Half an hour later,they were seated on top of the massive white stone workstation, plates and goblets of wine in front of them. Ava had made a quick dish with potatoes, sliced red meat with gravy, and some type of local vegetables. They had found a loaf of bread and passed it back and forth, ripping off pieces to dip in the sauce.
“So do you think they actually like what we had for dinner?” Ava asked.
“Fuck if I know,” Quinn said through a mouthful of bread.
Ava took a sip of wine. “I think Orion’s hiding something.”
“And I guarantee he’s not going to tell us what.”
Ava sighed. “You’re right. Any advice?”
Quinn thought for a moment. “You should drop the subject of his friendship with your father. He doesn’t seem to appreciate that. Focus on the war efforts. You must convince him thedaemons are capable of infiltrating Caelestia. As long as he believes he’s safe in the clouds, he won’t help.”
“How do I do that?”
“I’m not sure.”
Ava speared a green bean on her fork and ate it, thinking. “I have no doubt once Andras does whatever he’s set out to do, he’ll focus his efforts on Caelestia. We just have to convince Orion of that…” she pondered out loud. “Maybe we’re going about this the wrong way. Maybe we have to convince someone else…go around him…especially since he’s hiding something…”
Quinn gestured for her to go on.
“The queen is awfully quiet. Do you think it would be possible to speak with her alone?”
“It’s worth a shot. But even if she agrees we should help, do you really think she can convince her husband? You see how he treats her. He barely even acknowledges her existence.”
“I know. But I’ll try her first. Then…I may approach Jareth.”
Quinn snorted. “Good luck with that.”
“I think there’s more to Jareth than he lets everyone see.”
And she believed it. She’d noticed the disdain in his voice when he mentioned being the errand boy for his father. And the way he sometimes bristled when Orion spoke. It wasn’t something she’d seen at the ball, but she’d been so nervous it was almost impossible to pay attention to the way everyone interacted with one another.
“You’re delusional then, Ava. Should I list the horrible things he’s done over the years? Like the time he kicked a hobgoblin in Mosshaven because he got in his way? Or maybe the time he burned down part of one of our gardens because the children playing in it spilled something on his shoes? How about when he cornered Fanya in the castle once? Shall I go on?”
Ava stilled. “I—is Fanya okay? Did he…”
Quinn shook her head. “I don’t think he would have gonethrough with it. But he was trying to intimidate her. That’s what caused the brawl last year where he and Cas destroyed half a forest. Cas caught him, dragged him outside and beat the shit out of him.”
“You’re right. But I didn’t mean I thought he was a good person. I just have a feeling he has deeper issues that might somehow work in our favor.”
“Look. If you think talking to Jareth could help, then you should. But you need to be very careful. He may attempt to manipulate you. And while yes, most of what he does is just to rile people up, he’s known to have a violent temper. Watch yourself. And you’ll need to do it without Cas around. Anytime the two of them are in a room together, nothing gets accomplished.”
Ava took another sip of her drink. “Alright. I’ll try with Seraphina first. If I don’t get anywhere, then I’ll think about approaching Jareth.”
A loud knock jolted them from their conversation. “Who’s in there?” a voice called. He jiggled the handle, wrapped tightly with Quinn’s vines. “The kitchen is closed. Whoever is in there, when I find you, you’ll be thrown in the dungeons for theft.”
Ava leaped off the counter, following Quinn to a door at the other end of the kitchens, unsure where it led.
“This way,” Quinn whispered, releasing her vines from the other door and making them vanish as they ran into another hallway.
Quinn grabbed Ava’s hand and pulled her all the way back to the suite, the two of them stifling their laughter the entire way back.
25
“What’s today’s plan?” Quinn asked over breakfast.
Casimir swallowed a spoonful of tasteless porridge with a wince. Did no one know how to cook in this damned castle?
