I hurry off the stage toward Will and hug my arms around his waist, under his jacket, so I’m shrouded in his warmth. He slings an arm over my shoulder, not a moment before Pigeon launches herself at the both of us. She squeezes us in a tight hug then steps back, Lark hovering at her shoulder.
“Am I glad to see you two!” Pigeon beams.
“You survived!” I say. “We tried looking but— What happened?”
“Of course I did. They threw me in a cell overnight, though. I really should talk to someone higher up about the human rights inthis damn citadel. The food was worse than the scraps I steal,” she says, then gives Lark a teasing grin. “Blondie here clearly missed me and broke me out just now. You should have seen his face when we bumped into his captain on our way here.”
Lark tuts and turns away.
“You broke her out?”
“She…saved my life,” he says, a muscle in his jaw standing out. “It was only fair.”
“Oh, yeah, he was almost gone for good,” Pigeon chimes in. She digs her elbow into his arm, and if I’m not wrong, the faintest of blushes appears on Lark’s face.Oh.I see.
“I would have been fine,” he shoots back, still not looking at her.
She snorts. “Hilarious. Anyway, we had to walk back to the citadel through the fields, so I used that long road wisely—meaning I told him all about the conditions in our villages. Apparently I can paint quite the picture.”
Beside me, Will barely restrains his laugh.
“She had some…good points,” Lark says, and rubs the back of his neck. “I’m trying to do the right thing.”
There’s a hint of Howell in his tone. A recognition of the lessons Howell drilled in him.
“Did you talk with Bash about what to do next?” I ask Pigeon.
“Yeah, the prince said he’d arrange a room for me here while we discuss things further. Apparently, he’d already drawn up a bunch of plans, but his parents had been keeping him on a leash. I was right about them being uptight, wasn’t I? Addwayoverprotective to that list. Anyway, it sounds like they’re ceding power to him from now on. Especially while they recover from whatever all that poisoning stuff was about…” She shakes her braid, baffled by recent events, but can’t keep her attention away from the banquet for much longer. “We have a lot to make up for on both sides. The prince made it clear that he won’t tolerate any more of my group’s, uh, ‘accidents,’ and I heard Simon’s mother back there…All apologies are best done on a full stomach, though. It would be a shame to let that food go cold.”
Will’s laugh vibrates in his chest. “Yes, you’d better get yourself a plate before they throw you back in the dungeon,” he says, and Pigeon sticks her tongue out.
She throws us a wild grin, her hair a mess, her face burned. Her spirit high. She flicks her hand in a wave and drags Lark away by his sleeve, past Mum, who has her hand tucked in Ruth’s elbow, following the remaining guests out.
“I almost wish I could listen in on those meetings,” Will muses. “Pigeon is going to tear this place apart.”
“Well,” Bash says, coming down the steps holding Card’s hand, “as long as it doesn’t include explosives, I’m willing to hear her out so that no one else gets hurt. Or killed.”
They stop before us—our mirrors, our friends. We face each other, alone in the vast hall, with time enough to talk and space enough to see clearly. Will’s arm around me tightens ever so slightly.
“I’m sure she’d agree it’s about time,” Will says, and Bash fights his high-strung instincts. He forces his shoulders down.
“As do I. I was unaware how bad their conditions were, but my ignorance is my own fault. All I did was complain when my mother told me no. Instead, I should have found another solution.”
“I’ve suggested taking samples of the soil to the Library to have it undergo testing,” Card says. “With their help, we can look for both magical and non-magical ways to encourage life back to the area.”
Bash nods. “I’ve also asked Pigeon to take me around the affected villages and arrange meetings with the people. My parents have decided to take a long break from their duties while they heal. My mother says she no longer trusts herself to rule, so I’ll be able to use the full extent of the kingdom’s power to make amends.”
“Good,” Will says.
The silence that follows feels like a hard-won victory.
“Um,” Card starts, unusually uncomfortable for someone so social. “We’d like you both to stay. For the party. Please.”
“Does this mean I’m not a wanted criminal anymore?” Will asks.
Bash glares. “Of course you’re not. I’ll send out letters to the surrounding areas tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? How kind of you.”
