‘Lily is missing,’ Tova said finally, his voice breaking. ‘She was taken two days ago. Irsha and the royal mage are looking for her. Without her, I can’t read those schemata.’
A choked sob ripped from my throat, my knees buckling until I landed on the floor in front of the stunned dwarf. ‘How did this happen? What do we know? What can I do?’ I flooded him with questions until Rey lifted me, turning me to face him.
‘Sana, look at me,’ he said, and I forced myself to raise my head. ‘We’ll find Lily. I swear to you I won’t rest until your friend is back with us, but you have to focus, my love.’
I swallowed hard, but somehow, the way Rey took control helped me think again. ‘I need to go there… talk to Irsha.’ I bit my lip, trying to think. ‘And I need to return to Tivalaran.’ Gold flashed in Rey’s eye, and he began shaking his head. ‘Rey, please understand. If he took her to those dungeons, with Tangra’s preceptor in his castle… I need to help her. It’s Lily, for fuck’s sake.’
Rey’s face projected the conflicting emotions he felt. He didn’t hide them as he usually did, but I hated that I was the reason for it. However, this was Lily we were talking about, and she’d do anything in her power to help me. Besides, I already knew my way around the castle.
‘It wasn’t Tivala,’ Tova said from the side. I’d been so busy convincing Rey that it took me a moment to register his words.
‘What?’ I whipped my head towards the dwarf. ‘Then who?’
‘The Lumivitae,’ came a voice from the door. Irsha walked in, looking haggard. His dense black beard was ragged, his hairmatted and falling haphazardly to the side. There were deep circles under his eyes, which told me he hadn’t slept for days.
Despite Reynard standing close to me, the assassin master rushed to me, wrapping his arms around me and burying his face in the crook of my neck. ‘They took her from me, Sana. From right under my nose.’ His strangled whisper broke my heart.
I glanced at Rey, but his face projected nothing but compassion, and my king moved to the side, giving us space. ‘Come, Master Orenson, we have business to discuss.’ Rey gestured towards the door, picking up the plans from the table. ‘We will be in my office. Please join us when you’re ready.’
Irsha’s body trembled, and as soon as the door closed behind them, I led the assassin to the table with last night’s leftovers. ‘Eat, and tell me exactly what happened.’ The panic I felt thinking of Lily in Tivala’s hands shifted into cold anger. If it was the Lumivitae fae, they would want her safe. Imprisoned, yes, possibly punished, but there was no lock Irsha couldn’t pick, no man I wouldn’t poison to get her back… As long as she was alive, she would be freed.
‘Sana, your hair.’ Irsha’s fingers brushed through the short strands, but I shrugged, putting cold meat on his plate.
‘It will grow back. Talk, Blade,’ I said, relaxing when a faint smile tugged on his lips.
‘Tough as nails, as always.’ He bit into the meat, gesturing for me to sit. ‘I have no one else to blame but myself. I hadn’t been spending time in the House of Lillies because we were searching for the void cubes.’ He swallowed, and my eyes widened.
‘In Truso? Mlot, sent the cubes to Truso?’ The realisation of what could have happened cooled my skin with a wave of cold sweat.
‘In Truso, in other cities. He sent them everywhere, and some of those we found were already partially charged. It feltlike he was readying himself for bonfire night, but instead of fire, he wanted a night filled with death.’ His wolfish grin had never been more predatory when he said, ‘I’m glad that bearded arsehole is dead.’
‘And Lily?’ I asked, realising we’d digressed.
‘She told me the situation was dealt with. That her family reined in her husband… It was all a ploy or political scheme.’ He swallowed hard, guilt flashing across his face. ‘They snuck a girl in. You know Lily. A sob story of mistreatment, and she agreed to help the poor little thing get back on her feet.’
‘Do you have her? Let me talk to her,’ I said.
Irsha’s eyes darkened. ‘Oh, I have her. Riordan is interrogating her now.’ Muscles on his face quivered when he clenched his jaw. ‘The bitch lured Lily to the port – that’s where my men lost her. Right after that, the Harbour master sent a report that one of the Lumivitae’s fast boats left the port without paying the docking fee.’ He inhaled sharply, hiding his face in his hands. ‘I failed her, Sana. I promised to keep her safe, and I failed…’ He ground his teeth, and I rushed to embrace my oldest friend.
‘We’ll get her back, I swear. And when we do, I’ll cover Lily’s eyes, so you can deal with her husband as you see fit, politics be damned.’ I cupped his face in my hands, forcing him to look at me. ‘She is alive, and with the Light Fae. You didn’t fail her, or me, or this damn country. You’ll dance with her at the Gromnitca ball…’ I stopped, inhaling sharply.
‘Sana?’ Irsha frowned when I grasped his shoulders in a vise-like grip.
‘Are you absolutely sure Lily was taken by her husband?’ I stared at him, hands clenching on his sleeves.
‘I… Yes; everything points to this,’ he stuttered. ‘What is it, Trouble? Do you have a plan?’
‘Maybe,’ I answered with a grin. ‘Focus on the void cubes and send some Observers into Lumivitae and confirm Lily was on that damned boat. I know it’ll be costly, but I’ll pay for it.’
‘Sure, but what’s going on in your head?’ he said, hope flashing in his eyes. ‘What are you going to do?’
‘Throw a ball, write invitations…’ My answer made him frown as if he couldn’t believe I was talking about such frivolities right now. I grinned and finished with glee: ‘I will ensure the Lumivitae delegation is presided over by their herald… and his wife.’
Irsha’s face lit up. He grabbed his plate and ate the cold meat with a newfound appetite. ‘I missed you, Trouble. I missed my friend and the counsel of my shadow mage,’ he said, and I bit my lip, holding myself back. It wasn’t the right time or place to tell my Blade I’d accepted Reynard’s proposal, and as much as I’d always be his friend, my Brotherhood role was a thing of the past. Surprisingly, I didn’t regret it.
Chapter 43
Reynard
