“Why not through the Scar?” Aoi asked.
“Because Niniane’s army holds it,” Roran answered. “There are dangerous explosives planted on the east side, and we certainly didn’t want to risk that, or the Stronghold. We all had doubts about the prisoner being held there, anyway.”
“She would most likely escape that hell as soon as she could,” Aiko said.
The look that Reo shot his son should have killed him. Belshazzar chuckled. I just rolled my eyes.
“That’s what we’re trying to find out,” I said. “Where she would have gone if she left the Stronghold. That’s our goal. We believe she or some of her soldiers kidnapped our friend.”
Silverware rattled down to plates as there was an astonished gasp in the room.
Aoi stared at me. “You’re goingafterNiniane?”
“Yes, your grace,” I answered. “We need to find our friend and get her back to her people. She’s more than important there, and it’s critical—”
“You can’t face the mad queen,” Yuuto said. “She’ll kill you. She’ll rip your face from your skull.”
“I survived her,” Aiko said, folding his hands. “She’s mad, yes. Absolutely. But madness breeds a certainty that does not exist, and we need to bring her down. We need to bring Gwen home.”
“Gwen?” Reo asked. “Is that who you seek?”
“My woman,” Belshazzar said.
“So you help a man none of us know to find his female, and you ask us for such information, but you chose tojoinSavion when I asked you to do the same for your sister.”
The room turned to ice. Penetrating, deep, overwhelming ice.
Aiko stared down at his hands. “Father, may we not discuss this here?”
“But you can ask me for help in such a forum?”
“I’m asking for the help,” Belshazzar growled.
Ignoring both the king and his own son, Reo stated, “I had hoped that you perhaps would have seen what was really going on and helped your sister out of her situation.”
Aiko lifted his head. “I had no interest. I was well off, well respected, and powerful there. Not just the second, disappointing child of the town elder. Why would I turn down that life?”
“And you are still disappointing,” Reo said.
“Oh, shit,” Belshazzar mumbled.
I totally agreed.
“Father, not here,” Aiko said.
“Why not here? You come here withdruidsand foreigners and ask my help. Why wouldn’t I want to air our grievances?”
Suri laid a hand on her husband’s arm. “Reo, please. This isn’t the place.”
“I will not be made to look the fool in my own city.”
Aiko sat up straight, and I saw his eyes go hard, red. I put a hand to my mouth and debated for a heartbeat if I should dissuade him. But I was also fairly convinced that they had already made up their minds not to help us. So I said nothing.
Aiko stared at his father for a long moment, then spoke. I was sure Reo would never be the same after the words that followed.
“Kumi and I shared our quarters when Savion didn't bed her. She was delighted that you weren’t there to yell at her for being imperfect.
“She was happy to lie down for Savion’s pleasure. Because he didn’t nitpick her hair or her face, he didn’t make comments about the size of her waist or the inadequacy of her bosom. He never criticized her education or what she liked to read.
