A gray-haired palace guard takes the cards and brings them on a gold tray to Quilimar. She reads the notes and frowns. “I suppose you were correct, Mikail. Although I could’ve done with more warning than this.”
“It was a bit of a challenge booking an appointment to see you,” I say.
“Yusan?” General Vikal asks, standing by Quilimar’s right shoulder.
“And Gayan troops at the border.” Quilimar tosses the cards onto the table.
The mention of multiple realms sobers everyone in the room. For Gayan troops to already have arrived, Joon must have called for them as soon as we left. Possibly before.
“I have to attend to the country.” Quilimar stands. “General, see Prince Calstor to safety, then meet me in the war room.”
They exchange a lingering glance, and then Vikal salutes her. The general hurries out of the room, taking two guards with her.
Interesting that the prince is Quilimar’s priority. I never thought her maternal. But then again, he is her only claim to ruling. And, apparently, he is her only claim to royalty at all.
“We will see where the war leaves us,” she says, glancing around the table.
We failed. Spectacularly. The war of the realms has begun, and we lack an alliance, but the absence of Wei is puzzling. Their navy should have arrived in Quu Harbor before the troops reached the border. One of their major advantages in any conflict is that with the Water Scepter of the Dragon Lord, their navy can go from docked in Wei to our doorstep within a few bells. Not to mention that their ships are unsinkable with the scepter controlling the currents.
Maybe the amarth was wrong. Stars, I hope so.
Quilimar is nearly out the door when she stops. “Guards, detain them.”
My stomach sinks as the palace guards salute her.
“On what grounds?” I ask. Of course I had thought of the possibility of capture, but we’ve committed no crimes, and we are here under the Rule of Distance.
“The beautiful one attempted to assassinate General Vikal at the banquet, and I assume the rest of you colluded with her. Euyn is a wanted criminal, and as to you specifically, you’ve murdered since you’ve been here, or at least you have in the past. We’ll find out during interrogations.”
My heart races in my chest. How did I not see this coming? I’ve become so accustomed to my status protecting me, I didn’t think I was vulnerable. I am no longer the royal spymaster under the Yusanian flag, and thus she is free to arrest me. To arrest all of us. She can’t kill Euyn or Aeri, as they are members of the royal family and treaties protect them, but the rest of us are fair game.
Hubris. I fell due to nothing more than hubris.
How unoriginal.
I have my poison pill, and I’ve been ready to die since I was a child, but I’d rather greet Lord Yama trying to fight my way out. I move my hand to my sword only to touch my pocket. I have no weapons. And if I fight, I risk everyone else being slaughtered with me.
What do I do?
Euyn studies me, his face pained. Then he stands, pushing back from the table.
“I offer you a wager, Quilimar.” His loud voice echoes through the room, and I’m sure he can be heard in the hall, even over the drums.
She pauses and blinks. “What was that?”
He raises his chin. “You seem convinced that I am illegitimate.”
She stares at him. “Because you are. You look and act nothing like Father, and your mother was a common pleasure house girl.”
That’s simply untrue. While Theum might not have been his father, his mother was the eastern count’s oldest sister. The insult lands as intended, though. Euyn reddens and his hands ball into fists, but he exhales and smiles.
“Then I’m sure you would be willing to gamble the ring on it,” he says.
What is he doing?
“Wager a relic of the Dragon Lord on your parentage?” She arches an eyebrow, but she hasn’t left the room yet. Whatever Euyn is up to, it’s buying me time to think. To come up with another way to escape, to defeat Joon.
But how?
