“As for the ship in the harbor, no one seems to know where it came from or who it belonged to, but we all know this was Maximus’s doing,” Auster said.
“Along with the members of the Bastard Brigade,” Xenia added.
I thought of the weather magiers standing on the deck and the terror on their faces when they’d realized that I’d turned their own tidal wave against them. “Did any of the magiers survive?”
Serilda shook her head. “No.”
Xenia eyed the other woman. “How do you know?”
“My magic might not always be precise, but it is quite useful when it comes to this sort of thing,” Serilda replied. “I could see the magiers’ deaths the moment Evie pushed the water back in their direction. Believe me, no one on that ship survived, not even the rats.”
“Well, the magiers being dead solves one of our problems,” Cho said. “But we still have to do something about Maximus before he orders his men and their strixes to cross the river and invade Bellona.”
Worry curled through my stomach, then drew itself into tight little knots. Maximus and I had a relatively even number of soldiers here, but his strixes would turn the tide in his favor, and he could potentially slaughter everyone in the Bellonan camp. Or worse, have his guards fly to Seven Spire and try to take the palace while I was stuck down here miles away.
I had to stop that from happening, which meant that I needed to give Maximus another target to focus on. So far, the two of us had been trading attacks and insults, but I had to give him a reason to play my game for a change, instead of going ahead with his own schemes.
I had used the lessons Xenia had taught me on being a spy to sabotage and undercut Maximus. Now it was time to turn to Serilda’s teachings and be a soldier again.
Now it was time to fight.
“Evie?” Paloma asked. “What are you thinking about? You look worried.”
I sighed. “That’s because I am worried. But I know what we have to do. I know how we can stop Maximus.”
“And how is that?” Xenia asked.
I told my friends my plan. Well, not all of it, but the most important part, the one I could actually control, and the one I needed their help with.
When I finished, they stood there in stunned silence. Then they all started shouting at once.
“No! You can’t do that!”
“It’s too dangerous.”
“It’s a stupid plan, since it mostly involves you getting yourself killed.”
That last comment came from Paloma, who was never shy about telling me when she thought I was being an idiot.
I held up my hands, asking for quiet. “We have to stop Maximus here and now, and we especially have to give him a reason to keep all his guards and strixes here. This is our best option, our only option, and I think you all know that.”
My friends didn’t like it, but slowly, one by one, they nodded their agreement, although Sullivan gave me an anguished look that made my heart twist.
But heartache was something else queens didn’t have the luxury of indulging in, so I threw back the covers and stood up.
“Go back to your tents and get ready.” I gave them all a grim smile. “We have a royal ball to attend.”
Part Three
The Long Game
Chapter Twenty-Four
I called for Calandre and her sisters, and they helped me get ready for the ball.
Calandre had made me another gorgeous gown. It was similar to the one I’d worn last night, with a pattern of silver shields dotting it, and the fabric was a dark gray that almost looked blue, depending on how the light hit it. Cerana and Camille also worked their magic on my hair and makeup, hiding the pale exhaustion of my features with their dark liners, shadows, and berry balms.
When they had finished, I thanked them for their work.
Calandre dismissed her sisters, then looked at me. “Is there something else you need, my queen?”
I sighed. “Is it that obvious?”
She shrugged. “Only to those who can see the worry on your face. Which would probably be anyone who looks at you right now.”
“I need you to make me one final outfit for the Regalia. I should have asked you to make it back at Seven Spire, but I was hoping that I wouldn’t need it.” I told her what I wanted. “What do you think? Is it possible on such short notice?”
Calandre stood still, digesting my request. She knew what it meant, and why I would wear such a thing. After several seconds, she nodded. “I can do it, even if I have to sew all night.”
I reached out and squeezed her hand. “Thank you. And please, keep this to yourself.” I grimaced. “Although I imagine that it will be all over the island and the camps soon enough.”
“Of course.” Calandre squeezed back. “Good luck, Everleigh.”
