by Sarina Dorie
Errol shook the goblin. “What do you want from us?”
It cackled and tried to bite him. Errol attempted to hold the creature’s head away from his other hand.
Errol had seen the king use shadow goblins before to drag away prisoners or petulant kin. They also came out to dance when King Viridios lost control of his muse magic. A shadow goblin was more like a golem made of darkness than a living creature with a sentience of its own, though they did seem to act according to the king’s mood.
This goblin was here on a mission, though what that mission was, Errol didn’t know.
He reached inside himself and drew on his strength. His wings expanded and unglamoured themselves, golden light blazing into the creature. It shrieked and turned its face away. The shadows became more solid and felt like brittle wood under Errol’s grip. He crushed the goblin, and it disintegrated into dust.
Errol sank into his chair, panting. He was surprised he had been able to defeat the minion. And more curious that he could have grabbed it at all, considering many soldiers tried to grasp the goblins when they crawled on them, and their fingers went through the shadows. Then again, Errol didn’t think the power had been his own. The wings King Viridios had given Errol as a gift could be a burden on his back when he didn’t glamour them intangible—but they also contained a magic he didn’t understand.
“What was that thing doing here?” Lady Astrid looked around her office as if fearing there were more. “That was one of King Viridios’ spies, wasn’t it?”
Errol inclined his head. That was what he had heard in rumors.
He needed to search the carriage and the room where the prince visited with his family. There could be more goblins lurking and spying—though what they intended to learn, Errol couldn’t guess. Astrid hadn’t told Errol anything she hadn’t already told King Viridios.
Errol could see now they had a bigger problem than just one group of attackers running amok in the capital. He hadn’t considered that there would be more elsewhere in the kingdom. His true problem wasn’t his need for revenge.
He could see that what the kingdom needed was justice. He hoped his king wasn’t going to get in the way of his delivering it.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Battle of the Hexes
Errol sat in the carriage, troubled by what Lady Astrid had told him.
Prince Elric-Atherius punctured Errol’s thoughts with his overly cheerful tone. “That was a splendid little visit. You should have suggested Alfheim sooner. I forgot how much I liked that village. When can we go back?”
Errol would have preferred peace and quiet to think. “We are not returning. Our business there is done.” Irritation crackled in his tone, despite his attempt to rein it in. He realized this was no way to speak with a prince and corrected himself. “Excuse my boldness. I advise you not to use the same location too often in case your father catches on.” And it seemed he already had.
“But it is the perfect place to meet Meredith and Ned!” the prince protested.
“No, it is not perfect. The Raven Court have been abducting children from that village.” Errol drew in a calming breath. “That, and I killed a shadow goblin who was spying on us.” He waited for the prince’s response.
Horror flashed over his face. “Do you think Father commanded it to spy on us? Do you think he knows about Ned and Meredith?”
“Is there anyone else who can command them?” Errol had only seen them serve King Viridios.
“I suppose it could have been Mother. Beorhtsige has some control over them. Not Quenylda, though. They scare her.”
Errol supposed that meant it was unlikely Quenylda was spying on them to learn about the prince’s affairs.
The prince raked a hand through his silver hair. “Pray, go back to what you said about the children being abducted.”
Errol explained all he had learned from Lady Astrid.
“Oh, that’s dreadful! Those poor parents.” Prince Elric-Atherius’ brows drew together. “That would explain some of the sad paintings and the grieving expressed in many of those who touched me.”
“The Raven Court has been abducting children from that village, yet your father has done nothing to stop it.” Errol shook his head in disgust.
“Oh dear! Surely he must not know.”
“Lady Astrid assured me she sent a letter each time a child has been kidnapped . . . for twenty years.” Errol’s eyes narrowed at the memories of the Silver Court’s cruel behavior toward Princess Perrusia that had ensured the Raven Court’s wrath.
“Oh,” Prince Elric-Atherius said. “You don’t think—twenty years ago—Father only attacked the Raven Queen’s castle because of the blatant attack on our siblings. They came to an agreement on how she should pay the blood debt. Queen Morgaine sent them willingly.”
Errol crossed his arms. “I suspect what she is less forgiving about is how her kin were treated rather than giving them up. Princess Perrusia’s battered head in a box was an insult.”
Prince Elric-Atherius swallowed. “Father has made a mess of things, hasn’t he?”
“It wasn’t your father who ordered her to be tortured. Or for her corpse to be turned into a roast. Do you think Queen Morgaine heard of that as well?” Queen Anwynn had been behind those deeds.
Prince Elric-Atherius chewed his lower lip. “What will we do?”
A plan was already forming in Errol’s mind. He needed to see how great a problem they were facing first. “I need to consult military records to see if my suspicions are correct. Unfortunately, I am a mere captain. General Hereweald takes great pleasure in denying my requests. I need you to use your status to get me on board an airship and order them to allow me to review records of incidents that have occurred for the last thirty years. I want to see if incidents are on the rise, where they are happening, how many attacks are performed by the Raven Court, and what is being done about it.”
