Page 15 of A Court So Dark
“What are you saying?” I asked. “That we can’t trust her to find Kalyll?”
Larina opened her mouth to answer, but Arabis cut her off.
“Shadow was faithful to Queen Eithne for over a hundred years. We can trust her.”
“Was?” I asked.
Arabis nodded sadly. “She’s dead. Cardian killed her. Shadow witnessed it. She went after him, but he has that transfer token and he disappeared before she could reach him.”
I didn’t know what the tiny sprite could have done to stop Cardian, but at least I now understood why she wanted him dead so badly.
A lump formed in my throat as I thought of Kalyll. He had lost both his father and mother in such a short time. I hadn’t particularly cared for the queen and the way she treated her son, but my heart ached for Kalyll. He had taken so many blows, and yet he’d remained strong. I had to wonder how much of it was a façade, though. Oh, God, I wanted so badly to wrap my arms around him and offer him what little comfort I could.
“How could Cardian kill his own mother?” I asked.
“Because he’s a miserable bastard who cares only for power,” Kryn said from the door.
Arabis’s blue eyes cut in his direction. A spark of relief flashed on her face at seeing him there. He noticed and gave her a grateful nod, something like hope sparking in his features. Jeondar and Silver were with him. They walked in, looking imposing and determined.
Now that they were all here, I didn’t feel so lost.
“We won’t just rely on Shadow, right?” I said. “We have to go look for Kalyll.”
The males frowned in unison. Arabis explained about the sprite’s offer and the listening mole in my chamber.
“Her help could turn out to be invaluable,” Jeondar said after considering for a few beats. “The minor folk do have their ways. They are incredibly connected.” He looked over at Larina who nodded once. “Still, you’re right, Dani. We need to do more.”
“What do you suggest?” Cylea asked.
“We’ve been talking.” Jeondar looked at Kryn and Silver.
They nodded.
“We think Dani should see the Envoy.”
CHAPTER 6
DANIELLA
Ididnotwantto visit the Envoy. No way in hell.
That creature was terrifying, and I was sure it was some sort of trickster demon, one that found its way into Elf-hame the same way that Caorthannach—that Mount Ruin bitch—had. No demon could be trusted, but trickster types were the worst. I knew it from my sister Lucia, who was studying at the League of Demon Hunters in New York. She had suffered at the hands of a trickster demon and nearly ended up possessed by it. She escaped that particular fate, though she’d suffered much worse at the hands of Lucifer’s son himself. That was an interesting story, which I hoped would have a happy ending.
Under any other circumstances, I would’ve heeded Lucia’s advice and stayed away from the Envoy, but what else could I do? Not to mention that I would go to the end of any realm—Elf-hame, my own, or even hell—for Kalyll.
Straightening to my full height, I talked with more conviction than I felt.
“Let’s go then.” I headed for the door.
“No can do.” Silver waved a finger, then looked at Cylea for approval of his use of a human phrase.
Cylea nodded to indicate he’d gotten it right.
“Why not? We have no time to waste,” I protested.
“You can’t visit the Envoy during the day,” Jeondar explained. “We have to wait until midnight.”
“Are you kidding me? So what do we do now? Just sit here with our thumbs up our asses?”
