Page 57

Chapter 57

Kat

I wake in Rahk’s bed. There is no sign of him in the empty room. Uneasiness crawls over me like dozens of small bugs. I throw off the covers, grab a robe, and hurry out of the room. I run into Mrs. Banks first, a basket of dirty laundry in her long fingers.

“Have you seen Rahk?” I ask.

“No, my lady,” she replies curtly, skirting around me to return to her work.

I charge down the hallway and find Edvear returning from early morning market with a large canister of fresh milk and several packages of butter for Charity. “Where is Rahk?”

“Is he gone?” asks Edvear. His ears turn back. “He is usually in his study around this time or monitoring the situation with the Wood.”

I did not check his study. I know instinctively, however, that he is not there. Still, I hurry there, clutching my robe at my chest, knowing exactly what I will find and yet terrified to find it.

The door is closed. It wails when I push it open. Morning sunlight streams through the window. The same window those assassins tried to break into so many weeks ago.

It is empty.

Except . . .

Two notes lie on the desk, along with a wrapped package. One is addressed to Edvear. The other is addressed to me.

Edvear appears behind me. Wordlessly, I hold up his letter. He takes it, a knot forming in his brow as he breaks the seal and scans it quickly. Then he spits a dark curse.

“He has gone back to Faerieland,” he growls. “For good.”

I sink into Rahk’s chair. I told him to leave. It is good that he is gone.

So why does every inch of my skin feel as though it is being ripped from my bones? Why do invisible knives carve into my chest? Why does it seem as though I will never take another breath into my hollow lungs again?

“What am I supposed to do with this?” Edvear cries, his own distress evident by his flattened ears and his wildly gesturing hand. “I kept asking him when we were leaving, but he never told me! How am I to dismiss all this staff with no certainty they will find other positions? Charity cannot easily find jobs that let her bring Becky with her. I would never forgive myself if I left them in a vulnerable position—all because Rahk demands we sell the estate as soon as possible and return to Faerieland at the drop of a hat!”

“He said to sell the estate?” I ask dully.

“As if that will happen quickly! What a mess! And Lady Duxbury Vandermore sent notice that she intended to call on you once they were settled in their new residence.”

“Just let her call,” I say with a shrug. No need to tell her no one will be here.

Edvear suddenly seems to pause, to realize I am sitting there, and his mouth falls open. “What are you going to do? Has he promised to visit you?” He nods at the note I hold.

I have not opened it yet. Still, I swallow and say quietly, “He will not visit me.”

Edvear stares at me. Then he storms out of the study, and maybe part of me softens when I realize he is furious at Rahk on my behalf. If only Edvear knew the truth.

I stare at the letter in my hand. At the precise, elegant flow of my full name scripted in ink. Do I want to read it? Am I brave enough?

I might not be brave enough, but I am definitely stupid enough. I break the seal and begin reading.

Dear Kat,

I had planned to celebrate your birthday with you by picnicking by the creek and playing a game of Fool’s Circle in the sunshine. Then I was going to suggest you ride Bartholomew through the fields while I flew along beside you, so we could share our favorite things together. It was not much, but it seemed like what you would like.

I am sorry for leaving you. Even though you told me it was the only option, I know you did not want it. I fear that you will be miserable today, but I trust that it will pass soon enough. You have a large heart that loves easily. I am sure you will find someone who shares my preference for women who cannot keep their mouths shut even when their lives depend on it—and women who cook up schemes of dressing like young boys for dubious reasons. I am partial to Lord Oliver, as jealous as I am even writing that name, but I know you will have more than enough options. Stay clear of Boreham and Alsbee. I probably should have just relieved them of their heads before leaving Harbright, though I hear that is illegal.

This letter is getting too long. I meant only to apologize for missing your birthday and to assure you that, for a mixture of reasons I do and don’t understand, my leaving is for the best. And to tell you that, even though I may live for thousands of years to come, as long as that life continues, I will never forget you, Kat. Neither do I regret meeting you.

Enjoy your present.

Rahk

I can barely read the swirling words on the page by the end. I sniffle, wiping my wet nose on my sleeve. He truly is gone. I asked him to leave, and he left. That forehead kiss was the last he will ever give me. And I will never see him again.

