The Unmaking (The Last Days of Tian Di, #2)(81)

“You need to disappear,” said Tariro.

A brown hand on Tariro’s bejeweled arm stopped her. Tariro let go instantly and Nell fell at the Faery’s feet, gulping for air.

“Your part is done,” said Swarn. “We will leave peacefully.”

“Sooner,” said Tariro, “is better. The escort is ready.”

“It is late and we need rest,” said Swarn. “We will go at dawn, as arranged.”

Tariro looked about to protest but Swarn held her gaze a moment and Tariro thought better of it. She nodded assent. “Dawn,” she said.

Still sprawled on the ground between Swarn’s legs, Nell saw Nia crossing the swaying bridge to the dais and approaching them. The Faeries stepped out of her way hurriedly, creating a path directly to Swarn.

“Swarn,” Nell gasped to warn her, but Nia was upon the witch before she had a chance to prepare herself. They stood eye-to-eye for a moment and a hush fell over the Faeries. Even the ceremony on the High Step halted as they all watched to see what the Sorceress Nia would do to Swarn, the Warrior Witch.

“It’s tempting to satisfy our audience and have a tremendously dramatic battle right here and now, isn’t it?” said Nia lightly. “But I think they’ve had enough excitement for one night, and I don’t like to take my eyes off of that snake for too long.” She glanced back at Malferio, who was watching, his hands chained, as if it were a preview of his own end. Her tiger guarded him closely.

“I had to trap him,” Nia continued, “like a little rat. I had to come into his hole after him. But I think I can count on your honour, Swarn. An admirable quality, if that’s the sort of thing one admires. If I ask you to meet me at the Hall of the Ancients the day after tomorrow, will you come?”

“I will come,” said Swarn. And then, as if she could not help herself, she said through gritted teeth, “Your slaughter of the dragons was unnecessary and barbaric.”

Nia raised her eyebrows and laughed at that. “I just wanted to see what it was about killing them you always seemed to enjoy so much,” she replied. “I’ve concluded it’s a vastly overrated pleasure. I was surprised and disappointed, though, at the way you scurried off. I trust I won’t be disappointed again?”

“You will not,” said Swarn.

Nia nodded and cast a brief glance at Nell and Charlie and Ander, who had grouped around Swarn. “The company you keep,” she said, with a roll of her eyes. With her gown of jewels clinking and twinkling she strode back to the High Step. The white tiger pounced, its great mouth closing over Malferio’s head. As he screamed threats and showered incomplete Curses upon all his former subjects, the tiger dragged him down the steps after the Sorceress, across the petal-strewn courtyard, and out the crimson doors, which opened before them and closed with a thunderous bang. Thus ended the reign of Malferio, King of the Faeries for a thousand years.





Chapter


20

“You’ll come back soon, won’t you?” asked Rom, hugging his daughter goodbye. The question was taut with fear.

“Soon,” she said.

“It’s the Day of Forgiveness, you know,” he added, and almost managed a smile. Eliza had lost track of the days and was faintly surprised to find Winter Festival already upon them. The Sorma did not celebrate it the way Northerners did.

“I’d forgotten,” she said.

“Forgive me.” His voice broke on the word forgive.

“For what?” asked Eliza, incredulous.

“For not being able to protect you or do this for you,” he said.

Eliza shook her head, not sure if she wanted to laugh or cry. “This is just the way it is,” she said. She had long since forgiven him for letting her childhood go. What other choice had either of them had?

“How is Ma?” she asked. “Is she still...?”

Rom nodded. “She’s quieter now. Not sleeping yet.”

“It’s my fault. What we did to Nia’s beast. I broke it the way she was broken.”

“She’s strong, Eliza. Like you. She’ll be all right.”

Eliza embraced her grandmother and grandfather and all her aunts and uncles and cousins, and Uri Mon Lil shook hands with them all. Then they mounted their dragons and flew north, leaving the Great Sand Sea and the remains of the Kwellrahg’s body behind them.

It was early afternoon when they reached the Citadel. The grounds looked black from above, filled with waiting ravens. As they landed, Eliza felt the Citadel recognize and welcome her. She realized, to her surprise, that it almost felt like home. She was terribly tired and she wanted to run to her bedroom, lie down and sleep. But that was impossible. The body of Anargul’s dragon lay collapsed in the grounds, surrounded by ravens, and it grieved Eliza to see such a noble creature lying dead. The bodies of the Cra were also scattered here and there, their hearts cut out. Eliza did not look at them.

“What has happened here?” whispered Uri Mon Lil, looking around. “Oh, this is a dreadful place.” He looked at Eliza fearfully.

“Wait here with the dragons,” said Eliza. “I willnay be long.”

Eliza made her way through the empty halls of the Treasury. Finding the place she sought, she laid her hand against the cold marble of the wall. Before she had even whispered a spell, a door opened before her. The Citadel was on her side, inviting her into the large, torch-lit room. The Vindensphere sat, unharmed, on a black cushion atop a round, stone table. She wrapped it in her coat and left the room. The Citadel allowed her to go – she was no thief. This was the will of the Citadel, also.