Facets of power, p.13
Facets of Power, page 13
part #3 of The Dragon Portal Series
“I’ll make sure she doesn’t fly away, Sabine. Pretty please?” Blossom pleaded, clasping her hands together and fluttering her wings wildly.
“Go ahead, but try to keep out of trouble,” Sabine said with a smile.
With a loud whoop, Blossom took off down one of the hallways. Rika paused long enough to dart a grin at Sabine and Malek before following the pixie. Sabine stared after them for a moment, but it was difficult to share their enthusiasm. Her thoughts kept straying to Bane, locked away and temporarily out of her reach. She needed to talk to him. Unfortunately, they needed to play Razadon’s political game first.
Turning back toward Dagmar, Sabine asked, “Do you know when the council will be meeting?”
“I’m not sure,” Dagmar said, glancing at the entrance door. “They probably wanted to wait until you finished the ritual. I’ll send a runner to find out. I’ll also have my cousins arrange to have a meal prepared for you. Is there anything you don’t like? Mum said the Fae eats lots of plants. Is that true? We have some really tasty lizard recipes, and we can stuff them with plants.”
“Perhaps a variety of things would be best,” Sabine said, considering Malek’s heavier meat-eating tendencies. “I’d like to check on my demon friend at the earliest opportunity. Would you know where they’re holding him?”
Dagmar bit her lip. “He’s probably being held in our prison. Um, I can try to figure out how to put in a request, but, um…” She leaned closer and whispered, “I’m not supposed to go there since I’m not part of the Warrior Guild. I think you need to talk to a council member to arrange a visit. Do you want me to send someone a message?”
Sabine hesitated. “Yes. Can you send a message to Astrid? Let her know I’d like to speak with her at the earliest opportunity.”
Dagmar blew out a breath, her shoulders slumping in relief. “Whew. I can definitely do that. Some of those warriors who run the prison get really grumpy. I’ll run over to Astrid’s steward and arrange everything so you can meet with her. If you need anything while I’m gone, just touch the crystal and say my name.”
Sabine nodded at her, and Dagmar headed out of the room. Malek walked over to a large silver table. Several rolled parchments and a few packages were sitting on top of it.
He picked up one of the boxes and asked, “What are these? They just appeared out of thin air.”
Sabine frowned and approached him. He was holding a square box covered with dark-blue paper. It had been etched with tiny silver stars, which sparkled in the light. She took it from him, a trace of glamour coating her hand from the shimmering effect. She smiled and rubbed her fingertips together, impressed by the sender’s talent in crafting such an illusion.
“It’s a coronation gift,” she murmured, opening the box and finding a small crystal globe. She picked it up, staring in wonder at the living world contained within the globe. It was a piece of the Silver Forest, forever preserved by the magical containment embedded within the crystal.
The trees glowed silver in the moonlight, and the dark-blue sky contrasted sharply against it. A splash of colors from the rare flowers that dwelled there completed the captivating effect. Sabine ran her fingers along the crystal, allowing the magic that had lovingly crafted such a gift to flow over her.
Malek reached into the box and pulled out a small card. He studied the elegant script and said, “It’s from Averia and her family.”
Sabine smiled at her childhood friend’s name, unsurprised such a treasure had come from Averia’s family. “Go ahead. You can read it.”
Malek opened the card and said, “Dearest Sabin’theoria, we have long awaited the day you would return to Faerie and take your rightful place. Knowing this day has finally come fills us with unrepressed joy. We wish you continued good health, prosperity, and a swift end to your enemies. We remain forevermore your faithful servants and allies.”
Sabine placed the globe back in the box, trying to suppress the unease that filled her. She ran her fingers along the edge of the box and murmured, “Then it’s begun.”
“What?”
She lifted her head to meet Malek’s gaze. “All of Faerie knows I’m in Razadon. These gifts and messages are from people who are seeking my favor. Lines will be drawn, alliances will shift, and my father will make plans to redouble his efforts to kill me. Be careful opening any more of them. Some might be traps.”
