“I apologize,” Mare said. “It was an accident.”
“It’s so interesting that someone with an uncontrolled fire Affinity would show up here on the heels of several large-scale acts of magic along the trade road between here and Mynaria’s crown city,” Laurenna commented.
“The star fall in Mynaria was brought on by Lord Kriantz of Sonnenborne,” Mare quickly said. “He betrayed my kingdom and tried to send us to war with Zumorda. Mynarians mostly seem to be of the opinion that he was punished by the gods.”
Laurenna smiled just the slightest bit. “Ah, yes, you Mynarians are still gods worshippers. Much easier to attribute things to powers outside your control than to take command of what you can.”
“We shouldn’t be too hasty to judge them,” Zhari said. “We can’t expect people to be comfortable with things they don’t understand.”
“Hopefully we can start to change the hearts of those opposed to magic use,” Mare said, her eyes flicking to me.
Laurenna shook her head. “Mynarians. I suppose with their exposure to magic largely being thanks to those like Alek, it’s no surprise they’re leery of it.”
Everyone turned to look at Alek.
“You were there, too,” he said through clenched teeth.
“Of course.” She smiled. “Nalon wouldn’t have left one of his apprentices behind. But I wasn’t the one who crossed the border.”
“Because you tricked me,” Alek snapped back.
They stared at each other with overt hostility, the tension between them thick enough to cut.
Mare looked like she wanted to say something but knew better than to interject.
“The past is the past,” the queen interrupted, giving both Laurenna and Alek sharp looks. “What interests me are the present and the future. Why did the king of Mynaria chose to send his only living relative on a diplomatic mission when the family is already so weakened?”
“It is a show of trust, Your Majesty,” Mare said. “My brother is committed to opening positive lines of communication with Zumorda.”
“It’s a pity the Havemont princess died,” Zhari said, shaking her head sadly as she removed the infuser from her tea and stirred in a spoonful of honey. “Mynaria would surely be more stable with a queen to share the duties of the throne.”
I swallowed hard, preoccupying myself with my own tea and hoping the trembling in my hands didn’t give me away.
“Perhaps,” Mare said. “But that’s why I’m here—in hopes of creating a more stable future for our kingdoms. With the threat of Sonnenborne looming, it’s crucial that Zumorda and Mynaria help each other. The Sonnenbornes already tried once to turn us against each other—we can’t let that happen again.”
“What exactly does the Mynarian crown perceive the Sonnenborne threat to be?” the queen asked.
“From what we know, Lord Kriantz of Sonnenborne united several tribes under his banner, then came to Mynaria under the pretense of forming an alliance,” Mare said. “What he was really doing was sowing mistrust and rumors to try to get us to attack Zumorda, to help him take land.”
The queen laughed. “Attack Zumorda? Our counterattack would devastate them. King Thandilimon might as well usher in the Zumordan empire.”
“There are some who wouldn’t be opposed to that,” Laurenna said.
Mare ignored their comments and continued on. “Kriantz tried to abduct me and then died in the star fall.”
“So he was stopped in the end, and you shouldn’t have anything else to worry about,” the queen said.
“That’s what we’d hoped, but the attacks on Duvey and Zephyr Landing show that the Sonnenbornes’ plans run much deeper than we originally thought,” Mare said. “We saw them taking prisoners in Duvey.” She looked to Alek, gesturing for him to take up the discussion.
“Many of our young people were missing after we drove off the Sonnenbornes,” he said. “Scouts were sent to investigate, but on our way here we passed a band of them who had been killed.”
Zhari frowned. “We’ve had some disappearances here as well, but no attacks. Our relationships with the Sonnenborne merchants who trade here are good. If the Duvey attackers you speak of came to Kartasha after burning the bridge, we haven’t seen or heard from them.”
“Is there any way to track them?” Mare asked.
“They’re vakos. No magic. No manifests,” Laurenna said. “It makes them a bit harder for us to trace by magic. Though you Mynarians are equally empty. There are just fewer of you here.”
