Skyfire grunted. “Yeah, I suppose it would. So, if a queen is chosen for Elista you’ll marry her, and if not, your kids and the chosen king’s kids will hook up?”
“That is the plan, yes.” Alvere was calm now, though I caught his furtive glances in my direction.
“He’s in love with Legs,” Drake said behind me.
How in The Pits did he know these things? Did he have a spirit-gift like Ursa’s?
“Really? The traitor? I heard she went over to your side. Now I know why.”
Alvere sighed. “I do love her, but I’ll do what I must for my country.” He spoke up a little more. “And while we’re on the topic, one of the reasons why I love her is that she saved my life from a mistweaver who killed my father and mother, the king and queen.” He then stared directly at Drake when he said: “Is that a lie?”
Skyfire looked at Drake.
I couldn’t see the man who was holding me, so I waited, curious what was taking him so long to answer.
“I do not believe you are lying, no. But something about this whole meeting is out of place.” He paused for a moment. “You, the woman behind Ursa, you’re Lady Dove are you not, Legs’ sister, lost from Lady Silvermane’s House?”
Spirits this man was keen. He seemed to know everything.
“Truly?” Skyfire turned and looked at Dove. “Is that who you are?”
“Yes,” Dove said with a bow. “We just came from Silvermane. Trying to tell her what we’re telling you, that Legs isn’t a traitor. We believe Merlin to be the one who is destroying our country.”
“She is earnest,” Drake said.
“Well Bloody Pits!” Skyfire leaned back again. “Who do I believe?”
“Lady,” Drake said firmly, and I felt the dagger at my throat pull away a little. “I believe them to be honest. I do not think Legs will harm us, nor any of the rest of them, and… my apologies for not mentioning it sooner, but I fear Lady Merlin is quite insane. I have not seen her enough to know for certain. She hides it well, but I’ve suspected for some time.”
“And you didn’t tell me because…?”
“I wanted to be sure.”
“That ourqueenis off her rocker? I think we could have gone with a hunch on that one.” She threw up her arms. “Fine! Let her go.”
Drake removed the dagger and used it to cut my bonds.
“Thank you,” I said to him, kindly and polite. He nodded to me. It was only then, as his pale brown eyes met mine, that I saw how keenly he looked at me. Was that his gift? He could “see” things? His eyes did seem to take in everything, keen and alert.
“So, you think Merlin is the traitor? What has she done?” Skyfire asked.
So… we explained everything we knew. About the mistweaver and the war and Ursa’s meeting with Merlin… and the Mists.
Then we stood back and waited.
“You sure these aren’t the crazy ones?” she asked Drake.
“I see no betrayal, even if their words are hard to believe.”
Ha! So, itwassomething with his sight!
“Well, Pits!” Skyfire said. “Isn’t this just fantastic!” She rose and began pacing. I was a bit giddy to see that. I also paced! We were so alike!
She’s a bit erratic, and you’re not. You may have some similarities, but you are also very different. I like you a lot better.
You would say that, you’re my Lumani. You’re stuck with me… also, thanks.
“You’ve all given me a lot to think about,” she said, not looking at us. “I’m assuming I’ll see you again at the Council of Nobles?”
