Page 74 of Circle of Shadows
“Aren’t you two already in enough trouble for Spirit’s last stunt?” Glass Lady asked.
Broomstick screwed up his face. “Yes, Your Honor.”
“And you thought it would be wise to tempt fate by crawling under the floorboards of the Council Room to eavesdrop on the most confidential of conversations?”
Fairy shrugged sheepishly. “It seemed like a good idea at the time?”
Glass Lady sighed. “Your Majesty, meet Broomstick and Fairy. They’re two of your fireworks hooligans.”
Chapter Forty-One
Fairy and Broomstick laid themselves prostrate on the ground.
When they rose, Fairy said, “We’re sorry for the, uh, intrusion.”
“I suppose it’s all right,” Empress Aki said, as she returned to her seat. Her Imperial Guard remained close by. It almost made Fairy laugh out loud.As if I’m a threat the Imperial Guard needs to protect her from.
“We wanted to speak to you because we have an idea,” Broomstick said.
Bullfrog grumbled. “Normal people with ideas to present come in through doors, not floorboards.”
Fairy’s tongue tripped over itself.
But then Empress Aki said, “Normal isn’t working. You say you were part of the league of rogues who rigged the fireworks in my palace? Well then, I want to hear what you have to say. After all, we are dealing with my brother here. Some trickery is almost certainly afoot.”
League of Rogues!Despite the gravity of the matter at hand, a grin spread across Fairy’s face. Beside her, Broomstick did a better job of hiding his, although she could feel through their gemina bond his pleasure at being recognized by the empress as worth listening to.
“We heard you suggest a meeting with Prince Gin in Dassu Desert,” Broomstick said, “but as Glass Lady mentioned, if you get close to him, he can hypnotize you and make him your puppet.”
“That’s right,” Empress Aki said.
“But what’s the purpose of the meeting?” Broomstick asked. “Do you really expect him to agree to a cease-fire? I’m guessing not. I think this is just a stall tactic to allow the taigas from around Kichona to centralize here, so we can fight Prince Gin with a bigger army, right?”
The empress smiled. “You have quite a head for political strategy for someone so young. I’m impressed.”
Broomstick flushed. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
She nodded. “You’re correct. Gin has no incentive to actually agree to peace, even a temporary one, when momentum is on his side. But I do think asking him to meet with me will buy us time. If only because he’ll be tempted to stray from his current plans to try to hypnotize me. Or kill me.”
Fairy trembled a little, knowing what was next in her plan. But being stuck here at the Citadel, unable to do anything while Spirit and Wolf were out there, was like being caught in a pixie trap. Fairy had been rattling the cage bars for days, wanting to get free, but those who had captured her had forgotten her because she was too small. She didn’t want to be insignificant anymore.
She took a deep breath and said, “Which is where ouridea comes in. You may have noticed a resemblance between us. Not that I would ever claim to be as radiantly beautiful or intelligent or poised as you, Your Majesty,” Fairy added hastily.
Empress Aki smiled gently. “There’s no need for flattery. But yes, I do see a resemblance. If your hair were gold, you could pass for a younger version of me to someone who didn’t know me well.”
“Exactly. Let me go to this meeting in your place. Your brother hasn’t seen you in ten years; it could work. And with enough Imperial Guards, maybe we have a chance of capturing your brother or...” Fairy stopped. She couldn’t suggest killing the prince. Even though he was a traitor, talking about assassinating a member of the royal family was treason.
“It’s all right,” Empress Aki said. “This is war, and in war, there is always the possibility that someone will die. However, I cannot allow you to sacrifice yourself to save me.”
Fairy walked all the way up to the edge of the Council table. “But Your Majesty, that is the purpose of the taigas. We serve you and the kingdom, whatever and however you need. Youmuststay alive and with your wits about you if Kichona is to survive Prince Gin’s attacks. As one of your soldiers, it would be my honor to do this for you and our kingdom.”
“Fairy...” Broomstick said.
“I won’t change my mind.” They had argued ferociously beneath the floorboards about this, muted by their moth spell. But she had prevailed then, and she would again now. Two of their best friends were out there, in danger. Shewouldn’t sit here at the Citadel any longer, doing nothing.
Broomstick slid his hand down her arm to her hand and squeezed it. “Then of course I’m going with you. And I won’t change my mind either.”
She squeezed his hand back.
