Hence poisoned, perfumed lipstick being most effective.
They all fill their plates. I suppose my ability with poisons is the unique skill King Joon was after. I just don’t understand how it’s needed in Khitan—not when there’s a Rule of Distance that doesn’t allow anyone within a hundred feet of the throne. I won’t be able to get close enough to have a private conversation with Queen Quilimar, much less kiss her. So why have Aeri bring me in? Why involve the southern count?
We’ve just started eating when Mikail knocks twice. Euyn’s face brightens as he removes the traps, and Mikail saunters inside. He’s freshly bathed and clad in gray slacks and a fur-collared shirt. With his new clothes, he looks like a local. I admire how he always blends in. I never have that luxury.
“Oh good, there’s lunch.” He grabs a plate and sits, straddling a chair. “I would be careful with picking my lock in the future. I didn’t have time to set up traps, but I will.”
I look at Aeri and Royo. How did he know we broke in? I made sure not to touch anything, and Royo locked the door as we left.
“What happened to you?” Euyn asks as Mikail selects a pork bun.
“Nothing I couldn’t handle,” he says.
Royo’s eyes track him. “Why were spies after you?”
Mikail shrugs and spoons soup dumplings into a bowl. “I’m one of the most wanted men in the world. It was due to any number of crimes, I suppose. But in fairness, they wanted to take me in for questioning, not kill me. I just had other plans.”
I take a sip of water, both glad he is here and disturbed by how casual he is about slaughter. We are both killers, but the lives I take weigh on my soul. Mikail doesn’t seem to have that guilt. And guilt creates balance and limits.
Aeri studies him, her eyes sharp. “But how did the spies know you were in Quu?”
Mikail smiles. “That’s the better question. Someone tipped them off. Or they’ve gotten much better under Quilimar’s reign. Based on their tailing skills, I suspect it’s the former.”
He doesn’t seem to be accusing anyone in the room, but without trust, conversation doesn’t exactly flow.
Euyn keeps glancing at him as if he’s trying to piece together a puzzle. “Who did you go see?”
Mikail washes his bite down with some ale. He chews slowly, stalling. My stomach sinks—he’s hiding something again.
“A source. I was hoping they would have a lead on how to get close to Quilimar.”
“And?” Royo asks.
“Nothing yet, but I’m working on it. The new complication is that there was an attempt on the queen’s life a week ago. No one is allowed to see her now.”
Forks drop, and we all stop eating.
I shift my weight in my chair. How does this mission keep getting worse? The Rule of Distance was one thing, but the palace being closed to outsiders makes our plan impossible. I put my spoon down and sigh as I try to regroup.
“So, what do we do now?” Aeri asks. “We only have four weeks.”
The meal sours in my stomach. Four weeks. King Joon gave us until the end of monsoon season to return with the ring, or he would torture and kill our loved ones. A month does not seem like enough time to figure out how to get into the palace, arrange an audience with Queen Quilimar, convince her to start a war, mobilize troops, and defeat the immortal king.
But Daysum hangs in the balance. Tiyung, too. The likelihood is slim, yet a small chance is still a chance. I’ll take it. I have to.
My heart pounds in my chest as I work through all that needs to be done. I try to slow it down and think through one step at a time.
As soon as we arrived in Quu, I sent eagle post to Count Seok informing him that the plan failed and Tiyung was captured, but I can’t be sure if the messenger birds will land or be shot down, especially when crossing the border. All eagles fly to Tamneki, and then new birds are sent to farther cities like Gain. The whole process would take weeks on horseback, but with eagle post it takes less than two days. Which is why a two-eagle post costs ten silver mun.
I also sent a message to the Countess as a backup, but I had to guess at her location. It was probably all money wasted, but I will try anything and everything to save my sister and help Ty.
“Our first order of business is paying a visit to General Vikal,” Mikail says.
Euyn raises an eyebrow. “Vikal is not your biggest fan.”
Mikail wipes his mouth. “Nor yours. That’s why we’ll send Sora and Aeri.”
I’m not sure I like the sound of that. What does “pay a visit” mean? Do they expect me to poison the general? For Aeri to kill her?
