My heart is like ice, but the sensation keeps me focused.
“No,” I whisper. “You live atmymercy.”
Chapter14
The Queen’s smile falls away. Her fingers twitch and the air around her suddenly heats. It’s a soft heat, far too gentle to combat the freezing cold filling my veins.
When she lifts her hands, the fae at the tables behind me all draw back so quickly that their chairs scrape, but I’m not sure if it’s in reaction to her or me.
Farther to my left, Elowynn draws her weapon, a finely crafted sword that she peels off her armor. If she’s the Queen’s protector, I’m sure she’ll know how to use it.
I plot my path between her and the Queen while I remain conscious of the fae at my back and hope that Gallium and Thaden will stay out of my way.
Not so, it seems.
Before I can make a move, Thaden sidesteps me and places himself firmly between me and the Queen. His right hand is extended toward me, the scales that keep him safe gleaming in the light, while his left hand is held, palm up, toward the Queen.
“Stop,” he says, and I’m not sure if he’s speaking to me or to her until he continues. “Queen Karasi, you’ve granted us amnesty?—”
“Which Asha Silverspun is on the verge of violating,” she snaps.
He shakes his head. “If you will allow Asha to speak with her sister, I’m sure this can be resolved without igniting a war between fae and Blacksmiths.”
“There isalreadya war between fae and Blacksmiths!” the Queen snarls. “It began thirty years ago and continues to this day.”
I’m thrown by her declaration. Thirty years ago, Malak rose to power. I’m not sure what could have happened with the fae at that time.
If Thaden is confused or uncertain, he doesn’t show it. “Whatever grievances you may have, they aren’t againsttheseBlacksmiths,” he says. “They are innocent of any past history with the fae, whatever it may be. So again, with respect, I would ask that you honor the amnesty you’ve granted.”
The Queen’s shoulders are tense and the friction in the air rises, but then she exhales. “Hmph.”
The glimmers of heat disappear from around her fingers and she lifts her chin. “Asha Silverspun may speak with her sister.” She raises her hand, one finger held upward as if to make a point. “Then I will have my story.”
“Agreed,” Thaden says before he turns to me. “In fact, I think we will all need to hear it.”
The Queen is already stepping aside, her expression once again serene, such a complete mask that I would never guess she’d been on the verge of fighting me.
She waves her hand at Tamra. “Come, dear. Your sister wishes to speak with you.”
Tamra stands and moves from her seat. She’s still wearing the pants and long-sleeved tunic I last saw her in, although there are mud stains on her knees.
Her footsteps are slow and her features are pale and drawn, unlike moments before.
She approaches so cautiously that it draws confusion within me. I’m not sure exactly why she seems so reluctant to move toward me now. She can surely see that those standing near me aren’t harmed by my power.
In fact, I’m not sure why she didn’t hurry across the room earlier, no matter what the Queen said about my ‘darkness.’ What I recently learned about my sister is that she will bend, or even break, the rules when she feels in her heart that it’s the right thing to do.
For a horrible moment, I consider that maybe the Queen has some other leverage over my family that I’m not yet aware of and of which they might not be able to tell me. Thaden looked relieved to see me and he told me to prepare for a game…
Or maybe it’s simply because the Vandawolf is covered in malicious black metal and Tamra doesn’t yet realize that I can remove it before she touches him. Malak’s anvil was made from this same metal and it was upon that anvil that he siphoned Tamra’s power when she was little. It’s a trauma I don’t think she’s ever forgotten.
My heart hurts as I wonder if seeing the Vandawolf like this is triggering memories for her.
While the Queen retreats to stand beside Elowynn, who watches us carefully, Tamra finally comes to a stop a few paces away from me.
“I know what you’re going to ask,” she says quietly to me. “You want me to help him.”
I hurry to reassure her. “I used a medallion to stop the bleeding, but I can pull it away from him so you won’t be hurt. I just need you to be ready to heal him before he loses any more blood. Will you trust me? Can you try?”
