“You did not answer my question,” I muttered as I prepared a clean bandage.
“Because I do not know what will happen.”
“Then let him stay here under your protection! Surely, as a king, you have that right…”
“Antenor will not stay here,” Oberon told me, rather sadly. “If he inherited only one thing from either of his fathers, it was pride. He will go home and face whatever Mariaat has in store for him, like a true prince and soldier is supposed to do.”
“It’s unconscionable,” I growled.
“It is, ultimately, his choice and not yours, Marina. You cannot even begin to understand what he has lost. In the Arden, wings are more of a decoration than anything else. Something that tells other folk who you are. In Antenor’s world, your wings are your strength. If you cannot fly, you cannot fight, and if you cannot fight, you are nothing at all.”
“Barbaric. As if people do not have anything else they can contribute to society.”
Oberon gave me a weary smile. “I shall count you among those who forget where Hippolyta and I came from.”
“But you two are different,” I said, finishing with the bandages and washing my hands in a pot of simmering water on the stove. “You left the Pallasian Court.”
“For reasons that had very little to do with the court itself,” Oberon said, then he changed tack and put his hands on my shoulders. “I am sorry, Marina, for any distress my absence has caused you these past few days. You were not the cause of it.”
“Titania?” I asked, raising an eyebrow at him. “She did not have to come, you know, but she sensed you were in danger. And she agreed to help with the Rot. When I’m ready, of course.”
If he was surprised, he hid it well. “I do not plan on subjecting you to that trial anytime soon. We must see to Antenor, and you must recover too, before we begin working with your magyk again.” I pursed my lips and went to answer a light knock on the door. It was Ceres, carrying a clay vase filled with wildflowers, along with a basket full of yarn.
“Thought I’d brighten up this dusty, old room,” she said firmly. “I’ve got knitting to do, so I’ll keep my eye on him while you two have your meeting.”
“What meeting?” I asked Oberon. He just beckoned and led me out onto the stairs.
“Whoever attacked Antenor is still at large. Hippolyta has her soldiers searching, and we are all on high alert for any other attempts, but there is only so much they can do. Besides, someone needs to continue his investigation, since that is likely the reason he was targeted.”
We came into the library and were greeted enthusiastically by Sir Toby, whose tail smacked hard against my legs. I knelt down to kiss his noses and when I straightened back up, I almost cried out in surprise. Devil was standing near the window, reading from a small, red book. Oberon was watching me, so I schooled my face into neutrality, but his smile was more indulgent than anything. I could not help but wonder how much he already knew.
“You called, my lord,” said Devil, snapping the book shut and sliding it back onto the shelf.
“Puck, you will be taking over Antenor’s investigation now.” Oberon unrolled a large, vellum map of the Arden onto a table and placed copper weights on its corners.
“If it please you, my lord,” said Devil, “I do not answer to that name anymore.”
Oberon lifted his head slowly and my heart began to thunder.
What are you doing, idiot?I mouthed at Devil.
“You do notanswerto the name I gave you?” Oberon asked.
Devil answered with a touch of frost in his voice. “You gave me nothing that was not already used by another. I might be your creation, but I am no longer your servant. I would have this choice for myself.”
Apparently speechless, Oberon’s retort, when it came, sounded annoyed rather than angry. “Let me guess…you wish to go by this other name? The one Marina has given you?”
“Yes, lord.”
I was thoroughly impressed with Devil’s ability to keep a straight face, when I was on the verge of cracking. When Oberon pinned me with a stare, I managed only a weak shrug.
“Sometimes, I think my greatest error was ever allowing the two of you to meet,” he sighed at last, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I do not care which name you use,Devil, so long as you obey when given instructions. Do you understand?”
“Of course, my lord,” Devil answered with a rather mocking salute. I slid into a chair, disguising my laughter as a cough, and earned another glare from Oberon, who quickly began to explain where Antenor’s investigation had left off. I listened as best I could, but I was still exhausted from the expense of so much magyk, and from lack of sleep.
“I think you need to go and lie down, Mayhem,” said a gentle voice beside me. I startled, having completely drifted off while staring out the window. Devil was crouched beside me now, holding Oberon’s map under one arm. But the faerie king himself was nowhere to be seen.
“Yes, I…I’m quite tired,” I mumbled. “Come on, Sir Toby.” The hound rose as I lifted myself from the chair, and pressed his body against me for support.
