Marek’s last stop is a guest suite on the ground floor. Lord Radovan Ark has turned the parlor into a makeshift workshop. Delicate enchanted instruments spin over the rustic tabletop. Sei would be fascinated—but this is one visit Marek needs to make alone anyway.
“I’m honored by the visit,” Radovan says with a bow. “Your Highness must be tired from your journey.”
“I find the ground more tiring than the sky.” Marek circles the room and stops at the table. A heavy book sits open to a diagram of wraith anatomy. Most of the labels are question marks. “Are you getting into biology or blood magic?”
“I’m simply curious about local fauna, Your Highness. Can I offer you something to drink?”
“I’d rather have an answer, Lord Radovan.” Marek glances down at the enchanter. “Why are you here?”
Radovan’s brow furrows. “This was your idea, Your Highness. I’m here to work on the scalestone catapults.”
“Except you already gave my enchanters your research, and you were busy with your duty to my royal parents.” Marek closes the book in a dusty thud. “We’re not in Ostomar anymore. King Imrik is very far away, and I rule this entire fucking shoreline. Tell me, Radovan—what changed?”
Radovan straightens up. He’s tall, but not as tall as Marek. “As I told Sei, I ran into a failed hypothesis for my primary project. While I await new research results from the academy, I’m at liberty to pursue other projects. Her Majesty graciously granted me leave for this.”
Marek stares until Radovan starts to fidget. Then Marek smiles. “I’ll give you one more chance not to fuck with me.”
Radovan’s eyes widen behind his spectacles. “I wouldn’t dare, Your Highness.”
“Drop the title. We were both born common as dirt, and we both know Aliza has never been gracious about anything in her life.” Marek gestures at the spinning brass instruments. “You owe Aliza everything, and she’s the sort of woman who will rip that away the moment you displease her. Why are you in Talorna instead of fixing her fucking project?”
Radovan removes his spectacles. Without them, his face is older. Harder. “Would you believe that it’s a matter of ethics?”
Marek doesn’t move. “I might.”
“I didn’t hit a research block. I hit a breakthrough.” Radovan wipes his spectacles on his sleeve, then puts them back on. “You’re almost right. I owe Her Majesty everything—except the shred of principles remaining to me. I would be very grateful if you allowed me to stay until I can neutralize my breakthrough.”
Yeah. Marek would believe that. “What was the breakthrough?”
“I can’t say.” Radovan shakes his head ruefully. “No matter who rules this entire fucking shoreline. Strike me down if you must.”
Fuck. Marek likes exactly none of this. Radovan’s mysterious experiments. Imrik’s scalestone trade. Vana’s sudden departure. And everywhere Marek turns for information, a door slams in his face.
Perhaps Marek can pry one door open.
“You can stay in Talorna on one condition,” Marek says. “How far along are you on the teleportation capsules?”
Radovan sags in relief. “We’re still refining the larger versions. It’ll be a while before we can use them with scalestone. I intended to test a prototype next week, actually, if you wanted to come along.”
“I’d like to see that,” Marek says. “But I meant the original version. The message boxes Sei told me about.”
“Oh, those work beautifully.” Radovan moves towards one of his trunks. “The trouble is they’re prohibitively expensive to manufacture, so I’m a long way from—”
“That’s great. I want two of them.” When Radovan gapes at him, Marek frowns and reconsiders. “No, make it three.”
***
Marek’s satisfaction lasts until he arrives at his quarters in the marshal’s tower. The barely touched remains of supper sit on the table, and Marek’s luggage is piled by the couch. Sei is nowhere in sight. There’s only Osric, sitting at one of the tall, narrow windows.
He retired early for the night,Osric says without moving.He said he’ll talk to you in the morning, but for tonight, you should sleep on the fucking roof, or the manure pile, or wherever the fuck you want. He doesn’t give a fuck.
Marek exhales, suddenly numb. “I’m guessing those were his exact words.”
Osric doesn’t answer.
Marek turns on his heel and leaves. But his hope doesn’t burn out until the next morning, when Sei descends for breakfast. Fully dressed, his hair glowing blue and white in the morning’s light, a perfect, polite smile on his face.
“Good morning.” Sei crosses to Marek’s side of the table. “Do you have time to show me around the fortress today?”
