by Imogen Elvis
“This looks promising,” Briar said. “This should be the servant’s area.” The house where Ava had worked before all this began had a green door just like that. Ava once told her that the servants weren’t allowed past the door unless they were cleaning or serving the family. Her heart grew sad at the thought of her sister.
Kade held the door open for Briar. Now the faint sound of voices whispered from somewhere deeper in the house. They must be getting close to the kitchen. Only Lara and a couple of trusted servants should be Grendeth, and Marta would be awake now. Briar led the way down the corridor in the direction of the voice. At least, she hoped Grendeth had only woken Marta, whoever she was, and not the whole household. The fewer people who knew they were here, the safer it would be for the servants as well as themselves. Briar hoped that there would be a good meal because her stomach was growling again.
The kitchen, when they finally found it, was a large stone room, shrouded in shadows. A long table ran down the middle, empty apart from three plates loaded up with food sitting at the near end. Someone had lit a couple of candles and placed them on the table as well, illuminating just a small section of the kitchen. A tiny fire burned on the hearth and Grendeth knelt beside it, feeding it with small sticks, coaxing the flames to life.
Lara was perched on a three-legged stool at the end of the long kitchen table tucking into her meal and talking animatedly with an older woman. This must be Marta. The flickering candlelight exaggerated the wrinkles on the woman’s face, while a frilly white nightcap covered her hair. She had tied an apron over her long, plain nightgown but hadn’t dressed beyond that.
As Briar and Kade entered the kitchen, Lara turned to greet them. “You two look better. Marta’s prepared a meal for you both. It’s cold but as delicious as ever.” This last she directed at Marta, with a smile and a nod. Marta laced her hands over the stomach with a look of satisfaction.
Kade and Briar settled themselves side by side on the long bench at the side of the kitchen table that faced the fire, directly opposite the old woman. She slid two plates of food in front of them, each piled high with cold pie. Thick slices of bread were stacked on the edge of the plate to sop up the rich gravy that spilt out.
“Eat,” Marta said.
Briar dug in eagerly. Marta made a good pie. Even cold, the pastry was flaky and rich, and the meat fell apart in her mouth. No meal from any of the inns they’d stayed in on their long journey could compare with this.
“It’s very dangerous for you to be in Mizra, my lady,” Grendeth said gravely when everyone had settled. “With the price on your head, as well as the king’s…condition, it might be safer to leave the city for the time being. If you don’t mind my saying, my lady,” he added, ducking his head as if suddenly remembering who he spoke to.
“How is the situation with the king? Lara asked.
The king has gone completely mad,” Grendeth said bluntly. “There’s talk that he’s not fit to rule anymore.”
Marta leaned out of her chair and slapped the man on the arm. “Hush. Talk like that will get you into trouble.”
Grendeth folded his arms, lifting his chin in defiance. “It’s the truth. I’ve got friends among the servants at court. I hear the whispers. It’s only a matter of time before people admit that he’s lost his mind and Lord Sachio takes the throne. We’ll all be better off when that day comes, I say.”
Marta shook her head. But she didn’t deny the old man’s claims. Briar glanced at Kade, but he kept his eyes fixed firmly on his plate. Only the tightening of his fingers on his fork suggested how Grendeth’s words cut. She couldn’t imagine the control he must be exerting to stay so still and calm while these well-meaning people spoke ill of his father. It made her stomach churn to hear people speaking so highly of Master Sachio. She swallowed hard and held her silence as well, poking at her meal with her fork.
“I don’t believe it will happen,” Lara said. “The rules are very clear. No monarch can hold magic. No matter how dependable Lord Sachio might be, or how much people rely on him now, he simply can’t be king. Those rules were not made to be broken.”
“That might have been true before, my lady,” Grendeth said. “But now, well, I don’t think the ruling council have much patience left with the king. The rules aren’t made to be broken lightly. But they could be, for a good cause. And just think, my lady, how much harm the king is doing at the moment. For one, he’s condemning you, and we know that you are no traitor. Breaking the rules might be an extreme step, but at least then we would have a king who can rule properly.”
