Page 19 of The Shadowed Throne (Midlife Fairy Tale #4)

“ W hat is Nazyr doing here?” Ro shook her head as they headed for the holding cells where Nazyr had been put for safekeeping. “I don’t trust him.”

“You have good reason not to.” Gabriel walked beside her, the guard who’d brought the message several paces ahead of them. “We should bring Uldamar in.”

“Do you think that will matter? Nazyr is Anyka’s Minister of Magic. He’s probably as powerful as Uldamar. If he wants to conceal his true purpose, I’m sure he knows how to do it.”

“True.”

She sighed. “If you think we should bring him in, we will. But let’s suss him out ourselves first. You’re a good judge of character.” She glanced at him. He seemed a million miles away. “Are you thinking about your brother?”

Valentyne was in the holding cells as well.

He had yet to go before a magistrate for trial and sentencing, but it was on the books and would happen soon.

It was only because of his help in getting information out of Anyka that Ro hadn’t sent him straight to Tenebrae, the island prison that reminded her of the mortal world’s Alcatraz.

Gabriel nodded. “Do you mind if I check on him after we speak to Nazyr?”

“No, of course not. Have you been to see him since we returned from Willow Hall?”

“Just once. When he was brought here.”

“And?”

Gabriel gave a quick frown. “It’s probably nicer than he deserves.”

She knew the incident still embarrassed him. His brother, a mercenary for hire, had tried to kill her. Sort of. He’d threatened her. And all to take possession of Lady Cynzia’s ashes.

She shrugged. “He did help us.”

“In the end.”

“Better than not at all.”

Gabriel slanted his eyes at her, a slight, amused smile on his lips. “You always see the good in people.”

“Not always. I no longer think Anyka’s redeemable.”

His brows rose. “You won’t get an argument from me.”

They reached the entrance to the cells, and the guard there bowed to her.

“We’re here to question the Grym that just came in,” she said.

The guard was already unlocking the gate.

Gabriel spoke to the guard who had walked with them. “You’ll come in with us.”

“Yes, Lord Nightborne.”

The first guard held the gate open for them. Gabriel went in ahead of her, his hand on one of his many daggers.

Ro focused on the Silversmith dagger tucked into her boot. If there was any danger to her, it would warm up the closer she got to that danger.

She was pleased to see the cells here were larger and less spartan than the cells at Willow Hall, but that made sense, as those were only temporary. This was more of an actual jail, although each village had its own jail as well.

Nazyr was in the second cell. There was a narrow cot with a thin mattress, a single wooden chair with a small table, and a washstand with a bowl, pitcher, and towel.

Nazyr was curled up on the cot, facing the wall, the thin blanket pulled over him.

An empty wooden bowl and spoon sat on the table, along with a pitcher of water and a metal cup.

“Nazyr?”

He turned his head to look at her. He blinked, then he rolled over and sat up. “Sparrow?”

“Show some respect,” Gabriel snapped.

Nazyr quickly nodded, bowing his head. “Forgive me, your highness.”

She frowned at him. “Why have you come here?”

He let out a heavy sigh. “I thought it had to be better than Malveaux. Queen Anyka is…” Another deep breath. “Forgive me if I am reluctant to talk ill of her before I know what you mean to do with me.”

“I don’t know what I’m going to do with you. I have no idea why you’re here or what you hope to accomplish. Are you delivering a message for her? Spying for her? Seeking asylum?”

His head came up. “Would you grant me asylum?”

Gabriel grunted softly, as if that was quite an ask.

Ro almost smiled. She knew he was playing bad cop. Something he did very well and she had no problem with. He was wonderful at making her look good. She moved closer to the bars. The dagger in her boot had yet to react. “You understand that asylum would come with conditions.”

Nazyr nodded. “I would expect nothing less.”

“Before such a thing would even be considered, I would have to know without a shadow of a doubt that you were sincere.”

“Test me however you want.”

