“You think you’re the only one here who’s lost something? Who’s been hurt? People don’t come to the court by choice. They come here because they have nowhere else to turn, because the world of order and justice failed them. They come here because these dark halls are the only place they can fit in anymore or have any hope of settling their scores.”
“Enough, Rebec.” Deneya sighed. She looked to Eira with a softer, but not entirely kind stare. “People know things as they need to know them here. The more people who know secrets—pieces to a whole truth—the easier it becomes for that truth to come out.”
“But—”
“Follow our orders and you’ll do fine,” Lorn said. “We’ll send them through Ducot. He’ll be your contact through the lead-up to and during the tournament.”
“I’m to have another caretaker?” Eira arched her eyebrows, glancing back at Ducot. He had the makings of a smug smirk she didn’t appreciate.
“Think of me more as messenger and assassin. Which you get is up to how you act,” Ducot said.
“Fine, I understand.” Eira eased away from the table. Trying to force her way into this group wasn’t going to work to her benefit. For all she wanted to lead the hunt for Ferro, she was getting nowhere pressing the matter.
“Good, we should get you back before the dinner wraps up,” Deneya said.
“You didn’t answer my question.” Eira met Deneya’s eyes. “Have there been any leads on Ferro?” Rebec looked like she was ready to explode when Eira insisted on asking again.
Deneya shook her head slowly. “Not yet. But we will find something soon.”
Eira could only nod. Ferro had slipped their grasp. Her brother’s killer was still on the loose. And possible accomplices were a large void, lacking information.
“And theStormfrost?” Eira asked.
“Also unknown. Our last report had placed Adela off the northern coast, by the Empire of Carasovia. But it’s been some time since she was last sighted, and theStormfrostis a fast ship.”
“Right.” So Ferroandpirates were at play and unaccounted for. Eira bit back remarking on how good the Court of Shadows could actually be if they lost track of a whole ship.
“Come on, let’s go.” Ducot started for the door.
“Thank you for allowing me to be here.” Eira gave a dip of her chin.
“Thank us by proving your worth,” Lorn said ominously.
“We’ll be in touch soon. Be ready.” Deneya looked back to the dagger, turning it over in her hands as Eira followed Ducot out the door.
Just before the door closed, she heard Rebec say, “You’re right, her likeness with Adela is uncanny. We’ll need to watch…”
The door to the Specters’ war room shut on the dark currents churning white, icy foam within Eira. People here knew what Adela looked like. She wondered how many of the other members of the Court of Shadows saw Adela in her. How many held on tighter to their weapons because of it? How many feared her just for a similarity in appearance?
Adela might be her mother. She might not be. Frost coated Eira’s fingertips. If the similarities struck fear in her enemies and allies alike, then Eira would leverage it with reckless abandon regardless of the truth of her parentage.
She would do anything and stop at nothing until Ferro paid for what he’d done.
5
“Ihave to ask, is it true?” Ducot closed the main door to the court behind them, locking it with a pulse of magic and his iron key.
“Is what true?”
“Are you really Adela’s daughter?”
“I don’t know,” Eira answered honestly. She was still figuring out how close Ducot was to the Specters and where he stood in the court. He was of high enough rank that Deneya didn’t immediately send him away during their discussions in the war room. But that could have more to do with him now being Eira’s keeper. “Obviously people think I look like her.”
“I wouldn’t know.” Ducot grinned in his lopsided way.
“Right, sorry.” Eira glanced askance, avoiding his milky eyes.
“I don’t know because I’ve never met Adela. What, did you think I didn’t know because I’m blind?” He grinned as wide as the scars on his face would allow.
