“I don’t know these halls. I got lost.” He shrugs. “What’s your excuse?”
I’m glaring so hard, I hope he bursts into flames. “You wouldn’t.”
His eyes are bright with the challenge. “I would.”
Damn him and everything he loves, because I’m freezing. Figures this would be the only time he chooses to tell the truth.
My nails dig half circles into my palms. “I hate you.”
“The feeling is mutual. Now answer me.”
“It was easy. I had Luc get the name and source of the aikkari participants, and I wrote them down. All I had to do was put it in your robes.”
“What about that spear? It fired at a civilian. Surely, you wouldn’t risk someone getting hurt?”
I make a show of rolling my eyes. “I paid an aikkari to make sure the spear didn’t hit anyone. I paid him double to keep quiet.”
Kaidren blinks slowly, mulling it over. “That’s it? But that was so . . . simple.”
“The best schemes are. Less to go wrong.”
He studies me for several seconds, before sighing and releasing me. “Fine. Your turn. What do you want to know?”
“What did they tell you about the second trial?”
He smirks. “Absolutely nothing.”
I’m shocked it’s the truth. “That was a wasted question.”
Kaidren looks impossibly smug. “Then ask another. I’ve got plenty lined up for you.”
I’m not playing any more of his games. Rather than answer, I shoot a scowl his way and resume my stoop to listen to the rest of the meeting.
“—handle getting someone to zone the crest of the mountain in advance. We don’t have much time, so we need to work quickly.”
There are murmurs of assent from the rest of the committee.
Virdei spans most of Mount Saidu, and Widow’s Hall sits just below the crest—that final steep slope before the peak.
The crest is dangerous. A barren wasteland of treacherouswinds and steep drop-offs, and it’s streaked with ribbons of ice. If the next trial takes place up there, Luc will be inwayout of his depth. We both will.
I keep watch over the hole in the floor for the next several minutes, listening to every word spoken, but they don’t drop any more hints. By the end, all I know is that Luc and Kaidren will be at the crest for the next trial, and I have no idea what they’ll be asked to do.
Ihatebeing caught unprepared. Not knowing will eat away at me, all the way up until the trial. Kaidren, on the other hand, is grinning. “I can’twaitto watch you lose. I suppose I’ll see you at the next trial. Unless . . .” He tilts his head to the side, feigning confusion. “Will I see you at tomorrow’s council meeting?” Then his eyes widen, as though making a realization. “Oh. Wait. I forgot. Only Honorate allowed. What’s your role here, again? Pawn for your brother? What a shame.”
My eyes narrow. Is he merely taunting me, or hinting at something more? The imposter Shadow Queen ordered Sixmen to resign from the Honorate at the next council meeting—tomorrow. Is Kaidren smug because of the second trial, or smug because he knows what’s to come?
There are so many things I want to ask, but with a smirk that makes my skin crawl, he leaves without answering any of them.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
SECRETS OF A POWERLESS MAN
It is so rare to see scum remove itself. Yet just today, Former Honorate Selva Sixmen formally resigned from his position, leaving one question on everyone’s mind: Why?
I have heard the whispers. Some claim Selva was merely growing old. Others speculate that perhaps the former Honorate is sick. This Queen of Shadows has her ear and nose to the floor, and she smells something far more devious—a scandal. What secrets is Former Honorate Sixmen trying to hide with his abrupt exit from the council? I suspect time will reveal all. As will I.
In the meantime, congratulations are in order for all of this Great Republic. Selva Sixmen’s replacement leaves nothing to be desired. Flynn Sixmen is a decurio who needs no introduction. Whatever the reason for Selva’s departure, I think we can all agree his successor more than makes up for it.