“We will. I would also require you to renounce your Malveauxian citizenship.”

He snorted. “I renounce it. I have no desire to return, I swear it on my life.”

That brought to mind another question. “What would Queen Anyka do if she knew you were here?”

He paled slightly under the warmth of the hanging lamps. “She would probably have me killed.”

“Where does she think you are?”

“In the woods, gathering magical supplies. I left word that I would be gone a few days in order to buy myself some time.”

He seemed sincere, but this was the same man who’d romanced her, gotten what he’d wanted, and disappeared without a word. Trusting him would take a great deal of time and work. “Do you really think there’s a place for you here?”

“I hope so. I don’t need much. I will go wherever you send me. I am not a young man, but there must be something I can do. Farm work? A shop in town? The stables? I want very little. Just a life beyond…”

He swallowed and bent his head. “I cannot go back there.”

“Tell me why. I need to understand what has driven you to this.”

He nodded. “Anyka is mad with power. Saying that alone would bring her wrath down on me, but it’s true. I will warn you now, there is a fog coming this way. It’s troll magic, but it was created at Anyka’s behest.”

Ro didn’t let on that this wasn’t new information. “Why would she do that?”

“She told the people that you had stolen Lady Cynzia’s grimoire so that you could lift the curse on Malveaux and take credit for it, but when you’d done that, you’d caused a terrible imbalance in the powers of light and darkness.

All because it was Grym magic and not something you understood.

She warned the people this imbalance would cause something terrible to happen. ”

Gabriel stepped closer and grasped one of the bars. “So she created that terrible thing to prove herself right.”

Nazyr nodded. “Yes. She asked me to create a spell that would spread disease throughout the kingdom and to create the antidote for that disease as well so that she could then offer it to the people and gain their affection.”

“Why didn’t you?” Ro asked.

“That’s not an easy thing to do, even with my powers.

She wanted to keep herself and her chosen ones safe, another added complication.

And she wanted it quickly. I was working on it, but it wasn’t progressing fast enough for her.

She has a little power, enough to do simple things, but she has no understanding of the work and study real magic takes.

I thought if I prolonged her wait, she’d move on to something else.

Instead, she got tired of waiting and asked the trolls’ stonecaller to help. ”

“Stonecaller?” Ro looked at Gabriel.

“A troll witch.”

She nodded and went back to Nazyr. “So you were going to cast a spell that would spread a plague through your kingdom?”

“You must understand, your highness. I was trying to create something that would do what she asked without being fatal. Without causing serious or lasting injury to anyone. I was trying to protect the people as much as I could. That’s why it was taking so long.

Do you think I wanted to hurt anyone? I grew up in Dearth. I have friends there.”

“Family?”

He shook his head. “Not since my mother passed a few years ago. I have a sister, but she moved to Yarne.” He exhaled.

“I told Anyka she overstepped. That she’d gone too far.

I said things to her that I shouldn’t have, but I had had enough.

That’s when I made the decision to leave. To take my chances here.”

He looked at the cell around him. “Even being imprisoned in this cell is better than being her magical lapdog. I will not go back to her. If you toss me out, I will keep going until I put as much distance between myself and that mad queen as I possibly can.”

His eyes had gone fiery.

Ro needed to know more. “What happened at Willow Hall?”

He moved back, a look of terror taking over his face. “She almost killed me then.”

Gabriel frowned. “Why? You helped her find the book, didn’t you?”

“Yes, I did. And for that she repaid me by forcing me to summon her mother’s spirit from the Beyond.

During the summoning, Anyka got overwhelmed and disobeyed my orders not to break contact.

I believe the spirit attempted to enter her.

Worse, Anyka clawed at me when she was trying to get away, breaking my skin.

That allowed her mother’s spirit to enter my body. It nearly killed me.”

Ro grimaced. “You were possessed by the late queen?”