Malek scowled and tossed the card back inside the box. “What can we do to mitigate the damage?”
She shook her head. “At this point, I don’t know. We either have to ride the wave or be crushed beneath it. By announcing to the dwarves I’m the Unseelie queen, I’ve set things in motion that can’t be undone. My situation is even more precarious now.”
“That’s why Balkin hid you away in Akros and not in Razadon,” Malek guessed aloud, picking up another scroll and glancing at the sprawling script before putting it back down unopened.
She nodded and closed the box containing Averia’s gift. “If I had gone to any location where the first races dwelled, word would have gotten back to my father. Balkin chose Akros because it was close enough to Faerie so he could check on me without arousing suspicion, but it’s also far enough away to avoid running into anyone who might have ties to the Fae. No one would have suspected I was hiding in a mostly human city.”
Malek took her hand in his and ran his thumb over it. “All right. We need to reassess our priorities. I’m assuming rescuing Bane is at the top of it.”
She nodded. “Yes. Not only does he mean a great deal to me, but I need his help. Balkin trusts him, and Bane understands the inner workings of dwarven politics far better than I do. While we’re here, we should be safe enough from my father, but we can’t risk staying too long. My father may have spies among the Unseelie who are seeking to curry his favor. They’ll likely be arriving in person within a few weeks, if some aren’t here already.”
Several more rolled parchments and a few packages had materialized on the table while they were talking. Out of curiosity, she picked up one of the notes. Not sensing any malicious magic, Sabine broke the seal and scanned it quickly. It was another message praising her ascension as queen. The author also insinuated they would be interested in forming an alliance.
The name at the bottom wasn’t familiar. She frowned, suspecting it was likely from one of the lesser nobles who had little dealings with the court. She dropped it on the table and rubbed her temples. Balkin would know which of these families could help strengthen her position and which ones were liabilities. In the meantime, she could have Dagmar or one of her family members sort through them and prioritize each message. Her mother had used a trusted advisor to handle such matters, but Sabine hadn’t expected to need one so soon.
Malek frowned. “Where are they coming from?”
“We can’t navigate the in-between without doorways, but Faerie has a way of transporting items and notes. Pretty soon, we’ll be inundated with hundreds of messages and requests.”
Another note appeared and Sabine stilled, recognizing her family’s crest. She picked it up and broke the seal, but it was blank. Sabine took a shaky breath and ran her hand over the parchment, removing the intricate glamour masking the contents of the message. Her heart dropped into her stomach as she read it.
My foolish queen and daughter of my heart,
Are you mad? Have you completely lost your mind? While I’m enjoying seeing the frenzy your pronouncement has made upon the Seelie court, you are not in a position to formally claim your throne. I can only assume the situation must be dire for you to have taken such action. You have announced to the world you are now a threat.
Renewed attempts to end your life will likely be forthcoming, even from those you are currently seeking shelter with. Do not trust anyone.
I’m sending a trusted representative and honor guard to assist with damage control and also to manage your holdings there. They will leave within the hour, but it may take weeks for them to arrive. In the meantime, I will do what I can from here.
Stay well, my darling kitten.
- Balkin
She showed the message to Malek, and his expression darkened as he read it. When he finished, she walked over to a candle and set the parchment on fire. She dropped it on a tray and watched as the smoke billowed, destroying the paper and message it contained.
Malek stared at it, his jaw hardening. “More assassination attempts than what we’re already dealing with? The Wild Hunt’s parked outside the damn door.”
“Yes, which is why we can’t wait around for this honor guard,” Sabine said, turning away from the ashes. “Let’s locate the bedrooms and figure out how we’re going to free Bane.”
She headed down the hall toward the bedroom suites and began opening doors. All the bedrooms contained similar elegant furnishings. Toward the end of the hall, she opened the last set of double doors and paused inside.
