Page 34 of A Deception of Courts

“It didn’t feel right leaving without at least trying to find as many who ran as possible,” I said, reaching into the pockets of my trousers as though searching for something.

Seraphine shrugged. “A lesson in life is you can’t help them all. Trust me.”

“Then I’m wondering why you seem concerned about the humans and Lockinge?”

The corner of Seraphine’s red-stained lip turned upward. “Believe me, Robin, I couldn’t care less if the city burns to nothing but ash. But I understand the importance of balance, and it does not sit right with me that Aldrick has swept in behind a veil of lies and deceit, only to leave again with nothing but turmoil behind him. It has little to do with my care for the humans and everything to do with fixing the damage left by a common enemy.”

“Even if the humans don’t recognise Aldrick as that very thing, their enemy?”

“Oh, they will if he succeeds with his plans and the world becomes a playing field for a demon god,” Seraphine replied. The humour that had not long graced her expression melted into something darker.

“Do you think Aldrick knows about the Nephilim?” I asked, tipping my head to the quiet outlines of boats that waited across the landscape behind our fleet. Two days, and we’d heard nothing from them. I hadn’t seen nor had report of much activity from Rafaela and her fellow winged-human holy warriors. They had kept themselves quiet, but regardless of their silence, their presence was still felt. Even now, one glance across the sea, and their fleet still lingered.

“The Nephilim were never mentioned,” Seraphine added, stare glazing over in thought. “Not that there was much conversation when my sister and I aided him. From what I can say about Aldrick, he is one-dimensional. He has little ability to focus on anything but the task at hand. It has consumed him.”

I looked across the deck, eyes falling upon a familiar figure. Duncan moved among the crew, a large sack gathered on each of his shoulders. Extra supplies Seraphine had returned with.

The change in his body had been impressive. Now, he almost seemed stronger than before. Duncan’s health had improved dramatically. Each morning, he woke with more colour in his cheeks and more desperation in his touch.

He’d not yet noticed me, but my attention gravitated toward him naturally. Duncan was laughing at something a Cedarfall soldier had said. Perhaps they joked about how Duncan could carry twice the weight without showing a sign of struggle, whereas the soldier was practically dragging one sack across the deck like a stubborn child in the throes of a tantrum.

“I get the sense that Aldrick knows more than we think he does,” I replied. “We have underestimated him this far.”

“So you believe Aldrick knows about the Nephilim?” Seraphine asked, drawing me from my distraction.

“His timing is all too sudden. Aldrick showed no signs of completely abandoning Lockinge. Even we believed he would only leave long enough for us to have a small window to get in and out. For such a great fortress, I don’t understand the reasoning in his plans to leave it behind. Hardly protected at that. Unless he was running from something.”

I noticed Seraphine’s lips pinch into a pale line. Her brows drew downward, casting lines of concern across her forehead. “Speculation. I know everything he does. I would have known if he was preparing to flee.”

“Would you?” I asked, discouraged by her blatantly inflated ego. “Then give me an explanation that makes sense.”

“You haven’t paid me enough for explanations,” Seraphine retorted.

“Not this again.” I rolled my eyes. A sour taste pinched at the insides of my cheeks. What more could Seraphine have asked for in payment than what I had already given her? Just the thought of the price I had paid was enough to encourage a storm in my stomach.

“Someone is looking better though.” Seraphine changed the conversation abruptly. I believed she had the power to read my thoughts. “Amazing what sleep can do for the body after it nearly destroyed itself using power that doesn’t belong to it.”

“Yes,” I replied. “Thank Altar for sleep.”

Not that I could relate. I had very little of it.

“You know, I pity you, Robin.”

Her comment slapped my cheeks red. “Pardon?”

“What will the courts think of King Icethorn when he opens his home to Hunters and assassins?”

“Would you keep your voice down?” I hissed, eyes flickering around the deck for anyone who may have heard.

Seraphine delighted in my reaction, both corners of her lips turning up into the brightest of smiles. “You haven’t told him, have you?”

I turned my back on Duncan and faced Seraphine directly. I saw her gleeful expression and the outlines of the Nephilim’s ships far in the distance behind her. “There has not exactly been the time to discuss such things with Duncan. Not that it would matter to him. As you so put it, I am the Icethorn king. My decisions are mine solely to make.”

“Such an awfully long-winded way of saying no.”

“No, then. Happy?”

Seraphine took the end of her braid in her hand and twisted it around her fingers as she studied me. “And Althea, did you ask for her judgement before you signed into my deal? Nothing better than some royal advice when making a deal with the Asps. I know members of the Cedarfall family are well attuned to how we work. That, and I have Asps everywhere. They burrow into every nest, all but yours. Until now, of course.”

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