“We need to fortify Duvey and locate the Sonnenbornes who attacked us,” Alek cut in. “Wymund assigned me to stay here until we determine the origin of the attacks and track down the missing children.”
“The warriors we borrowed will be on their way back to Duvey in a few days’ time. Perhaps they’ll provide the additional fortification Guardian Wymund needs.” Laurenna’s voice dripped with condescension.
“That’s putting us back at net zero,” he said, his voice rising. “Don’t punish the people in Duvey because you hate me.”
“Don’t forget who started this,” Laurenna said. “You’re the one who walked away when things got hard.”
Alek stood up. “Your Majesty, Lady Zhari, thank you for the tea.” He strode out of the room without looking at Laurenna or saying another word.
“Some things never change,” Laurenna said, looking rather smug.
“You shouldn’t bait him, Laurenna,” Zhari said, sounding mildly amused in spite of her chiding words.
“He makes it too easy,” Laurenna said. “And he deserves to be reminded that he chose himself over his kingdom.”
“An unfortunate choice,” the queen said, taking a sip of her tea.
“Your Highness, perhaps you could do me a favor,” Laurenna said, turning her attention to Mare.
“What did you have in mind?” Mare looked dubious.
“Since Alek plans to stay here, I’d like someone to keep an eye on him and report back to me. There’s probably nothing to be concerned about.” Laurenna waved her hand dismissively. “But his history does concern me. With the time he spent near Sonnenborne, I suspect he knows more than he’s letting on, and I don’t trust that he’ll make choices that are in the best interest of Kartasha or the kingdom.”
“That assumes we’ll be staying here for the time being,” Mare said. “Would it not be wise to consider accompanying the queen to Corovja to continue discussions about a potential alliance?”
Inwardly, I winced. Mare had overplayed her hand. It would have been better to try to shape the conversation to let the queen make that suggestion herself.
“There’s no need for you to be in Corovja. Laurenna and Zhari are the first line of defense in the south, and I trust them and the Winter Court to manage any issues affecting this part of the kingdom,” the queen said. “Zhari will be here through the end of next year, likely taking on a guardian trainee from my elites after they complete their initial training. Whether Laurenna and Zhari choose to act upon your news or ally with your people will be at their discretion.”
“Excuse me, Your Majesty, but what the Sonnenbornes did to my family poses a direct threat to Zumorda,” Mare said. “They attacked a city in your kingdom. They took over one in mine. There is no confirmation that they’ve given up. The tribes that united to cause this problem are most likely the ones that attacked Duvey, which suggests they have a plan. It’s only a matter of time before something worse happens.”
“And if they try anything, they will die, just like everyone else who has ever challenged me during my rule,” the queen said. Her voice was quiet but chilling. “Just last year a fool from this very town thought she would take my throne from me. Do you know what happened to her?”
Mare sat tall and defiant, refusing to back down, but I could see the uncertainty in her eyes.
“The coliseum in Corovja was painted with her blood,” the queen said. “I tore out her heart with my teeth and swallowed it whole.”
&
nbsp; From anyone else, it would have sounded like an exaggeration. From the queen, it sounded like the unembellished truth. My throat constricted with anxiety. Though I had once been destined to be a queen myself, I couldn’t imagine this kind of monarchy—one dictated by blood and death.
“I am not here to challenge you,” Mare said.
The queen laughed. “That’s fortunate for you.” She turned back to me. “And I suppose it’s fortunate for me that you aren’t Zumordan, manifested, or trained. Yet.”
Was she implying that I could be a threat to her? I felt sick at the thought. Killing was one way to earn a throne, but not one that held any appeal to me. What did pique my interest was the thought of apprenticing with Zhari. She seemed steady and kind, a strong contrast to the queen. What if I accepted the queen’s offer and then made it my objective to come back to Zhari as an apprentice? That would put me back in Kartasha and back with Mare, with my powers under control. But even if that were what I wanted, I’d have to work with the queen in the meantime to make it happen.
