Well then?
I’m just trying to temper your expectations.
Consider them tempered.
“I think the best outcome we can expect is that with so many Houses voting against her, Merlin gets angry and exposes her true nature. That might sway things further in our favor.”
If she is truly mad that may not be too hard. So, that plan may actually work.
Thank you.
I turned to Alvere. “Well, what do you think?”
He sighed. “I think I still love you and I’m still going to have to marry another and that breaks my heart.”
It broke mine too.
But that was a battle for another day.
I went and embraced him and felt his strong arms around me. “We’ll figure something out,” I said.
Alvere said nothing, just held me all the tighter.
Chapter 14
My plan hada lot of moving parts, and we were using Fin a lot. First Alvere went home to the capital of Vauphan and drafted his letter to Merlin. He was delayed there longer than expected as several matters of state had to be addressed, and in the meantime, Ursa and I went to see Lord War in his makeshift prison behind the Vauphani battle lines up north.
“I won’t tell you anything, you filthy bitch!” War spat at me, before turning back into a wasp and buzzing angrily around his enclosure, pushing against the fine mesh netting which had been put in place around the dual cage. Eorthan, the metal wielding Fey had outdone himself on this structure, an internal cage with fine, yet strong bars in a lattice which had square holes no larger than a couple inches across. No part of Lord War could reach through gaps that small except his fingers. Then there was a second, outer cage — perhaps six inches out from the first — of the same material and lattice, and around that was the mesh netting. If War changed into his avatar and slipped through the inner cage he’d be stopped by the netting, but if he tried to return to himself in the space between cages, he’d not have enough room to do anything, squished and probably barely able to breathe, given his thick chest and that narrow space. So he’d not be able to rip a hole in the netting to escape through.
“You don’t have to say anything to me,” I said with a grin, “But the Nobles will want to hear your side of the story when we choose a new monarch, I think. So, we’re taking you with us. As a peace offering.”
He transformed back and smiled, a devilish thing. “Oh?” I could see the gears turning in his head. If we let him out, he could escape, and even if he didn’t, we were taking him back to his mad master, she’d free him.
I moved away from the cage with Ursa.
“He radiates deceit,” she whispered. “Even without my abilities, I’d probably be able to tell when he was lying. I can see how you intend to use him, but how will you keep him in line and restrained for that long?”
I grinned. “Follow me.”
We went to another section of the camp, to Eorthan’s forge. I recalled when Alvere gave me my unique Fey armor, which I was currently wearing. I ran my hands over the moving metal and smiled.
“How’s it going?” I asked Eorthan.
The small man shrugged. “I don’t have willing subjects to test them on, so I’m glad you’re here. There are three sets over there, I’m hoping one of them works.” He pointed to the side table. Ursa and I looked to see three sets of manacles.
“I’ll try them on!” I said excited.
Ursa looked at me. “You want to be chained up?”
I laughed. “I want to make sure these will work. Eorthan has been using Fey magic to see if he can make manacles that can stop a True-Bonded from veering into their avatar.”
“That’s horrible!” Ursa gasped.
I have to agree,Auwei said, disturbed.They may also cut off our connection.
I guess we’ll see. Sorry if they do, but this is necessary.
I know, but I don’t have to like it.
