Page 41 of The Shadowed Throne (Midlife Fairy Tale #4)

R o kept a close watch on the time. Nazyr’s hour of truth was nearly up, but he had been exceptionally helpful.

“Again,” he said to those gathered. “The best I can tell you is that she loves poison and she loves magic. Her own skills are not very strong. She can do minor things, but the craving for power and the willingness to do whatever it takes to get that power rule her. If she had her mother’s skills, you would all be dead by now. ”

Some of the professors bristled.

“That’s not meant as a threat,” Nazyr said. “I’m just stating a fact.”

Ro wasn’t bothered by his words. She knew they were true and not just because he was compelled to be honest. “So you think she’s most likely to attempt to kill me with poison or magic?”

Nazyr frowned. “I don’t see how she could get poison into your system. You’re not likely to eat or drink anything she gives you.”

“Not a chance.”

Nazyr’s eyes narrowed. “She might attempt to pass it to you through contact. I’d be very careful about letting her or any of her party touch you.

Or any of your party. I wouldn’t even accept a gift from her.

She might bring something under the guise of it being a peace offering, only for you to find it’s laced with poisons that seep into your skin after you accept it. ”

Ro grimaced. “Good point.” She looked at the rest of them at the table. “No one takes anything from her or any of her group. Whoever ends up going needs that drilled into them.”

“You could wear gloves,” Professor Cloudtree said.

Ecclesia slanted her eyes at him and snorted. “Gloves made of what? Leather? Wool? Do you think there’s a fabric strong enough that magic can’t get through? I could craft a spell that could do that before my mother sent me to school. The Grym is right. Touch nothing. Accept no gifts.”

Ro swallowed. Gabriel’s brows went up, and he gave Ro a look. Ro nodded. Ecclesia had gone from making Ro believe her powers were not much to talk about to making Ro very happy that the old woman was on their side.

She went back to Nazyr. “Is there anything else you think we should know?”

He thought a moment. “Who picked the meeting location? Whose idea was it to use Tenebrae?”

“Anyka’s idea,” Ro answered.

“It should be thoroughly inspected, inside and out, before you even step foot on the dock, your highness.”

Gabriel nodded. “Already planned for that. We’ll even have a pair of Wyvern doing overhead observation.”

“Good,” Nazyr said. He hesitated. “If you want to rattle her, to really upset her, you could take me with you.”

“Not a chance,” Gabriel said. “You spent years loyal to her. We can’t risk that you might still be working for her.”

Nazyr made a face. “I am not working for her. Magic compels me to tell you the truth, but even if it didn’t, I would say the same thing. I want nothing more to do with Anyka, her madness, or the kingdom of Malveaux.”

Ro held a hand up. “It’s good to hear you say that, Nazyr, but bringing you along isn’t a good idea for a variety of reasons.” First and foremost being that it would give Uldamar’s charade away immediately. “I appreciate your willingness to offer yourself.” She motioned to the guards.

They came forward and stood on either side of Nazyr.

She nodded at them. “Take Mr. Marwood back to his quarters.”

“I could help,” Nazyr said as he stood.

“You already have.”

The guards guided him toward the door. “If I’d known about the baby, I would have stayed.”

The room went uncomfortably silent as Nazyr left. Ro stared at the table. As far as she knew, he was still under the truth serum, so he was telling the truth. But it didn’t matter. The past couldn’t be changed. Nor would she want it to be.

Everything that had happened had led her to this moment. She didn’t have time to look back. She took a breath and raised her head. Every eye was on her. She stared right back at them and ignored what Nazyr had said. “With what we now know, what’s the plan for this meeting?”

Gabriel, bless him, jumped right in. “As I mentioned, we’ll have the Wyvern doing observation overhead, but it would be best to get an advance team onto Tenebrae and do a thorough search ahead of time. There’s no telling what Anyka might have planned as a backup.”

“I agree with that. And she can’t stop us from doing it.” She glanced at the other professors. “Can she?”

Professor Denwood shook his head. “Tenebrae is equally owned by both kingdoms, so both have equal jurisdiction. If we want to send a team there, it’s well within our rights.”

“Could we send a team right now? Get them there early to keep an eye on things? In case Anyka has the same thought.”

“Yes, absolutely, your highness. I can get that done today.”

“Get it done as soon as this meeting ends. Please,” Ro added with a smile. “For all we know, Anyka’s already got people there.”