“I would never challenge you, Your Highness,” I said. Even though in another life I would not have had to defer to her, the words still would have held true.
“Respect is the sign of a wise subject,” the queen said.
“And action is the sign of a wise ruler,” Mare added. Her voice was calm, but the barb hit its mark.
The queen’s expression darkened. “It is unwise to fight with fire when your opponent has an Affinity for it.” She held out her hand, and a burst of flame erupted in her palm.
Mare and I both jumped.
“The Winter Court will be monitoring tariffs and trade with Sonnenborne as they always do. Sir Alek can do as he pleases, but Laurenna and Zhari are also responsible for following up on the Duvey attack to ensure that the threat is gone, though I expect Wymund has already fortified accordingly. I will return to Corovja tomorrow and leave these duties in their hands.” She turned her ice-blue gaze on me. “Lia, I expect you’ll make a choice about your training no later than tomorrow.”
Mare shot me a confused look. I kept my expression neutral even as guilt and worry lurched in my chest. Time was running out to accept the queen’s offer, but she’d told Mare to work with Laurenna and Zhari. They would be here in Kartasha. I felt torn between two worlds and two versions of myself—the queen I should have become and the magic-using maidservant I was now. I didn’t exactly miss my old life, but I missed knowing my place and my purpose. I’d had the knowledge I needed and the research expertise to explore anything I needed to know more about. My life had been planned out in advance, from the schooling I would receive to the marriage I would make and the children I was supposed to bear for the throne of Mynaria.
Now all those dreams other people had for me were dust, and still, my fate didn’t feel like it was in my own hands.
ELEVEN
Amaranthine
I FUMED ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE MERCHANTS’ HALL.
“I can’t believe the nerve of that woman!” I said as soon as the door of our room closed behind us. “I tell her what happened and she behaves like it’s inconsequential, shoving me off on her minions. Six be damned, I’m only one rank beneath her, and she treated me like I was nothing!”
“It seems like Kartasha is where things would normally be handled in the winter,” Denna said, trying to soothe me.
“And why did she have such an attitude about your training? We get warned that young magic users are disappearing all over southern Zumorda, and then the queen tells you that you have to figure out what to do about your training in the next day, without even doing anything to help!” I flung my jacket down on the bed in frustration.
“Alek will help me,” Denna said. “I asked him to reach out to some contacts in the city to see about a mentor for me. We can visit him tonight.”
“It figures that Alek would be the only one making himself more useful than tits on a biscuit,” I grumbled. “And now Laurenna wants me to keep an eye on him, which I suppose I’ll be able to do since we’re stuck here in Kartasha for the foreseeable future.”
“Maybe these weren’t the first steps we hoped for,” Denna said, “but things will work out as they are meant to.” She tugged me over to the chaise and down onto it.
“You are the only good thing I have,” I said, drawing her closer. I breathed in, reveling in her warmth and the sweet smell of floral soap lingering on her skin.
She kissed me, and I immediately lost myself in the softness of her lips and the comfort of her arms. But as I let my fingers trace over the bare skin above the top of her bodice, she suddenly pulled away.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“What if I hurt you again?” she asked, barely able to get the words out.
“You won’t,” I whispered, my voice gentle. “You won’t.” But the handprint on my side told another story, and we both knew it.
Denna and I finally managed to track Alek down after dinner. As much as I wasn’t looking forward to spending more time in his company, Denna had a good reason to see him, and at least Laurenna might be pleased that I was doing what she’d asked as far as finding out more about what he’d been up to.
