Everythingfreezes.
Then I blink once and straighten.Looking down at her, Imurmur, “No.You’re right.No one’s quite like me.”
Turning, I stop at Jace’s side.“Box up all the wasps and take them somewhere far away to be released.Only then is she allowed inside to collect her belongings.”
Spreading my wings, Itaketo the air.Jacecurses as I leave him behind,but he lets me go this time.AlthoughBrownstonis surrounded by Raza on all sides, and many of my home enemies lurk in the trees, he knows I need this – a brief moment of privacy.Besides,anytime we leave Raza, the witches in my guard cast a spell on me.If there’s any danger, I’ll trade places with one of them in an instant.
Flying above the meadow encircling the town, I search for the gold-and-white chariot of the brownie royals.Dirt paths cross between rows of mushroom-shaped housesand hollowed-out rocks covered in luminescent moss.Artwork celebrates life rather than battles of blood and terror.There’s so much laughter drifting up to my ears; there’s so little fear of what happens if you can’t pay rent or buy groceries or get drafted to the front lines.But in Raza, you come home from war, and you still have to fight to survive.Brownston is nothing like us.It’s sickeningly cosy – exactly where my wife belongs.Not with a monster like me.
Spotting the carriage a few streets over, I land on top of it, then roll off the side and through a window.The queen and king smile as I settleon the empty seat facing them.The carriage lurchesas the driver strugglesto keep the four mice pulling it in line.
“We’re in the middle of a peace talk with the Vylians,” Isay, cutting straight to the point.I want this over and done with.Idon’thave the time nor the desire to suffer through any small talk.“Iwantto open trade routes between the three of us.”
“Hello, King Morningstar,” King Openhai greets with a bow of his head.“It’s nice to see you again.I hope you’re enjoying this pleasant weather.”
“You have aseriouswasp infestation,” Isay,dragging us down the path of conversation I want.“I’m in the middle of sorting it for you as a gesture of goodwill between our kingdoms.In return,I want you to give Vylians and Razians full access to your markets.Our people will be allowed to trade here, as yours will be allowed to trade in ours – provided they have the required licenses, of course.”
They share a look.Leaning out the window,the kingasksthe driver to circle the town.As he settlesback down, hesays, “We’ll payRazafor the wasp removal.We’d prefer a different… gesture of goodwill, if you will.”
I still, knowing that tone of voice.“What is it?”
“As you know, our kingdom runs on a very strict set of rules.We are generous and kind.”
“I’m not in the mood to listen to whatever crap you teach in your schools.Spit it out.”
Queen Hurvan clearsher throat.“There are a number of people,allimmigrants,of course,who have come over here and taken advantage of ourway of life.They break the rulesrepeatedly, but because they say sorry…”
“We can’t do anything,” her husband finishes.
“Surprising,” I mock.“Who would’ve thought that people would take advantage of others in a cult?”
“This isn’t a cult.”
“That’s what every cult says.”
“I realise we have our differences, King Morningstar,” Queen Hurvansays, leaning forward, “but we have less crimes committed than in Raza.The last murder to take place here was over two centuries ago.We have peace, something that your ‘non-cult’ kingdom does not.”
“I thought you wanted peace… a monster like you.”
ShovingArienna’swords down, Istudythe two before me.“So you want me to kill these people for you?”
“No.Well…”
“No,” King Openhai confirms, glancing at his wife.“We just want you to take them away with you.”
Scoffing, I lean backin my seat.“You want me to take known criminals into my kingdom?What did they do?”
“Well, one of them pressures women into having sex with him.”
“A rapist.”
“No.Because they all said yes in the end, and there wasn’t any vio–”
“That’s still rape, and you know it.Otherwise, you would not be pushing for me to take him.”To kill him, even though theywon’tsay that.No, they need to keep theirmanicuredhands clean.They need me to get mine dirty for them.
“Because he’s not a monster like you!”
“And the rest?”I ask.
