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Just as I finish my circuit of the space, Casimir and Benedikt arrive within seconds of each other. Both men brighten in their own ways when they see me: the courtesan with one of his soft smiles and the bastard’s bastard with a typical smirk.
I set off a signal through my locket this morning as planned, so they knew I’d returned, but I can imagine they were a little worried all the same.
“You survived the start of your scourge sorcery initiation,” Benedikt says in a teasing tone, sprawling in the chair at the foot of the table. “Soon you’ll be a fully-fledged menace.”
I manage to laugh, but Stavros stiffens—enough that I see Benedikt mark his response with a furrow in his brow.
Casimir slides a box across the table to interrupt the awkward moment. “Since Benedikt set the precedent yesterday, I thought I’d bring a treat to celebrate Ivy’s initial success. One of my dormmates who’s on the culinary track had a batch of chocolates to sell.”
The sight of the glossy brown orbs laid out in the box has my mouth watering. I lean over to snatch one up. “That was a fantastic idea. Thank you.”
He passes paper-thin linen napkins around the table, and even Stavros concedes to taking a chocolate. The former general holds it in his hand without taking a bite and fixes his stare back on me. “Are you going to tell us what happened during your ‘victory,’ Ivy?”
I sink my teeth into the bonbon and pause for a moment to let the richly sweet flavor with its edge of bitterness lace my mouth. There’s nothing wrong with using a treat to bolster my spirits.
“I’m not sure it was much of an initiation yet,” I say. “It felt like they were merely feeling me out. They were obviously trying not to give much away. I couldn’t even tell how many people were watching or where they were—the one who spoke to me stayed hidden and used some kind of magic to project their voice from different directions.”
The eager gleam in Alek’s eyes dims. “So you wouldn’t be able to identify any other conspirators yet?”
I shake my head. “I guess it makes sense. They don’t know if they can trustmeyet, so why would they risk showing themselves?”
“It isn’t surprising,” Casimir agrees. “What did they say to you?”
Julita gives a little shudder in the back of my skull.Rather a lot of madness.
I rub my mouth, thinking back to the conversation. “They talked a lot about the All-Giver. I got the impression that they think they’re doing things the Great God would approve of, or that they can make an appeal even though it’s been ages since the All-Giver abandoned us. And they’re obviously dissatisfied with the current ruling powers, although they were careful not to come right out and say they want to overthrow the Melchioreks.”
Benedikt lets out a rough guffaw. “I suppose that confirms who’s been encouraging the rumors that the daimon were acting out to spite the royal family.”
I nod. “Undermining King Konram’s rule might have been the main purpose of their plans all along. Create as much turmoil as possible and blame it on how things are being run at the palace.”
Stavros finally pops the chocolate into his mouth and manages to look angry about the fact that he’s chewing it. “What exactly makes them so upset with our current ruler?”
I spread my hands. “I’ve got no idea. They didn’t bother to mention that part. I think they’re waiting to see if I prove loyal before getting into any detail.”
Alek tenses where he’s standing next to me. “How are they testing your loyalty?”
“Well, first they had me spill a little blood to honor the All-Giver.” I hold up my hand, where the Elox-blessed bandage I’ve since discarded left me with just a pale scar. “And they gave me some secret object I’m supposed to leave at the Temple of the Crown tonight.”
Stavros’s eyes narrow. “What sort of object?”
“I don’t know. One of their conditions is that I’m not supposed to open the pouch it’s in. They must have some way of telling if I do. But I think it’s a sham anyway. They made a big deal about the powerful magic it’s supposedly imbued with, but I can’t—”
I cut myself off, remembering at the last second that Benedikt doesn’t know I can sense magic. He doesn’t have any reason to think I should be capable of doing so without my revealing the cracks in my soul.
Stavros, of course, has no concern for my need for caution. Although he might not realize what I was going to say. “You can’t what?”
I choose my next words carefully. “I can’t see how it’s likely they’d give anything all that powerful to a candidate they’ve barely talked to. It’s got to be a decoy so they can see how I’ll handle it without overplaying their hand. Having held it, I just have a feeling that there isn’t much to it.”
I aim a pointed look at the former general with those last words, willing him to remember that the part of me he hates also means my “feeling” on this matter should be trusted.
He scowls. “And what are we risking by going by your gut?”
“They hinted that the object would be used to hurt the ruling powers somehow. Very vaguely, for plausible deniability, but it seemed clear theywantedme to think that. I’d imagine they’ll be watching closely to confirm that I follow their instructions and that no unexpected contingent of guards shows up at the temple to arrest whoever comes to retrieve it.”
Casimir hums to himself. “They want to know that you’ll go along with their plans rather than turning them in once actual harm might be done.”
“I think so.”
