“Right in the very streets of this great city!” Hale said, voice raised in rage. “The used some fire magic to incinerate her where she stood! It was horrible to see.”
Wow, that was — at the same time — so very far from the truth but vaguely believable.
“It must have been. I’m so sorry you had to witness that, and I’m sorry that we have all lost such a great woman.” Ursa went on to say, “But surely, Lady Merlin, you will abide by the Council of Nobles when they meet to select a new Royal. They haven’t selected you yet.”
“They most certainly will.” Hale’s voice was low, lethal, threatening, but also with a hint of glee.
“Indeed,” Ursa said, and nothing more on that topic.
Sparrow was just a bit shaken. The implication that the Council of Nobles would be so easily swayed to select Merlin was preposterous. There were many other more experienced leaders. Skyfire was the most likely candidate, and even Silvermane — the previous queen’s daughter — could have a shot at the throne.
A new voice joined the conversation. It was a powerful alto, a woman’s voice, commanding and sure, but with just a hint of something Sparrow couldn’t place, something just a little bit… off. “Check her for any True-Bonded avatars,” the voice commanded.
“As you wish, My Queen,” Hale said, indicating the previous speaker had been Merlin herself.
Heavy footfalls echoed in the chamber, growing louder, closer: Hale was coming.
This was the true test of how well Ahmaia’s hidden pocket would work. They hadn’t been sure if Hale could sense Lumani in addition to his other powers, but if so, and he sensed Sparrow and the presence of her Lumani: Ahena, this would all be over soon.
Sparrow’s heart thundered in her chest. She clenched her eyes shut, not that it would do her any good in the event of discovery, but she needed to do something. She needed to be able to move some part of her, have some agency over what was happening, and shutting her eyes was virtually the only things she could do.
Ahmaia said: “I recall Hale from the day of the queen’s speech a large and powerful man. Does he scare you that much?”
Short answer: yes. Sparrow was well trained in a style of fighting which made her small size a strength, not a weakness, but she had never been comfortable in a true fight. She might be able to defeat Hale, she’d bested Ant a few times in her practices, but not every time, not by a longshot. If a large man could simply grapple her, pin her arms and keep her off the ground, all she could do then was flail her legs and hope to hit something vital. Also, with Hale’s powers, she’d not be able to veer into her avatar form to escape.
Sparrow tried to calm her rapid breathing, taking long deep breaths before she replied. “I’ll do what I must, if I must,” she breathed; she couldn’t help but keep her voice low. Ahmaia had said no one outside the pouch would hear them, but still…
Moments passed with no word or sound other than shuffling feet. Sparrow couldn’t help but feel like any moment she’d be discovered and then…
“No, there are no other True-Bonded here,” Hale said, almost sounding a bit disappointed. “They’d have reverted to their true form by now. She is alone.”
Sparrow was just a bit surprised to hear Ahmaia’s sigh of relief accompanying her own. Sparrow allowed herself to begin breathing normally again, eyes open. They’d made it past the test.
“Come forward,” Merlin said, cold and commanding.
There came several sets of echoing footfalls, the sounds mixing, making it hard to determine exactly who was moving. Ahmaia said: “Hale follows behind us closely.”
Sparrow nodded her thanks for that clarification.
“Why have you come?” Merlin said, suspicion plainly evident in the woman’s voice.
Ursa responded, sure and confident. “I was concerned for those of my house going to the front. I wished to go myself and see what was happening there.”
“Oh?” Merlin cut in quickly.
“Yes, My Queen, I took a fast carriage to the front.” Ursa sighed heavily. “I was discouraged to hear of the loss of the Nobles there. I surveyed the front and… I must admit I was a bit surprised. What I saw did not match with what I’d been hearing about the war. Both sides are dug in and the Vauphan forces do not seem that extensive. So, I tracked down one of the few Nobles of House Panther. He said the previous orders had come from Lord War himself, who’d been there recently, but was now missing. I… I just want to know more about what my men are walking into. Something doesn’t feel right.”
“You dare question the queen!” Hale’s voice was vicious.
“Unhand me!” Ursa’s voice was equally as hard. There was some movement, as the pouch bounced a little, and Sparrow could hear grunts, then a hard thump and gasp.
Ahmaia gave a low chuckle. “I think Ursa just put Hale in his place.”
Good. Sparrow would have loved to have seen that.
“Hale, calm yourself. We should not assault our Nobles. Ursa, if you wouldn’t mind releasing him?”
“Yes, My Queen.” More rustling of clothes.
