Page 37 of The Witch Queen

He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Of course. I’ll arrange it before you leave Velmara.” I notice he gives no firm timeline, and since we both know I could be in Velmara indefinitely, it’s no promise at all. “May I make a minor suggestion in your approach? I am of course very familiar with the archives and many of the topics you may be interested in.” I only nod. “Assuming that whatever you’re looking for has to do with the thayar,” he continues. “If that’s true, then broaden your scope. Many of my best scholars argue the thayar flower has connections to the very fabric of our world. Research the history of the leylines and the aether itself. That may get you closer to what you seek.” His eyes sparkle, and my stomach drops. It’s an astute and poignant suggestion, but it’s too on the nose. Not only has he guessed what I’m interested in, but he’s determined the right research strategy before I have.

I don’t let those concerns show on my face, though. “Thank you for the suggestion. I’ll take that into consideration in the coming days.”

The rest of the meal passes uneventfully. He asks about Laurel but politely redirects when I don’t give him any information. At one point he even complains about his son Prince Hawthorne, as if we’re old friends and he’s sharing his concerns for the future of his only child. It’s off putting, this version of Mazus, though it helps me better understand why so many believe him to be the altruistic Golden King.

As I stand to leave, he adds, “I have a few books that may be useful for your studies in my own private collection. When I have a moment, I’ll look through them and send them your way. In the meantime, if there’s anything else I can help you with, please send word. You’re most welcome here in Velmara.”

My mind races as I make my way back to my rooms. I’m confused by his motives. He wants something from me, or maybe wants me to discover something specific. My immediate reaction is that whatever he wants me to do, I need to do the exact opposite. Unfortunately, with Thayaria on the line, I don’t have the luxury of ignoring good advice about my research, regardless of where it comes from.

As I get ready for bed that evening, I continue replaying every moment of the conversation in my mind, trying to uncover Mazus’s aims but coming up completely blank.

Laurel

The strongest of light channelers can create weapons from the light, carefully honed intense beams that will slice through almost anything. The ability is rare, and very few light channelers throughout history have been able to actually fight with these weapons. Conjuring them quickly and consistently in battle takes extreme strength and control.

The Unabridged History of Magical Orders, Volume I

The Council chamber is thick with tension. The guards on duty at the palace cells immediately reported to Carex that they saw the rebels break out prisoners, and that the rebel group knew exactly where to go. Carex acted quickly, accusing the Velmarans of aiding the rebels. When he tried toarrestthem, I reminded Carex and the Council that, as Velmaran citizens, we weren’t technically permitted to arrest them. I’m not even sure if that’s true, but stating it confidently worked—a strategy I’ve learned to deploy well in my time as Queen. I suggested that we insteaddetainthem in their rooms until we can ascertain what happened.

They are there now, with six of Carex’s best guards keeping watch. Carex, Admon, Aria, Margery, Nathaniel, and several other advisors sit around me in the Council chamber, listening to the guards recount what happened down in the cells.

“There were three rebels,” a guard reports. “We didn’t notice them until after the prisoners had been broken out. They waited for us to make our rounds of the lower levels. They knew our rotation schedule and waited for the exact moment we left. The bars of the cells were bent wide enough for the prisoners to walk right out. They had to have had a powerful metal channeler with them. None of the metal channelers in our Royal Guard can even make a dent in the bars in that prison with all the iron around.”

“And the Velmarans just sohappento have the most powerful metal channeler in history here in Thayaria,” Carex adds. I give him a reprimanding look, one brow raised.

“Please, continue,” I say to the guard. “What happened after you found the opening in the cell?”

“We heard them running north, so we followed. The prisoners still had iron cuffs on their wrists, so they wouldn’t have been able to channel. The other three rebels sent plants to bind us. Then a metal channeler took all our weapons out of their sheaths and pointed them at us. We couldn’t follow, we swear. We were bound tightly and weren’t strong enough to counteract their magic. But… Your Majesty, they went out through the secret passages that open up on the other side of the mountain.”

