I felt myHerogift rise within me as I spoke. “Let Lady Ursa vouch for the truth of my words!” And whether it was my gift or the power alone in my voice, the hall hushed just a little. “Lady Silvermane, though it would pain both of us, I believe you would make a far better queen than Lady Merlin. I urge you to vote for yourself, bring stability and peace back to our torn nation!” With Tanuki abstaining, it fell only to Lady Silvermane to vote. If she voted for herself this would all be over. “I will submit to whatever punishment you deem necessary for my actions against your mother, the queen. Though it has been attested that I did not kill her. I believe that to be the work of the mistweaver, whom I have already dealt with. So, in a way I have already killed your mother’s killer.”
Something caught my eye then, it was subtle and only there for a moment, but I was certain I saw two quick emotions flash over Merlin’s face at my words. She’d seemed furious at the mention of my killing the mistweaver, then… oddly satisfied and relieved at the mention of the queen’s killer being brought to justice. Very odd indeed.
I addressed the hall next. “We have become a divided nation, at war with ourselves and our neighbors. We need to be united and strong. If that means the dissolution of my House, I am willing to do that. But I ask you to look around and ask yourselves. Would you be so willing? If it was for the best of our beloved Elista, would you give away your power and dissolve your House? If we are not willing to do that, then we have lost our way. We should be servants of the people, not despots addicted to power. So, punish me if you will, remove my House from the lists, but do so only in a nation that is united in peace and only when you have taken a long look at your own House!”
“Wise words,” Ursa said. Her words carried to all corners of the hall. She turned to Silvermane. “Lady? How do you vote?”
Silvermane looked pensive, sturdier than she had before, when she’d learned Horn had been lying to her, but still undecided.
“My Lady?” Dove stepped forward and all eyes turned to her. She was a picture of strength and beauty, in her silver armor, those blue eyes flashing with courage. In that moment I was certain no one in the hall would be able to look away from her. “I was once of your House, and would return, if you will have me. I fled because Lord Hale attacked me.” She looked briefly at the large man. He didn’t even try to deny it, glaring at Dove with lustful superiority on his face. He didn’t think his house would fall.
“This is truth,” Ursa said, resolute.
“Indeed,” Dove continued. “He got close to me, only to attack and try to kill my sister. It was that which drove her into hiding and also when she began to suspect there was rot within the Royal House. I will not say anymore as to whom I suspect is behind Lord Hale’s actions. I say only this: you, Lady Silvermane would make a far better replacement for your mother than any other here. I urge you to vote for yourself and end this madness.”
Lady Silvermane took a long look at Dove, nodding, then slowly looked around the room. “Indeed,” she said to herself, then drew herself up and spoke. “I vote for myse—”
Time seemed to slow. I saw Merlin raise her arms, then… two massive blades of mist formed in front of her outstretched hands. One was released, shooting toward Lady Silvermane, the second… headed for me.
I knew, from my encounter with her, that Lady Skyfire could move with incredible speed and she did so then, sprinting like a blur to block the blow meant for Silvermane. The massive mist-blade severed her left arm mid-bicep and bit deeply into the left side of her chest. Even with that sacrifice she didn’t block it fully and the blade took Silvermane low on her torso, throwing her back against the wall behind her, and pinning her there, blood gushing out of her from the hole in her abdomen.
My mind whirled with the realization that Merlin was a mistweaver, as I tried to throw myself out of the way of the mist-blade meant for me. I was too slow.
But then strong arms pushed me down. The blade only just clipped my right arm. But it hit my savior — Dove, my beloved sister — on the left side of her chest, spinning her around with a wild spray of blood as she screamed and fell to the floor, limp.
Time resumed.
The hall became a mess of chaos and action.
“Ant!” I screamed, though my voice didn’t seem to be making a dent in the uproar. “Come out. Save…” He was there, standing next to me, but words had stalled on my tongue. Dove was closer and probably not as badly injured as Silvermane. And if Silvermane was to be the next queen. Spirits, it was a horrible choice. I felt hot tears on my cheek as I said. “Silvermane. Save Silvermane!”
He nodded and was pushing through the chaos of Nobles, but too much was happening.
Merlin was floating on a cushion of mist, laughing maniacally, throwing more razor-sharp bolts of mist into the crowds of Nobles who had voted against her.
“Pits Below! She’s a mistweaver?” Silence said next to me, having come out of his avatar form. He was trying to help me up.
It seemed she was.
And suddenly I knew what one of those looks of hers had meant. I’d said I’d killed the queen’s killer, but I hadn’t. I was certain now… Merlin had been the one who’d cursed the queen.
Chapter 20
People were running,screaming, panicked. I wasn’t feeling that much better. My arm stung like some over-sized paper-cut, and was bleeding profusely. I clamped a hand full of spider-silk over the wound as Silence helped me up.
“I’m not the one that needs help, can you do anything for her?” I nodded to Dove, who had a very large pool of blood growing around her.
“I’ll do what I can,” Silence said. I was standing at least, so he left off helping me to kneel next to her.
I glanced around quickly and my eye caught Ahmaia’s, who had been headed for Alvere, but, seeing my desperate look, glanced at Dove and nodded. I wasn’t sure what she could do, but she hurried over and a moment later long strands of cloth were tightly binding the deep wound.
The hall was in chaos, Hale and the Nobles of Owl House were openly fighting other Nobles. Fang was on their side, despite being across the hall from them. The battle was hindering Ant from getting to Silvermane, but Horn and Skyfire were already at the woman. I didn’t know what they could do, and Skyfire herself was in bad shape, but they seemed to be trying to help her. So, I turned my attention to Merlin, still hovering high enough to be out of reach of anyone in the hall, laughing as she sowed destruction around her.
MyHerogift surged, and suddenly the pain in my arm wasn’t as intense. I hadn’t thought I’d be able to wield a weapon, but now…
Drawing my sword, I leapt, easily reaching her and slashing with my blade. I needed to end this now. I’d done what I’d come to do, expose Merlin for the villain she was… though now I could see how devastating that discovery had been for the others present. This was… as usual… my fault, and I needed to end it. I’d killed one mistweaver, so why not two?
With an easy laugh, Merlin waved a hand and a shield of mist blocked my blow. Then, that same shield, hard as steel, slammed into me, throwing me back, pressed to a wall, constricting around me. My chest was compressed, arms held tight at my side. Without my Fey armor, I was certain I’d have several broken ribs right now. As it was, it was just hard to catch my breath.
