Page 154 of Deadly Maiden

Three days. I guess rearranging the story of events in the tomb has taken longer than Paloma thought it would. I hope that is the reason. The scent of smoke and a distant line of burned buildings tells me the rebellion reached Tensorga.

Nevertheless, the nice uniforms and the apology the captain was told to deliver, these offer me hope.

I feel the promise of a peaceful future in the air, in the freedom of the gulls and the wide sea, in the distant laughter coming from a crowd, and the trumpets playing down the street on the left, while flutes and lyres play from the right. Though the combination does hurt my ears.

We achieved something good.

I take Rorsyd’s hand, give him a reassuring squeeze, then smile up at him. “We’re going to be okay.” I know I am right.

They escort us to a characterless coach, with no identifying crests, which trundles along winding, back streets before slowing before a pair of golden gates. As the silver-and-black uniformed guards swing open those gates, I sneak a look. The palace lies beyond.

Somewhere at the rear of the structure, guards usher us from the coach, and we are sent up the steps and inside the palace, then up winding narrow servants’ stairs. We emerge into a narrow hallway, are directed along a hallway and through a side door, then into a small room. The space is crowded with a wheeled cart bearing various shelves of cleaning gear, and another cart with half-eaten food.

Our guards leave us there, after saying we are to wait.

A plain door is situated in the opposite wall. Somewhere outside, a crowd is cheering and chanting for the king to appear.

A curtain is slid open with a hiss on the other side of the door, then the door opens, and Sister Paloma enters. Quietly, she shuts the door behind her, removes her purple spectacles, and holds them in one hand.

Her robe is identical to what she wore in the tomb. Her smile, though, is wide and new.

She approaches us and presses her palms together before her. “I’m sorry,” she says softly. Between her eyes creases. “Idid not mean to leave you there for so long, but the king…and all the other matters, they were complex. His brother has gone missing.” She glances aside as if to check for anyone hearing. “Jannik. Perhaps he has gone into the sea. Again, I am sorry.”

I do wonder if a palace might have secret listeners.

“Our trust was not betrayed. That is all we needed.” I look to Rorsyd, and he whispers agreement.

“Of course it was not.” The sister seems quite perturbed by what I’ve said and shakes her head. “In a moment, you may come with me. You may stand where I put you and listen. Afterward, he wishes to speak to you and then you may go wherever you wish to, as long as it’s not here. Tensorga is still uneasy.”

“I think he’s already speaking?” Rorsyd says.

The crowd has fallen silent, and Madlin-Asher’s voice carries through the walls.

“Yes. Is there anything you want to say before we go out there?”

“I think…” Rorsyd looks to me, his hand is on my back. “We would like to know if Andacc and his fae are being dealt with…”

“Peacefully?” she suggests.

“Yes.”

“Yes, is my answer also. He has met with the king, and there has been an end to hostilities. A document is being drawn up, though as yet it is a secret from most. Deciding how to arrange Zardrake and Orencia, whether to keep the countries as one, or not, is not a simple matter.” She straightens, dons her spectacles, and proffers her hand. “Now. Let us go listen. Such matters are for the king and his kingdom to mediate.”

A brush-off? Perhaps. She is correct though. Neither Rorsyd nor I wish to mess with the intricacies of the kingdom’s policies. I blink and follow where she leads us, out the door.

No, what I needed to hear has been said. My amazement at what I succeeded in doing can take over now. I made a dead man into a king, by switching the minds.

We stand in the shadows to the side of the balcony where Madlin-Asher gives a speech to his subjects, and those below are completely unaware their king is not the Aos Sin fae they believe him to be. Instead, he is a moral, righteous man. I hope. My parents wrote that he was this, and having seen what he has done in three days, after being dropped into a wholly new body, I am inclined to believe.

After twenty years of almost-death.

After losing his brother to torture, an act that happened not far from this balcony, and yet he is willing to be the king of Zardrake.

He’s made a truce already, met with Andacc.

There is no reign of terror, such that I am sure Madlin would have instigated if he were in the same situation.

And of course, he has freed us and put us here to listen.

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