The Unmaking (The Last Days of Tian Di, #2)(84)

“You dinnay have to,” insisted Nell. “You just have to...help her enemies a little. Please, Jalo. We need to speak to the new king.”

“You should forget these matters and stay here,” said Jalo again. “You will be made comfortable, I will see to it. You could be the first Engineer of the Faeries, teach us to build flying machines. If you want to bring your family also...”

Nell smiled ruefully. “I dinnay think your mother wants us here,” she interrupted him, refraining from adding that Tariro had tried to throw her off the dais the night before. Now that Swarn was not here to offer protection, she wanted to move somewhere safer as soon as possible.

Jalo flushed slightly and said nothing. She felt rather badly for raising what must be a thorny family issue. “It doesnay matter,” she said. “I’m asking you for help, Jalo. Please.”

He met her eyes and nodded firmly. “I will do whatever I can to help you,” he declared.

“We have to speak with the King. Our first plan is still a good one. We just need his approval.”

“He is newly crowned,” said Jalo, “and thus terribly busy...” He saw Nell’s face curve down into an angry frown and sighed. “I will try.”

“You’re the son of the Second Advisor now,” pointed out Charlie. “You must have some influence.”

“Yes,” said Jalo darkly. “I suppose I do.”

~~~

The King’s Castella was in uproar, with so many morrapi coming and going that from a distance it looked like a tiny castle in a snow globe. The vast household and many belongings of Emyr, the new King, were being transported in. The King was speaking with his two advisors in a pleasant pavilion in the Royal Gardens when Jalo arrived.

“It is a pleasure to see you, Jalo,” said Emyr, in a somewhat too Kingly way. “We have just been discussing your brother’s promotion!”

“Ah,” said Jalo, bewildered.

“Head of the new King’s Guard,” said Emyr brightly. “Splendid, eh? Of course, there will be a fine position for you, as well, should you wish it.”

He beamed at Nikias, who looked delighted and more than a little out of his depth.

“I thank you, Your Majesty,” said Jalo, bowing. “If I may...I have come to see you regarding an important matter. The peace that has been made with the Sorceress Nia.”

Emyr sighed. “We had no choice, Jalo. It is for the best.”

“The best for whom?” Jalo asked this rather heatedly, then calmed himself. “The Faeries too may find themselves reaping some of the chaos to come if Nia is not stopped. Though she herself may not enter this Realm again, there is no telling what an unbalanced world will lead to. The Warrior Witch is not strong enough to fight Nia alone, but with the help of the Faeries...”

“We have sworn an oath!” said Emyr. “The battle with Nia was always Malferio’s, not ours. We are well rid of it. Let the witch and the Sorceress settle matters between them alone.”

“What of the Mancers?” Jalo pressed on. “I volunteer personally to lead a small group of Faeries to Di Shang. Perhaps we may recruit some witches or wizards to assist us and try to break the Curse upon them. This need not be an official mission, but rather one that is close to my own heart, as it will lead to the protection of my friends. May I have your permission to do this, your Majesty?”

“Jalo!” exclaimed Nikias. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

Alvar responded gravely. “Why would Faeries help Mancers, Jalo? There has never been friendship there. It is best you stay here. There is much to do in building this new kingdom and we could use a fine mind such as yours.”

“I beg you to reconsider,” said Jalo stiffly, directing his words to Emyr rather than Alvar. Alvar looked annoyed and stepped back, shooting a hard glance at an anxious Nikias.

“It is not in our interests,” said Emyr simply. “The humans should leave and let that be the end of it. You should concern yourself with Faery matters, as befits your rank. Enough trouble has come to us from relations with outsiders.”

“Your Majesty,” began Jalo, his throat suddenly quite dry. “Think of the havoc Nia’s victory will lead to...”

“I have spoken, Jalo,” said Emyr harshly, leaning forwards. “Do not shame your mother and father by asking me again for what I have already refused.”

Nikias looked quite alarmed by this. Jalo bowed deeply and left them.

~~~

Nell could see as soon as Jalo returned what the outcome had been. She grabbed his hands and looked up into his sad, handsome face.

“So they willnay help,” she said. “But you can help us, Jalo. Take us to the Hall of the Ancients. We can rescue Swarn, aye, get her to the Citadel. It might still be possible.”

“I dinnay recommend going anywhere near Nia,” said Charlie. “We need to get to Di Shang quickly, find Eliza, and bring her back here where she’ll be safe.”

“I agree,” said Jalo unhappily. “I fear there is little we can do for the witch. And I think your Sorceress friend will have to keep a low profile here. Outsiders are going to be particularly unpopular for a while to come.”

“We cannay abandon Swarn. She’s our friend too!” cried Nell. “Sort of, lah. We dinnay need to fight Nia, just grab Swarn and get out of there.”