give them the information they request.”
I clenched my jaw. “What information did she request?”
The priestess pulled away, tucking her hands beneath several folds of purple and blue scarves. “The information you held dear is still protected. I did not share it.”
That didn’t tell me much. I had a lot of information I held dear.
“We had to sedate you.” She took another step back. “We don’t understand your Mark, so we didn’t know how to prepare for it. But I’m confident you won’t use it to hurt us.”
I licked my lips, anger seething within me. “And how are you certain of that?”
She blinked rapidly and took another step back. “I searched your memories,” she whispered. “Your Mark is still being blocked by drugs. I tried to tell Dyna that you were not a threat, but she will need proof of it herself. You will have to do that.”
I watched her for a long, cold moment. I could only determine that my heart had gotten it wrong yet again. This woman was just as good at playing games as all the Hands’ women seemed to be.
She shook, the bells at the ends of her scarves jingling softly.
Would I be able to trust anyone ever again? “Do I scare you?”
“No,” was her immediate answer.
I raised my eyebrows. “Really. Then why are you shaking?”
Her large eyes fluttered up to meet mine. “I—” A frown flickered between her dark eyebrows. “I am afraid of the future you bring.”
It was time for me to sit up. For dirt’s sake, it was time for me to stand up, but whatever drug they’d dosed me with hadn’t left me with a lot of energy. That didn’t win them any points in the trust department. “What future is that, priestess?”
There was movement under the veil that covered her mouth. I could see the slight shadow of her lips part, her tongue peeking out before disappearing again. “Change.” She turned with a flurry of scarves and disappeared through the large door.
I had enough time to get out of bed, remind my muscles how to actually move, bathe using the bowl of water beside the window, and get dressed. Uniforms for the House of Wands had been left in the chest at the foot of the bed.
I looked at myself in the mirror. The stubble along my chin grew in itching patches. It would have to be removed, but there were no shaving instruments in the room. Surprise.
That wasn’t what had me disgusted.
The man in the mirror’s blue, slanted eyes were chilling. The scar over my one eye was nearly gone, but still there, making my expression harder than I thought it would have been. Gone was the carefree smile of the boy I remembered. How long ago had it been when I’d looked in the mirror and thought only of trying fill my father’s clothes? My dark brown hair curled around my shoulders. My cheekbones were angular, my shoulders wide.
I looked . . . intimidating. When had I become that?
My lip curled as I took in the black and red uniform. Pin-striped pants, red shirt, black vest. The long coat and top hat remained on the bed where I left them. I tied my hair back in a low queue and shook my head at what I saw. I looked like a Hand.
My stomach roiled. What had I been thinking to allow myself back into the Hands’s control?
Dyna.
I pushed away from the mirror and walked toward the large, open window.
The door opened. A person dressed in the colors of the House of Swords—pale blue and silver—walked in carrying a tray of food. He set it down without so much as a glance in my direction and left.
The door didn’t click. I wasn’t locked in.
I went to the food tray. Vegetables, fruits, cheeses. But did I dare eat it? Would they continue in their attempt to drug me?
I tried to tell Dyna that you were not a threat, but she will need proof of it herself. You will have to do that.
I massaged my dull-throbbing head and stepped through the window onto the balcony. I needed to learn the rules of this game. Somehow, I needed to get smarter. Why was I constantly asking myself how I got myself into situations? Why was I always agreeing to things before I had all the details? Father would be so disappointed.
My heart twinged.
Would he?
I let my mind drift as the salt sea breeze drifted over and around me. I could see a small courtyard below and high stone walls. I had no idea where we were, what the state of the city was.
A flock of white and gray land birds flew overhead, screaming at one another. The wind was filled with the scent of dirt, plants, and something else, something spicy. I knew that scent. I knew where we were.
The wispy clouds were high above us. Sky City was still resting on the ocean’s surface. I couldn’t tell by the movement. It was impossible that the ocean was this still. I didn’t feel even the slightest shift.
Where were the Families? How was the El’Asim fleet? Was Isra doing a good job in leading our people? Were they following her? Was Zara, my El’Asim sister, helping? Was she learning to lead?
What would happen to the El’Asim if I took up the knighthood? Who would lead them?
I shook my head. Zara could not, and would not. She’d made it quite clear since we were children that she loved the skies and loved the fleet, but would never lead. The El’Asim would be hard-pressed to follow her, a woman, but at least she carried Father’s blood.
Isra Um’Bente did not. She had been my father’s second, and mine though I’d never made it official. It was only a matter of time before the people revolted, found a new leader, a male.
What about Ryo?
I bit off that thought. Mother would never allow her oldest son to leave Ino City and lead another tribe.
However, if I wasn’t there to do so, there might not be another choice. I would have to plead my case and hope she understood. Oki was already in training to lead the Ino. They preferred a matriarchal rule.
