Sember looks at us both and shrugs. ‘Because, somehow, I have to keep His Majesty here alive, and you’re the only two contenders who I think can help me with that.’
‘How so?’ Kell asks.
‘Rumour has it neither of you entered the Trials of your own free will,’ she says quietly. ‘And you’re, shall we say, a bit different?’
I cross my arms, matching her stance, and watch her closely.
Sember sighs, casting her eyes to the ceiling. ‘Look, we need allies and we want to team up with you.’
‘What about the final Trial?’ I ask, not giving an inch just yet. ‘What about winning? Because, if you’ve heard a rumour about us, you should also know that I have a vested interest in victory that has nothing to do with status or glory. I couldn’t care less about Arnhem’s standing in the continent, or the trade deals and advantages the ruling council would garner from us winning.’
‘We’re aware,’ Heath drawls. I look at him, and his expression softens under my gaze, the haughty air dropping away. ‘We might be able to help with what you are interested in.’
‘We haven’t located your friend yet, but if she were to disappear unexpectedly …’ Sember chips in.
‘Disappear out of the reach of the watch and the ruling council?’ I ask quickly, raising an eyebrow.
Sember nods. ‘Exactly. Safely, unharmed, all in one piece with not a single gorgeous red hair out of place.’ She glances at Heath. ‘I must say, I rather think I could pull off being a redhead …’
‘Stick to the point,’ Kell says.
‘We want you to work with us, to help us win this thing for Skylan so that Heath’s father has no reason to shunt Heath off to marry some hideous person in another court to form an alliance to benefit Skylan. If Skylan prospers, Heath will be left alone to study creatures and their magic to his heart’s content, far away from the courts and his father’s schemes. And, in return for your help, we will ensure you survive, and escape. Including Agnes. All three of you,’ Sember says impatiently. ‘Well? Do we have a deal?’
Something niggles at me about what they’re offering, and as I regard Sember I note the edge of desperation in her eyes. There’s something they’re omitting – I’m sure of it. But right now, with Agnes’s life on the line, I’ll take any deal that secures her safety. I look to Kell and raise my chin. He nods briefly, gaze slidingto Heath. ‘As long as the spare here doesn’t need too much babysitting.’
Before Heath can explode in indignation, I thrust my hand out to Sember. ‘Deal.’
We return to the grand ball, careful not to be seen with Sember again, and glean every detail we can. By midnight, we have a list of names of all the other contenders. And when, the next day, we’re taken to the same disused, dusty hall where we trained the day before, Hira is waiting for us, arms folded and sour-faced. I glance at Kell and he nods in agreement. If we’re going to survive this and ensure that our end of the deal with the Skylan contenders holds up, we need Hira on our side. We need all the allies we can get, because, once we break out of this court with Agnes, there’s no guarantee that Sember and Heath can get us beyond the city unnoticed. Not with all the witch wards. Which is where Hira comes in.
‘There’s something you should know,’ I say, as soon as the guards leave us.
Hira sighs heavily, as though she’d rather be anywhere but with the two of us. ‘This should be good.’
I plough on, ignoring her tone. ‘The night I was captured, I overheard something. A conversation between Captain Spencer Leggan and one of the ruling council.’
Hira’s eyes narrow, pinned to mine. ‘Go on.’
‘Before she tells you, we want something in return,’ Kell pipes up. ‘A favour for a favour.’
‘You dare to bargain with me, boy?’
I shrug neutrally. ‘Call it that if you like, but, so far, you’ve done very little to prepare us for the first Trial, and that is quite literally yourentireassignment. Isn’t it best you have some leverage in case this all goes wrong for you?’
She snorts. ‘You’re really going about this the wrong way. When someone wants a favour, usually—’
‘The ruling council are planning to declare a new law,’ I blurt out. ‘It’ll affect you and your coven. It’ll affect every witch in Arnhem.’
‘Or we can do it that way …’ Kell mutters.
Hira blinks quickly, her arms dropping to her sides. ‘What kind oflaw?’
‘First, the favour,’ I counter, thrusting up my chin. ‘I need you to deliver two messages. One to the woman Kell worked for at the Inn Melusine on the Isle of Egan, and one to Caden Tresillian. On the Isle of Ennor.’
Silence hangs thick in the air between us.
‘Perhaps you should let me do the talking next time?’ Kell says out of the corner of his mouth.
‘No,’ Hira says, looking at him, then at me. ‘Better to cut straight to the heart of it.’