“I will,” Martin answered.

Professor Cloudtree raised his hand. “Your highness, does that mean you plan on answering Anyka’s letter and telling her you’ll be at the meeting?”

“It does. Why? Do you think that’s not the right move?”

“Far be it from me to tell you what to do, my lady, but you could always say no.”

Ro knew that, much like Gabriel, Spencer Cloudtree wanted to protect her.

He was a friend and a staunch supporter.

“You’re right, I could. But that would only cause her to hatch a new scheme.

The beauty of this opportunity is she doesn’t know I know her real intentions.

I want to use that to put an end to this once and for all. ”

“Do you mean to … kill her?” Spencer asked.

“No!” Ro shook her head. “My perfect end goal would be for Anyka to be arrested for trying to kill me. Or for plotting to kill me or whatever makes the most sense. I can have her arrested on Tenebrae, can’t I?”

“It’s equal parts Summerton and Malveaux, so yes.”

“Good. I’d like to see her tried, convicted, and imprisoned for a reasonable amount of time. Many, many years. Enough that, hopefully, she decides to change her ways.”

Gabriel grunted. “You are too kind. Anyka will never change her ways.”

Martin nodded. “I agree with Nightborne. The day Anyka becomes peaceable is the day she’s buried.”

Ro rested her elbow on the arm of her chair and leaned her head on her hand. She’d been afraid of that. “All the same, I have no plan to spill blood. So you’re going to have to come up with some other way for me to deal with her.”

Ecclesia was winding her silver chain around her finger. “I’ll work on a good protection spell for you. Something with layers.”

“Would you be able to do one for my son, too?”

“Yes. Same spell,” Ecclesia said. “I’ll just duplicate it.”

“Thank you.”

“Sparr—Your highness,” Gabriel quickly corrected. “You cannot take Prince James. That is clearly a setup.” He looked at JT. “You cannot go, your highness.”

“I have to,” JT said to him. “I don’t show, and Anyka will know something’s up. Especially when my mom’s already said I’m coming.”

“I haven’t said it yet,” Ro said. “But I was going to. I need to write up my reply and get it sent.”

Gabriel shoved his chair back, got up, and paced toward the far wall. “None of this is a good idea.”

“Agreed,” Martin added. “Your highnesses, please, you are putting yourselves at too great a risk.”

Ro had had enough. Irritation edged her voice as she spoke. “Then what would you have me do? Live in fear of Anyka for the rest of my life? Leave her for my son to deal with?”

She stood up and planted her hands on the table. “I have had enough of this woman. I am going to meet her in two days’ time, and when I leave Tenebrae, I do not want to have to deal with her again. Do I make myself clear?”

When no one responded, she went on, straightening and erasing the anger from her face.

These were good people who were trying to look out for her.

“I know you want to keep me safe, but safe accomplishes nothing. It will only postpone the inevitable. This confrontation with Anyka has to happen. Don’t you think it’s better that it happens when we have the upper hand? ”

“I’m with you,” JT said.

“You’re right, your highness,” Gabriel added. “We may never have this advantage again.”

Spencer nodded, but he looked sad. “We cannot lose you, your majesty. You or your son. That outcome will not be acceptable.”

“Not to me, either, Professor Cloudtree. Which is why we need to do everything in our power to see that the outcome is what we want it to be.” She sat back down.

“You are all highly intelligent and incredibly talented. There is no reason we can’t best Anyka.

Nazyr is proof that her people can’t all be happy, and when you’re not happy, you don’t do your best.”

Martin shifted in his chair, leaning in to rest his arms on the table. “Your highness, it would be best if we look at this as a tactical maneuver.”

“Works for me.” Ro glanced at her son, who nodded at her. She gave him a quick wink. The idea of meeting with Anyka and her circle was somewhat terrifying, especially when she thought about JT getting hurt, but this had to be done.

“I will give you my absolute best guards.”

“I’d expect nothing less.”

Ecclesia nodded. “Whatever you need from me, I’ll make it happen.”

“Thank you,” Ro said.

“If it’s all right with you, your highness,” Spencer said, “I’ll go to the archives and pull the plans for Tenebrae. Might be useful knowing more about the structure.”

Ro smiled. “That’s a great idea.” She lifted her hand. “But first, let’s start by getting a letter written to Anyka, accepting the meeting. Then we can get into the planning of how it’s going to go down.”