Page 29 of The Shadowed Throne (Midlife Fairy Tale #4)

U pon returning to the castle, Ro gave her council orders to draw up a similar treaty for the neph as they had for the Wyvern, giving them a quick explanation of the changes. She left them, satisfied that they would take care of it.

She walked with Gabriel toward her quarters, about to order a late lunch and send for JT so she could fill him and Violet in. Uldamar walked with them.

Gabriel glanced back, as if making sure they weren’t being followed. “We still have the matter of Nazyr to deal with.”

She nodded. “I know. You think Anyka knows he’s gone yet? That he’s defected? That could create even more issues.”

“I haven’t heard, but I’ll reach out to my sources and see what I can find out.”

“Excellent. I’m pleased with how things went with the neph, but I feel much more wary of them than I did the Wyvern.”

“Trust your instincts, your highness,” Uldamar said from behind her. “Until an alliance is signed, there is nothing to stop them from changing their minds.”

“Except that they really want new portals,” Ro countered.

“True, but unfortunately,” Gabriel said, “that’s something Anyka could provide them with just as easily.”

“I know.” They reached the royal apartments. Ro spoke to the guard on duty outside her door. “Send word to Prince James and my aunt that I’d like to speak to them here. And have the kitchen send lunch for at least six. Lord Nightborne will be here, so you can go.”

“Yes, your highness.” He nodded and left to deliver her orders.

Before Gabriel could open the door, loud snoring came through JT’s door, which was adjacent to Ro’s. Gabriel made a face.

Ro grinned. “That’s Mrs. Wigglesworth.”

Gabriel laughed and opened the door. “Is she going to want lunch?”

“Why do you think I ordered for six?” They went in, passing through the foyer and into the sitting room. “I’m going to freshen up a bit. Make yourselves at home.”

Uldamar sat. “Thank you, my lady.”

Ro was just about to go to the bathing room when Benny came running toward her, meowing. She scooped him up. “What is it, Benny boy? Did you miss me? Or did you just wake up and realize you were alone?”

He tucked his head under her chin and purred, making biscuits on her arm.

She held him close. “I missed you, too.”

She stood there, letting his purr vibrate through her and thinking about how she hadn’t seen any animals while visiting the neph. Plenty of animal depictions but nothing she would have considered pets or livestock.

Why was that? Did it have something to do with them being changelings? Were they untrusting of animals, thinking it might be another neph in disguise? She’d have to ask Uldamar. He might know.

She turned slowly toward the sitting room. Uldamar. A thought began to form in her head. She shook it. No. It was too much to ask. She kissed Benny and set him down, then went into the bathing area and freshened up.

The thought stayed with her, still there when she walked back into the sitting room. Aunt Violet was nodding at something Uldamar was saying, Posey at her elbow.

“How did you get here so fast?”

Violet looked over. “Posey and I were on our way up. We passed the guard you sent. I had him tell the kitchen to add another for lunch. I hope that was all right.”

“Yes, of course.” Ro went over and hugged her aunt.

Violet laughed as she and Ro separated. “Missed me, did you?”

“Just good to be back.” Ro gave Posey’s hand a squeeze. “Good to see you, too.”

JT and Raphaela came in as Violet and Posey were taking their seats. “So, Mom? How did it go? Did you do the deal?”

Ro nodded. “The council is drafting alliance paperwork as we speak.”

His grin went ear to ear. “Outstanding work. I knew you’d do it.”

“Thanks. Come sit. Join us.”

“Okay, but we just got done training. I could probably use a shower.”

That explained the hair plastered to his forehead. “Go ahead, then. Raphaela, you’re free to go, too. I’m sure we’ll be fine with your father and Uldamar here.”

Posey gestured toward the door. “Vincent is standing guard currently, since there was no guard there when we arrived.”

“Then we’re all set,” Ro said.

Raphaela nodded. “Thank you, your highness. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

When they’d gone, Ro looked at Uldamar. “I guess my brain is too busy with other thoughts because it only just occurred to me that the reason you were so easily able to take on the appearance of Queen Anyka when we were at Willow Hall is because of your neph blood. Am I right?”

He nodded. “That is true, your highness. There is definitely magic involved, but my bloodlines make mimicry far easier for me than most. Probably more accurate, too.”

“Amazing. That’s quite a gift to have.”

“It is. One I rarely use, however.”