Prince Elric-Atherius was quiet for so long, Errol worried he was about to refuse him. Finally, the prince asked, “Do you think I’ll be able to meet with Meredith and Ned on an airship?”
“No. That would be a spectacularly bad idea.”
“How will I get to meet with them again?”
“I don’t know, Your Highness.” This was the least of Errol’s problems. Why did that son of a muse have to be so obsessed with his mistress? “Perhaps we can bribe the same tavern owner as last time.”
If it wasn’t the problems created by one aristocrat Errol was dealing with, it was another’s.
* * *
Errol’s training in the military had taught him strategies to outwit his enemies. On this occasion, he was using that training to uncover the truth before his supposed allies discovered what he was doing. It wasn’t outright sedition that Errol intended to examine military records on board airships—not if it was Prince Elric-Atherius making the requests.
Errol used his previous connections to learn when and where airships would be docking in Caern.
“We have a limited amount of time to perform these tasks,” Errol warned the prince. “There will be no time for dallying.”
“You do the reading. I’ll do the interviewing. I’m more of a people person than you are,” Prince Elric-Atherius said.
People had opened up to the prince, but those had been commoners and peasants. Errol was a man of the military. He suspected his manners and directness would be tolerated better than a simpering prince’s would be among those in the air navy. Even so, he needed assistance with this task, and it made sense for the prince to appear to be the ringleader collecting information.
“You must conduct these interviews with efficiency and effectively to gain the information we require. We must read the captain’s logs and interview the commanding officers before they leave port. And before anyone mentions what we’re doing to General Hereweald.” Based on previous experience, Errol suspected his commanding officer would shut Errol’s investigations down the m
oment he learned what Errol was doing.
* * *
The first ship in the air navy dock they boarded was tied to the ground with ropes so that it wouldn’t float away. It was named Vitruvio after one of Leonardo da Vinci’s drawings. The airship resembled something in between a navy vessel with its body and sails but with air bladders added to the mix. Stepping on board, Errol inhaled the familiar fragrance of wind magic and elemental affinities.
Much of the crew was on shore leave, but those who were present, nodded in greeting to Errol, though he didn’t know them. They avoided the prince’s gaze, as if afraid they might invoke a cruel tyrant’s wrath.
Errol acted as liaison between the prince and the captain, though the order to allow Errol to examine records of skirmishes and attacks came from the prince’s lips himself.
The prince chattered away with the captain and commander in the captain’s cabin of the first ship. Errol found it difficult to concentrate with the prince laughing like a simpleton. As Errol attempted not to listen, he noted the prince was far more skilled at flattery and manipulation than he had realized. He gleaned information from officers without them even knowing what he was doing.
“So sad about the latest attack by the Raven Court,” Prince Elric-Atherius said. “It is always unfortunate when lives are lost.”
“Aye,” said the captain. “But we managed to get most of the chattel back. For the king.”
Errol thought he detected a note of bitterness, but when he turned, the man’s face was expressionless.
“Your name comes with a glowing reputation for excellence,” Prince Elric-Atherius said. “You must tell me about more of your heroic deeds.”
Errol managed not to snort and resumed examining the records. From what Errol read in the captain’s log, the majority of incidents the air navy responded to were attacks from supposed rogue Fae, though the captain was clear each time that these mercenaries resembled Raven Court warriors. When Errol had been in the navy, a pirate ship had attacked a port. The captives claimed to be unconnected to the Raven Queen, but Errol had known otherwise. This captain hinted he knew it as well.
Prince Elric-Atherius worked his charm and muse magic on the captain, getting the older man’s tongue to loosen. Errol wasn’t sure how much of his storytelling and boasting was tall tales enhanced by creativity and how much was the truth. There was a hazard to relying too heavily on such magic. Fortunately, Errol had the captain’s logs to authenticate his words.
On board the second airship, Prince Elric-Atherius used similar flattery on the commander of that ship, as the captain wasn’t on board.
The commander beamed. “Was it your brother who spoke of me?”
“My brother?” Prince Elric-Atherius momentarily looked confused. “Oh, yes. I think it was. Or was it my sister? I can’t recall.” He laughed as though he were a forgetful ninny. “Have we met before? I would swear I remember your handsome face from a party.”
“Just so!” the commander said. “We met at a ball. Prince Beorhtsige introduced us. You seemed distracted. I’m flattered you remembered me.”
Prince Elric-Atherius leaned in conspiratorially. “Naturally a friend of Beorhtsige is a friend of mine.”
Just hearing that brief exchange made Errol dislike the commander.
“Pray, have you seen my brother of late?” Prince Elric-Atherius asked.
The commander waved him off casually. “My last appointment with him was two months back—but we correspond by mail. I always keep my benefactors well informed . . . if you should be interested in such an exchange as well.”
“Oh goody! I love corresponding by letter. How much do you require for the inconvenience?”
Errol wondered whether Prince Elric-Atherius had any idea what he was agreeing to. Errol certainly didn’t. When the prince bade Errol pay the man, he did so, his face a neutral mask like the most loyal of servants.