My fingers are numb when I reach for the wrapped box. I peel away the paper to find a case of polished wood inlaid with pure gold leaf. I flip the latch and open the case to find a new Fool’s Circle board. This one is full sized, like Rahk’s, but the pieces of one side are made of solid gold, while the others are pure silver. The Fool itself is inlaid with diamonds, his hat covered in tiny emeralds, and his coat and shoes made of rubies. The board, with its spaces carved with lines of gold, is made of luminescent mother-of-pearl.

The whole thing is worth a fortune. A true fortune. This belongs in the queen’s vault. Not my hands.

I shut my gaping mouth. He knows I will never use a board like this. He knows I prefer simpler things. But I think he did this on purpose—to give me something I will keep locked away. Something I will never lose, break, or be parted from.

For all that he speaks of me loving again, he is afraid I will forget him.

“Have no fear,” I manage around my thick throat, “there is no chance of that happening.”

Mary knocks on the study door a moment later. She doesn’t have to say anything. She simply comes to my side and gives me a hug. Then she heads in the direction of the bedroom, and I know she means to begin packing.

I join her and get to work.

I focus on my busy hands. There is no room here for thoughts or, even worse, emotions. My entire existence is wrapped up in these bodices that I carefully arrange in a large trunk. Only when I pack my two Fool’s Circle boards and strategy guide, does a scrap of longing make it past my defenses.

Mercifully, that longing is rudely interrupted by horses thundering down the estate’s driveway. Mary and I exchange a look. I get to my feet and hurry to the window. “Warriors from the queen.”

“Why did the queen send warriors here?” Mary asks cautiously.

I hurry out of the bedroom. Edvear meets me as I head out the front door. I bid him stay inside in case the sight of another fae complicates matters. The warriors pull their mounts to a halt and one leaps down.

“Lady Vandermore?” the knight asks.

Vandermore. Not Varadirth.

“Yes?” I pull my shawl around my shoulders. “What is the matter?”

“We have been sent by the queen to ensure your safety after what the fae did early this morning.”

“I am safe,” I answer quickly. “Did Rahk do something?”

“He kidnapped His Highness, the Prince of Harbright.”

“What? You cannot be serious. Surely the prince is safe now?” My mind reels, trying to put the pieces together. This must have been about Ymer. Rahk must have taken him to tell the troll to leave—but Rahk never would have hurt the boy!

“We recovered him. He is safe, my lady.”

Good.

I try to bite my tongue, but I cannot help asking: “Is the troll gone?”

“Um, well, it is impossible to know at this time if he is gone for good, but he appears to have left Harbright. For now.”

I hide my small smile. Rahk did it after all. And I would bet my life that he was gentle with that prince in the process. “Well, in that case, please send my thanks to the queen for her generous care, and please tell her that I am perfectly safe.” I pause, hesitating. Then I give up. The queen is going to find out—it might as well be from me. “You can also tell her that . . . that I am returning to Vandermore Manor and intend to dissolve my marriage with—” I cannot get the last word out. I blink quickly and force a smile. “It was not because he mistreated me or anything. He had to return to Faerieland for good. The marriage simply cannot work.”

The knight shifts his weight, as though uncomfortable with this personal of a message to return to the queen.

I give him an earnest, “Thank you. Please ride safely on your return to the palace,” to shake him out of his confusion. He nods quickly, bids me a good day, and hops on his horse.

I return to the house to continue helping Mary pack. After giving explanations to at least three people, of course, about what the knights wanted. I resume filling trunks.

At this rate, I’ll survive until my Nothril raid. I might even survive beyond it, and if I’m living away from Rahk, then I might just be able to continue my work.

Who am I fooling? No matter where I am in the world, Rahk is still hunting me. He all but caught me last time. I glance at the small chest on the bookshelf—the chest where Rahk keeps his supply of ollea . It would be so easy to steal his last bottle. It would make the Nothril raid so much easier.

When Mary steps out for a moment, I get up, move toward the chest. I flip the lid.

Empty.

He took his last bottle before he left.

I sigh as I close it. This is for the best. If Edvear had taken his things back to him and a bottle of ollea was missing, it would look suspicious.

It’ll be a miracle if I can succeed.

I think of the three people I did not get out of the Star City. I think of the frightened woman I met the last time I was at Nothril, breaking out Lord Nothril’s slave girl. I think of my own mother, who endured horrible things because of me.

I will succeed at this raid. Even if it costs me my life.