We headed back to the same residential court building where the ill-fated party had been held, and my anxiety rose immediately upon crossing the threshold. I hoped we wouldn’t run into Ikrie or anyone else who’d witnessed my humiliation. The polished granite of the foyer floors contained pearlescent flecks that reflected the illuminated globes suspended in ornate iron wall sconces. Dark beams arched across the high white ceilings, lending the interior a sense of formality that provided the perfect backdrop for the nobles passing through—one of whom happened to be Fadeyka. She was wandering through the room at an unhurried pace, using one hand to support the book she had her nose buried in and the other to pop candies into her mouth.
Her eyes lit up when she saw us, and she snapped her book shut as she rushed over.
“Where are you going?” she asked, crunching on a piece of hard candy.
“Guardian Wymund’s quarters,” I said. “We’re looking for Alek.”
“That way.” She pointed to a hallway opposite the one the building attendant at the merchants’ hall had told us to take. I sighed. If Fadeyka was anything like the noble brats I’d known growing up, she knew her way around every inch of the court and its buildings. That attendant was rubbish at giving directions.
“Can you show us the way?” I asked.
“Sure,” she said, skipping off in the direction she’d pointed. “Just don’t tell my mother!”
“Six Hells,” I muttered. The last thing I needed was more trouble. I’d gotten in enough since arriving in Kartasha.
The girl led us up several flights of stairs at a speed that left both Denna and me out of breath.
“It’s down here at the end of the hall.” She knocked on the door without pausing to consult us, and a few moments later it swung open.
“Faye!” Alek said, clearly surprised to see her. He was out of his armor for once, wearing a simple shirt and trousers that somehow looked all wrong on him.
“Brought you something,” Fadeyka said, and pointed back at us.
I braced for a snide remark to fly out of his mouth.
“Thanks, kid. Have you been practicing your parry?” he said. His voice was uncharacteristically kind. It figured he’d be nicer to Fadeyka than he ever was to me, but I couldn’t really begrudge her that. She was just a child.
“Yes, sir!” she said.
“What do you two want?” he asked, regarding Denna neutrally and me with the usual hostility.
I gave Denna a look indicating that she should take the lead. If I started the conversation, it was bound to go poorly.
“We came by to see if you’d had any luck talking to anyone about an apprenticeship for me,” Denna said.
“Come in,” he said, waving us into his chambers. Fadeyka took that as an invitation to her, too, covertly passing Denna a l
emon candy as we settled ourselves in Alek’s receiving room. While the rooms were as well kept as any other noble’s chambers, they lacked the gaudy opulence so pervasive at the Winter Court. Simple wool rugs in soothing tones of blue and gray covered unpolished stone, and the heavy wooden furniture looked as though it would have been at home back in the keep at Duvey.
“This morning Mare was told she’ll need to stay here in Kartasha to work with Laurenna and Zhari, so if there’s someone local who could train me, that would be ideal.” Denna folded her hands neatly in her lap, looking much too formal for the casual setting. I bumped my knee into hers, subtly startling her off-balance. She straightened her skirts, confused by my behavior.
Alek sighed, muttering something I couldn’t quite make out that sounded like an insult directed at Laurenna. “You’ll want wine for this conversation.”
“I’ll have some, too,” Fadeyka said.
Alek gave her a withering look. “Your mother would kill me. Happily.”
Fadeyka giggled. “She lets me have wine sometimes.”
“Then you can have wine with her,” Alek said. “Not me.”
Fadeyka rolled her eyes and ate another candy instead, making a point of crunching on it loudly. Alek shook his head and poured me and Denna each a glass of wine, shortchanging me by a noticeable amount.
“If wine has to go with this news, it can’t be good,” I said.
“It’s been difficult to get any answers.” He spoke to Denna, ignoring me. “There’s a respected teacher who runs a school in the south of town who initially she said she’d be happy to evaluate you, but I received a message just a short while ago saying she’s full for the winter.”
“She can’t be the only option, though, right?” I asked.
Denna sat perched on the edge of the couch, her shoulders tense. “What did the others say?”
“The other three said no when I told them your name,” Alek said. “They already knew who you were.”
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