She took a breath, wishing she’d never had the thought she’d had. “What I’m about to ask of you is huge and risky and I will completely understand if you say no, but how would you like to take another crack at it?”

His brows lifted slightly. “In what way, my lady?”

She pressed her hands to her knees. “Uldamar, I am exceptionally fond of you. Know that I would never want to put you in danger without good reason, but I was thinking…” She couldn’t get the words out, knowing what she was about to ask him to do.

He smiled gently. “You want me to go to Malveaux as Nazyr.”

She quickly shook her head, even though that was precisely what she’d been about to ask him. “It’s too much. Too dangerous.”

He leaned forward, his smile holding. “It’s ingenious. Not only can I impersonate him, thanks to my abilities, but they will also allow me to mimic his magic, should the need arise. A brilliant plan.”

She was a little sorry she’d brought it up. “Uldamar, I cannot lose you. I know this was my idea, but I was kind of hoping you’d say no.”

He laughed. “Well, I am not. I am saying yes of my own volition.”

She looked at Gabriel, who’d yet to say a word. “What do you think?”

“I think it’s incredibly dangerous, but if anyone can pull it off, it’s Uldamar. It could gain us invaluable insights into what Anyka’s planning next.”

She glanced at Violet and Posey, both of whom looked slightly stricken. “I know,” Ro said quietly. “It’s still a lot to ask.”

Somehow, Uldamar’s smile remained. “If you could do it yourself, would you?”

Ro didn’t hesitate. “Absolutely. Why? Do you know a way to transform me into Nazyr?”

“That is not happening,” Gabriel snapped.

Uldamar held up his hand. “No, it is not happening. I would never want you in that danger, your highness. But if you would do it, then why shouldn’t I? Especially since I am most qualified.”

She managed a tiny smile. “Because I will worry about you from the moment you leave until the moment you return.”

He put his hand to his heart. “And I will rest in the knowledge that my queen thinks so highly of me.”

Lunch arrived, and they all went quiet as the footmen carried trays into the dining room.

After the footmen left, before any of them moved, Ro asked Uldamar one more question. “You’re sure you want to do this? It’s okay to say no.”

He nodded. “I have long wished to serve my kingdom in some greater capacity. I am sure.”

JT had just come back in, wearing fresh clothing, hair damp. “Sure of what?”

Ro looked at her son. “Uldamar is going to Malveaux disguised as Nazyr.”

JT’s mouth fell open. “That is brilliant. Uldamar, you really think you can pull that off? I mean, obviously you can or you wouldn’t do it, but wow. Impressive.”

“Thank you, Prince James.”

Ro got up. “Let’s eat and figure out everything we can do to make Uldamar’s mission as safe and successful as possible.”

They went to the table and took their seats, settling in to piles of warm, toasted meat and cheese sandwiches, platters of hot roasted vegetables tossed with herbs and oil, cold salads, and fruit tarts for dessert. Glasses were filled with either water or blackberry lemonade.

Raphaela joined them before anyone had taken more than a few bites.

The food was good, and Ro realized she was hungrier than she’d thought. She gestured at Uldamar with half a sandwich. “Anything you need, and I mean anything, to make this mission successful, you just ask.”

“I will.”

Gabriel swallowed. “You’ll need a good story. Why has Nazyr been gone so long? It can’t just be that he was out hunting for supplies, can it?”

JT shook his head. “I think you should say you saw a Summerton patrol and hid, thinking you might be captured.”

“That’s not bad,” Ro said. “Let’s them know we’ve got guards out there, keeping an eye on things.”

“That would work.” Uldamar wiped his mouth with a cloth napkin. “I should leave as soon as possible. But I’d like to speak to Nazyr before I go. To get another feel for his speech and mannerisms. See if there’s anything useful he can tell me.”

“You got it,” Ro said.

“Thank you. I’d like you to come see him with me, your highness.

I think he will open up more to you. That you’ll be able to draw him into conversation more easily than I.

Specifically, I’d like to know more about his magic, his place in the palace, his relationship with Anyka, anything that might help me pass. ”

“He might not tell us as much as you think,” Ro said. “Not without me promising him something.”

“I thought of that,” Uldamar said. “And if he helps us, I’ll help him in return. I will be in his quarters, after all. There must be something there he wasn’t able to bring with him. Something I could bring back.”

Ro nodded. “That might just do it. We’ll go after lunch.”