I had to find a way to keep the Families safe.
Was being here the safest thing for them?
I recalled the damage the Hands had brought to the people, whether they were under the protection of Tarot or not. The Hands hadn’t cared who they’d damaged in order to retrieve me. Letharan cities had been destroyed. Land cities had been wiped out. Several airships in our fleets were gone.
Yes. It was safer for the Families if I were here, but what kind of damage would I create by allowing myself to fall within their power?
That thought terrified me.
Look what I have brought you today, people of Sky City. The greatest, most powerful Mark we’ve ever seen.
Oh, yes. To Nix, I was a trophy.
To Dyna, I was a tool.
I closed my eyes and rested my head against the stone. This couldn’t end well.
“You haven’t eaten.”
I jerked my attention to the middle of the room.
Queen Dyna stood there, her tight, leather uniform gleaming in the brightening light as the pale blue su
n, Sang, joined Kala in the sky.
“I didn’t hear you enter.”
Her blonde brows rose quickly as she leaned down and picked up a block of cheese, popping it in her mouth.
I stayed by the window and watched.
She flicked her long, pale braid over her shoulder and joined me on the balcony. “You should eat.”
“I wasn’t sure it was safe.”
Her chin rose with a soft smile, her blue eyes scanning the courtyard. “You frighten me, Synn. Your Mark is very powerful.”
I took in a deep breath, my gaze joining hers. The curtains fluttered behind us.
“As is your anger.”
I didn’t say anything. There was nothing to say.
She took a step away. “Your food is lightly dosed. Until I can trust you, I would appreciate you maintaining the drug in your system. You will regain some use of your Mark. This is how we keep our newly initiated under control.”
I followed her into the room. “And why should I allow myself to be drugged?”
She picked up another piece of cheese and popped it in her mouth. “Because while you do so, I will keep you in my care.”
“And Nix’s threat?”
She walked toward the door. “Is just a threat.”
“You really think so?”
The queen paused, her chin down, her hands clenched at her sides. “You let me deal with my sister.”
“And what am I to do?”
She met my gaze. “You will learn everything you can, become her knight, and lead us out of this mess.”
Something about the way she said that set my nerves on edge. “What has she done?”
She shook her head and turned to leave. “I will send Carilyn to you later this morning. She will update you, but in the meantime, I need you to work with Aiyanna.”
What was she playing at?
“Synn.” She stopped inside the doorway. “Aiyanna can help you get past what my sister has done to you, but you have to trust her.”
“I still haven’t figured out why I should trust any of you.”
She tapped the door frame with her nail. “I guess there’s a lot of that going around.” She nodded. “I will have a new plate brought up without the drug.”
Was she serious?
Her blue gaze met mine. “Please don’t make me regret this.”
I raised my chin. “Don’t make me regret staying.”
She nodded and disappeared.
This was going to be a lot harder than I’d ever imagined.
CHAPTER 3
NIX’S “PEACE”
When the door opened next, a tall, young woman walked in carrying a silver tray laden with food that she was eating. She talked to herself in low mumbles that made absolutely no sense.
Her dirty blonde hair was cut short, much like a man’s, but her face was too feminine for anyone to really mistake her for anything but a woman. Also, men never curled nor pinned their hair like that. It looked like a sculpture.
She wore a uniform unlike any I’d seen. The jacket was blue and white and form fitting, the collar underneath white. It was the skirt that caught my eye. Straight and just below her knees, showing off a great deal of calf and ankles. It was alluring and utilitarian all at the same time.
She set the tray down and sniffed at the other one. “I’m Carilyn and you’re going to need some strength for all the walking we’ll be doing, so I’d get your keester over here in the right nows of right now and eat.” She took a handful of noodles and fell into a square, blue chair.
Frowning, I sat down in the chair on the other side of the table and studied her.
Her gray eyes flitted all over the place. A streak of water peeked over the collar of her jacket and dropped to the table as a gust of wind pushed the other tray away.
Was she using her Mark to show off or tell me the food was safe?
“I hate when the queens poison the people they’re all tryin’ to woo. Why they always feel the need to be dosing people up, I have no idea. Dirt-thumping people should have thought before they tried that on you of all people.”
I raised my eyebrow.
“Don’t let your head swell. Could have just talked all nicey-nice to you and gained better results, is all I’m saying.”
I was being played. Her lilt was unnatural, like she was forcing it. I could only deduce that she was using her Mark to show me the food was safe. But Dyna had eaten the doused food, so . . .
I watched her warily.
She continued to munch, air and water flitting through the room cleaning and tidying.
I picked at the long noodles and vegetables. I was so hungry my stomach didn’t even complain—didn’t growl, or clench. I’d survived some pretty bad winters, so I knew what that meant. I had to be careful of what I ate and how quickly. Nothing too rich and nothing too fast.
