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SORA

CITY OF RAHWAY, YUSAN

I t was a tense night, and now it’s an equally tense morning. We all decided to act like nothing happened in hopes that the traitor will slip up and reveal themselves today. But as we sit at a sumptuous breakfast with Gambria and Fallador, they seem normal. I study her, and I just… I can’t tell.

Mikail is eyeing her, too. He had questions for me last night, but I’m convinced the walls have ears here.

I knocked on them, and Mikail did the same.

We couldn’t prove any were hollow spying walls, but instincts shouldn’t be ignored.

I said we’d take a walk today and I’d tell him anything he wanted to know.

He picked up on the fact that I recognized Misha, so he wasn’t fooled by my act.

He wasn’t supposed to be, though—just Rune.

The western count waltzes in as soon as I think of him. Gambria, Mikail, and I all stand. Eventually, Royo does, too. Aeri and Fallador, as royalty, keep their seats. Decorum first until the end of the realm.

“Good morning,” Rune says. “I trust you all slept well.”

He’s suave—freshly bathed, wearing a gold-embroidered jacket and his diamond collar.

Most of us are in the same clothes as yesterday.

The tailors measured us a bell ago, and they are working on new attire.

Aeri, of course, is in the second dress she picked up in Rahway.

It’s white and gold with a pearl neckline.

“The baths were delightful,” she says.

Well, that much is true. It was nice to be able to soak in the tub…before the murders.

I search the western count for a reaction, and it’s slight, but there’s a tell. His left eye closes just a little.

He clears it almost immediately, maintaining his carefree air as he takes his seat. “I’m glad you thought so, Your Majesty.”

“Something wrong?” Mikail asks.

He pierces a slice of mango with his knife. I tried everything on the table, and nothing was poisoned. Everyone is famished enough to eat, but they are still hesitant as they poke at eggs and corn cakes.

Rune sighs as servants make him a plate from the array of dishes. “My guards discovered palace assassins on the grounds last night.”

Fallador’s eyebrows rise as he sips his coffee. “Really? From Qali?”

“Indeed. Stranger still was that they were already dead when we found them in the hedges.”

We didn’t mention the assassins to Gambria or Fallador, and their shock is genuine. At least, I think it is. She pauses with her fork midway to her mouth. Fallador clangs his cup in its saucer.

“The gods work in mysterious ways,” Mikail says. He taps his walking stick and slices apart a fried egg. The yolk bleeds onto his potatoes.

“Ah, so it was you,” Rune says. He splashes coju into his orange juice. It’s a choice at nine bells in the morning. “Very well. I am glad you took care of them and no one was disturbed last night.”

Gambria’s eyes narrow slightly. Is that a tell, or is she simply annoyed with Mikail for not mentioning anything?

She catches me staring and lifts her eyebrows.

“Could you please pass the congee?” I ask. It’s over on her left. The dishes were all prepared to be served family style, which made it easy for me to sample for poison.

Gambria smiles pleasantly and reaches for the bowl.

“I received eagle post this morning with news that should interest you all,” Rune says.

Everyone turns toward him. The count takes his time sipping his drink. Of course he loves this, keeping us on edge and painfully waiting.

He delicately sets down his glass. “The Queen of Khitan lives, along with General Vikal. The queen rules from Quu and has signed a treaty of everlasting peace with Wei. I am told the priest king of Wei drowned or was variously slain in the harbor along with the general of his guards; however, his son now rules. Bay Chin perished, as did the general of our palace guards. However, no one seems to know if Joon is dead or alive. He is certainly not confirmed dead, no matter what rumors Seok spreads.”

Gambria sits back in her chair, her face awash with relief. Mikail’s face doesn’t give away anything, but I know he must be vexed that Queen Quilimar still breathes.

“To the death of one tyrant,” Fallador says. He stands and lifts his coffee.

The rest of us stand and raise our glasses to the death of the king of Wei.

As we lower our drinks, there’s a split-second look between Fallador and Rune. It causes the little hairs on my arms to rise as my senses go on alert. They know each other—it was the glance of co-conspirators.

We retake our seats, and I shake off a chill.

We’ve been accusing Gambria, but what if Fallador is the spy?