“Yes.” He shuddered. “It was horrifying. I can tell you with absolute certainty that Anyka’s madness and her bloodlust for power come from her mother. The spirit inside me would have taken over Anyka if given a chance. She thought she could possess her daughter and retake the throne.”

Ro’s lip curled. “She sounds nice.”

“If that had happened, you would not have survived. Leda would have killed you the first chance she had.” He almost seethed with emotion. “I worked very briefly for Anyka’s parents. I saw what they were capable of. Leda poisoned the queen before you. And her sons. She absolutely did it.”

Ro went silent. The mention of the queen’s sons brought JT to the forefront of her mind.

Nazyr rubbed at the stubble on his chin. “I know what you’re thinking. That I’m here because of the boy.” He shook his head. “I’m not, I promise you. I know you don’t want me in any part of his life, nor do I deserve it.”

“Those are both true statements.”

“Had I known …”

“What?” Ro said sharply. “You would have stayed? Married me? We both know that isn’t true. What happened, happened. My son is the best thing that ever happened to me, which is quite a miracle considering you were the worst.”

Nazyr hung his head, and Gabriel stepped back.

Ro grabbed hold of the bars. “You will have nothing to do with him. Nothing.”

Nazyr nodded and smartly stayed silent.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do with you. For now, you will stay here. I won’t send you back. Yet.”

“Please,” he whispered. “I’d rather you hang me than send me back.”

She wasn’t about to do that, either, but she didn’t tell him otherwise. She turned to Gabriel. “I’m done. I’ll wait at the gate for you.”

“I won’t be long.” He headed deeper into the cells.

She returned to the gate, and the guard there walked out with her. She spoke to the guard on duty. “Who is in charge of the prisoners’ well-being?”

“Captain Galemorn. He’ll be here at first light, your highness.”

“Will you see him?”

“I will.”

“Tell him to give the Grym exile another blanket and a pillow. Whatever food he wants and plenty of water. I want him treated well.”

“Yes, your highness.”

Gabriel came through the gate. He motioned to the guard who’d walked with them. “You’re dismissed.”

With a nod, the man left, and they walked back to her quarters.

“Can I ask what you’re thinking?”

“You can ask,” she answered. “But I’m not sure I have a clear thought to give you.”

“He sounded convincing.”

“He did. But he could have been using some kind of persuasion spell, too.”

“Is your dagger in your boot?”

“Always. It never warmed once.”

“Good sign.”

She eyed him. “You think I should let him stay.”

He shrugged. “I know what that regime is capable of. My family escaped it. There is part of me that understands him.”

“I get that.” She’d figured as much.

“Doesn’t mean I think he can be trusted.” They were alone in the corridor. Gabriel reached out and took her hand as they walked. “Whatever you decide, I will support.”

“I’m not sending him back. I know that much. It would be foolish. I don’t doubt for a moment that Anyka would kill him.” Ro shook her head. “He seemed so broken. At least with him gone, she’s somewhat handicapped. Right?”

“I don’t know about that. Chances are she’s already got the Vice-Minister of Magic hard at work on whatever her next scheme is. But she’ll take it personally when she realizes Nazyr is gone for good.”

“That’s something.” They were almost at her door.

He let go of her hand and lowered his voice. “Are you going to tell Prince James?”

“I have to. He’ll hear it soon enough, and it’s not the kind of thing I want him finding out from someone else.”

“Very true. Do you want me to get Uldamar down there? See what he can find out?”

“Not tonight. We have enough to worry about for tomorrow. Let’s take care of that, then we’ll deal with Nazyr.

A few days in that cell to think won’t be a bad thing.

He’ll either regret what he’s done or stand more firmly in his decision.

Either way, it might help me figure out what to do with him. ”

“I hope that’s the case. I’ll see you in the morning, your highness.”

She sensed that had it not been for the guards at her door, Gabriel would have kissed her good night. The thought made her smile. “Until then, Lord Nightborne.”