“How likely is it that the ruling council would vote in favour of this?” Briar tried to keep her voice casual.
Grendeth’s eyes flicked to Briar, his gaze sharper than she would have liked. “There’s talk,” he said finally. “Nothing confirmed yet. But I think they will, for certain.”
“You’re such a gossip, Grendeth.” Marta shook her head. “You’ve never set foot in the court in your life. And I wouldn’t trust those friends of yours one jot. They just like the attention passing on such rumours gives them.” She looked at Lara, and her face softened. “Things aren’t all that bad, my lady. And I’m sure once you explain your position and make your case, your name will be cleared of any wrongdoing.” She placed a hand on Lara’s knee. “Don’t you worry about what Grendeth’s saying. He lives for the gossip.”
“You should petition Lord Sachio,” Grendeth put in. “He’s a fair and just man. I’m sure he would help you.”
“I’ll… definitely keep that in mind.” Briar caught the look of utter revulsion that flitted across Lara’s face. “Anyway, if you two are finished,” here she turned to Briar and Kade, “perhaps we should get some sleep. We have to leave early tomorrow, and I, for one, am exhausted.”
A frown creased Kade’s face. He set his fork down very carefully. This hadn’t been part of their original plan. They were supposed to come here, get some money, clean clothes and a meal, and then leave before people knew they’d arrived. But Lara wasn’t giving Kade a chance to veto that idea. She turned a bright, blank face their way as if she had absolutely no idea why he might suddenly be glaring at her. And of course, he couldn’t say anything, not in front of the servants.
Marta stood. “I’ll prepare some beds.” She swept out of the kitchen, making the candle flames flicker.
Kade pushed his plate away, though there was still food on it, his brows lowered in a heavy frown. Briar laid a hand on his arm and murmured, “Are you alright?”
“We shouldn’t be staying.”
“I know. But where else do we have to go? We can’t wander the streets until sun-up. Not without stumbling into a patrol.”
Kade’s mouth tightened, but he said nothing.
“We can make sure to leave before the servants rise in the morning.” Briar gave him a small smile, in the hopes of coaxing him to relax a little. “That way we’ll be safe still, and we can get some proper rest.”
He sighed. “It’s not like Lara’s giving us a choice, is it?”
“No. But it does make sense,” Briar said. “It’s a risk, but it’s worth it. I trust you to take care of us, Kade. We’ll be alright.”
“I do my best.” Kade’s face softened a little as his eyes met hers. “You look so tired.”
“I am,” Briar had to admit. After the night they had had, not to mention how hard they had pushed just to reach Mizra in the first place, her eyelids were drooping, and she struggled to stifle her yawns. At least they had somewhere to stay tonight. It wasn’t ideal, but right now, the promise of sleeping in a real bed, at last, sounded like heaven.
CHAPTER TWELVE
The beds in Lara’s house were the softest Briar had ever slept in. The exhaustion of the past few days, weeks even, caught up with her, and she was dragged down into a deep, dreamless sleep almost before she could pull the blankets over her. She didn’t so much as stir until a hand shook her shoulder. The only light in the room, when Briar opened bleary eyes, c
ame from the flickering flame of a candle set on the table at the side of the bed. She blinked. Oh, right. They were still in Lara’s house.
“I’m sorry to wake you,” Kade said gently.
“Is it time to go already?” Briar swung her feet over the edge of the bed and felt around with her toes for her boots. “Is the house awake yet?”
“Not yet, but dawn is almost here.”
Briar laced her boots. “I wish we didn’t have to leave so soon,” she said, more to herself than to Kade.
“I know.” Kade offered Briar a hand, helping her to her feet. “Maybe when this is over, we can come back.”
When it was over. Briar hardly dared to let herself think that it could one day be over. There was so much to do, so much that could go wrong. It was like tempting fate to start planning for the future beyond this fight. She hardly dared to believe that they might actually win. But they must. It wasn’t over until they’d exposed Master Sachio as the manipulating traitor he was.
