Page 102 of The Kingdom Cursed By Iron

“I have to go see how they’re getting on at the Calloline Quarter,” Halima says, not looking at me. “No one’s been able to get inside for days.”

She starts off down the corridor, then seems to think better of something and stops, addressing Ruskin, but not meeting my eye.

“You should go see the queen. She hasn’t been herself lately. Not since these eruptions got worse.”

We watch her tall frame disappear in the other direction, but neither of us says anything for a moment. I think we’re both stunned by her anger, and I wonder if Ruskin feels as wounded by her words as I do.

“We should find my mother,” Ruskin says eventually, starting up towards the private section of the palace. I rush to keep up with him, noting how half the corridors sport the same signs of excavation as the one we’ve just come from. Every so often we pass by a corridor that’s still consumed by iron, the shoots twisting around the walls and floor like a creeping disease. I notice how Ruskin stiffens whenever we’re close to it.

“This is too much of a burden for her,” he says as we walk. It takes me a moment to realize he’s talking about Evanthe, not Halima. “She’ll have overextended herself, trying to hold this place together.” He shakes his head. “Maybe Halima is right.”

“We couldn’t have known, Ruskin,” I say, though I sound unconvincing even to myself.

Up ahead a figure with brown skin appears, wearing a buttercup-yellow jacket.

“Destan!” I shout, desperate for a friendly face in all this darkness.

“I heard you were back,” he says, almost breathless, like he’s been running to find us. “As you can see, we’re in a bit of a mess.”

“How’s my mother?” Ruskin dives in. “Halima said she’s not been well.”

Destan’s expression turns awkward. “I’ve been staying in your rooms—it’s one of the few places not overrun yet, but honestly, I haven’t seen much of her. I think she’s been keeping to her private chambers, though she’s been receiving visitors. A servant told me Lord Hadeus has gone to see her almost every day.”

The sense of foreboding doubles within me. So, there was a reason he spoke with such authority about Evanthe earlier. Even if he was supposed to be consulting the queen on the excavation efforts, I don’t like the idea of him having so much access to her. There’s too much opportunity for him to sink his claws into Evanthe, and I bet he’s up to something. When I look over at Ruskin, he looks worried too.

“Do you think he’s been trying to manipulate her?” I suggest. “Tricking her into delaying Halima’s message so we stayed away longer?”

Ruskin frowns. “No. My mother would never fall for such an obvious ploy.”

“Wouldn’t she?” I ask tentatively. “You yourself said she’s weaker than she was before. Maybe the iron’s taking its toll and she’s not thinking straight. Halima did say she hadn’t been herself.”

I glance at Destan, but he just looks back at me with panicked eyes, like I’m on my own here.

Ruskin shakes his head, and I know he’ll deny it before he opens his mouth.

“This isn’t her fault.”

“I didn’t say that. I’m just trying to suggest that?—”

“The most important thing now is making sure she’s all right,” Ruskin says, cutting me off.

I study him, seeing the flash of fear in his eyes. I know why he’s being so defensive. He’s terrified of losing her again. He can’t concentrate on anything until he knows she’s okay. I can understand that, but it doesn’t stop the tension pulling taut between us, painful and frustrating.

“Fine,” I say abruptly. “You go check on her, but there’s a whole court of people out there suffering, and I’m going to work on the iron.”

If nothing else, I can test out the tricks Maidar has shown me, to see if it makes a difference.

I think Ruskin might protest or acknowledge my frustrated tone, but instead he just nods.

“Be careful,” he says, and for a brief moment, I feel the warmth of his concern and attention.

“I will,” I say.

When his back is turned, I nod to Destan.

“Please go with him,” I say to my friend. “I don’t trust that Hadeus.”

I head to the orchard. That’s where this thing started and that’s where I’m sure answers lie. I was so close before when I examined the debris from the excavation, the answer just out of reach. I hope that now that I’ve learned how to extend, I can finally uncover the truth I’m looking for, buried under layers of iron.

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