Page 29 of Chaos and Destiny
“Better give them a good wash down, Rah.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” the stable master said, giving me a wary eye.
“Is there something you wanted to discuss?” I asked him pointedly.
“No ... uh, no, King Tolero,” he stammered.
I knew he wanted to ask me about Umari, but he would hear what I had to say as soon as everyone else did. It was best to keep everyone at arm’s reach until we knew what precisely was happening.
“You’re sure Murtad is coming?” I asked Inok sometime later.
“I’m sure. He said he’d be here. He will be.”
We traveled cloaked and without guards to the meeting location. Pressing my palm to the old door, we entered the abandoned building and stepped into the shadows. The walls had begun to rust, and a thick layer of dirt settled atop the dilapidated floorboards, but when it came to Murtad, he liked his secret spots. Sitting together waiting on a rebel leader was not something I believed I would have ever done, but the world was changing. Alewyn had made her move, giving the world her promise, and as the days passed, it looked as if it was time for us to make ours.
A rustling at the front door came, and we jumped to our feet and withdrew weapons. We were meeting in the back of an abandoned shop on the outskirts of the city. Inok and I had made an agreement ages ago that if we were doing recon work, which we did often back in our prime, I would have to enchant fae if we were ever discovered. So, we took extra precautions to avoid that.
“You rang, Your Grace?” Murtad said as he sauntered into the place like he was just out for an evening stroll. He left his golden-brown hair in a disheveled mop on top of his head, but there was no hiding his horns.
“I’m going to cut straight to the chase, Murtad.” He bent only slightly at the waist and smirked at my comment. “What do you know, if anything, about the recent deaths in the city?”
He shrugged and picked invisible lint from his jacket. “What should I know, Your Grace?”
“This isn’t time for your games, Murtad,” Inok snapped. “King Tolero helps fund your rebellion, or have you forgotten?” Inok leaned toward the rebel leader.
He raised his hands in the air and took a step backward. “Calm down, Knocky Knock. I’m not here to pick a fight.”
Inok grumbled, and I stepped between them, giving him the eye. “So, you know nothing?”
He casually leaned his shoulder against the wall, examining his hands as he spoke. “Here’s what I know. Umari was the first suspect, obviously.” He drew out the last word. “But she and her flunkies were here and gone, and Favic was seen sending them off. Couldn’t have been them. I have heard someone else kicked it, but no further details.”
“Kicked what?” I asked.
“I believe he means to say another person has died, my king,” Inok explained through gritted teeth. I had forgotten how much he hated the rebels. The principal concept of a rebellion grated on his nerves.
“Pre-cisely.” Murtad nodded.
“Well, the count is up to three.” I tossed him two large bags of coins. “I’ve never asked the rebellion for a thing. I’ve supported you from afar and anonymously because I believe it’s needed. I won’t make demands of you, Murtad, but if you could keep your ears out for me and let me know if anything happens or you hear of anything suspicious, I would appreciate it.”
“And you do owe him, Murtad.”
“You got it, Kingo. See ya later, Knocky,” he called, giving a two-finger salute and dancing out of the building.
“This generation—”
“Don’t start, Inok. That male is over three hundred years old.”
“A baby.”
“Close to it.” I smiled. “Let’s head back. I’ve still got that meeting with Brax about Attoc and Muth, and I have to make a decision before I meet with them later.”
“Ah yes, our people are dying, the cetani are dying and we have to host the Trials, which begin soon,” Inok grumbled.
“Better keep that sour face or they might start suspecting something’s wrong.”
“Funny,” he mocked. “What will we do about the last two deaths? We need to address them quickly. Their absences will be noticed. One has a family.”
“Let’s hold off for now, get the Trials opened and hope that’s a big enough distraction. We will hold a private ceremony for the fae with family, and I’ll discuss discretion with them while we investigate. Deal?”