Lara was already down in the entrance hall when Briar and Kade arrived. She stood to one side, talking quietly with Marta and Grendeth. The servants had both dressed at some point between Briar going to sleep and rising again. She suspected that neither had been to bed. By the dark circles around Lara’s eyes, Briar wasn’t convinced that she had slept either, despite her insistence that they stay overnight.
“I wish you would stay a little long, my lady,” Marta said. It’s not safe out there at this time. Wouldn’t it be better to wait until morning and then go straight to the castle to speak with the council?”
“There are plenty of guards patrolling the streets,” Lara said. We’ll be perfectly safe.” She spoke quickly, completely ignoring Marta’s comment about going to the castle to remove the price on her head. They’d be arrested before they could so much as reach the front gates.
“Should we expect your return soon?” Grendeth asked.
“Hopefully.” Lara hesitated for a moment. “I’d rather you didn’t mention this visit to the guards, should they come back. I would prefer to work these problems out myself.”
“Of course.” Grendeth sounded almost affronted at the very suggestion that he might turn his mistress in. “Our lips are sealed, my lady. We wish you the best of luck.”
“Thank you.” Lara paused, then said slowly, “I suppose we should be leaving then.” She headed for the door without a backwards glance.
Grendeth held the door open for them all. Lara stepped straight out into the street without so much as glancing around in case anyone should be watching them. Kade, on the other hand, did stop, checking both the road and the windows in the houses opposite before venturing outside. Briar followed on his heels, and Grendeth swung the door firmly shut behind her. The snap of the lock echoed behind them.
They hurried down the street, retracing their steps from the night before, back past the enormous houses with their sprawling gardens. Briar imagined servants waking up in all the building around them, blinking into the faint grey light of the early dawn. Soon they would creep downstairs to light fires and set tables, cook breakfasts and sweep floors, long before the families they served woke for the day. Once upon a time, that was Ava’s life too. A lump formed in Briar’s throat at that thought. How things had changed.
The edge of the sky glimmered with the promise of sunrise. No carts or carriages rolled through the streets yet. Too early for this part of town, with its luxurious houses and wealthy residents to be awake. What struck Briar the most though, wasn’t the lack of people. It was the absence of birdsong. Every day of their travel, when they woke and prepared for the day, the trilling notes of sleepy birds accompanied them as they ate their breakfast and struck camp. Here in the city, there was nothing but empty silence.
No one spoke until they reached the central road again. Then it was Lara who broke the quiet. “From what I gathered from speaking with Grendeth and Marta, Sachio hasn’t yet managed to take the throne, but he’s well on his way. The ruling council are swaying to support him. We don’t have long.”
We’ll just have to work fast then,” Briar said. “Where should we start?”
“I’ve been thinking about that,” Lara said. “We need to start reaching out to people at court quickly if we’re going to find enough support for Kade in time. The best person to start with, in my opinion, would definitely be Lady Madella.”
The name meant nothing to Briar, though she wasn’t surprised by that fact. Kade, however, frowned. “Lady Madella is one of the most senior members on the ruling council. Don’t you think that’s aiming a little too high? Especially for our first try.”
“Not really. I’ve known her since I was a little girl. She’s so close to my family that she could practically be my aunt. If there is anyone we can trust in this entire city, it’s her. And if anyone can help us find support, and slow Sachio’s schemes, she can. It’s worth the risk.” Lara’s eyes slid to Kade. “It’s better if we start with someone I know personally. You’re going to have to keep your head down while we’re here.”
“I’m not sitting in the inn and waiting for you and Briar to do all the work if that’s what you’re thinking,” Kade said.
“No,” Lara said, a little too quickly. “I just meant that, with Finbar warning the soldiers, they’ll be looking for you more than ever.”
“I appreciate the concern,” Kade said dryly, “but I will be alright.”
