Even Finch has stopped fencing and is bent double, causing the guards to migrate closer while the rest of the crew redouble their efforts, dancing around and singing a bawdy sea shanty.
“It’s both of them,” Reva rasps, still clinging to me like I’m the only thing keeping her upright. “I think they’ve found the king.”
Chapter 33
Kit
Ihang around the side of the palace, close to the kitchens and by the bins, waiting for Torin to let me inside. While I’m waiting, I make a very deliberate trip through the courtyard, murmuring under my breath and leaving a string of curses in my wake. If someone were to notice me and step out here, they’d think I was a madman. But quickly enough, they wouldn’t think anything of me at all, all thoughts of the man they observed floating out of their head like a bubble on the breeze.
I’ve never felt like this before. Like every piece of me is thrumming with power which feels bottomless. We need to move fast and alter things while we can, as who knows if this power boost will run out.
The side door opens, revealing an empty doorway and I break into action, ignoring the flutter of nerves at entering the palace. If I’m captured here, I’ll be practically handing myself up on a plate.
So don’t get caught.
Inspiring words from Noush, who has decided to keep me company in this tense time. I can’t wait to get to know her properly, once all this unpleasantness is out of the way and we can move on to building our lives, rather than just clinging on for all we’re worth.
“The office is at the far end of this hallway, third door on the right. His majesty is apparently eating a late breakfast in the dining hall,” Torin says, keeping his voice as low as it can go.
I nod. “See you on the other side.”
I crack my fingers, ready to get to work. If I have to curse every inch of this place to set us free, I will. I’m not going to kill him, mostly because it would be too messy. But I’m going to make it impossible for anyone to walk these halls without being affected.
You would think after all that meddling Jack’s new fiancée did in my head, I might shy away from doing the same. But after hearing what Amble and the rest of Gower’s family had to say, I’m not about to leave things the same. Not if this is my one chance to do something useful. I’ve spent most of my life selfishly, collecting my trinkets and fannying about and generally enjoying myself. But I’m going to grab my unexpected boost of power and today I’m going to do something with it.
I head down a fairly regular-looking hallway that doesn’t fit with my mental image of the inside of a palace, albeit it has very high ceilings that have fancy cornicing painted gold.
As planned, I’m in one of the staff areas, so immediately start opening doors that look vaguely cupboard-like. The first one I try is locked, and the second opens into a cleaning supply room where a confused woman lets out a squeak of surprise when I poke my head in. The third door I try, I find a cupboard that’s brimming with freshly ironed uniforms. Grabbing whatever I come across first, I quickly add a white apron and hat to my ensemble and head back in what I’m hoping is the correct direction for the dining room.
The hallway seems to go on forever until I reach a white door at the very end, which leads to a huge, mostly empty room that’s got a pair of yellow sofas at one side, beside an ornate fireplace.
Not the dining room. But I take a meandering route through, laying curses on the carpeted floor and the door handles as I go. The words roll off my tongue in the language I should never have been able to learn. Rot and power flow through me in equal measure as I hear my voice muttering the words to lay curse after curse.
I stop short at the wall, leaning heavily against it as I try to breathe through the taste of decay that lies heavy on my tongue. For a second, I’m revolted at myself and what I can do. But now’s not the time for negative feelings, and I shove them violently away.
I stagger toward another door, which opens out into another room whose use I have no idea about. There are huge paintings on the walls, but there’s not a stick of furniture despite the size of the room. Briefly, I wonder about how much use these rooms must get. I keep going into the next room and the next, where I give my fellow servants a little nod as they pause in their dusting to glance at me.
Still, the doorhandles receive a whispered curse.
In the next room, I finally find myself in the dining room. The table is ornate and big enough to fit the entire crew. On the walls are red hangings, draped in front of huge floor-to-ceiling windows. The crew would love to have dinner in this room. They’d probably start a competition to see who could get the most food stains all over the ugly decor.
Too bad that the room is empty. The table has been cleared and there’s no sign of the king.
Bugger.
I was hoping to sprinkle some of Aster’s special dust into the king’s eggs, but other than the faint scent of food, there’s no sign this room has been used recently.
Time for a change of plan.
Focusing my attention on the bond with Torin in my chest, I let it lead me out of the room and scurry from room to room until I reach another hallway that’s less elaborate than the rest. On the floor is an ugly burgundy carpet that’s plastered with the king’s emblem etched in gold thread.
On my right, there’s a wooden door that’s ajar, and the bond tugs me forward.
This must be the king’s study.
From here, I can just about make out the two people in the room. The king, with his hair fast going grey, and his potbelly bulging out of his suit. And the stiff-backed assistant on the other side of his desk, standing with his back to the door.
“Can’t we just increase taxes again? The blue room needs entirely new furniture, and the roof is bound to start leaking when winter comes around. This old pile is a damn nuisance, I tell you, Smith.”
