Page 56 of House of Dusk
“No. The visions weren’t clear. But I know the words. I wrote them down.” She tugged a bit of paper from her sleeve, holding it out.
Yeneris took it, careful not to brush Sinoe’s fingers. The prophecy was short.The Queen of Swarms will die by an unseen blow, her hives dripping secret honey into the jaws of the wolf.“And you know it will be tonight?”
“No. But we can warn her.”
Fates, did she really believe it was that easy? That a woman who controlled everything remotely illicit in five different districts would simply believe their warning? And thenrewardthem with information?
A week ago Yeneris would have called Sinoe naive. Her world so limited, so confined, even with its comforts. But she wasn’t naive.
Hopeful. That was a better word. Even now her brown eyes held Yeneris’s own, brimming with certainty that they could do this. And Fates curse her, that hope was catching.
“All right,” she agreed. “We’ll find the Queen of Swarms and warn her.”
“Warn her of what, exactly?” said a sharp voice behind them.
Yeneris’s heart plummeted. Two figures blocked their alcove, both wearing light leather armor, both with swords drawn.
CHAPTER 16
YENERIS
The man on the left was the weakest link. Someone needed to teach him how to brace properly. Yeneris could kick his legs out, then one good shove and the brazier would block the other for a few heartbeats. It might be just long enough to get Sinoe out of the alcove. One of her daggers to drive back pursuit, the other to get through the outer door.
Still nearly impossible. But better than being taken prisoner. Sinoe was a rich prize, even without her jewels. They needed to get out of here before she was recognized.
“Well?” demanded the other brigand, a tall, pale woman with a scar across one cheek that hooked her lip into a perpetual snarl. “Who are you to threaten our queen?”
“It’s a warning, not a threat,” said Sinoe, somehow managing to look down her nose at them even though she was the shortest person in the alcove by a good handspan. “And it comes from the Fates themselves. I am Sinoe, daughter of Hierax, the Sibyl of Tears.”
Yeneris stifled a sigh.
“The princess never leaves the palace,” the pale woman scoffed.
“We should bring them to the queen,” said the man. “She’s worth something to someone. Might even score a nice cut for ourselves.”
“The queen has enough to worry about, Antioc,” the woman replied. “She doesn’t need to be bothered with by a pair of grifters. Best get rid of them before they cause any more trouble.”
“Pff. What trouble?” Antioc sauntered forward, reaching for Sinoe. “Come along now,princess.”
Yeneris stepped into his path, palming one of her two hidden daggers. A ridiculous thing to face off against a pair of swords but she’d damn well make it count. “No one touches the princess.”
Antioc laughed. “You think that toy will stop us? Give it here, I need a good nail trimmer.”
Yeneris held her ground. “Try it and I’ll trim something else you might miss more.”
A husky laugh filled the alcove, rough and smoky. It came from a tiny woman who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. She was soft and rounded as a clot of wool, with no sharp edges except for her smile. Frail wisps of gray showed at the edges of her dark headscarf. Her light brown skin was crinkled like fine linen.
She was the oldest person Yeneris had ever seen. And almost certainly one of the most dangerous.
The Queen of Swarms dipped her head to Sinoe, her smile glinting in the firelight. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Princess Sinoe.” Her gaze turned to Yeneris next, lingering on her dagger. “Impressive. It’s been a long time since anyone managed to get a weapon past the door.”
“Thank you.” Yeneris had a brief struggle with her pride, but succeeded in keeping the other, still-hidden dagger to herself. This wasn’t over. If anything, it had only gotten more dangerous.
“But I would prefer if you turned it over to one of my wolves,” she went on, gesturing to the brigands.
“Wolves?” repeated Sinoe. She gave Yeneris a significant look.
“That’s right,” said Antioc. “So best not give us reason to bite.” He held out a hand to Yeneris. “Give it here.”
