The Unmaking (The Last Days of Tian Di, #2)(80)

He shook his head slightly and reached for her again. “Nia, it is not too late for us.”

“It was too late,” said Nia, “the first time you told me No.” She regarded him coldly for a moment and then turned and faced the Faeries. Her voice rang clear and sweet across the courtyard. “I have made an offer to the High Lords and they have accepted. I swore by the Oath of the Ancients that I would never return to the Realm of the Faeries if this king, Malferio, be deposed and exiled.”

Malferio’s face twisted. “You will not give in to this!” he screamed at the throngs of Faeries. “I am your King! It is your duty to defend me!”

“This King has brought danger to his subjects and shame on the Faeries, forcing us into unwelcome alliances,” said Alvar. “We must end his reign tonight. Though the penalty be death of my Immortal Self, I hereby withdraw my allegiance to the King Malferio and nominate Emyr, the First Advisor, to succeed him!”

The other High Lords applauded from their daises while the Faeries watched, stunned and uncertain.

“Guards!” the King shouted, desperate. Nia plucked the crown from his head.

“Don’t make a scene, my love,” she said to him. “It isn’t dignified.”

Emyr stepped forward and Nia handed him the crown.

Nell had been watching all this with mounting horror, unable to understand what was being said but grasping the situation well enough. Now she found her voice and plucked at Swarn’s sleeve.

“Is that...?”

“That is her,” said Swarn, her voice devoid of emotion.

Nell felt sick to her stomach. “Lah, then do something!” she hissed.

“What can I do?” Swarn asked dryly. “If the Faeries wish to depose their King it is not my business. They have thrown their lot in with Nia and it is best that we leave quickly and quietly. Where is your friend, Jalo?”

Nell looked around, but he was not at her side anymore. She spied him standing with a hand on his sword hilt, by his mother’s side, near the front of the dais. Tariro was talking rapidly in his ear. His face was very white.

“I’ll talk to him,” she said.

“Don’t draw attention to yourself,” hissed Charlie.

For a moment the scene on the High Step was pandemonium. The Guards had made clear their allegiance to Alvar but found themselves unable to take hold of their King until Malferio broke every Faery law by beginning to Curse Alvar. Immediately the Faery Guard closed around him. Alvar himself bound the deposed King’s wrists in silver chains and took his sword. Bound in silver, he could neither speak a complete Curse nor work Illusion.

“You will suffer for this, Alvar. You and all you love will suffer for eternity. I promise you,” hissed Malferio.

Alvar met his eyes calmly and did not reply. Emyr and his trembling wife seated themselves in the thrones on the High Step.

“Now is the moment when allegiance should be sworn!” cried Alvar to the Faery throng. “Let us swear allegiance to a king who will not betray us, a king with the interests of the Faeries always in his heart! His Majesty, King of the Faeries, Emyr!”

At first only the High Lords and their startled, frightened wives spoke the Oath of Allegiance, but, after a fierce look from Alvar, the Faery Guard joined in all together, and within seconds the entire host of Faeries in the courtyard were swearing allegiance to the new King.

Emyr rose.

“I thank you from the bottom of my heart,” he said with all the gravitas befitting a king. “My life’s honour is to lead you. I name High Lord Alvar as my First Advisor, and as second Advisor I name High Lord Nikias.”

Thunderous applause broke out among the Faery Guard as Alvar bowed deeply to the new King. Nikias seemed quite stunned, but a number of others noticed the satisfied look on Tariro’s face, registered that Nia’s dress was made of Faery jewels, and drew their own conclusions.

“Are there any requests for the new King?” called Alvar.

Nia, who had stood aside throughout this with her eyes fixed on Malferio like a hawk’s on a mouse, stepped before him now and bowed low.

“Your Majesty, I humbly beg that the criminal Malferio be exiled and given to me.”

“It is done,” nodded Emyr. Malferio looked at his bound wrists and at the High Lords carrying on with the ceremony as if he thought he might wake up at any moment. Nia’s tiger growled, circling him hungrily.

Gautelen stepped back onto the High Step next and bowed before Emyr.

“I ask permission to return to my home of Lil,” she said, her voice shaking with emotion.

“It is done. I dissolve the bond of marriage between you and the former king. Tomorrow you will go home with an escort of the Faery Guard.”

Gautelen bowed again, amber tears of joy falling from her eyes.

Nell was struggling to reach Jalo’s side through the crowd on the dais but Tariro saw her first and stepped in the way, gripping her arm firmly.

“These are Faery matters,” she hissed. “Do not try to sway Jalo, little girl. It will end badly for all of you.”

“I need to talk to him,” begged Nell. Tariro was dragging her towards the edge of the dais and her grip on Nell’s arm burned. As she pulled her right to the edge of the dais, Nell realized with horror that Tariro meant to throw her over.

“Charlie!” she cried, but it came out strangled. The strength of the Faery overpowered her entirely and she could do nothing to free herself.