‘Contrary to my father, I saw the kind of monster my brother was. You did the world a favour by sending him across the Veil.’ Her bitterness, but even more, the admission that she knew about her brother’s dark nature, surprised me.
‘Did he hurt you?’ I asked. She scoffed, but I repeated the question, seeing Irsha fidgeting uncomfortably by the entrance. ‘Did he hurt you, Inga?’
He did. The shifting of her eyes betrayed the truth even before she swallowed hard, rolling up her sleeve. Faint lines scarred her skin, cut with precision like white flowers on a canvas.
‘Your father knew, but did nothing to stop him.’ It wasn’t a question. It was a statement, and the vulnerability that briefly showed on her face told me I’d guessed right.
‘For my father, I never mattered. Ignac was his golden child,’ she said with a deep sigh. ‘You killed his path to power. The little princeling he intended to put on Dagome’s throne.’ Inga looked up, blinking as if she were trying to hold back tears. ‘It was bad when Ignac was alive, but when he died… My father screamed for days, killing everyone who returned without an answer. He refused to support the Necromancer’s War because Reynard took the throne meant for Ignac.’ She wiped her cheek, smudging dirt and tears across her face. ‘If I died, he might remember he had a daughter, but only if no one prepared his afternoon tea.’
Irsha and I exchanged a look. I didn’t regret killing Ignac. What he’d done to those women was worth a thousand deaths, but I was shocked by the repercussions of my poisoned kiss. Inga didn’t notice. Years of suppressed pain poured out of her as if meeting two strangers who hated her father allowed her to finally speak. Suddenly, her fists tightened, and she hit the ground so hard that we were both covered in mud.
‘You know the worst part? When he finally noticed me.’ She sniffed, taking the scrap of fabric Irsha passed her. ‘He noticed my… He saw me as a broodmare. His last chance to claim the throne for his bloodline. That’s why he invited Tangran involvement. He knew Reynard wouldn’t accept me without a knife to his throat.’ She smirked, shaking her head. ‘Two knives, one from the west and one from the south.’
The more she talked, the more layered the plan unfolded, and I wasn’t sure whether I should shake from fear or admire Tivala’s ambition.
‘Why are you telling us this? We’re strangers,’ I asked.
She paused, biting her lip. ‘Because I have no one else. So, fuck it. If you stop my father, even if you betray me later, it’s worth it.’ She chuckled through tears. ‘When he heard about you, a commoner, a simple healer who lured the king to herbed, he collapsed and couldn’t speak for days. I thought I could finally breathe again.’ She paused again, swallowing hard, then hunched over, hiding her face in her hands. ‘But the Tangrans arrived, and their priests healed him. Whatever was said between them, my father believes he’ll become king.’
That was hard to listen to. When Inga finished and leaned forward, hiding her face in her hands while her body shook with gut-wrenching sobs, I moved closer, embracing this complete stranger. Or maybe not a stranger, but a fellow woman who’d fought alone to escape her dark fate. Even in my darkest times, I had Irsha, Tova, and Lily… She didn’t look at me, but when her throat bobbed again, I realised she’d calmed down, her body leaning on mine.
‘I can help you, Inga,’ I said as gently as I could, patting her shoulder awkwardly.
‘Help? How can you stop someone so vile? How can anyone stop the Hierophant’s army?’ A large single tear fell from her cheek while her hand tightened on mine with a strength I hadn’t expected from such a delicate lady.
‘Reynard can stop Tangra’s army, and I’ll kill your father.’ I wiped the tear away. ‘If you trust me to borrow your face.’
‘I wish you were right– Wait, my face?’ She looked at me, her pupils blown by shock. ‘I don’t know you. Gods, you aren’t going to skin me, are you?’
‘No–’
Blade placed a finger to his lips, cutting me off. ‘Fuck, I think they’ve found us.’ Irsha muttered a curse, and I glanced at him sharply. My Blade, determined and skilled as he was, was just one man against many. Besides, I didn’t want him to fight. My plan would fall apart unless I was quick.
‘Inga, do you know where the schemata and the marriage contract are?’ I asked sharply.
‘In my father’s office. His library has a secret compartment behindTheChronicles of the First Necromancer’s War. Why?’ She frowned, tilting her head as if she was trying to guess my intentions.
‘Roksana…’ The warning in Irsha’s voice told me he already sensed what was coming.
‘It’s the right thing to do, Blade, and you know it. Take Inga and her schemata to Truso. Make sure Tova gets them and tell the king to trust me a little longer.’ He shook his head, the tight jaw projecting what he thought of my idea. ‘Irsha, I’m still Boyan’s shadow mage, and it’s an order.’
‘It’s bullshit, and as much as I love you, Nightshade, you don’t command Grand Master’s disciple.’ There was a challenge in his voice, but we didn’t have time for this. Even I could hear the clumsy approach of Inga’s pursuers.
‘I’m giving you the opportunity to protect Lily, you moron. Her husband is the Herald of Lumivitae. How long do you think it will take until they regroup and capture her? I, on the other hand, can handle myself.’ I was a fucking monster for manipulating my best friend, but time was running out. Irsha wouldn’t let me go with gentle persuasion, and I needed him to live.
‘Fuck. Fine, if you give me the plan that makes sense,’ he said, and I quickly turned to our heiress.
‘Inga, when I said I needed to borrow your face, I meant using magic to copy it.’ Her eyes widened, and she gasped, taking a step back when I reached to touch her cheek. ‘All I need is a touch. To feel your essence. Please. I promise it won’t hurt you.’
Inga froze, but let me place a hand on her cheek. My Aether swirled as I spoke the words of the spell, mimicking her essence. I memorised it as I wrote a glyph on my arm. It wouldn’t last long, as the surface changes always returned to their natural pattern, but I hoped it would give me enough time. We weresimilar in height and weight, and I didn’t think Tivala’s soldiers paid enough attention to their lady for the slight differences to be noticeable.
‘That’s fucking impressive… Alright, we’ll do it your way.’ Irsha whistled quietly when the spell settled in place.
Inga stared at me with a baffled expression. ‘Is it permanent?’ she whispered, touching my face.
‘No, it will fade with distance and time. Now, please strip,’ I said shortly, already undoing my buttons. Cold air prickled my skin, making me shiver, and I had to clench my jaw to stop my teeth from chattering. Inga didn’t argue, which I was grateful for. I was fully dressed by the time the pursuers were so close that I could hear their conversations.
‘Don’t move until they take me away,’ I said, climbing out of the ditch. I paused there, taking in my friend and the woman supposed to be my rival. ‘Irsha… if I don’t return, don’t send anyone to find me. I don’t want their deaths on my conscience.’
