Page 36 of A Court So Dark
Slowly, I turned to face Larina and Shadow. They had respected my thoughtful silence, and I was grateful for that.
“Thank you for coming, Shadow,” I said. “I know we weren’t very nice earlier, and I apologize once more.”
“No need for that,” she said dryly, stopping me short.
She was stoic and off-putting, but I had no way of telling if this was her regular personality, or if we’d brought it out with our rudeness. Only time would tell.
“Very well,” I said, inclining my head.
“You should know,Lady Fenmenor, that I am being dismissed,“ Shadow said. “Me and others who were faithful to King Beathan, Queen Eithne, and King Kalyll, are being sent away. We have an hour to vacate the premises.”
“How dare he?!” Anger burned in my chest. “What a horrible, horrible male.” I stretched my fingers, trying to dispel that tingling feeling gathering at the tips. Oh, how I would enjoy turning Cardian into a lifeless husk.
“It shouldn’t be a problem,” Larina interjected. “Cardian doesn’t know aboutme. I can move in and out of the palace without constraint or care from anyone, so I can be your go-between, if need be.”
“Thank you, Larina.” I turned to Shadow. “Are you still willing to help us find King Kalyll?”
She nodded once. “Queen Eithne wanted nothing more than for him to ascend to the throne. I will endeavor to make her wishes come true. But you should know,mybiggest desire is revenge against her murderer. In fact, just before I came to you, I tried to find Cardian, but the milksop is more heavily guarded than the gates to The Blessed Fields, and what is more, he has a nullifier with him. “
I fully understood what she was saying, that if Kalyll didn’t wish to see his half-brother dead, her goal would remain. She wouldnotrespect Kalyll’s wishes even if he was the king, even if there were consequences. She wouldn’t rest until Cardian was six feet under. I was strangely touched by her murdering tendencies. They seemed to align with mine at my worst moments, like this one. Clearly, she had really loved the queen.
“I understand,” I said.
“But can you please hold off until Cardian leads us to the king?”
“Do you have a plan?” Shadow asked.
“A plan? Not really,” I admitted. “Um… First, I guess the Sub Rosa needs to know that I’m all right and that I’ve infiltrated the traitor’s ranks. Then I’ll try to get Cardian to trust me further. “
Infiltrated. I almost rolled my eyes at the word. What had my life turned into? I looked from the pixie to the sprite wondering if they were about to burst out laughing, but they looked as serious as two soldiers ready for orders.
Encouraged by this, I went on. “I think we should also contact Naesala Roka.”
“Naesala Roka?!” They both exclaimed.
Now, they were looking at me as if I was crazy. I quickly explained how the sorceress had helped us hide when we escaped the Vine Tower the first time Cardian took over. For now, I left out the part about Naesala being a human spy. I had no idea how that would go over with them, so it was best to keep things simple.
Shadow looked baffled. “We never suspected her of being anything but loyal to Cardian.”
Bywe,Iassumed she meant she and Queen Eithne. It was starting to sound as if the two had been friends and not just a monarch and a subject.
“We can trust the sorceress,” I said. “You can be sure of that. We need to enlist her. She can help us find Kalyll and fight Cardian. It wouldn’t hurt to have a powerful ally like her. Then we can go at Cardian from two different sides. Here and Nerethien.”
They both nodded, approving of my idea. At least, I wasn’t a complete fool when it came to espionage. Who would’ve figured?
Dani the healer spy slash human life-sucker slash future queen of the Seelie Fae. What a mind job!
“Larina, I trust you would be able to contact the sorceress,” I said.
“Most definitely.” She pressed a fist to her chest and inclined her head, a zealous expression on her face.
I nearly teared up, grateful that I had her help. She was as devoted to finding Kalyll as I was, and that was no small matter.
I faced Shadow next. “Could you get a message out to the Sub Rosa through your network?”
“Consider it done,” the sprite assured me. “They will be informed before nightfall.”
I had no idea how she would accomplish it, but I didn’t question it. My gratitude extended to her as well. She seemed fiercely loyal to the late queen as well as her plans for her son, and I had a feeling Shadow would do everything in her power to reinstate him to the throne.
