Page 50

CHAPTER

Fifty

S UNUR TOOK A long time to open it, and when she did, she was still half asleep. Her hair was mussed and she was missing her glasses. “Where’s Cain?” she asked, peering blearily over Neema’s shoulder. “Why aren’t you shagging in a bush somewhere?”

“He’s gone to bed. The Hounds beat him up.”

“What, why?” This woke her up. “I’ll fetch Tala…”

Neema paced the living room as she waited. A solitary lantern gleamed on a low table, revealing a room in cheerful disarray, Suru’s toys and picture books scattered about the place. A reminder of why she was here, when her body was crying out for sleep. She found some whisky, and poured herself a shot.

“Make yourself at home,” Tala said, striding through from the bedchamber. She sounded annoyed. The Bear Trial was scheduled before the fights tomorrow morning, and it was notoriously challenging. “What’s this about Cain? What did he do?”

“He didn’t do anything.”

Tala looked dubious.

They sat down together, Tala and Sunur on a day bed, Neema on a footstool, legs folded under her. She sipped her whisky, scratchy eyed with exhaustion. “Katsan confessed to stealing the Blade of Peace.”

Their jaws dropped in unison. It would have been funny, in different circumstances.

“There’s a boat leaving at dawn to take her to the mainland.” She looked at Sunur. “This is your chance.”

“For what?” Tala said, confused.

Sunur turned to her wife. “I told you—there’s something wrong about this place. I think we should leave—the three of us. Go home.”

“Sunur…” Tala rolled her head back. Clearly, they’d had this argument before. “We’re safer here together, as a family. There’s riots on the mainland—”

“That’s not true,” Neema said. “They’re lying to us.”

“Why would they do that?”

“To trap us here.” Sunur rubbed her arms, anxious. “The Leviathans, the Hounds. We’re prisoners, Tala…”

“Oh, Eight give me strength and remain Hidden. They’re here to protect us, Sunur. This is you, isn’t it, playing games?” Tala looked angrily at Neema. “All that crap about not wanting the throne. And now you’re winning Trials, and chopping Katsan’s arm off. Of course she wants me to run away,” she said, to Sunur. “I’m her nearest rival.”

Neema dropped her unfinished whisky on the table. “I’m not suggesting you should leave, Tala.”

The two Oxwomen stared at her.

“You’re a contender. They won’t let you go. But there’s a chance for Sunur and Suru. Please—I know you don’t trust me, but—”

“You’re right.” Tala got to her feet. “I don’t trust you.”

Neema got up too. “Follow your instincts, Sunur,” she said, as Tala pushed her towards the door. “Bribe the captain. Whatever it takes.”

“Get out.” Tala shoved her out into the corridor.

“Tala wait, sorry.” Neema cringed, hands up. “One last thing.”

“Fuck the Eight, Neema. What ?”

“ Sorry , but I didn’t cut Katsan’s arm off. It’s just that her injuries were so catastrophic they had to…”

Tala slammed the door in her face.

“… amputate,” Neema said, to the vibrating door.

She walked away, taking a lantern from the wall.

Better out than in, Neema.

Sol. She’d almost forgotten he was there. —Yes! Thank you. At least someone understood.

She opened the door to her antechamber. A note was lying on the floor. She picked it up. It was from Gaida’s servant Navril—the list of attendees she’d requested from the afterparty. “Sorry for the delay,” he’d written along the top.

Neema read her way down the list. Raven courtiers, contingent members, Gaida’s friends. She knew she’d find his name, and there it was, near the bottom.

Contender Havoc Arbell-Ranor.

He’d confessed without realising it, in the throne room. I spoke with Gaida after the opening ceremony. Gaida had come straight back to her apartment, to host the party.

Who’d ordered him to kill her? The emperor? Vabras? Either way, he’d made his way over to the Raven palace, told a few anecdotes. Tipped the poison in her tea. Two kisses on the cheek. “Wonderful evening, Gaida, good luck for tomorrow.” Then spent the night training with his contingent.

“Bastard,” Neema said, and crumpled the note in her fist.

Her rooms were quiet without Benna; Neema had grown used to her bouncing about the place. She wondered if Ruko had kept to his word. “Be safe, go well, Benna Edge,” she murmured.

Pink-Pink, tail wrapped around the bed post, hissed in alarm as she approached.

“Pink-Pink,” Neema said, dismayed. He hadn’t hissed at her in years.

What is that thing, Neema? What is it doing here? I don’t like it, it shouldn’t be here.

—He doesn’t like you either, Neema replied, clambering into bed. Sleep was waiting for her there, ready to drag her under.

Sol puffed up, proudly. Nobody likes me, Neema. I am the Solitary Raven, loathed and abandoned, spurned by all—

Neema snored lightly, her body a dead weight, face planted in the pillow.

Sol roosted on her rib, eyes closed. He was thinking about Neema and the Fox contender. There were many mated pairs in the flock, he understood such things, he had studied them. Neema was loyal to her mate, this was natural. She would not betray him.

Sol curled his claws tighter around Neema’s rib. I shall fix this for you, Neema. We can be alone again. Alone together. Sleep on, sleep on. I have a plan and it is magnificent.