Long seconds tick by before Chandra speaks. “What if the signal hasn’t been blocked?”
“If he has her, then it will be blocked. We’ve tried to find the camp for eons and failed. You will be clear to claim the throne at the equinox. And we both know that he won’t hurt her. He needs her alive so he can use her to make demands of us. We’ll make sure to consider them long enough for you to take the throne.”
My heart pounds my ribs as I wait for Chandra to respond.
“Indeed,” he says finally. Fire flares in my chest. That low-down, dirty, fecking?—
“And what if he uses…other methods to bypass the wards around the royal domain?”
“We have considered this possibility,” Rajni says. “But the creation of such a union would require consent. Consent that cannot be obtained by coercion. Consent that is pure and soul deep.”
What are they talking about?
“Did you know?” Chandra asks Rajni.
“Did I know what?”
“That the devouring force was in that location? My inquiries said the area was clear, but…”
“Does it matter, Chandra? We have what we wanted. A clear path. The reins in our grasp once more as it should be. You will make a good king with the Authority at your back to steer you. All will be well.”
“We’ll have to be seen to be making an effort, though.”
“Of course. Search parties in the area and the like.” Rajni sounds almost bored now.
The voices grow fainter as they move away.
“You’ll arrange everything?” Rajni asks.
“I will.”
I peer around the doorframe and across the sitting room to where Chandra is walking the other man out the door. They both leave.
What do I do?
Do I confront him? No…If he knows that I know of his duplicity, then he might lock me away. Best to play the part of ignorant anchor. They ain’t gonna look for her, so I’m gonna have to find a way to do it meself.
Information is key. I need to find out what this primordial evil thing is. Aserathiin’s words come back to me now.
Little one, you have much to learn. But you will. In the royal domain. In the Vidya tower. The knowledge you need will be found deep beneath. All you need do is ask and they shall speak.
She’d known. Somehow Madame Spider had known. And now I know what I need to do.
I hurry back to the chaise and lie down on my cushion to wait for Chandra’s return. If I’m gonna save Leela, I’ll ’ave to play the role of me life.
A shadow falls over me,and I groan and open my eyes, looking up into Chandra’s deceitful, bastard face.
“Ah, there you are,” he says with a soft smile. “You fainted when you heard the news about Leela. I had a meeting, so I brought you with me. I wanted to make sure you were all right.”
I bolt up into a sitting position. “What happened to her? Where is she?”
“Her party was attacked by the devouring force not far from the mountain where they were headed. She gave herself up to save everyone else.”
Course she fecking did. “So we go get her back, right?”
He nods slowly. “We’re working on it.”
“How? What are you doin’?”
