“Isn’t that, like, the angel equivalent of asking to speak to the manager?”
He looked at me curiously for a moment then said, “Azrael is arrogant. He believes the Thrones will back him no matter what. This is your opportunity to sway them.”
“You think I can?”
Orcus shrugged, and when I pressured him for a more definitive answer, he only pursed his parched lips. I could see why you believed the shadowborn dishonest. I even suspected Orcus was lying to me now, but I did like the idea of speaking directly to the Thrones. Maybe they could be persuaded.
“Do you know who’s going to win this tournament?” I asked Orcus.
“I’m not a crystal ball,” he said mildly.
“If you were to place a bet on one of our competitors, who would you choose?”
Orcus shook his head, irritatingly silent. I glanced across the training yard to where Stefan was lounging near the refreshments, my ace in the hole.
“I’ll take you up on that bet,” Aretha said. “Who’s your pick?”
“Henri, of course.”
“And what are you willing to wager?”
“I don’t have much to offer. In case you hadn’t noticed, it looks like I’ll be getting evicted from bloodborn territory soon.”
Aretha smiled. “You have your lands.”
“In theory.” We both knew that without an army to defend myself, my ancestral lands were on paper, only.
“How about this?” Aretha said with a shrewd look. “If my brother wins this tournament, you allow us to set up a permanent base in Aswan.”
“And if Henri wins?”
“You can have the Monaco base.”
That didn’t sound good, especially because Aretha loved her bases. She must be really confident in Hyas’s abilities to risk losing it.
“I doubt my mother will give up Monaco so easily,” I said.
“It’s mine already. We agreed.”
Was that part of the package Mater had offered in exchange for this alliance? Was I only an afterthought? “Seems like a conversation better suited for the Tribal Council,” I said.
“Land treaties between tribes don’t need approval from the Council.”
“But maybe they should. That seems to be one of our biggest arguments—who gets what. What’s so great about the Monaco base anyway?” I asked, plying her for information.
“The naval base there offers a distinct geopolitical advantage. And it would allow you to be near your mother.”
“But how’s the view?”
She smiled. “There’s a lovely cliffside chateau overlooking the French Riviera. A wonderful place for you and Hyas to consummate your union.”
I turned back to Orcus, “If you were me, would you make this bet?”
Orcus only sighed noncommittally. What good was an oracle if he couldn’t help you win bets? Regardless, I stuck out my hand and sealed the deal with Aretha. If Hyas won, I had bigger problems than where I’d be spending my honeymoon. And if you won… well, you’d always appreciated having an ocean view.
