Two Dark Reigns (Three Dark Crowns #3)(87)

“That was close,” he says, and brushes off his shoulder. “This poor old city seems overrun. Strangers taking up residence in abandoned homes and buildings. How must the oracles and the local residents feel about your army’s sudden presence?”

“Many of them are oracles, as you said,” Emilia replies. “They knew we were coming. And they would have vengeance, too, for the murder of Theodora Lermont. They are with us, or we wouldn’t have come.”

“Have you come here before?” asks Arsinoe. “You seem to know your way around.”

“I have been here with Mathilde, when we were younger. Though I would know it just as well had I only scouted it the first night. It is an aspect of the gift. We find our feet quickly in new places.”

Arsinoe thinks back to their journey to Indrid Down, the way Jules was able to memorize the map with such ease.

“A warrior and a poisoner in naturalist’s skins,” she murmurs. “None of us are ever who we think we are.”

“Hurry along.” Emilia prods her in the side. “Stop muttering.”

“Why don’t you like me?” Arsinoe asks, annoyed and rubbing her ribs from the poke.

“Not like you?” Emilia laughs. “Why would I not like you? You inspire such loyalty. Someone or another is always looking out for you. Protecting you. Giving their lives for you.”

“You think I’m going to get Jules hurt.”

They stop and face each other.

“I think your being here will ruin her chances,” says Emilia. “I think you would restore the line of queens. I think you would put her back down, in Wolf Spring or in hiding forever. Perhaps on the mainland, like you.

“But I will tell you one thing Queen Arsinoe: Juillenne Milone is not your servant. She is not your helpmeet nor only your friend. She is our queen, the queen that the island needs, and I will be there beside her when she fulfills that promise.”

“That’s more than one thing,” Arsinoe says, and pokes her in the chest. “And who promised? Did she promise? Or are you and your blond friend Mathilde pushing her into something she’s not ready for? It’s not up to me to speak for Jules, and I have no right to decide her path.”

“Indeed, you do not.”

“But neither do you. And if your cause ends up getting Jules hurt or worse . . .”

“What?” Emilia draws a short blade, and Arsinoe feels the chill of the metal against her neck. “What will you do?”

“I guess I’ll poison you.”

Emilia’s eyes narrow, and Billy steps quickly between them.

“Now, now, ladies, let’s not dally in such idle conversation. We should get back to the castle, like you said.”

They separate, pushing off each other. The rest of the walk to the castle is silent.

When they reach the gate, the oracle Mathilde is there waiting.

“Thank the Goddess, where have you been? We have had a message.”

“What kind of message?” Emilia asks, and pushes ahead, hurrying inside and bounding up the stairs to Jules’s rooms. Arsinoe follows and finds Jules inside pacing, with Mirabella seated at a table behind her feeding what looks to be a woodpecker.

“What’s happening?” Arsinoe asks. “Whose woodpecker is that?”

“The bird arrived with a message,” Mathilde explains. “Queen Katharine is taking Jules’s mother and marching to Innisfuil with a force of soldiers.”

Arsinoe looks to Jules, who looks back with large eyes.

“She wants to trade her for me.”

The room falls silent as they stare at each other, until Emilia stomps her foot.

“You cannot!” she exclaims.

“I have to,” Jules says softly.

“You can’t! You are the Legion Queen. You are more important than one life.”

“Not my mother’s life!” Jules growls. “Not anyone’s.”

“Wait, Jules.” Arsinoe holds her hands up before Emilia can say anything more. “Even if you would trade, do you really think Katharine would honor it? She could take you both. Or take you and kill Madrigal anyway.”

“Then what do we do?” Jules asks.

“We came to fight,” says Emilia. “We will march out and meet her.”

“We do not have the numbers,” Mathilde says quietly. “If we march now, they will have an advantage of four to one. Perhaps more.”

“Then what are you going to do if Katharine decides to advance on Sunpool?” Billy asks curiously.

“If they advance now, we must winter in the mountains. Hide. Let them hunt for us through the snow if they will. Let the island grow even more restless as the mist rises and the Undead Queen fails to protect them from it.”

“Why would we leave the stronghold of Sunpool for the mountains?” Emilia asks furiously.

“Because the walls have yet to be repaired. The city yet to be fortified. Because we are not ready.”

“We have to do something now!” Jules shouts, and Camden hisses. “She has my mother!”

“Katharine will not kill her. It is only a tactic,” Emilia says, her tone steady.

Jules’s eyes narrow. “Then it’s a good tactic.”

“I don’t think it’s a tactic at all,” says Arsinoe, with a glance to Mirabella. “Our baby sister doesn’t bluff.”