I nod. “Thank you. I understand. You won’t be punished for their escape.” Carex tries to interrupt, but I speak over him. I won’t have these guards face his wrath when I planned this heist and did indeed send the most powerful metal channeler alive after them. “You’re dismissed. Take the evening off to rest.” Carex glares at me. They leave the chamber, and I sigh loudly, rubbing my temples. “We’ll have to cut off access to the palace through those passages. Can we send someone to blast the tunnels and collapse them?”

Nathaniel nods and leaves the room to execute my request.

“Your Majesty, the Velmarans are clearly behind this,” Carex accuses, anger in his voice. He stands and points aimlessly, as if that will emphasize his point. “They have the magic to have found those passages, snuck the rebels in, and broken the prisoners out. Not to mention, I did not see Prince Hawthorne’s advisors most of the night. They left the ball and only appeared later. I’m sure of it.”

“I saw both Silene and Fionn several times throughout the evening, Carex,” I lie. I hate it, but it’s necessary. “They likely kept a low profile in order to overhear conversations between the court and gather information for Prince Hawthorne. It’s what I would have done in their shoes.” I deliver the last line flippantly, as if it’s so obvious it’s barely worth mentioning.

Carex looks me over closely, eyes narrowed. I feel his scrutiny and suspicion, but I don’t break, keeping my cool mask of neutrality. He continues. “It may not have required the metal channeler to be physically present. He could have bent those cells and held those weapons from the courtyard.”

I laugh, cold and sneering. “I can assure you, Carex, even I couldn’t achieve that.”Not true. It would take barely a thought from me, but he doesn’t know that. I’ve kept the depth of my power hidden from even those closest to me—lovers and friends included—still haunted by the warnings my parents gave me as a young child. “Next you’re going to suggest Prince Hawthorne used light channeling to hide them as they snuck down to the cells and back.” Giving him the truth so sarcastically should redirect him.

He pauses for a moment, looking at the other advisors for help. Aria speaks up. “Your Majesty, while it appears we’ve ruled out the Velmarans assisting the rebels physically, we still cannot rule out the potential that they helped the rebels in other ways. They may have provided information about how to get in and out of the palace. Those passages out of the prison are a closely guarded secret amongst the Council.”

Carex looks at her gratefully. “Aria makes an excellent point, Your Majesty. They may have explored the palace under cover, then passed that information to the rebels.”

“And how do you suppose they would have contacted the rebels? Even our best spies haven’t uncovered their leaders or meeting places. You think the Velmarans have done better in a few weeks than our spies have done in years?” I ask, desperately hoping to redirect them away from the topic of how the rebels could have found out about those passages. It’s the only weakness in my plan, and I knew I’d need to be careful not to let them ask too many questions about it.

Aria considers my point carefully. “That’s true. That being said, we need to be cautious. With this and the prior attack on the palace, the rebels are growing bolder.”

“I too am concerned by these developments. I’m only trying to prevent further strikes,” Carex says softly. The guilt in my gut grows. He’s a good Captain, and this is going to weaken him politically with the other advisors. Regardless of who was behind it, the rebels breached the palace on his watch. Even if it was his own Queen who organized it.

“Carex, I willquestionthe Velmarans, if that would assuage your concerns about their involvement,” I offer to make peace with him.

“They will lie. It’s a waste of time,” he scoffs.

Admon jumps in, voice soft and intense. “I believe Her Majesty means something a bit different when she refers toquestioningthem. She has exceptional power that can make people talk with the right…encouragement.” The idea that Admon is the one to explain that I’m offering to torture the Velmarans nearly makes me laugh at the stressful absurdity of this situation.

Carex’s eyes widen, and he looks at me with fear written across his features. Despite the decades that have passed since we were together, that fear still makes my heart sink with shame. It’s the real reason our relationship couldn’t go further than it did. At his core, Carex is afraid of me.

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