“Thank you. I’m going to need it.”
Calandre left the tent to get started on my project, and I stepped outside where the others were waiting. Sullivan, Cho, and Auster looked handsome in their formal jackets, Xenia was stunning in a long green gown, and Serilda was a vision in white. Paloma was wearing a green tunic patterned with gold ogre heads, and she looked fierce and beautiful.
Paloma and Xenia were talking, and the ogre faces on their necks were silently admiring each other. I hadn’t had a chance to tell them my theory about Amira, but I would. If nothing else, the two of them would have each other, even if I didn’t make it through the Regalia.
“You look stunning, highness,” Sullivan said, pulling me away from the others.
“I know you don’t want me to do this. But I also hope you know why I have to.”
“I do, and I couldn’t be prouder of you.” His blue gaze locked with mine. “I told you once that you would be a wonderful queen. I just wish that the hard and ruthless parts didn’t make me worry so much.”
“Do you regret becoming my consort?”
“Not for one bloody second, highness,” he said in a fierce voice. “Not for one bloody second.”
He took my hand, leaned down, and pressed a kiss to my knuckles, his lips scorching my skin. He straightened and gave me a wicked grin. “Now, let’s get you to the ball, so we can get on with the business of defeating Maximus. What do you say?”
I threaded my arm through his. “That sounds like an excellent plan.”
* * *
We left the Bellonan camp with a large contingent of guards. We stopped at our end of the bridge, looking around to make sure Maximus hadn’t set another deadly trap, but the plaza was deserted. Ships were still anchored in the harbor, but they were all close to shore, and I didn’t see anyone standing on the decks, waiting to strike out at us. So we crossed the bridge and headed over to the island.
Crowds of people were moving along the waterfront, eating, shopping, and talking, but the mood was far more subdued than it had been this afternoon, and several folks eyed the water with suspicion, as if they thought it was going to suddenly surge up and drown them.
We left the waterfront behind, climbed the hill, and made our way to the DiLucri castle. Several guards were manning the open front gate, and they stopped talking at the sight of me and my friends walking toward them. One of the guards ran deeper into the castle, no doubt to tell Driscol and Seraphine that I was still alive.
We went to the grand ballroom in the center of the castle. The area looked much the same as it had last night. Polished white marble floor and walls. Crested banners hanging down from the second-floor balcony. Royals, nobles, advisors, and others clustered in groups, eating, drinking, and gossiping. The steady tink-tink-tink of gold coins dripping out of the Lady Fortuna fountains in all four corners.
Yes, everything looked more or less the same, but the people and the overall mood were just as subdued here as by the waterfront.
But the quiet didn’t last for long.
One by one, people caught sight of me, my friends, and the Bellonan guards, and several shocked gasps surged through the ballroom. I strode forward and stopp
ed in an open space, my face calm, my shoulders back and down, and my chin held high, letting them all get a good, long look at me. I wanted everyone to see that I was still in one piece and suffering no ill effects from the attack on the bridge.
I wanted them all to see exactly how strong Bellona was.
The loud gasps quieted to soft whispers that spread throughout the ballroom. In less than a minute, everyone knew that I was here. I held my position a few seconds longer, then strode forward toward the center of the ballroom where the other royals were.
They were split into two factions. Eon, Ruri, Cisco, Heinrich, and Zariza were together. Maximus was standing by himself, although Mercer, Nox, and Maeven were lurking behind him like usual. Driscol and Seraphine were here too, a few feet away from the royals.
The whispers had already reached the other kings and queens, who turned to stare at me. The musicians had been playing a soft, dreamy song, but Seraphine made a sharp motion with her hand. The music abruptly screeched to a stop, and the only sound was the steady snap-snap-snap-snap of my heels on the marble floor.
I stopped in the empty space between the other royals and Maximus. “Good evening. How is everyone?”
