Page 18 of The Hocus Pocus Handbook

I didn’t think of it that way. “I apologize. Normally, I only skim a little and not very often. Around here, there’s no shortage of arguments, conflict, and chaos.”

“You keep blood from being spilled,” he says matter-of-factly. “It is well-known. That is why Lord Liskaal has forgiven you for so many absurd stunts. He knows that enemies who think to strike at him here will have their venom sipped away without realizing why. And then the toothless serpents may nip, but without impact.”

This is the longest conversation I’ve ever had with Kerboros.

“I thought I was a nuisance.”

“Sometimes. But irreplaceable as well.”

No one’s said that to me before. At least, outside of Da, who thinks I’m all the lights of heaven, a treasure, and a gem, all lovely, shining things.

Before long, we reach the great hall, and I pat my dark curls. That’s as good as it gets.

This morning, Lord Liskaal and Lady Valnevi are alone, no courtiers to get in the way. Kerboros remains by the archway, leaving me to approach on my own.

“Thea,” Lord Liskaal says.

I bow. “How can I serve?”

They swap looks, and then Lady Valnevi says, “Your marriage should have sealed the peace between two courts, and now your partner has run away, possibly at the sight of you. What do you think we should do in such a situation?”

I manage not to flinch. I’ve heard worse. “I’ll find them.” The words burst out before I fully realize my intent to speak.

It’s like I’ve been prompted by the voice in the dream. Now I remember them exhorting me to volunteer before…

I don’t know. I can’t recall.

But I feel like the consequences will be dire if I don’t step up.

“On your own?” Lady Valnevi doesn’t seem impressed with my offer. “When our best trackers cannot follow their trail?”

I glance at Kerboros, who remains impassive. Does that mean he failed to find the traces of their passage?

He gives nothing back, just a figure staring straight ahead. In the brighter light of the great hall, the configurations etched into the dark leather of his armor gleam faintly with silver, and I’m a bit fascinated by the pattern. Is it a leaf or a flower or a tracery of—

“Thea.” Lord Liskaal’s stern rebuke for not paying attention is shaped like my name.

“I use other means,” I say. “I’ll find…” Oh no. I’ve forgotten my spouse’s name. “The Summer fugitives. I’ll assemble a team.”

Lord Liskaal seems to make a snap decision. “You may recruit no more than four people, Kerboros will accompany you and make regular reports.” The Winter King pauses. “This is your last chance to prove your worth to the court. If the alliance fails and we go to war, we will have no need for one who pacifies our enemies.”

Right. Because you’ll be killing them. And Winter enjoys its little cruelties, but they aren’t so depraved that they’d chop up foes who have lost the will to resist.

But maybe failure isn’t such a bad thing? I can permanently live in the wild. And—

“Before you decide that this mission is not critical to your happiness, understand that we mean there will be no shelter for you anywhere in our demesne. Not in the wildlands, not in the four courts,” Lady Valnevi says.

My breath catches. “The mortal realm is a death sentence.”

“Then you grasp the stakes,” Lord Liskaal says smoothly.

I bow again, seething silently.

Then I back out of the room and save my outrage until I round the corner. Arching my back, I tilt my head to the ceiling and open my mouth in a scream that I can’t voice. Kerboros looms behind me, a royal shadow cursed to serve as well.

“We should source provisions,” he says.

Experimentally, I sign, I hate them so much.