Page 53 of Deadly Maiden

“I think this powered the raven? Though almost nothing is left of it. It’s called gheist, and is a form of etharum.”

“Necromancy then. Of course it must be. The raven was undead.” His mouth is pressed thin, and I cannot help but wonder if he is condemning me for knowing that. Grievances die hard.

Harder than the raven. I stare at the last feathers the breeze is flipping down the road.

Chapter 14

KingMadlin

The four members of my royal advisory file in and find their places at the table, to left and right. There is no point in speaking while they shuffle about, pull out seats, and arrange papers into piles. I remain relaxed in my thronelike chair and merely tap the carved armrest with the butt of a silver knife. It’s a fancy knife, the blade serrated for half its length, with a smudge of red at the tip from the last girl I inserted it into. They’ll understand I am impatient to begin.

None of them is stupid.

Addicted to various substances and beliefs, yes, but not stupid.

Once the creaking and scraping of the heavy timber chairs is done, I nod and wait for their minor obeisance then assess them in order.

To my left sits my spymaster, the lean-faced crowshifter, Jenndar Fletch, and my ironskin edgemaster, Kroll Krasten. Both are clad in black, though Jenndar has brown cuffs and a fussy shirt collar that shows her slight cleavage. She is morepleasing to the eye than Kroll. Her straight, black hair is trimmed short, her nose elegant if curved, in reflection of her shifting animal. She’s leaner than I prefer in her sex. Not that I’d ever bed her.

Kroll is mean, sharp, and white blond, though pretty for a man. I’ve never met a more vicious fae. He’s a finely honed weapon that flies where I direct him.

On the right sits Sister Paloma of the Church of Artreos. Her face is covered in raised pink scars and purple tattoos—script with verses from their Book of Vitality—or so I am told. I can’t read any of the mess. Her purple-lensed spectacles and purple hooded gown conceal most of her.

And past her on the right is Venk Brust, elected representative of the fire mages and pain in the royal rear. I must replace him, soon.

They each give a short, half-incline of the head and a murmured “Your majesty.”

“Thank you for attending. I’ve brought you here to address the current situation regarding the rebels of the so-called Church of the Usurper, and the search for the necromancer girl, Wyntre Gothschild.” I let the knife drop to the table then pick up the correspondence Jenndar sent, several hours ago.

“I see the girl and this dragonshifter evaded a gaggle of townsfolk and killed a few, then he shifted and flew away?” I flick at the page. “Have we more than what is here, Jenndar?”

She leans forward. “My lord, I’ve received word that two booksellers may have secretly transported the girl. We are looking for them. From the direction of that road, W and R are going north so our search teams are concentrating on that area. And the blood hawks are doing the same.”

“Good. Or better than nothing. I think I need someone on the ground to direct our forces. Kroll, you’re to link up with Jenndar’s men and women. Coordinate efforts. Use any methodyou care to, to enhance extraction of information.” This is our code meaning torture is perfectly fine.

He inclines his head. “Yes, Lord.”

“Go now.” I wait for Kroll to stand and leave the room before I continue. “Anyone else have more on the girl?”

No one speaks, though the frostiness from the sister leaks through those lenses. The Church of Artreos may disagree with this pursuit of a necromancer, but they will find it matters not. One day, I will purge them. If the kingdom didn’t need etharum and a contented populace, they would already be under my heel.

“Next.” I pretend to check the papers. “The rebels. Jenndar, this church is a sham?”

“Yes, sire, as we suspected. They use it as a façade to gather arms and communicate with those of a like mind.”

“Their purpose is to do what?” I prompt her.

“To overthrow the throne or at least to ‘free’ Orencia and return it to being a separate country.”

“Something that we will never allow. That land was Zardrake long before the Strykes took it. I’m not sure why I’m explaining this to any of us. So!” I clap my hands. “Surveil that church, and once we know everything there is to know, we will close them down, permanently.”

“Yes. We are inserting an agent to gather the names of members.”

“Good.”

“Would you like me to contribute some of my men from the district of Fulow?” Venk Brust drawls from the depths of his chair. His ankle is up on his knee, his eyes lidded in dark pits, which tells me he’s been partaking of the lily far too often.

I wait a while before answering, hoping to get him to stir and sit forward, but no, he remains half-prone.

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