She smirks, getting to her feet. “I wasverypopular at parties. Useful bit of magic, isn’t it? Of course, no one liked being the subject of one of my tapestries, but they certainly had a laugh when it was someone else.”
She read my mind—my desires—through her weaving. “Explain how it works,” I demand. “Thoroughly.”
She arches an elegant brow, fiddling with her weaver’s needle. “No, I don’t think I will. Suffice it to say that what you’re looking for isn’t here.”
“I gathered.”
Princesa Tamaya taps her index finger against her chin. “I’d bet all of my good health you don’t know what the Estrella actually is.”
“Oh, I know,” I say softly. “It’s a weapon. Don’t forget that I’ve seenthem.”
“And yet here you are, seeking the gem. Do you know who the ghosts are, Condesa?”
“No. What does it matter?”
“It matters because they’re Llacsan. Miners who were forced by your people to empty our mountain of its silver for four hundred years.” Her voice drops to a sorrowful whisper. “Men, women, andchildrendied to satisfy the greed of the Illustrians wanting to line their pockets with the precious metal. It’s their souls that are trapped inside the Estrella. It’s our people you want to use, Condesa. Just like your ancestors before you.”
The ground seems to vanish beneath my feet, my stomach plummeting as horror sinks its talons into me. No one told me. But what’s worse, I never thought to ask about the gem’s origins.
“The Estrella is actually the reason I’m in here,” she says almost nonchalantly. “I tried to steal it.”
My jaw drops. Whatever I was expecting, it absolutely wasn’t that. “You tried to steal the Estrella? ¿Por qué?”
Princesa Tamaya opens her mouth, but immediately stops. She tilts her head, her gaze narrowing, as if listening intently to something. I don’t hear anything, but that doesn’t stop her from marching to one of the covered windows. She must have done this before, because the wooden plank gives easily, swinging upward, allowing her to peer into the night.
“I thought I heard a shout,” she says. “Perhaps you ought to leave, Condesa.”
“What? No. I’m not leaving until you tell me about the Estrella.”
She looks over her shoulder at me. “I think you may be needed elsewhere. There are several prisoners in the dungeon who won’t live past tomorrow.”
She must be talking about the Llacsan journalists—the ones who faced Atoc and were forever maimed by the priest.
“And what?” I ask. “You want me to set them free?”
“Yes.” She steps forward and places a light hand on my arm. “There are also Illustrians down there. Atoc’s ordered their execution, Condesa.”
I swallow and look away. I couldn’t possibly risk saving them. If I were caught, my entire mission would be jeopardized. “How do you know about the captives?”
The realization comes at me swiftly, like an arrow cutting through the sky. One of her spies told her. Maybe even El Lobo himself. And she’s asking me to help him. Because his mission is to save everyone and their mamá también—except Ana, I think sourly and unfairly. He’s attempting a rescue.
“It’s your choice,” she says. “But either way, we’re done for the night. Fue un placer, Condesa.”
I’m thoroughly dismissed, but another question sits burning on my tongue. “Can’t you escape too? I can manage the lock …”
For all her openness, there’s something guarded about Princesa Tamaya, but looking at me now, her eyes wide and earnest, I feel her sincerity as if it were hands and arms I could touch. “That’s very kind, and I appreciate it.” Her voice drops to a determined whisper. “But I can’t run away from this. Iwillnot run away from my brother.”
“But—”
She retrieves my sword from beneath her cot, hands me my mask, and gently pushes me toward the door. “Remember, it’s your choice whether you help him or not. It’ll do wonderful things for your character.”
I wasn’t aware my character needed improving, but I let her push me out the door and onto the dark spiral staircase. My woolen ants go back inside the lock, and as it clamps shut once more, I’m unable to keep myself from feeling like I’m making a colossal mistake in not helping her escape.
CAPÍTULO
By the time I reach the last step, I’ve made my decision. El Lobo couldn’t rescue Ana, but he still fought to save the Illustrians captured with her. I couldn’t save Sofía or Ana, but here’s my chance to help. It’s risky, but I can’t let anyone else die if there’s even a chance I can rescue them. Who knows what else might be in store for the prisoners trapped under the castillo? Would Atoc submit them to Sajra’s ghoulish blood magic?
I creep through the gardens, ducking behind tall shrubbery in order to evade the patrolling guards. Running in a crouch, I sneak into the castillo using the side entrance. Thanks to Rumi, I have another way to the dungeons that doesn’t involve tiptoeing through the main corridors. The dungeon entrance is on the other side of the castillo foyer, down a short hallway, and through an iron door that leads to a long flight of descending steps.