For a long, tense moment, no one spoke. Then Seraphine nudged her brother with her elbow, and Driscol stepped forward and gave me a tight smile.
“Queen Everleigh,” he said, his voice much higher than normal. “How nice to see you looking so well, given all that . . . unpleasantness earlier.”
“Unpleasantness?” I said, my voice as cold as ice. If I never heard that word again, it would be too soon. “It wasn’t mere unpleasantness. It was an assassination attempt. Maximus sent his bastard relatives to try to drown me on my own bloody bridge.”
More shocked gasps surged through the crowd, followed by furious whispers. It was one thing for everyone to suspect that the Morricones had tried to kill me again, but it was quite another for me to openly proclaim it, especially during a royal ball. Well, fuck protocol, and fuck being polite.
I was through playing everyone else’s games.
Maximus stared at me, not at all concerned by my accusation. “You are mistaken, Everleigh. I have no idea what you’re talking about. I certainly had nothing to do with that unfortunate incident in the harbor.”
“Oh, cut the bullshit,” I snarled. “It was you. It’s always been you.”
Maximus opened his mouth, but I didn’t want to listen to his lies, so I stabbed my finger at him.
“You sent Maeven and Nox to Seven Spire to murder Queen Cordelia and assassinate the Blairs. Then, a few months ago, you ordered Maeven to try to kill Dominic and me at Glitnir. Just last week, you dispatched DiLucri geldjagers to Svalin to kill, torture, and wreak as much havoc as possible among my people. You sent assassins after Serilda on the plaza yesterday and then more into my camp last night after the kronekling tournament. And finally, this afternoon, you ordered the members of your Bastard Brigade to use their magic to create that tidal wave, which was designed to do one thing and one thing only—kill me and my friends.”
Shocked silence dropped over the ballroom again, and no one moved or said anything.
I looked at the other royals. “I’ve told you what a threat he is to all of us.” I stabbed my finger at Maximus again. “Maybe now you’ll finally believe me. You all saw him execute his own guard just for delivering bad news. Imagine what he would do to a true enemy. Actually, you don’t have to imagine anything, given that tidal wave he orchestrated against me.”
Once again, no one moved or said anything, and the scent of everyone’s collective worry, fear, and tension blanketed the air.
“You are mistaken, Everleigh,” Maximus repeated, his voice as smooth and silky as ever. “I had absolutely nothing to do with those weather magiers, whomever they were.”
I laughed. “Please. They were your blood, and now they’re all fish food. But you don’t care, do you? Even your relatives are just pawns that you use and sacrifice any way you want whenever you feel like it. All to give yourself a tiny bit more power.”
The king didn’t respond, but a muscle ticked in his jaw. My tirade was beginning to anger him. Good.
“Being here in the ballroom again, I can’t help but think of that strix you slaughtered last night. At first I thought you did it just to be disgusting, but then I realized that you had an ulterior motive. You wanted the strix’s magic, and you drank its blood so you could absorb its power.”
More shocked gasps rang out, but I ignored them and kept staring at the Mortan king.
“You know, Maximus, I’m starting to wonder if you have any real magic of your own—or just what you take from others. You’re not a true king. You’re not even a common mutt. You’re nothing but a sick, disgusting little thief.”
I didn’t know if Maximus had any magic of his own, and I really didn’t care. All that mattered right now was goading him into agreeing to my proposal and having another chance to end him.
A flurry of whispers sounded at my harsh insults, and everyone started eyeing Maximus, clearly wondering if my words were true, and what magic—if any—the Mortan king had.
Mercer and Nox both looked pale at my exposing their king’s secret, but Maeven studied her brother with a thoughtful expression.
My latest round of insults made Maximus go from merely being angry to being outright incensed. His purple eyes glowed with hate, his hands clenched into fists, and the scent of his hot jalapeño rage blasted over me in continuous gusts, like I was breathing in fire instead of the cool air.
“I would be careful, Everleigh,” he said in an icy voice. “You are dangerously close to insulting me. And that is not a wise thing to do.”