The corners of Carilyn’s lips rose, her head bouncing as her eyes scanned the room. “You do look good all broken and bloodied. I can see why they torment you. Probably cuddle you too, right? Hold you close? Comfort you, pat you? That type of thing?”
I sat back with a dry chuckle. I was used to people showing me sympathy or scorn. This wasn’t the first time I’d tangled with the queens, after all. I found Carilyn’s approach to be . . . refreshing.
“Those women love to rough their men up so they can ‘save’ them later. Just be careful, or you’ll end up like Varik. Nix’s the worst when it comes to breaking her play toys.”
That got my goad. “I have no wish to be a play toy.”
“Too late, kiddo.”
There was no way she was old enough to be calling me “kiddo.”
“You’re already it! I’d say, you’re probably the best chew toy these dirt-fearing women have had to play with for turns.” She blinked. “Centurns, even.”
It was time to change the subject. “So what are you?”
“I,” she said, her fingers to her chest with a preening expression, “am your intelligence officer. Aren’t too many knights I know what get the likes of me and aren’t even knights yet.” She chuckled. “I’m still trying to decide if I pissed someone off, or if this is a promotion.”
I couldn’t peg her false accent. Why had she chosen it? “Where are you from?”
She ignored my question and rose. “Are you ready to go?”
I stared at her, trying to figure out how to get answers out of her.
She led the way out of the room. No guards stood beside my door. The walls and floors were tiled in a hard, gleaming rock that I’d never seen before, black and silver with specs of blue.
“Do me a favor, Carilyn.”
She glanced at me over her shoulder.
I opened my gait to walk even with her. “Don’t play me. Speak naturally and plainly.”
She quirked her lips and looked away, slowing her footsteps. “You’re a lot brighter than anyone’s said.”
“Thank you.” I winced. What did they say about me behind my back? That I had a powerful Mark, but was dumber than a colcat? “I think.”
“Don’t. I’ll be expecting more out of you, have higher expectations.”
I raised my eyebrows, keeping pace with her, though I was getting winded. “What family are you from?”
“I’m not,” she said with a snort. Her hard-heeled shoes clicked lightly on the tile down the wide staircase as we headed for the main doors. Here, people walked with a purpose, barely glancing in our direction. “I was born to the Hands. They’re the only family I have.”
“Oh.”
Carilyn sighed. “My mother is a priestess. Not a high one, or the like. She was allowed to mate by choice. She picked some bloke from the regiment of Swords and out popped me. When I was three, the queen at the time chose me, and I’ve been here ever since.”
“Dyna?”
She nodded once to the guard at the door who opened the heavy stone doors with a lever. “How old do you think she is? I can assure you, she’s not that old.”
I s
topped on the other side of the door and raised my hand to shield my eyes. The sunlight wasn’t bright, but it still made my eyes burn. Pale, white Sang ruled the sky. Hot, orange Kala hid behind the massive building we’d just exited from, but it was still more light than I’d seen in a while. “I never paid much attention to Hand politics.”
She was halfway down the pale gray steps by the time my eyes adjusted. “Just shows you for a fool.”
A stone path led away from the building. Squares of short, green grass lay on either side, dotted by an occasional lamp post. The street ran parallel to the House of Swords. A lone motor car rumbled by, spitting out steam. Where was everyone?
Carilyn twisted around to see my progress, her pale eyebrows raised in acknowledgement of whatever was in my expression. “Yeah. Well, when you decided to bring down Sky City, you really emptied the streets. Everyone jumped ship.”
I jogged a couple of steps and thought better of it. I really wasn’t up for that quite yet. I walked up to her as she waited. “Are they safe?”
“Safe?” She shook her head and turned the corner.
This street was marginally busier. We were coming up to the café my friends and I had often frequented during my last stay.
“If you think fleeing one tyrant as a someone and becoming a nameless no one in the city of another tyrant is safe, then yes. They’re all quite safe.”
I shook my head. “I know who picked up the survivors. They’re not tyrants.”
Well, were they? Ino City was ruled by my mother and she wasn’t the cuddliest of people. She could be ruthless, but a tyrant? No.
What did I know of the Shankara, though? Only that Nix thought she’d annihilated the lot of them turns ago.
How had I dealt with the survivors of Egolda City when Varik and Nix had destroyed it trying to get to me? I’d taken care of them the best I could. The truth of the matter was, they’d been a strain on our resources, and they hadn’t made things any easier.
“Look, knight-tight,” Carilyn said as she ducked around another corner, forcing me to walk faster to keep up. “You had your heart in the right place, but your head was somewhere in the clouds. The idea is to get you thinking straight, and doing something for the people that actually makes sense.”
