Page 41 of To Touch A Silent Fury

Derynallis wasn’t here for the games. She knew something: the one thing that made these games different from the others before it. And she knew I knew. I had visited the island after all.

Igestured in a callous way to Tanidwen, as Brascillan bowed to her and their dance ended. It was better I acknowledged it before she turned it into an accusation. “The moon girl has a Fate here, I thought it might be fun to watch it play out.” My words were soft against the lull in music, as the maestros discussed their next tune.

Her yellow eyes flashed, then her smile widened. “Yes, I heard of the girl’s Fate, too. And her powers. Interesting potential.”

She had eyes and ears everywhere; she always had. One of the Threads must have sent word to her after the Ceremony. I shrugged and slurped at the merle. “I thought it was nothing out of the ordinary.”

She studied me, and nodded slowly. “I heard of your report to the king. I do, however, disagree with your assessment.”

I tried not to let my tension display, keeping my shoulders loose as I nodded back to her. “Oh?”

“It is nothing to be worried about,” she said, her smile growing. “We have underestimated the girl. It is easy to do, I know how boys can be around a pretty face. But thankfully for us all, I have not made the same mistake.”

I forced a smile. “We are lucky to have your wisdom. Tell me, what threat do you imagine the girl could pose?”

Tanidwen now danced with another, and I tried not to smile as she failed to keep up with the steps of the young and rambunctious noble from the Tastelands.

“I think,” my aunt whispered, “that it matters little, for she will soon be dead.”

The words were so cold, it took everything in me not to shiver.

I shrugged again. “You’ll need to do better this time. A merchant in Lavendell? Sloppy work.”

She turned to me, a trace of genuine mirth on her face. It was all I needed to know it was her who had sent him. “As Isaid,” she began. “We underestimated her. I will not leave the next opportunity to chance.”

All of this scheming to kill an innocent girl. But there was nothing stopping Derynallis now that she was set on destroying Tanidwen. Whatever my aunt had heard of her powers, it was enough to terrify her.

A small commotion sounded from our left as a glass smashed, and a platter fell to the floor. I watched it, grateful for the moment of distraction to gather my thoughts. Trevalli, the Duc de Fleur, had pushed away from a server and bolted for the nearest door, looking as if he’d eaten something foul.

He must have started on the drink early to be in such a state now. He could barely hold himself up, one hand clutched to his stomach as he gagged into the back of his other hand.

But then I caught the eye of the Thread, who watched the man’s movements with such calculated mischief I was certain he was involved. Creepy fuckers, the Brotherhood.

You’re lucky that wasn’t you,Chae thought.

I could only agree. Forced sickness was one way to dissuade a suitor.I’m offended she puts me in the same league as de Fleur, if that was her bidding, too.

You might not have sunk to his depths, yet—

Yet?I rebuked.

—but it was a good decision. He doesn’t deserve to wed her.

That, I couldn’t help but agree with, too.

I rolled my shoulders as the distraction of the stumbling duke sang its swan song. Trevalli was clear of the room before I heard the first retch. A guard closed the door carefully, and the sound was quickly drowned out.

It was now or never.

“I admire your enthusiasm,” I said to the back of Derynallis’ perfectly coiffed hair. “Though, I had my own plan to Break her Fate. You’ll quite be stealing my thunder.”

What game are you playing, Lang?Chae asked.

My aunt turned back to me, the keen assessment back in her serpentine gaze. “I thought you said she was nothing out of the ordinary?”

I smirked, keeping my face as still as possible. “Her powers didn’t impress me. But she is the only girl of the Brotherhood. She has people talking, wondering. I don’t like it. I came here to make her Fate impossible.”

Princess Derynallis paused for a few awful seconds, and then she laughed. “And I was thinking my brother had taught you nothing, but you do have sense after all.”