I arched an eyebrow. “Only close to insulting you? Well, then, let me make myself crystal clear.”
I held out my hand. Serilda stepped up and passed me my sword. Everyone, including Maximus, tensed, but I held the sword up high and turned around in a slow circle, so that everyone could see it.
A couple of low murmurs sounded. A few people had already figured out what I was up to, including Maeven, who stared at me with the same thoughtful expression she’d given her brother a few moments ago.
I kept my sword raised high overhead as I looked out over the crowd of royals, nobles, advisors, servants, and guards. “Maximus has spent the past year trying to kill me, and he almost succeeded today. Royals trying to murder each other is nothing new, but he didn’t just target me. How many people would have died on the bridge? Or on the shoreline? Hundreds, maybe even thousands. And this man, this so-called king, wouldn’t have given a damn about any of those innocent people. Just like he doesn’t give a damn about his subjects, not even his own flesh and blood.”
Several people nodded, and more than a few murmurs of agreement sounded. Maximus heard them too, and even more rage sparked in his eyes. He didn’t like my announcing his many sins. Too damn bad.
“Well, I say no more,” I called out. “We must all hold Maximus accountable for his actions, and especially those of his bastard relatives, the ones who lie, cheat, and kill on his orders.”
“What are you proposing?” Zariza called out.
I looked at the Ungerian queen. “There is only one way to settle this now.”
“And how is that?” This time Heinrich asked the question.
I smiled, baring my teeth at everyone. “Through a royal challenge.”
More shocked gasps surged through the crowd, but they almost immediately vanished, like candles being snuffed out by a cold, stiff wind.
I faced Maximus again. I raised my sword a little higher, then brought it down. Still keeping my gaze on his, I sliced the blade across my left palm, opening up a deep gash. Then I held my hand out and clenched it into a tight fist, so that my blood spurted out from between my fingers. The steady plop-plop-plop of my blood dripping onto the white marble floor seemed even louder than the coins still tinkling out of the fountains in the corners.
“I, Everleigh Saffira
Winter Blair, queen of Bellona, challenge you, Maximus Mercer Morland Morricone, king of Morta, to a royal fight to the death.”
My voice boomed through the ballroom just like the thunder from the magiers’ storm had over the bridge. The last echoes of my voice and challenge quickly faded away, but no one moved or spoke.
Surprise flashed in Maximus’s eyes. Even after his vicious attack on the bridge, he still hadn’t expected me to do something so bold in return. Arrogant fool. He didn’t realize that his plots were finished and that we were playing my game from here on out.
“Do you accept?” I asked, a loud, mocking sneer in my voice. “Or are you going to keep being a coward and sending others to try to kill me?”
My insult whisked away his surprise, and cold calculation filled his eyes. Maximus knew as well as I did that I’d twirled him into a corner with my challenge. He had to accept, or he would be confirming everything that I had just said about him—including how weak he truly was.
“I accept,” Maximus said, his voice booming just as loudly as mine had.
Everyone started talking and yelling at once. I let them chatter on for several seconds, then held my sword up again, calling for silence.
“Excellent,” I said. “Let’s talk terms. Since we’re at the Regalia, why don’t we give the people a show?”
He frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Why not make the challenge the finale of the Regalia? Why not let the people gather in the arena to see who triumphs? Our ancestors did it all those years ago. Why not continue the tradition and finally finish what they started?”
He kept frowning, turning the idea over in his mind, even as more and more whispers of excitement and agreement surged through the crowd. Maximus’s gaze cut left and right, and his frown deepened. He didn’t like my idea, but once again I had twirled him into a corner, and he couldn’t refuse, given the rapidly growing support for my suggestion. Proposing a more private battle now would make it seem like he was hiding something.
“Very well,” he said. “We will fight at noon tomorrow in the arena. I’m looking forward to it, Everleigh.”
Crush the King Page 33