Page 31 of The Shadowed Throne (Midlife Fairy Tale #4)

R o walked with Gabriel and Uldamar to see Nazyr, but it had already been decided that Gabriel would stay out of sight. He was merely there in case Nazyr tried anything. The man might be incarcerated, but he still had magical abilities.

A smartly thrown dagger would put an end to those.

Nazyr was reading on his bed when they approached, a single candle burning in a stand for him to see by. Ro wasn’t pleased with that, but she understood that giving him a lantern filled with oil was too much of a risk at present.

“Nazyr.”

He closed his book and got to his feet, brushing at his hair as he bowed. “Your highness.”

At least there were two blankets on the bed and a decent pillow. “How are you?”

“I am as well as can be, I suppose. The food has been good.” He lifted his head. “Has Anyka made some kind of move?”

“Nothing yet that I’m aware of. Please, sit. Be comfortable.”

He sat, hands clasped in his lap. “She will. It is only a matter of time.”

“I don’t doubt that. What else can you tell me about her?” A guard brought chairs for Ro and Uldamar, so she took a seat.

Nazyr hesitated. “Whatever you want to know. I’m not sure what you’re looking for.”

“To get to know her better, I suppose. To understand how she thinks.”

He laughed bitterly. “If you could understand that, you’d be as mad as she is, because make no mistake, she is mad.

Her mother was, too. Probably born a little that way but most likely because of all the dark magic she performed.

Leda, Anyka’s mother, lost herself to it.

Anyka may have been touched by the darkness in the Beyond, too. I’d bet my magic on it.”

“Why would Anyka want Lady Cynzia’s diary then? Or did she not know that’s why her mother was … the way she was?”

“She knew,” Nazyr said. “But Anyka is as power-hungry as her mother. No, that’s not true. She wants power more. She thinks it’s owed to her because of what happened to her parents. She would have used that book to destroy Summerton.”

Uldamar glanced at Ro. She understood. “What’s Anyka like personally? How did she treat you?”

Another derisive snort. “Most of the time like I was beneath her. She’s an odd one.

She can sometimes surprise you with a kind word, but as quickly as that happens, she can snap at you.

Her moods are capricious. Even her uncle, Ishmyel, doesn’t get special treatment.

About the only one who does is her pet raven, Galwyn. No one else is immune.”

“What about Princess Beatryce?”

“Anyka is more permissive with her, but at the same time, she only abides so much.” He shook his head. “I know you’re planning something. If you tell me specifically what you need to know, I will help you. I will do anything not to be sent back there.”

Ro took a few breaths before responding. It wasn’t like he could warn Anyka. At least, she didn’t think he could. “If you help us, you will be rewarded.”

He blinked, eyes brightening. “Anything you need. Just tell me.”

Uldamar leaned forward. “Is there anything of value in your quarters that you would like returned to you?”

Nazyr’s eyes narrowed, then he laughed. “What does it matter? Anyka isn’t about to do a trade, regardless of what you offer her. Does she know I’m here then?” His amusement faded as he glanced at his cell. “She can’t get in here, can she?”

He stood suddenly. “Do you trust all of your guards? Is there any chance one might be a double agent?”

“Nazyr, our guards are vetted, and none of them would work for Anyka.” Ro believed that to be true because she knew neither Denwood nor Gabriel would allow it.

“Tell Uldamar how to find your quarters and if there is anything you’d like from them.

If it’s possible, we’ll do our best to make it happen. ”

He sat down. “In my desk, there is a hidden drawer underneath the center drawer. You have to turn the knob to the left to release it. In that drawer, there is a book of poems, a gift from someone very dear to me. I would very much like to have that back. I was a fool to leave it, but I was rushed and…”

He swallowed, glancing away.

Uldamar nodded. “A book of poems. Anything else?”

“Nothing that matters so much as that.” Nazyr met the old wizard’s gaze again.

“The best way to deal with Anyka is to agree with everything she says. Let her believe that you are completely on her side and that everything she does is genius. Argue with her, present another side, question her ideas, and you will fast become her enemy.”

He scratched at his stubble. “I never should have told her how I really felt. I should have kept my anger and frustration to myself, but I had reached a breaking point.”

“I’m sorry you went through that,” Ro said. “But certainly, Anyka’s ways were nothing new. You’ve been her Minister of Magic for many, many years.”

“And I have managed to temper much of what she’s wanted done. If you think I just blindly went along with her, you’re wrong. I’ve done what I could over the years to work against her. If you think that was easy, you’re wrong again.”

Ro started to wonder if her presence was upsetting him. She was, after all, a reminder of why Anyka had become so agitated lately. She put her hand on Uldamar’s arm. “I need to step out for a bit. You stay.”

He nodded. “Very well.”

Ro walked back toward the entrance to the cells. Gabriel was by the door. She gestured for him to open it, and they stepped outside, letting the guard on duty close it.

She kept walking, and Gabriel stayed at her side. When they were far enough away to have some privacy, she spoke. “Did you hear all of that?”

“I did.”

“He seems sincere.”

“He does. What are you thinking?”

“Something I don’t know if you’ll agree with.”

Gabriel smiled. “Try me.”

“He obviously cannot be sent back.”

“No.”

“And he shouldn’t really be kept here.”

“Probably not.”

She tucked a strand of hair behind one ear.

“What do I do with him then? How do I find a safe place for him, out of the public eye, where he can live his life without any of us worrying that he might be the target of an attack? Because once Anyka finds out where he is and what he’s done, she will want revenge. ”

Gabriel nodded slowly. “I don’t doubt that, but he isn’t the first Grym to leave Malveaux.”

She knew he was speaking of himself and his family, as well as others who’d come. “Yes, but have any of those other Grym been as highly ranked or as closely linked to her?”

Gabriel pursed his lips. “I see your point.” He crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes in thought. “Maybe I could find a place for him at Starfall.”

Ro’s mouth gaped open. “Really? I wasn’t asking you to?—”

“I know.” Gabriel shrugged. “But he’s Grym, and I guess that gives me some empathy for him.

Unexpected, I might add, but I understand him.

It would get him away from the palace and JT, as well.

But not so far away that I couldn’t keep an eye on him.

There will already be guards there to watch Valentyne. They could be on alert for Nazyr, too.”

“I would be all for that. Thank you.”

“I’m happy to do it. Well, maybe not happy …” He smiled. “You know what I mean.”

“I do.” She glanced back at the door they’d just come through. “Are you going to see your brother?”

“Probably should.” His smile vanished. “He’s such an idiot. I wish he’d never done what he did.”

“I know.”

“Actions have consequences.” He shook his head, staring at the ground. “And he’s beyond old enough to know that.”

Ro had a thought. “What if he was designated an indentured servant?”

Gabriel looked up. “You wouldn’t put him to work here? At the castle?”

“No. But I was thinking maybe one of the marula farms or a trillianite mine. He is supposed to know something about them, after all.” Even Gabriel had believed his brother was in Yarne, managing a mine there.

Gabriel nodded. “I want to say he’d probably be thankful for the chance and not get into any trouble, but I’m done vouching for him.”

“What if the trillianite mine he worked was also at Starfall? I’d have Denwood assign a pair of guards to babysit him.”

“That, I would be all right with.” Gabriel planted his hands on his hips. “You’re not trying to get me to spend more time at Starfall and less time here, are you?”

She laughed. “No, definitely not.”

“Just checking.”

The door to the cells opened, and Uldamar walked out. They both looked at him expectantly as he joined them.

“How did it go?” Ro asked.

“Very well. I have everything I need, including the portal key for the Castle Hayze interior portal. I am ready to leave for Malveaux.”