“Let me speak,” Ferdinand whispered in Geneva’s ear. Feeling her nod ever so slightly, he slowly released the cloak and stood, hands out again and placating as Geneva rose at his side, her posture just the same.
Closer now, the Pyrenee soldiers stowed their bows and drew their swords in a resounding collective ring of metal, more than two hundred men armed with the best steel Basilica had to offer.
“I am Prince Ferdinand, First Knight and Protector of Ardenia. Queen Amarande sent a caracara ahead to the Bellringe. Her letter announced that I would be complying with King Renard’s request for the return of the remnants of Prince Taillefer’s workshop, which had been part of Queen Inés’s wedding dowry to King Domingu, may they all rest in the stars.”
Ferdinand paused, searching out a man—for they were all men—who could be the group’s leader. But their insignias looked the same, and no one moved forward. Thus, he continued, addressing the entire group and hoping the right ears heard him. “I respectfully ask that you escort both me, and this woman here, who is Queen Amarande’s mother, to Pyrenee for an audience with King Renard.”
At his side, Geneva stiffened—the only sign of surprise she allowed. Perhaps she’d expected him to toss her to the wolves—no, these were Mountain Lions, per sigil of Pyrenee. But in truth, Ferdinand simply hoped Renard would do the job for him of telling Amarande and Luca of Geneva’s whereabouts.
Finally, a soldier stepped forward. Three scuffed gold beads crowded his collar—a captain, maybe. This close, he stunk of wine and coffee and sweat.
“Tie up the woman and check the boy’s binds. Search them both for weapons. Tetee, Marques—they ride with you to our king. Cilic and Jannette, take the cart.”
CHAPTER 41
“RENARD. Ferdinand said Renard. Why would he say Renard? He’s dead—how could he be king?”
Urtzi was back to asking Ula questions, and though she preferred it that way she didn’t have much of an answer.
“Maybe it’s not the one we know.”
The words stumbled out of Ula’s lips as memories of that night in the chapel crawled forth. Watching Amarande stab Renard and then dive off the dais and onto Taillefer before Urtzi, Luca, and herself had rushed in from their shadowed corner to collect her, save her.
There was no way the crown prince could have survived a strike like that. The only thing worse was an assassin’s smile. He’d worn no hidden armor—blood was everywhere, a garnet slick on oiled wood in the light of a thousand candles reflecting off stained glass.
“Maybe it’s a little cousin. Or something. Names run in families, you know.”
Urtzi froze, his shoulders suddenly bunched to his ears and his eyes downcast. “Ula, I don’t remember a single name in my family save for my mother’s. Idon’tknow.”
His answer knocked all the wind from her lungs. Ula grit her teeth—she knew better. About him. About making false equivalencies between the royals and the common people. She meant it when she point-blank asked Amarande and Luca what in the stars was wrong with the continental royalty—they weren’t normal in so many ways. If anything, Urtzi’s experience—her experience—was more commonplace.
Ula drew in a deep breath. “Bad example—I’m wrong. Sorry.”
“It’s okay.” Urtzi sounded like he meant it. Then, he turned them back to the present ghosts instead of those who haunted his childhood memories. “No, it can’t be him. Wewatchedhim die.”
The party was at a good distance now. Urtzi unfolded himself from where he’d crouched in the brush, and stood, the junipers a decent cover at this point. “So now what?”
More questions, and though she was relieved he’d been able to move past her accidental twist of the knife, again Ula wasn’t sure how to answer.
To follow meant keeping eyes on Geneva, Ferdinand, and the vials—why on earth would Ardenia givepoisonback to Pyrenee, regardless of which Renard these soldiers served?
But that wasn’t their only choice. The pair of them could also take their horses, point them to Ardenia, and bring the news to Amarande, and, by the sounds of it, Luca, too. Geneva had been sure they were coming this way, and soon.
Urtzi tracked back toward the horses, gathering their reins. “If we’re going to follow, they’re almost to that ridge. They won’t see us if we hit the road once they’re up and over.”
He started walking the horses toward the cut of dirt north past the bodies that littered the roadway from the cascading battles.
Ula chewed her lip. “No. A warning is more valuable than confirming what we already know. Pyrenee holds both Luca’s enemy and Amarande’s heir, not to mention vials of deadly poison. Whatever they were planning in coming this way, they’ll need to know the game has changed as soon as possible.”
“To Ardenia?”
“To our queen and king.”
CHAPTER 42
RENARDdid not much enjoy surprises that he had not planned himself, but even through the buzz of his constant, underlying anger, the king was nothing butdelightedupon learning that his soldiers had returned with both the prize he wanted and one that was completely unexpected.
Watching the precious contents of Taillefer’s workshop come up the final incline of King’s Crest as well as a pair of creatures in chains, he leaned over to Dunixi and said, “If that is who I believe it is, the stars are indeed shining for us.”
