It’s easy to find Zarev and follow in their wake. Neve’s aware she can’t speak when we’re in the shadows, so I’m not sure why she chose to travel with him, except to get under my skin. I’m trying to be a nice guy and give her body a break, especially if we still plan to get into the palace.
Zarev shoots me another wink as we hop, doing his best to annoy me. At least the trip is shorter in the shadows than walking, and in no time at all, we’re back at the outer gates of the kingdom.
We drop collectively behind a bank of snow, staring ahead. Odette stuffs herself between me and Zarev to hide from the wind, but I don’t focus on her.
Where the towers of the palace once rose, there’s now an oversized banner hanging across the rubble. It’s bright red, like a river of blood cascading down the side of the broken wall. There’s an emblem across the front, a heart surrounded by a crown of bones.
“The Mad Queen’s coat of arms,” Odette gasps, looking between the red banner and the green beside it. “And… Camelot.”
“They’re a united front,” Zarev agrees, and I shoot him a look over Odette’s head. “In Tressa, the Mad Queen seemed tohave forged some sort of alliance with Camelot. But I only ever saw Arthur and met Morgan later. I didn’t know the other man.”
“Lancelot,” I supply.
“Right. I haven’t heard of him,” Zarev continues. “Most of what I knew about Camelot until recently related to Arthur.”
“They shouldn’t be allies,” I agree. “Thornton stands between the lands. Have you heard from Lucius lately?”
“He didn’t report anything amiss last we spoke.”
“Where is Thornton?” Neve asks from Zarev’s other side, interrupting us. She’s wrapped her arms around her middle, wincing, and I frown as I watch her. This much movement might be too much for her body right now.
“You don’t know where Thornton is?” Odette asks, surprised. “It’s the land that divides Camelot from Wonderland and the Mad Court. It was ruled by the Lord and Lady of Thornton Palace and is now survived by their son, Lucius. He’s a friend of theirs, and about the only Reaper I have yet to meet.”
Neve gives each of us a curious look, and I almost wish Odette hadn’t shared that much. She already has a lot to process. “There was no Thornton on the map last I knew. Camelot and the Court of Cards shared a border. Wonderland was where the wildlife roamed. I saw an updated one, but I mostly focused on the Frostlands since I woke. I should like to study a new map soon and become familiar with the lands again. Maybe I can find an up-to-date one in the library that’s travel size.”
The three of us stay quiet, staring at Neve as she rattles off the facts like it’s common knowledge. Zarev turns to me with a frown. “You never told me any of that.”
“I didn’t know that,” I reply. “Maps weren’t common when I was a kid. I wasn’t going to travel, so what good were they to me?”
Neve winces behind his shoulder, and I know she’s thinking of what I shared about my past. Instead ofcommenting, she turns and looks back toward her kingdom again. “In my dreamscape, Davina–”
“Who?” Odette interrupts.
“That’s the Mad Queen’s name,” I grumble.
“Right. TheMad Queenand Lancelot reboarded the ship they arrived on. Why would they leave behind the banners?”
“Davina saw us,” I point out, nodding to Zarev. “Seeing me would be one thing, but Zarev doesn’t come up this way. I don’t know if Queenie will recall, but she did see you when we were beneath the lake, Odette.”
“She could be worried about what that means,” Odette agrees, shrugging beneath all the layers she’s wearing. “But would she care? She thrives on chaos. If we’re trying to band together, doesn’t that give the impression we’re worried she’s winning?”
“She is winning,” Zarev grumbles tiredly. “We have to find a way to cut her off before she can do more damage.”
“First we need to get to the palace,” Neve replies, folding her arms over her chest. “I need new clothes, and Odette too. My dresses won’t keep you warm, but I’m sure we have some uniforms that are fur-lined and will do the job. It’ll be easier for you to move in too.”
Odette throws up her hands, the sleeve of the tunic Zarev gave her covering her hands. “Thank the Gods. I can’t get anything done this way.”
“Assuming there are troops,” Neve goes on, her brows drawing together, “we should keep to the shadows. Go to my room first and make a stop in one of the servants’ quarters for Odette, maybe the kitchens for supplies. I want to see the damage on the streets and ensure there aren’t survivors suffering down there. If we don’t see any soldiers, we can move even faster. But food and clothing first.”
“And then?” I ask.
“Then,” she agrees, lifting her chin to match my stare, “we go to the library. It will have more resources than my father’s old study. It should have records of some of the things that don’t make sense, like a map for instance. We can make a plan. Perhaps there will be something on Davina as well.”
“Why would the Mad Queen be in your records?” Zarev asks with a frown.
“Because,” Neve says, gripping his arm before she points to the kingdom, intent on going back, “she was once my mother’s best friend.”
~~~