A large sunken living area with lounging chairs and low-seated tables took up the majority of the space, but it was the artwork that captured her attention. Incredible murals painted with rich tones lined the walls, the edges inlaid with gold, silver, and precious gems. In between each panel were flowering vines she’d never seen outside the Silver Forest. The deep green colors were interrupted with splashes of silver, and the energy contained within those plants filled her with a pang of homesickness.
Everywhere she looked, she caught sight of another reminder of home. From the elegant craftsmanship of the crystalline accents to the deep blues and silver tones of the décor, it was as though she was back at her mother’s palace.
Laughter trickled out of a side door. Rika and Blossom stumbled into her bedroom a moment later, wide smiles on both of them.
“This place is amazing!” Rika said, her eyes bright with excitement. “There’s a huge underground spring in the other room, and there are plants everywhere. Blossom said the flowers here can sustain her for years.”
“Barley spoke to me, Sabine!’ Blossom shrieked, throwing her hands upward in a cheer. “I can talk to all my brothers and sisters. The plants are all from Faerie!”
“That’s wonderful news,” Sabine said with a smile and held out her hand for Blossom to land. The lock of hair Sabine had gifted her had been woven into a necklace and matching bracelet. “If you speak with your family, I’m going to need you to keep abreast on the happenings in my father’s court. Balkin sent a message warning us to expect trouble.”
Rika’s smile faded. “We’re still in danger?”
Sabine nodded. “Yes, but we’re all going to be cautious. While we’re here, we all need to play certain roles. Between the four of us, we should be able to appeal to the different groups within Razadon. Our first priority is to free Bane. After that, we'll need to figure out a way to avoid the Wild Hunt. They can't pursue me while I’m in the city, but they'll be waiting for the moment I step outside.”
“What do you want us to do?” Rika asked.
“To start, I’d like you to act as my lady-in-waiting,” Sabine replied, wishing she’d had more time to coach Rika. “We’ll need to improvise much of it, but this should allow you to intermingle with the servants. I’ll explain to Dagmar your training has just started, and I need her assistance to guide you. That should put you in a position to overhear gossip while you shadow her.”
Rika nodded. “I can do that. I don’t think Dagmar’s much older than me. We should get along fine.”
Sabine smiled at her and then turned to Blossom. “I’d like you to try to locate the council members and listen in on their conversations. You have the best chance of getting close to them.”
“That sounds like fun!” Blossom said immediately, but her smile faded a moment later. “Will my glamour work here? When we were in Karga, I couldn’t get close to their magic crystals without them detecting me. Will they be able to find me here?”
Sabine frowned. “I’m not sure. You’ll need to be careful to avoid detection. I’ll give your magic a boost, which may help, but it’s no guarantee. If you speak to the goddess, she may be able to tell you how to travel more easily to various places within the city. My mother told me there were doorways to the in-between in Razadon that were still active, but she didn’t know their location.”
Blossom nodded. “I think the cave trolls are sort of like pixies. We share similar magic. They might talk to me if I can find some. Maybe they know about the doorways or the super-secret ways to sneak around.”
“That’s a good idea,” Sabine replied and then turned toward Malek. “I don’t have any right to ask you to help me, Malek. Our bond doesn’t make you beholden to me.”
“You’re not asking me anything,” he said, taking a step toward her. “I’ve already established myself as a trader, sweetheart. I can work my contacts here to get information about Bane’s situation. If there’s a way to free him, we’ll find it. In the meantime, it might be best if I remained at your side. You're a remarkable power, but even a queen usually has a bodyguard.”
A wave of relief rushed through her. “How much do you know about Razadon and dwarven politics?”
Malek hesitated. “Probably not as much as you, at least not in dealing with the council. My interactions with them were a bit on the shady side.”
She frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Dwarves view things like smuggling differently than other parts of the world,” Malek admitted with a shrug. “Bartering, negotiating, and bragging are cornerstones of dwarven culture. They’re willing to overlook a great deal of underworld dealings if it’s profitable. If anything, they respect creativity when it comes to commerce.”