By being in the room with Mikail in Gaya, we didn’t suspect him, but he knew where we were staying in both locations.

He’s charming and friendly, but he lied to Mikail for years.

It could be him. That could also be how Rune knew we had the scepter.

“Does the news change your plans?” Aeri asks Rune.

“Not at all, Your Majesty. Forces loyal to me are already marching on Tamneki. We will meet them in the capital and take back the throne from Seok. If your father is alive, we will be there to support his claim and oust the usurper.”

What did he just say?

Everyone stops eating. Six pairs of eyes blink at Rune.

“Wait, you want to work with the guy who wants us all dead?” Royo asks. He’s speaking out of turn, but he can’t help himself. King Joon alive would mean we die as traitors, but Rune wants to align with him.

Rune sips on his coju and juice. “Is there anyone who hasn’t tried to kill you all?”

There has to be someone, but the list isn’t long.

Mikail shrugs. “A few.”

“An imposter sits on the throne of Yusan,” Rune says.

“Should Joon have survived the battle in the harbor, he will have not only the Immortal Crown but the support of the king’s guard.

You have a shared, immediate goal of taking down the enemy.

Shared needs make for an alliance, no matter how great the rift. ”

“And once Seok is dead?” Mikail asks.

“I marry Naerium, and then we arrange for a quiet end to Joon. The rest can be sorted later.”

He waves a careless hand, but the details contain our fates. Royo grips his steak knife so hard, I worry he’ll snap the ivory handle.

Yet Rune’s wave reminds me of the last time I was here, when we were plotting to kill the king. I put down my spoon.

“Your Grace,” I say. “If I may?”

“Of course, Sora. What is on your mind?” He smiles as his eyes undress me.

I ignore it.

“The last time I was in Rahway, when I asked why you were helping me, you said, ‘Isn’t it obvious.’ What did you mean by that?”

Rune smiles. “You have quite the memory.”

I stare at him, not letting it go. He was the one who told me that Seok intended on destroying me, even if I succeeded. That Tiyung was supposed to kill me.

Rune finishes a bite of egg and corn cake, once again stalling.

“I thought that you were aware of my history with Seok and the questions surrounding Tiyung’s parentage. I was mistaken.”

He catches me sipping my juice. It takes all of Madame Iseul’s etiquette training not to spit it back into my glass. What did he just say? Did he just imply that Tiyung is not Seok’s son?

My fingertips grow icy as I process the thought.

Rune smiles, swirling his glass. “What you have to understand about the high nobility, my dear, is that there aren’t many of us.

The greater your rank, the more that’s true.

Princess Naerium is in rarified air. As am I.

As are Seok and Joon. To make things worse, we were around the same age as young men, which means we were courting the same women.

The web gets tangled quickly when there are so few players. ”

I’m listening, but I’m trying to jump ahead and figure out what this has to do with Tiyung.

Rune must realize I am not following him, so he continues, “The Countess of Gain, formerly Olivia of Pact, was engaged to me before she ran off with Seok. There was a rumor that Joon also fell in love with her and wanted her hand—I don’t think that’s true, however.”

I shake my head. “But what does that have to do with Tiyung?”

“Olivia and Seok married quickly. Less than a year after she was sharing my bed, in fact.”

Aeri’s eyes widen. Royo sucks in a breath. They must realize what he’s saying. But I am lagging behind.

One corner of Rune’s mouth lifts. He’s enjoying my confusion almost as much as he’d enjoy my torment.

“You don’t find it curious that Seok has only one child?” he asks. “I always have. This realm requires heirs. I have four sons. Bay Chin had six sons and many daughters. And Dal fathered five girls before finally having a son. But Seok only has Tiyung…if that. I find that both strange and obvious.”

My stomach twists with a sinking feeling, my left ear ringing.

Kingdom of Hells, Rune is saying that he fathered Tiyung.

Memories of the last time we were in Rahway swim in my head.

The way he insulted Ty at dinner had seemed oddly personal, but at that point I didn’t care.

Yet, for the reasons Rune just stated, I have always wondered why Tiyung was an only child.

“I hope that answered your question, Sora,” Rune says with a grin.