Page 58 of Thorn Season
“Well, Erik would never allow themhere; he hates mercenaries. But she’s been acquiring them for years, building a little private army. Last week, the Kaulters intercepted a report that sympathizers were gathering in Parrey’s abandoned smithies, trying to organize shelter for Wielders. At her sister’s behest, Sabira’s been sending her mercenaries to sweep through every site.”
I startled. Even before the Execution Decree, specters had garnered mistrust—and the people of Parrey had been the least tolerant. When Wielders began joining the Parrian military, their specters had demonstrated an advantage in combat. So the Wholeborn soldiers—resentful and frightened—had killed their Wielder comrades while they slept.
When the monarchy turned a blind eye, similar conflicts arose across the provinces, until Wielders were seen as the enemy—a danger to civilization.
Now—in Parrey, of all places—the extent of sympathizer activity had warrantedintervention? Garret had said the rise in Huntings had produced some upheaval, but sympathizer units hadn’t needed to be quashed since the Starling Rebellion.
Was that the new keeper’s aim? To provoke a rebellion?
The Capewells believed the copycats were Wholeborn purists,intent on eradicating Wielders. I didn’t know to what degree Lady Nelle fit that description, but she certainly possessed motive to incite chaos across Daradon. After all, an unstable kingdom made for an unstable king... and a clear path for the next person in line to the throne.
I side-gazed toward Carmen, who now stirred a glass of pink lemonade with her little finger. Though Nelle presented a shrewd, flinty contrast to her daughter’s effervescence, the pair had always been close.
If Nelle was truly orchestrating these brutal Huntings to secure her daughter’s future... how much did Carmen know about it?
A clatter returned me to where Sabira’s opponent tossed his last coins across the table.
Inspired, I said to Carmen, “I used to watch your mother play Aces. She would’ve drained even Sabira’s pockets.”
“Oh, she did.” Carmen raised her dimpled chin. “On many occasions.”
“Does she still play?”
“It’s hard to play a court game when you’re no longer allowed at court.” Her voice turned a little sour around the edges, like I’d touched a nerve.
Perfect.
“Of course; I wasn’t thinking.” I dipped my head—the picture of embarrassment. “I heard she’d taken up residence in Creak.”
I’d named the province at random and Carmen chuckled.
“Goodness, I hope not! A little Creakish farm would bore her to an early grave. She likes to keep busy—flitting around Daradon, never staying long in one place.”
“That’s no way to live.”
“It’s an exceptional way to live when the alternative is death.” The words came out fast and unfiltered. Carmen paled, abruptly aware of what she’d said. “Don’t misunderstand, Alissa, darling.” She gave a smile that didn’t suit her—too tight, and dull at the eyes. “Erik spared my mother’s life by exiling her from court. I’ll never forget his mercy.”
I returned her smile with more sincerity, having gotten what I wanted. Then I strode forward, shucking off the tension. “Come teach me to play Silvers.”
“You don’t know how to play Silvers?” Carmen gasped. “What do they teach you in Vereen?”
My heart panged as I remembered all the games of Double Decks with Marge. But I rallied my energy and grinned. “How to spot fake jewels.”
Carmen cackled as we wended between the tables, all talk of her mother forgotten.
I rounded a marble pillar and startled. Perla was backed in the shadows like a trapped mouse. “Lady Perla!”
She flinched, her eyes darting around before landing on me.
“Lady Alissa,” she said on an exhale, then curtsied to Carmen. “Your Highness.”
Carmen sashayed ahead of me, eyes twinkling. “Dearest Perla, aren’t you a vision!”
Perla cringed, glancing down at her flouncy sand-colored dress.
“Lucky we caught you.” Carmen threw me an obvious wink. “Alissa was looking for an Aces opponent.”
“Oh, I—I’m only watching, Your Highness.”
