Page 7 of Witchlight
“I do not have to admit anything.”
Vivia sighed at the Empress. With curt movements, she removed her coat, folded it—buttons gleaming—and set it carefully beside her stool. Then she unbuttoned the top of her uniform shirt.
The freedom and the breeze felt divine. She might not be able to touch the sea, but she could at least taste it.
“If I could sneak into Lovats,” Vivia continued, “I could disable my father without any bloodshed. He would surrender the instant he saw me. It’s why he lifted the siege chain: he is terrified to face me.”
Vaness’s right bracelet now slithered up like the first. Two armbands twining around her. But Vivia couldn’t help but notice there was a stuttering rhythm—and she recognized that stutter because she felt it too, living inside the nearby tides.
Vaness stopped her iron. For several breaths, the wind batted loose tendrils across her face. Then she finally swiveled a cool expression Vivia’s way. “Let us assume, for argument’s sake, that your plan actually works. You face Serafin, you claim the crown. Then what? You cannot believe the navy and soil-bound will simply fall in line. The people of Lovats might have loved you once, but your father has painted you as a traitor.”
This was unfortunately true. “All the more reason,” Vivia countered, “to avoid bloodshed. I can remove my father from the throne, then confront the vizers. At least a few are loyal to me—especially now that three of their daughters have joined us in Noden’s Gift. Then I will lower the siege chain and the magic barrier bound to it, so the Foxes and all our Dalmotti ships can finally sail in with food and goods and…” She shrugged.
And Vaness’s face softened with something almost pitying.
Vivia hated it.
“Vivia.” The Empress scooted her stool closer. She was always so careful to use Vivia’s title when they were in Noden’s Gift. But here, on their nightly talks beside the Well, she always used Vivia’s name.
And Vivia always used hers. “Vaness,” she replied.
“I think you overestimate how easily your father will back down.”
“Maybe,” Vivia admitted, although she didn’t want to. It was bad enough having her own father turn against her. A man she’d loved.Revered. But he’d allied with the Dalmotti navy just to keep Vivia from claiming the throne that was her birthright.
And in all truth, if she’d actually believed Serafin was the better person to lead Nubrevna, she would have left him on that throne. But good leaders didn’t cling to a crown. They didn’t send an enemy navy simply to keep their own daughter out of a city. And theydidn’tlift a siege chain, effectively cutting off that city from food, medicine, fuel, or anything else they would need to survive.
Nubrevnans would die if Serafin didn’t lift that siege chain. And Serafin didn’t care at all.
The Empress leaned closer, reaching for Vivia’s hands. Vivia let hertake them. Let the Empress’s warm fingers weave into her own. And she let Vaness dip all the way toward her until their foreheads touched.
“If we are going to do this,” Vaness whispered, “then I think we should do so in secret. We can tell Captain Quintay what we intend, but we must leave her in Noden’s Gift—and make it seem we are still there. The element of surprise against your father will not last long.”
Vivia swallowed. Her grip tightened on the Empress.
“Cam will have to come, of course, as our guide. For although I was in the mountain, I was running for my life and remember almost nothing. Butno oneelse can join us—andno onecan know what we intend.”
“But…” Vivia’s voice broke slightly. “What if you’re right? What if itisa trap?”
“Then we will use our magic.” The two armbands coiled down. Down. Then slid across onto Vivia’s wrists. For several long seconds, the two women were shackled together. “I know we both struggle to control and contain our magics lately, but wearestill witches. And powerful ones.”
“Ahtset,”Vivia agreed, staring at the iron that bound them. A month ago, she would have been petrified by this nearness. Her heart would have lodged somewhere in her throat. Her mouth would have dried out, and her brain would have ceased all function.
But now she was… if not comfortable, at least accustomed. Something wound between her and Vaness. Vivia knew what she hoped it was, but it was not something she could act upon yet. Responsibility and crowns were a siege chain in their way.
Or at least, this was what Vivia told herself. Thatthiswas why she never leaned in a few more inches—and why the Empress never did either.
“Just promise me…” Vaness wet her lips. They were so red at this burning hour. “If we cannot get through the mountain—if it seems too dangerous for either of us or for Cam—then we will return. Immediately.”
“I promise,” Vivia agreed.
And the Empress of Marstok smiled. A sad, almost resigned thing. Her iron returned to her wrists. Her spine returned to steel. Together, both women angled their attention anew on the wildfire sky.
“Tonight?” Vivia asked after several minutes. There was so much she should wrap up before she left, but also so much that would fall into place if she could just get into Lovats again.
“Ahtset,”the Empress agreed quietly. “Tonight.”
FOUR
