Page 75 of Shadows and Roses

A taunting tactic. It would stir her court of snakes, at least.

Vern spoke. "We could use our team…"

She understood Vern’s hesitation. That team was part of a plan years in the making. Revealing them now would ruin all their work. Nonetheless, she considered it for a moment longer than she should have. "No. We can’t risk them. Is anyone else nearby? Not to kill. Retrieval only."

Laureline shared a look with Vern, then said, "They are all in the field. We may need to wait. Nadraken is likely to return him, as they have all the others."

Anais ran her finger along the edge of her knife. "It’s been two moons. He’s an Escort. They may not return him."

All the nations participated in this terrible game—kidnap, break, return. The goal of one side was to heal the damage, the other to push the victim beyond sanity’s edge forever. Every one of their people had been brought back from madness, but sometimes it was a close thing, and few of them were unchanged. None of them had been high-ranking nobles. None had been held for more than a moon.

She stabbed the knife into the table. There was nothing she could do. Still. "Update me on any changes. Captain, send for the messenger."

The rebel messenger came in through the servant's entrance this time. A young boy, his worn clothes covered in dirt, but there was meat on his bones. He looked around curiously. "Daym’n wants ta meet naow."

"Now? Today?" She raised a brow.

He nodded. "Righ’ naow. ‘E’s waitin’ wi’ tha soljers."

The urgency was strange after their reluctance so far, but the timing was fortunate.

She addressed Jerome. "Take the boy and bring Damon here."

Vern frowned as soon as they left. "A Queen at the beck and call of a rebel? And we’re allowing himhere? I don’t like this."

"He’s Castien’s friend—they must have heard about his capture," she reasoned. "We can use that. Besides, he wouldn’t have come without a very good offer." While Vern referred to the Queen's Wing, she indicatedthe palace itself. The rebel leader was either very brave or very foolish to walk into what could easily be his death.

Laureline waved her teacup. "I think it's a fantastic opportunity for an alliance. A pity it involves the suffering of one of our own, of course, but we all understand that the nation's needs are above our own."

Anais closed her eyes briefly. Castien hadn't volunteered for any of this. Each of her Escorts understood the court and their purpose before joining. They knew what they were getting into.

Vern glanced at her with a raised brow. She shook her head slightly. Laureline meant well.

"We shall see what he says," she agreed.

The man that strode through the study's doors was tall, broad, and ruggedly handsome. She would have estimated him to be a decade older than Castien, though she knew him to be about the same age. The difference between a luxurious life, and a life lived in poverty and constant struggle. He wore the likely stolen uniform well, though he displayed more arrogance than discipline.

He lazily took in the room, then swept his eyes over her. "You're smaller than I thought you'd be. Practically tiny."

Jerome stiffened. "She's the Queen."

Damon raised a brow. "Does he always state the obvious, or is that just for me?"

"Banter is a waste of breath. You are here to help us rescue Castien. Is that correct?" Anais said.

His eyes dipped to her chest. "Pity. Pretty but boring. Yes, my dear, I want to help my friend. I'd hoped you'd have managed it by now, seeing as how you have the army and the gold and the spies. I'm not sure how you think an alliance will work if you can't save one person."

Jerome's hand gripped his sword, glaring at the rebel's back.

"Captain, have a seat. Damon, please." She gestured toward a chair. "We can discuss everything while you're here."

Jerome complied, but Damon sneered. "Not until Castien is safe. We have people in both courts. If your lackluster efforts match your priorities, then we have nothing to discuss."

"Bluster is even more useless than banter. What do you want?" she demanded.

His smile widened. "A straightforward royal, what a miracle. What do I want? Simple. Step down from your throne."

She offered him a bored, incredulous look. "Stop wasting my time."

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