“That’s why you’re one of the few traders who’s allowed to enter the city,” she mused, regarding Malek in a new light.
He chuckled. “Yes. My reputation has been carefully cultivated. I’ve met a few of the councilors, but they mostly went through intermediaries when they were buying or selling items. Hargrim Icemail was my sponsor each time I’ve entered the city. He’ll probably be drinking at his favorite pub later tonight. I can meet up with him then. He might know something that can help, and if not, a bribe will certainly encourage him to find out.”
“What’s a sponsor?” Blossom asked.
“If you’re not a dwarf, you must have someone currently living in Razadon sponsor you for the duration of your stay. If you do anything wrong or commit any crime, they accept responsibility.”
Blossom blinked at Sabine. “Is Dagmar your sponsor?”
Sabine shook her head. “I don’t believe so. My family’s position changes the dynamic. I know Dagmar’s beholden to my family through the treaty signed generations ago, but I don’t really know much beyond that.” Sabine blew out a breath and rubbed her temples. “Navigating the ins and outs of this political mess is going to be a nightmare.”
Malek pressed his hand against Sabine’s back. Turning toward Blossom and Rika, he asked, “Have you two finished exploring?”
“Not yet,” Rika said with a grin. “We still have to check out the servants’ quarters. Everything here is amazing.”
“All right. Why don’t you two go finish investigating?” Malek suggested. “We’ll need to finish ironing out the details soon enough, but I think Sabine could use a break before the council is convened. I also need to speak with her about some private matters.”
Blossom saluted him. “Aye, Captain! We’re on it! If there are any spies or traps in our midst, we’ll find and eliminate them!”
Both Rika and Blossom grinned at each other and raced out of the room.
Malek’s mouth twitched in a smile. “I don’t think Blossom was kidding about hunting down any threats. At least they’re enjoying themselves.”
“I think Rika’s pretending more than anything. She’s worried about Bane,” Sabine said and studied the room again. She walked to one of the closed doors and opened it to find a large bedchamber. The bed itself was positioned in the center of the room and had been crafted from the boughs of a tree from the Silver Forest. Her breath caught, and she ran her hand up the carving, feeling a tingle of magic float over her.
Malek placed their bags beside the bed and asked, “How tired are you?”
“Exhausted, but I won’t be able to sleep for a while yet.”
He captured her hand and pulled her toward him, wrapping his arms around her. Malek’s eyes roamed over her, his brow creased with concern. “You’ve been using a lot of magic today. Are you sure you’re all right?”
She ran her hands up his chest, the heat from his body more than a little enticing. A few months ago, she wouldn’t have been standing after expending so much magic.
“Better than I expected, but I think that’s because of you and the goddess. Even with the power boost, it’s going to be difficult hiding my weakness from the council. If there were any way to wait without consequences, I would. But if Balkin’s right about us being in danger, we can’t allow anyone to know how little magic I have left.”
“That’s what I thought.” He pressed his forehead against hers. “I’d like to share my power with you, Sabine. I won’t need it while I’m here, and I think you will.”
“Malek, I’m not sure it’s safe for you,” she whispered, her heart fluttering at his generous offer. If anyone found out his identity while he was here, his life would be forfeit. He needed access to his magic if he had any intention of escaping Razadon with his life.
“Why don’t you let me worry about that, sweetheart? You have enough to deal with.”
She hesitated and then relaxed against him. No one had ever offered her such a reprieve until she’d met him. “Sometimes it feels as though you’re too good to be true.”
Malek winced. “Not by any means, but I would still like to give you some of my power.”
Something in his voice gave her pause. “What’s wrong, Malek?”
He cupped her face and trailed his thumb along her cheek. “There are things I need to share with you, but not when you’re this tired. It’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you for a while, but the timing hasn’t been right.”
