The Gender War (The Gender Game #4)(37)

By this time, we were all leaning in to hear the news. It sounded more horrible when Viggo read it aloud.

“They say a terrorist cell of rogue Patrian women called the ‘True Daughters of Patrus’ has taken responsibility for the bombings, claiming they could no longer abide the king’s—your—‘shoddily covered-up attempt to assassinate the Matrian queen.’”

“Upstart women! How dare they!” the king growled.

“Your Majesty,” Viggo said incredulously, his jaw clenching, “there are no ‘True Daughters of Patrus’. This must be propaganda. The Matrians have started their plot to take over Patrus. They would’ve had you assassinated if Violet and I hadn’t stopped them. I heard the queen talking about the plot myself.”

“Well, if that’s the case,” the king replied, “then surely my people will see this for the ruse it is.”

“Your people are scared, and they think you’re dead,” I snapped. “They don’t want anything, except to feel safe and secure. Right now they don’t.”

“Which is why you have to let me go,” he retorted, and I felt some very small satisfaction that he’d at least moved on from pretending I hadn’t spoken at all. “My people need to see that I’m all right.”

“Elena has been planning this for a long time,” Viggo replied, leaning back. “The instant you show your face is the instant she has an assassin take you out. For the time being, you’re better off with us.”

“This is preposterous… At least get a message out to my guards. Have them meet you here!”

I shook my head. “We know they’re tapping the guards’ radios. If they have the news, then the Matrians will have it too. The only safe form of communication is through the special handhelds that our colleague Thomas modified. They… well… they can’t be intercepted. And before you ask, we can’t send one to your guards, because it can and will be detected. Your guards will lead them right here.”

Maxen fell silent.

“There’s more on this ticker,” Viggo said wearily. “Want to hear it, or are you just going to argue with everything?”

The king frowned, but managed, “Well, since I can’t very well leave...”

Viggo read, “‘The king’s chancellor, Dobin, has been in discussions with officials from the Matrian palace since early this morning. As Matrus has offered to send supplies, disaster relief workers, and wardens to help keep the peace, Dobin has also accepted the Matrians’ help concerning the successor to the throne of Patrus. There are rumors that one of the Matrian princesses is even involved.’”

As I blinked, wondering why the name Dobin rang a bell, the king banged his fist against the table again. “Dobin,” he said. “He won’t let those Matrians trample all over him.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure…” I interjected, because suddenly I remembered where I’d heard that name before. “Dobin visited Desmond when I was in the facility in The Green. I remember because everybody was excited that such a powerful man would be visiting.” I also remembered the hard, unsettling look the man had given me as I’d gone in to have my own meeting with Desmond, and the memory didn’t make the situation we faced look any better.

The king stared at me, his eyes bulging. Viggo had explained to him, or attempted to explain, the longer story of how he’d found me, and the facility in The Green, then how we’d stopped the bombing in Matrus. But I had no idea how much the king believed. Maybe none of it.

“Surely you’re remembering wrong,” the king said.

“No. It was him. I’m sure of it.”

“What were they talking about?” the king demanded.

“I wasn’t there… I didn’t hear what they talked about,” I admitted. “But if Desmond has him in her web, you can bet it’s not going to end well. Otherwise, why wouldn’t he have told you about the secret facility in The Green where a bunch of rebels are waiting to tear down the government?”

At that point Ms. Dale came through the door with a faint smile on her lips, and accepted the ticker tape Viggo wordlessly held up. As her eyes moved slowly across the paper, her face turned grim.

“I can’t believe this,” the king exploded, standing up, his handcuffs clinking. “I will not sit here and be blackmailed while my country is being run by traitors and attacked by terrorists! I need to get out there so I can lead the people in this war.”

“The war is over,” Ms. Dale said coldly, dropping the tape on the floor. “You lost. The Matrians are controlling the media, and they’re already moving into your government. And your people are so terrified, they’ll believe the first thing they hear. If you want to stay alive, then you need to stay with us. We’re your best chance at surviving and mounting a rebellion.”

Maxen whirled, taking in Ms. Dale. “And what use are a bunch of females in war? Especially two Matrian females who are ill-educated and poorly behaved?”

There was a bright chuckle from the doorway, and I turned to see Henrik leaning his shoulder on the doorframe, staring at the king with humor in his eyes.

“I apologize,” he said in a mirth-rich voice. “I’m just appreciating the irony of this—your country is being led around by its nose by Matrian females, and yet your best chance is… also with Matrian females. Am I the only one amused by this?”