“Thank you for coming to save us, Ysabel,” Donya said.
Ysabel winced. “It was a rather more violent rescue than I intended. And I was too late. If not for the body-swapping incident, you’d have already been executed by the Blood Duchess.” Her shoulders sagged. “I’m sorry. Bora is right—I have no right to criticize you for doing your best in a bad situation.”
“I’m impressed you got here so fast,” Donya said.
Kaine raised his hand. “I can teleport short distances. I obtained the ability by figuring out how to merge three of my minor abilities.”
“He’s gotten even more indestructible,” Alzira muttered in a dissatisfied voice.
“The ability still has some kinks to work out,” Ysabel said with one eyebrow raised.
It was then that I realized how cold it was in the cellar. I couldn’t figure out why the temperature had dropped several degrees. My sister glared at her husband. He looked at his feet.
Ysabel put her hands on her hips. “You claimed you could get us through the city walls without needing to blow them up.”
Kaine mumbled, “I did, dear.”
“And what’s currently at the South Gate?”
“A hole in the city wall, dear. I’m sorry, dear.”
“Not to mention the smoking ruins of the gardens I carefully constructed around the gates!”
“I’ll buy you new flowers and help you plant them, dear. I’m sorry, dear. I love you, dear.”
“Why do you insist on destroying my carefully constructed city walls every time you come here?” Ysabel threw up her hands. “I get it, plenty of local fools keep provoking you. I wouldn’t blame you one bit if you ravaged the city at this point. Burn down the palace and slaughter the inhabitants if you must, but my walls were innocent. The walls did nothing wrong.”
My drama queen sister must be joking. Still, I found this whole conversation bizarre. Anyone seeing the fear in Kaine’s eyes would have questioned who was the dark lord and who was the holy maiden. What was so important about some granite walls? But Donya muttered under her breath, “He damaged the walls again? He’s in so much trouble.”
I coughed. “I hate to interrupt this riveting conversation, but Ar—people will be worried about me. Since you sort of kidnapped me.”
Donya shot to her feet. “How long has it been? What time is it? Oh no! The Dwarven Caves sent word that their delegation will arrive by evening! We have barely any time left to prepare.”
“Why would the dwarves come here?” I asked. Dwarves were notoriously insular and rarely traveled outside of the World Games.
“They’re the second group King Uctor sold the kingdom to.”
“Oooo.” I nodded. “That sounds bad.”
“The Dwarven Caves, huh?” Ysabel steepled her fingers. “Now I wish I’d brought Ua’la’sur along. They’re terrified of her. Kaine’s teleportation could carry three people at most—but no matter. She already gave me certain inside information about the dwarven leadership. It will be my pleasure to help you out with this one.”
As my sister threw back her head and laughed evilly, I realized she’d definitely have been a better dark lord than her husband.
Chapter Fourteen
As soon as we marched up the stairs, Araceli stormed down the hallway. She wore the same black assassin outfit as the time she’d tried to kill me. All the running had left her face flushed and her hair disheveled. Rings covered all of her fingers. A glowing light from a golden band pointed at us. “Found you!” she cried. “If you’re one of the Twelve Avengers, too, this isn’t the real Blood Duchess—”
“It’s all right.” I stepped between them with my hands raised, hoping to stave off a fight. “Meet my sister, Ysabel. She came here to rescue me.”
Araceli lowered her hand. “She knows who you are now?”
“Yes.” I smiled to show the danger had passed.
“Ysabel, as in the Holy Maiden?” Araceli flushed. She dropped into a curtsey. “It’s an honor, Your Holiness.”
“A pleasure to meet you,” Ysabel said, inclining her head, “unless you’re here to assassinate my husband after trying to kill my sister?”
“No, my target is Duchess Hedri—therealduchess. I’m Araceli, Your Holiness.”