“Well, what do you plan to do while I’m talking to Lady Madella?” Lara asked.
“I’m going to see what the rest of the city knows.” Kade kept his eyes on the road. “What story is Sachio feeding them? What do they know of his army of children? The more information we have, the more chance we have of working out what his next steps are, and being able to counter him.”
“Is that really wise?” Lara asked. “What if someone recognises you?”
“It’s hardly that much more dangerous than trying to persuade a member of the ruling council to commit treason.”
They would be fortunate, indeed if Lara could persuade Lady Madella to trust them. From the little Briar understood, the ruling council was a step above that of the song council, and second only to the king himself. If they had an ally among the ruling council, they would be privy to every bit of information discussed inside the castle. Then all they would need was a friend on the song council as well, and they would know everything Master Sachio knew, and every move he made. Not that they were likely to be able to persuade any of the song councillors. They were unlikely to distrust one of their own.
Well, that wasn’t entirely true. Master Rogan, the earth singer, had raised his voice against Master Sachio’s suggestions before, back in Osman. And Master Talor had his own strong-minded opinions on everything. She couldn’t speak for the rest of the council; there was a chance that one of those two might be persuaded to question Master Sachio’s motives. Master Sachio would surely be trying to take control of the song council. And at least one of the masters was unlikely just to accept that.
“I know someone else we could try and speak to,” Briar blurted before she could second-guess herself.
“Who? You’ve never been to Mizra before,” Lara said.” How do you even know anyone here?”
Briar took a deep breath. “I think I might be able to persuade Master Talor of the song council to listen to us.” That really did silence her friends. Doubt clouded Lara’s face, and even Kade looked uncertain. Briar rushed on, not giving them a chance to dismiss her idea. “Out of everyone on the council, Master Talor is the most independent. He’s not afraid to speak out against ideas he doesn’t believe in. He doesn’t follow the crowd, and he doesn’t accept anyone’s authority blindly. If there is anyone who might question Master Sachio’s intentions and be open to listening to us, I believe it’s him.”
“It’s too risky,” Lara said at once. “Do you even know the man?”
“I met him once.” Briar wasn’t about to admit that he didn’t have the slightest idea who
she was. They met in Osman, in the aftermath of the attack, but there was no chance he would remember who she was.
“Once.” Lara shook her head. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“I can persuade him to listen to me. I know I can.” If Lara could convince this Lady Madella to help them, then Briar could at least try to do the same with Master Talor.
“But if you can’t, then we’re in a worse position than before,” Lara countered. “He could call the guards the moment you say a word against Sachio. They’d send soldiers after all of us, and this would be over before we even have a chance to try. Tell her, Kade.”
“I think Briar should try,” Kade said slowly. “We need all the help we can get, and if anyone can persuade Talor to listen, it’s her.”
“Really? I at least have a personal connection with Madella. Briar doesn’t even know the man. The only advantage she has is her magic, and even that isn’t always reliable.”
Briar winced at that dig. Why did Lara have to throw that fact in her face? It did nothing to bolster her already fragile confidence in her abilities. She didn’t need her magic to do this. She just needed to speak the truth.
“If Briar believes that she can do this, then I trust her judgement. It’s not like either you or I can go to the Order house. And having an ally on the song council as well as the ruling council would be a huge step.”
“I know it’s a risk,” Briar broke in. “But I think it’s worth trying.”
“At least let me speak to Madella first, before you try this,” Lara said. “She might be able to advise us.”
Kade shook his head. “That wastes too much time. You said yourself that we haven’t got long before Sachio convinces everyone to put their faith in him and crown him king. We need to move quickly, and we need allies. It’s a risk, but if Briar believes she is up to the task, and that she can convince Talor, then she should try.”
“Fine.” Lara’s face tightened, and she kept her eyes trained ahead of them, refusing to meet their gazes. “Go speak to him if you want to. But if you think he’s not going to believe you, make sure you’re ready to escape. We can’t afford to lose anyone.”