Page 88 of Beneath a Shattered Sky
“If there was no hope, you’d have pulled a full retreat to one of the other courts by now,” Maeve says. “So why haven’t you?”
“Half a court is still worth defending. And we have the advantage here where the trees are thickest. We’ve had some success by sticking to skirmishes, avoiding head-on confrontations where we can, and as half my court was a swamp until recently, they struggled to make significant progress, even if the fucking mud got everywhere.”
The ground isn’t muddy anymore, I muse. Now it’s covered in a thick carpet of leaves.
“What can I do?” I ask, taking a deep breath as I prepare for the rejection.
“Get your ass back into the ballroom and keep training,” Cressida snaps. “You’re wasting time up here playing at warfare instead of working.”
“I’m not playing at warfare,” I retort. “I’m not going to sit here and tell you I know how to solve all your problems. I know nothing about strategy beyond that this”—I wave a hand at the table— “is not good. But I’ve brought multiple great militaryminds and potentially limitless power to the table. There has to besomethingwe can do.”
“Can you summon and wield an entire ghost army?” Cressida demands. “Can you focus past the magic and protect yourself while you channel that ridiculous amount of power? Can you fly out of the way of the warriors you can’t beat? If you’re asking us to chuck you on a battlefield, all you’re doing is setting us up for defeat. When you die, your ghosts disappear with you, and all our warriors will be left facing worse odds than before.”
“I can try,” I argue, even as a tiny part of me cringes.
She’s right. A week’s worth of training is nowhere near enough for me to do all of those things. I’m not sure a year would be enough.
Mab frowns. “You said skirmishes were working well for you. Bringing Rose along on those would at least offer a test of her abilities without any major losses should things go wrong.”
That sounds like a plan?—
“She isn’t ready.” Cressida sits back. “You’re young. You want to leave because my actions hurt your feelings.” She scoffs. “A true queen doesn’t let something like that get in the way of what their queendom needs. Especially something as trivial?—”
“As friendship?” I interrupt. “As asking consent before forcing a sacred bond? Do you know Elatha almost did the exact same thing to me?” I hiss out the words. “You are no better than him.”
“If you’re not willing to go as far as your enemies, then you will never ever be enough to save the courts.” Cressida leans forward, white-faced with rage. “I’ve wasted a week teaching an ungrateful?—”
Her bargain chokes her, and I smile in savage satisfaction.
“We’ve enjoyed your hospitality, Queen Cressida,” I say, turning to my Guard. “But I think we’ve outstayed our welcome.When I see you and your army outside the walls of Elfhame City, I expect you’ll offer your full apologies.”
Without giving anyone else a chance to say anything, I head for the door.
“Nicnevin, please, I’d like to accompany you.” Gryffin’s request makes Prae stiffen, and I look at her.
She shakes her head, incrementally. “We can’t trust him.”
The words are little more than a murmur, designed not to carry, and I nod, turning to face the prince—though it’s difficult to see him past the wall of my Guard.
“You’re a knight of Autumn. I’m sure your duties to?—”
“My aunt will release my oath.”
Cressida’s outraged indrawn breath assures me she has no such plan. “Gryffin?—”
“No. I did as you wanted. I’ve served you for centuries, and I’ve more than made up for what I did to you and my father. I won’t lose my mate out of guilt for a child’s actions.”
He did it. He withered Cressida’s legs. I suspected, but to hear it confirmed makes my heart sink. And his father? I know Cressida’s brother is dead, but I never knew…
Prae takes my hand and squeezes it. “Your soft heart is showing again, queenie.”
Cressida isn’t so easily moved as I am. “She won’t take you back even if I release you. Your mate is other. The bond doesn’t affect them like it does us.”
It’s my turn to squeeze Prae’s hand this time. “If you could trust him, would you want him to come with us?”
Prae cocks her head to one side as she considers it. “So he and Caed can compare grovelling notes? Could be entertaining.” She looks over her shoulder. “Do I get to stab you on a daily basis?”
“If you can manage to get a hit in this time.” Gryffin can’t quite keep the edge of relief out of his voice, and it’s there, fullforce, when he adds, “I’ll swear any oath you ask of me. Endure any hardship.”
