Five Dark Fates (Three Dark Crowns, #4)(38)

‘Very well fortified.’

‘Then send us a supply of weapons. Spears, crossbow bolts, swords, and shields. Whatever you can spare. Send us that, and we will consider you allies.’





THE VOLROY




In the Black Council chamber, Katharine sits at the head of the long table of dark wood. She is restless and troubled, and her patience for another meeting of arguments is stretched thin. The High Priestess had the gall to suggest that Mirabella be allowed to sit in on the council meetings, but the notion was quickly silenced. And even had the opposition been less vocal, Katharine would have forbidden it herself.

The dead queens, in their eagerness for Mirabella, have forced Katharine to remain distant from her sister. Every time they see her, they rush to Katharine’s surface with such force that her head spins. And soon, they will find a way to take what they desire.

Unless Katharine finds a way to distract them.

‘Has there been any word about Jules Milone?’ Katharine asks.

‘The Legion Queen has not been seen since the battle at Innisfuil,’ says Genevieve. ‘Though her forces still rally to Sunpool. And it seems we have lost Wolf Spring.’

‘To lose something,’ says Cousin Lucian, ‘we must first have had it.’

‘Had them or not,’ Genevieve says mildly, ‘we hoped they would remain out of play. The island over knows that the naturalists do not take sides. That they have involved themselves in the conflict may seem to some like a tipping point.’

Katharine looks to Rho Murtra, her Commander of Queensguard. ‘Has the entirety of Wolf Spring emptied? Or only those tied to the Milones?’

‘Our spies say the group was large,’ Rho replies. ‘But it was by no means the whole city. Genevieve is, as usual, overstating the situation.’

‘And what word of Arsinoe?’

‘What last we heard, she did not believe that Mirabella had defected. She ordered search parties into the hills and along the cliffs, as if Mirabella had simply fallen out of a window.’

Around the table, the Black Council snickers.

‘Stop that,’ Katharine snaps. ‘Before my sister hears you and sets you on fire.’ She glances at Bree, who winks.

‘Arsinoe’s denial is good evidence that Mirabella can be trusted.’ High Priestess Luca sets her hand on the table, her expression serene.

‘I do not like it.’

Everyone on the Black Council turns to Rho. She is the last person expected to speak against anything the High Priestess says.

‘What do you mean,’ Luca asks, ‘you do not like it? What do you not like?’

‘It seems too easy. Like that day at Innisfuil seemed too easy.’ Rho turns to Katharine, her white hood down inside the council chamber, her hair, red as blood, falling over her shoulder.

‘Too easy,’ says Genevieve. ‘Have you forgotten how many queensguard we lost? How many—’

‘The Legion Queen is not dead,’ Rho replies. ‘And Arsinoe now has a strong adviser in Cait Milone.’

‘So what do we do?’ asks Lucian.

‘Nothing,’ says Antonin. ‘We wait, and see if they will fray. And we cannot march on them anyway until spring.’

High Priestess Luca leans forward. ‘The parade for Mirabella will ease these concerns. Flaunting her will show the rebels there are two queens to fear, and her usefulness against the mist will increase your popularity.’

‘This is a mistake.’ Lucian Arron shakes his head.

‘Cousin Lucian. Lucian,’ Katharine corrects herself, since there are no longer two Lucians on the council and it is unnecessary to give him the fondness of the familial title. ‘We have had spies and soldiers in her shadow since the moment she arrived. She has made no attempt to contact the rebels and no attempt to flee. And even if she were to go, what would it matter? She knows nothing now that she did not before. And we would be no worse off.’

She turns to Bree. ‘Bree Westwood. What is your opinion? What are your observations of your old friend since she arrived?’

Bree presses her lips together. Whenever the council business has turned to Mirabella, she has remained quiet. Usually with her eyes fixed on her lap, careful to appear neutral.

‘She still has love for Arsinoe,’ says Bree. ‘She always will. But she was raised a queen. Her loyalty is to the people and to the crown.’ Bree looks at Katharine and arches her eyebrow. ‘And she is more than a little afraid of you.’

‘Flattery,’ Lucian mutters.

‘Truth,’ Bree snaps.

‘Enough.’ Katharine raises her hand. ‘If you do not want me to show Mirabella to the people, then what would you have me do with her? House her and feed her in secret in exchange for nothing? What if the mist moves against the city? Should she be kept hidden away until then, so she can come charging out like an unexpected savior?’ The corners of her mouth twist down. ‘Surely, that would do nothing to make the people remember how . . . popular she was.’

‘There is something else.’ Renata Hargrove clears her throat and demurely places her hand upon the table.

‘Renata,’ says Katharine. ‘And what is that?’

‘As Genevieve has maintained spies within the rebellion, I have maintained spies elsewhere. Including within Bastian City.’