Fantasy of Fire (The Tainted Accords #3)(30)

I raise my eyebrows. “Don’t you want to discuss prices first?” I ask. Alzona always wants to discuss how much money she’ll be making. She waves a hand at me.

“Not for this,” she sniffs. I try not to gape. Zona’s going to do this for free? Blizzard, ever the humanitarian, claps her on the back and she stumbles forward with a glare at him. A smaller woman would’ve ended up on the ground.

“Can I refer these people directly to you?” I ask. I relax my shoulders as she nods.

Avalanche pours me another drink. That was the business side of things out the way.

“How have the pits been?” I ask.

“We’re smashing it, girly. Tricks’ barracks are our only competition.” Ice puffs out his chest, earning a punch on the shoulder from Blizzard. I feel a tug in my chest. Part of me misses the arena. A huge part, if I’m honest. It wouldn’t be so bad if I could openly train at the castle. But at the moment I’m stuck training inside my chambers.

“How are Tricks and the men?”

Crystal rolls her eyes. “The same. Especially Sin; he never stops. You know he slept with Arla at the ball?” I wrinkle my nose. Poor Sin.

“Taking advantage of yet another female,” Shard hisses. I share a glance with Avalanche after he levels a look Shard’s way.

“Have you seen Wrath up at the Castle?” Blizzard asks. I turn my attention from Shard. Wrath was previously part of Tricks’ barracks, but accepted a post in the king’s watch after the dome.

“Yes, he’s one of my guards, actually.” I jerk at my slip, but relax as the others have a good laugh at the thought of the king thinking I need protection.

The mood is a happy one, but I have to know. “Can I ask? Did you bury Flurry?” The jubilation stutters to a halt.

Shard answers, pointed face heavy with grief. “We took him out of the rings, into the trees.”

Tears choke me. “I wish I’d been there.”

Avalanche drops a hand on my shoulder and we all sit for a moment, remembering our friend. I was determined Jovan would put a stop to the Dome. It was nothing more than brutal slaughter.

“Flurry wouldn’t want us to be sitting around all glum like,” Ice sniffs.

“You’re right. And I think Frost has something else to ask us.” Shard raises a fine eyebrow.

The mood sharpens and I attempt to keep my nerves from showing. Shoulders relaxed, face impassive, hands loose. I won’t be fooling Shard for one moment. “I need all of you to be at the castle in three days’ time,” I blurt. A predictable bewilderment meets my words.

“You won’t miss a fight. And you won’t need to stay longer than a night if you don’t want to. My reasons are personal only. Nothing to do with the king. But it’s important to me that you’re there,” I say quickly.

Shard eyes me for a long moment. “Done,” he says.

“Sure thing, girly.”

Blizzard and Crystal nod.

Avalanche smiles at me, while Alzona stays silent. That aside, there’s just one thing left for me to do here.

“Alzona? Can I speak to you in private?” She doesn’t want to grant my request. I think my mention of Blaine has already put her on alert. I hold her gaze and eventually she huffs, leading the way out of the mess room.

She steps into the tiny space I used to occupy and shuts the door. Some of my possessions are still scattered around.

“What?” she asks.

This isn’t going to be easy, and I don’t know where to start. After a small deliberation, I decide to start at the beginning, and take a deep breath.

“What I’ve always liked about this place is we each have a past we’re running from, and that’s respected. I understand sharing your past is not an easy thing. I know this firsthand. We hide the truth so deeply it becomes second nature to keep it buried.” I take another breath as I edge sideways in the tiny space between the bed and wall.

“Glacium’s situation is dire. You’re aware of the civil unrest, but I wonder what you know of the inter-world situation?” I ask.

“Nothing,” she says. “Just rumors.”

It’s what I expected. Even with the army mobilizing to the First. “The Solati army is on the Great Stairway,” I say, without preamble. “The king’s watch are camped at the top of the First Sector lying in wait. For now the Tatum’s army is delayed. But it’s not certain she’s stopped.”

Alzona gasps. Obviously the people spreading the rumors are misinformed.

“This is told to you in the utmost secrecy." I need to outline the gravity of what’s happening right now. "If this civil rebellion gets any bigger and the Tatum’s army makes it through the Great Stairway, then Glacium will crumble beneath the power of the Solati army. The king cannot fight two wars. I doubt anyone can.”

“That’s why I’m helping the women, and lending you Ice,” she says hesitantly. She knows I’m not finished.

“I need more from you, and I truly apologize for what I’m going to ask you, but it cannot be helped.” I look up into her fierce cobalt eyes.

“What do you know of Blaine?”

Her eyes harden, even as her breath comes quickly. It’s self-preservation in its simplest form.

“He is the cause of this,” I continue. “I have proof. Letters, documents. But if you know Blaine at all, you’ll know how sly he is. Apparently, he was also the previous king’s trusted friend.”