Page 65 of King of Fire and Flames

“Quite strange,” I lied.

Marcella had made it clear she enjoyed torturing her poor deceased sister, and sympathy for Ruhh surged through me.

She poured wine into an obsidian goblet, then passed it to me.

“What happened to the orc that was dragged before the court last night?” I asked, even though I already knew the sickening answer.

“The one who helped you escape Coridon?” She waved her hand dismissively. “He is in prison, of course.”

“Will he be killed? Or released after serving his sentence?”

“Neither.” She reclined slightly as a servant dressed in a regal crimson coat, which concealed the top of his goat-like legs, deposited two crystal bowls of spun sugar and cream on the table in front of her.

“I see you have a good appetite,” I teased.

A russet eyebrow rose. “One of them is for you, wise mouth.”

“Wise mouth? I assume that’s a high compliment in the Sun Realm,” I said, scooping the dessert into my mouth while trying not to moan. The flavors were to die for. Not literally, I hoped, wondering if they’d dare to poison me.

“Why must your king punish a mere sailor so severely?”

“A mere sailor?” Marcella repeated, spitting flecks of cream on my tunic. “Helping you escape from Coridon without Azarn’s permission was treason, and those who commit such acts don’t fare well in the Sun Realm. How do the people of Dirt and Stone treat their betrayers?”

“Dust and Stone,” I corrected as I leaned close to her ear. “Surely you remember my brother Quin’s fate.”

“But Quin Omala wasn’t a traitor. He worked in partnership with my brother, the King of Fire and Flames.”

“Which still made him a traitor to his queen, and to refresh your memory, that’s me.”

“Perhaps. But as yet, you wear no crown.” She nodded toward my feet. “And instead, an impossible-to-remove mergelyn anklet.”

I bristled at the mention of the stupid device chaffing my skin. I had to find a way to get the dust-damned thing off. Even the thought of it monitoring my every move drove me mad.

“And before long, I’ll be married to your nephew, Bakhur. Then I’ll be a princess and a queen.”

“But still wearing Melaya’s marvelous device,” she whispered across my cheek.

“True.” I smiled sweetly. “Any chance you’d like to share some tips on how to remove it?”

Marcella laughed. “I find you rather tolerable, Zali. For a powerless mortal, you have surprising courage.”

I almost shot my mouth off and reminded her I had reaver blood. Thankfully, I didn’t. It was best if Marcella thought of me as weak and helpless. It served my purpose, which was to get Orion out of that terrible cave and as far away from Taln as soon as possible.

I had no idea how I would achieve it, but I was certain Estella and Esen could help. And Arrow. I was beginning to think he might be handy to have around, too.

“Where’s the Storm King hiding?” I said, licking my spoon.

“Ask Ruhh. She’s always following him around. But Nukala tells me the Storm Court party can often be found at the Roundwood Tavern. It’s flooded with sunlight and is close to the portal between our realms, so you can understand their attraction.”

“Oh? Do you think they’re planning on leaving soon?”

She shook her head. “Not by that route. They gained entrance to the town via the portal, but Melaya has since warded it against their exit. They’ll have to ride out of Taln. Or fly, in Arrowyn’s case.”

“And they must already know this, or you wouldn’t have told me, am I right?”

“Precisely,” she agreed.

“Why doesn’t Melaya overthrow your brother? He appears to hold all the power.”

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