Only as they walked across the empty dock to the next ship, surrounded by glamoured soldiers, did Errol ask, “What do you think you just paid for?”
The prince shrugged. “I suppose it was information of some sort, though I can’t guess what it would be about.”
On the third ship, the Last Supper, Captain Richard Gains’ gruff manners reminded Errol of Captain Manchester. The Witchkin officer eyed Prince Elric-Atherius as though he were vermin. Errol suspected it was a natural response to false flattery as the prince went on in his cloying matter. He only managed to inspire grunts from the captain.
After ten minutes, Errol was unable to stomach any more. He left his ledger where he compiled notes from the captain’s log and went over to the prince and nudged him and nodded to the open book. Prince Elric-Atherius took the hint and seated himself at the captain’s desk to do research. Errol hoped the prince was actually adept enough at taking notes that giving him a book wasn’t a waste of time.
Errol used his military-learned manners to cut to the point. “We are investigating attacks from the Raven Court. You have been captain on this ship for fifteen years and served for forty years prior to that. What are the trends you have noticed during that time?”
The direct approach worked better on this captain than the prince’s techniques, though Errol wouldn’t have been able to charm and cajole the others as the prince had. They complemented each other’s skills well.
After several more of Errol’s inquiries, it was the ship’s captain who asked Errol the questions. “I sent these reports to the general. Why does he suddenly take an interest in these attacks when he’s ignored my reports and requests in the past?”
General Hereweald had denied requests?
“Excuse my ignorance for asking, but what were your requests?” Errol didn’t know how much he should admit.
“To do some bloody damn good for the villages attacked! To send a fleet of ships after those foul-beaked harpies so I can properly do my job.” The captain grew red in the face.
“I’m afraid I have no good answer for that.” At least Errol knew he wasn’t dealing with one of the bribed captains from his response.
The captain drew a pipe out of his pocket, stuffing it with a slimy green weed Errol was unfamiliar with. “For years I’ve been sending reports in the hope that the king will grant me leave to destroy the enemy, set up a trap, or cross the border after they flee to ensure we destroy them before they return. This be the first I’ve heard from anyone about these matters. Who exactly sent you to ask these questions?”
“The king,” Prince Elric-Atherius said, looking up from the captain’s log as he scribbled something in Errol’s ledger.
It wasn’t a complete lie, though the king hadn’t given them leave to ask questions in the military. At least the words came from a prince’s lips rather than Errol’s own.
“So the king suddenly cares? What gave him such a change of heart?” Captain Gains turned toward the prince.
Prince Elric-Atherius buried his nose in a book, acting as though he hadn’t heard. He offered no help answering this question.
Errol cleared his throat. “Excuse me for speaking so bluntly, but our intention is not so much because the king has questions, but because he has no questions, and he needs to know what to ask.” Errol didn’t want to risk saying something subversive against the king, especially not with his son present.
Captain Gains grunted. “You think you’re going to enlighten His Majesty? Good luck with that.”
“Pardon the interruption, but I happened to notice this book only goes as far back as three months.” Prince Elric-Atherius folded his hands on the desk, looking as if he owned it. “Where is your documentation prior to this?”
The captain snorted and stomped over. “You would do better to start at the beginning.” He lifted the book and flipped through it. His thick brows drew together. “What in bloody hell. . . ?”
Errol strode over to see what had vexed the captain. The pages were blank.
The man glared at the princ
e. “Did you do this?”
“Do what?” Prince Elric-Atherius’ silver eyebrows shot up in surprise.
“Did you tamper with my records?” The captain didn’t wait for a response. He went to a cabinet and withdrew another journal. He flipped through it. The pages were white. He tossed it down and selected another. The parchment was also blank.
“Someone has destroyed my records.” The captain rounded on the prince as if he were to blame.
“Don’t look at me like that. It wasn’t me.” Prince Elric-Atherius lifted his hands in a placating gesture.
Errol doubted a man who served the king was likely to strangle his son, but he stepped in the captain’s path just in case. “We are on the same side, Captain Gains. We came seeking the truth, not to cover it up.”
The captain grunted in reply.
“I apologize if our investigation has brought inconvenience upon you. That was never our intent.” Errol spoke firmly but calmly, not allowing his nervousness to show. “I assure you, we will get to the bottom of this.”
He meant it.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Don’t Shoot the Messenger
From the deck of the airship as they left, a chill wind blustered against Errol, reminding him of his days in the air navy. Sometimes he missed the simplicity of those happier times in his life, back before he had become an officer in the royal guard and had seen his sovereign’s character up close.
Below the airship, Errol spied a merchant vessel in port. He itched to question them on what they had encountered. Unfortunately, he had promised to take the prince to meet his mistress after their appointments.
Prince Elric-Atherius noticed him gazing at the ship. “It’s fine. You can leave me to be chaperoned by the other guards. You can go on and interview that ship without me.”
“No, I cannot.” Errol had given his word he would stay with the prince and keep him safe from harm. “I will go to the docks on another occasion.”