I smile before I bow and go to retrieve one of the spare cups from the cart, even though I reallyhopethis isn’t the type that will wake me up. I have enough trouble sleeping as it is lately. I add a sugar cube and a splash of milk before I return. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
She hums before she turns her eyes back to the tiles. It takes me a moment to find the match she’s searching for, but I offer nothing as I take a sip from the delicate glazed cup.
The Queen’s brows knit in frustration the longer she looks. “Well?” she demands at last, her eyes still glued to the tiles.
I silently point to the two matching fives of pegs hidden in the pattern. The Queen scoffs before she scoops the pair up and sets them on her pile. The rest of the board unravels after that as the move unlocks a set of new ones. Soon enough, she clears the last pair, stacking the tiles up to finish her neat set.
The Queen sits back, and I’d swear a smile tugs at the corner of her mouth as she says, “Rather, I meant you should share whatever this urgent update is.”
My grin turns wry. “Of course, Your Majesty.”
The news of the talks isn’t exactly good, and though that hint of a smile quickly fades, she doesn’t seem inclined to blame me as messenger. Instead, she’s quiet as I finish my report, her gloved hands wrapped around her cup.
Finally, she says, “Luther is lying.”
“Arlon and I both agree, Your Majesty.”
“He’s going to use them for leverage,” she scoffs. “It’s an old tactic of his. Blather and rant until your opponent finally concedes, and then when you’re nearly at an agreement, demand more as you play your trump card.”
That seems likely, but I still can’t shake the thought that the Immen Crown might have some other use for the captured wizards. Diran had thought of plenty when he captured Allis and the others. I force myself to release my grip on the delicate cup handle.
The Queen seems to read my mind. “You think differently?”
I’m glad she wants to hear my opinion. “I’ve... witnessed the depraved creativity of Diran Barclay, Your Majesty. To have twenty-three wizards that you have deemeddispensablewould be of great value.”
The Queen’s eyes narrow. “Diran Barclay is dead.”
Something sadder than fury settles like a coal in my chest. “And the world is a better place for it,” I say frankly. “He was a torturer. A rapist. One who avoided every consequence until one finally caught up to him in your royal niece Allisande,” I say, even as I think of where that boon landed her. With her life now being used as a bargaining chip in Marikadar. “But power like the type Diran amassed... it’s intoxicating to weak men, and Diran worked with many. I’m afraid there are others who may be carrying on his work.”
The Queen is quiet as she digests that, her cup poised against the edge of her lower lip. Then, finally, she speaks. “I would like to give you an assignment, Grandmaster.” I straighten in my chair as her eyes focus on me. “I want you to find these missing wizards.”
Arlon forbade me from acting on this front. I promised him I wouldn’t move unless I had to, but... a royal decree leaves no uncertainties.
“Yes, Your Majesty. I’ll get to work with my diviners immediately.” I hesitate for only a moment before I say, “I would... ask your permission to speak with my sister. If anyone within our reach has an idea of where Immenbach may have taken the Tower wizards, it’s her.”
The Queen’s lips purse as she considers me, but I’ve garnered enough of her trust to warrant a conversation, it seems. “I’ll approve the visit.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” I say with a polite inclination of my head.
She grabs the neatly stacked tiles before she starts to spread them across the table to shuffle. “I have also been thinking of our other magical prisoners. The loud one, Jaret, in particular.”
“Yes, Your Majesty?”
“Perhaps he and the two eastern wizards would be best contained inside the Crux,” the Queen says. “I do not wish for another escape like Lucien’s.”
“There is a simpler solution, Your Majesty. One that would avoid moving them,” I say carefully. There are no cells at the Crux. It’s minimum security at best. Besides, keeping Jaret and the two Tower wizards who aided Diran away from magiline is our safest option.
“And what is that?” she asks as she starts placing tiles back into their starting pattern.
“If we could set up a simple guard rotation of wizards to come to the palace, we could easily avoid what happened with Lucien.” It’s the same plan Arlon initially posed, but for some reason, I think the Queen may consider it from me.
Tramella hums as she finishes setting her tiles. The Royal Guard was set up around the Crux to keep an eye on us, and I have no doubt she and Thermilious initially declined this idea because it would mean having wizards doing the same inside of the palace. The Crown used their secrecy to torture Lucien, but if I can get a guard rotation set up, I can put a stop to that practice.
“Your Majesty, the Crux is capable of being Straetham’s greatest tool,” I say gently.
“And an even greater weapon,” she says, some of that same derision from our first meeting returning.
It’s not just dislike, I realize. Shefearsmagic. Has seen just enough to know how dangerous it could be if turned against her or her family.
