Silence descended.
“Peasants,” he hissed as he beckoned me over with an elaborately plumed quill.
I stared blankly at it for a moment.
“Sign the agreement. You can use a golden feather from your breastplate if you prefer. I presume that’s what they’re for—so you’re never at a loss to put your name to urgent documents. That is, if they even work.”
Was he fucking joking? I stifled a sigh. “Oh, they work all right, just not in the way you imagine. Hilarious jokes aside, why would I sign something I haven’t read?”
“Well, that answer depends on how badly you want my little sister.”
“Little? I thought you were twins.”
“One of us had to be born first, and it wasn’t your precious Zali.”
With deliberate slow movements, I took the quill and twirled it between my thumb and forefingers. “Perhaps I don’t value her very much at all, but can’t bear someone taking my possession.”
Quin’s dark brow rose. “Pride walks before a man’s spectacular fall.”
“The bones of a man cloaked in greed will never be warm,” I quipped back.
He laughed like a maniac, wiping his leaking nose. “You entertain me, fae. I’ll give you that much, at least. Now sign the trade agreement.”
“I will.” The quill held aloft, I stepped closer to the table. “As soon as Zali Omala arrives.”
“Veznar?” the regent spat out.
The doors swung open, and there she was, my Leaf, dressed in the ceremonial clothing she had worn on the dais this morning, except now the sheer top hung in tatters, and the leather suit was slashed and torn, the edges ragged as if it had been chewed by an animal.
Fury exploded inside me. It took every bit of willpower I possessed, plus another lifetime’s reserves, to survey the scene and take careful note of everyone’s positions. The two guards, Sonail and Veznar, stood on either side of the regent. He beckoned Leaf forward, and she walked to his side, her expression carefully blank.
I scanned her body. Her fingers were curled loosely against her thighs, not digging into her flesh with worry or fear. Then her hands lifted, and she cupped one over the other in front of her waist, ready to make a grab for my sword when I threw it.
“Behold today’s historic occasion,” the regent shouted to his people. “The King of Storms and Feathers, Arrowyn Ramiel, will sign a trade agreement with our great city of Mydorian on the proviso that I rule in place of the traitor, Zali Omala. What say you to that, Mydorians?”
A weak cheer rolled over the crowd, petering out like a wave fizzling on a sandy shore. In the undercurrent, people booed and muttered curses, but Quin ignored them and beckoned me closer.
“Very well,” I said, moving forward, the quill poised between the fingers of my left hand.
As I pressed the tip against the parchment, angling my face slightly toward Ari, the regent’s expression remained clear and optimistic. The fool was clueless. My skin tingled as the cloaking spell slithered over me.
“I’m right-handed, you stupid prick,” I whispered as I drew my sword and with four quick movements cut the regent’s favorite guards from groin to neck.
Quin screamed, and as I looked up from the spilling entrails, Leaf disappeared as I tossed her my sword.
In what was probably the fastest move he’d ever made, the regent’s arms wrapped around thin air, then he threw himself sideways off the balcony, taking an invisible Leaf with him.
“No!” I roared, shooting into the sky and out from the cover of Ari’s cloaking spell.
Chapter 33
Leaf
Held in the iron grip of Quin’s arms, I slid down a length of canvas that was fixed to the wall beneath the balcony.
It seemed my brother had made preparations to throw me over, perhaps to get me away from Arrow if his plans went awry, which, of course, they had done. Quite badly.
Well, fine. I was also prepared. Prepared to kill Quin if it would free our people from the rule of a gold-addicted tyrant. I wouldn’t go down without a fight.