A Kiss of Shadow (Court of Starlight and Darkness #2)(38)

Because I’m not one.

No way I’d be telling him that, though. I shrugged. “I’m a different sort.”

And I needed to get out of here before he saw into me anymore. I didn’t know what other powers of the mind he had, and if mind reading was one of them…

Yeah, that would be bad.

I inclined my head in a respectful gesture, then said, “We will leave you to your walk. Thank you for the answers.”

Before he could respond, I spun around and left. My friends followed me, and we hurried through the maze. We didn’t speak as we walked. I wanted to wait, to make sure no one was lurking behind any of the bushes.

About halfway to the exit, I spotted Vusario’s dark cloak. It was notable for the silver thread used to embroider the back, and I watched him turn a corner and disappear.

I ignored him and retraced my steps through the maze. The place was giving me the creeps now, and I wanted to get as far away as I could.

When we reached the exit and stepped out into the open gardens, we found a bench and sat. With the low-growing flowers, no one could sneak up on us to eavesdrop.

“Did you really believe him?” Meria asked.

“I think so. It felt real. But can I trust him?”

Her gaze flicked left, then back to me. “Why would you ask me?”

“You know him, don’t you? You’ve acted weird every time we’ve seen them.”

She drew in a breath. “I don’t know much, all right? And I don’t want to talk about it right now. But yes, I think you could trust him. Not one hundred percent sure, but mostly.”

I blew out a breath and nodded. “All right. So, strike out with the Irish. But there are still a few more courts we can look at.”

“It’s getting late, though.” Meria looked up at the sky. “And these clouds are miserable.”

“Yeah, let’s get away from them,” Eve said. “We don’t have long to dress before dinner, anyway.”

“All right.” I rose, casting a worried gaze at the clouds. “Do you think they mean she’s already here? They’re overhead. They’ve never been this close before.”

“Could be.” Meria shivered. “But I hope not. I don’t want to see how the world changes when she arrives.”

“What do you mean?” I asked. “If we kill her, nothing has to change.”

“She comes bearing great magic and an even greater threat,” Meria said. “Whatever happens, there will be change.”

“She’s right about that,” Eve said.

“Well, then, we just have to make sure it’s a change we like. That’s what I’m here for, right? To kick her out of the realm and make sure the world stays the way we like it?”

“I’m not going to say no to an offer like that,” Meria said. “Although I’m pretty sure you’re going to need some help.”

“I’m definitely sure.” My words had been all bravado. I was scared to death. I linked my arm through hers. “And I’m glad it’s coming from you.”





14





Lore



* * *



“Do you recognize it?” I asked Theara, the historian of High Court Palace.

Her violet eyes flashed with recognition as she took the necklace from me. Dain leaned closer to her, watching her as intently as I was. After I’d left Sia in my quarters, we’d immediately sought out the historian. It had taken over an hour to find her. She was elusive as ever.

“The Order of the Northern Sword,” she said. “A band of mercenaries that’s roughly three hundred years old. Maybe older, but that’s the first time they made an appearance in the history books.”

“And they’re for sale to the highest bidder?” I asked.

She shook her head. “They only take causes they believe in.”

Anger vibrated in my chest. “And they believe in the cause of murdering my queen?”

She raised her hands. “Don’t kill the messenger.”

“Do you know how I might contact them?”

She shook her head. “They would only speak to possible clients, and you clearly couldn’t be one. Not as long as they are hunting your wife.”

“I could send an emissary.”

“Perhaps.” She shrugged. “I think they’d see right through that. Not that it matters. I don’t know where they are. Northern Sword is so vague, isn’t it?” She shook her head. “I hate when they’re vague like that. It makes the records so incomplete.”

“You’re saying they could be north of anywhere. Northern Europe, North America, Northern Africa. There are too many options.”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

“If we could catch one, we could interrogate him,” Dain said.

“We could try, but it didn’t go well last time.”

“Suicide?” the historian asked.

“How did you know?”

“I just guessed. I don’t know much about them, but they’re clearly one of the most committed guilds. Those types usually take themselves out of the equation before they’ll give up their mission.”

It wasn’t what I wanted to hear, but I wasn’t surprised.