Page 99 of Wings of Ebony
“So what’s your plan?” I ask. “What you been working on?”
“I’m trying to find hard evidence that the General is taking his orders from the Chancellor. That this whole street gang thing has to ultimately be his doing. Andwhy.No way the General’s doing all this under the Chancellor’s nose.” He strokes his chin. “I put a few feelers out, waiting to hear back.”
“I still want the General’s head.”
“And you’ll have it. He’s going to tire of trying to break through that enchanted wall. And when he does, he’s going to look to other means. We can do this one of two ways: Try to pit the General and the Chancellor against each other or take them both head on.” He picks a shred of meat from his teeth. “Still sorting that out.”
“Shoot, I was just hoping to bust up in his tattoo shop Scarface style. Tell ’em say hello to my little friend….” I set the cuffs on the table. “When I get these bad boys working, that is.”
“You will. Keep trying. It’s in you, Rue.”
“And, uhm, is it just us? Can you even help?” I don’t mean it to sound rude. It sort of does. “I mean, Bri mentioned something about your magic being reprimanded because I left, or whatever.”
He wipes his face. “The Chancellor poisoned my magic. Much like the chaser you felt after using magic to save your sister. Without the antidote, you would have—”
“Died.”
“Yep, mine’s just a bit more severe. And the Chancellor’s the only one who can undo it.” He’s staring off in the distance. This isn’t something he’s trying to talk about. I can respect that.
“My bad. I didn’t know he’d do that to you when I left. I—”
“Don’t be. He actually did this to me when he found out about your mother. When I brought you here a year ago, he’d said he’d never trust me with magic again. None of that is your fault. All my own doing.”
“It’s fear. He’s just scared of you because you don’t need his stupid onyx.”
“He’s scared of you, too, trust me. With your Ancestors’ magic and your mother’s hard head… he’ssmartto be scared.”
I laugh.
“And Icanuse magic, Rue, it just has a steep price. He hasn’t taken my powers. He can’t do that and he knows it. But he’s attached a death toll on it that’ll trigger if I use a spell. If I transport to your home, I die. If I strike someone with magic, I die.”
I shift in my seat, cuffs clinking in my zipped pocket.
“In many ways,” he says, grimacing, “I’m not much use at all.”
“Not true. I have these cuffs because of you.” I nudge his shoulder. “I’m going to destroy them. All of them. And I wouldn’t be able to do that without your help. Moms used to say ain’t nobody gonna do for you what—”
He finishes my sentence “—what you won’t do for yourself.” Our eyes meet and his droop. He throws an arm around my shoulder. I let him.
“I loved her, Rue. More than life itself.”
Something about the solemn look in his eye, or maybe it’s the way his shoulders slump, makes me believe him.
“Jelani?” The familiar voice makes my toes curl. “Excuse me, I’m sorry. I was wondering if I could have a word with you?” I don’t even have to turn around to know Jhamal’s behind me. I chance a look at my father, who pauses chewing, eyes on our visitor.
This is awkward.Pleasedon’t say anything to embarrass me. He looks between us several times, but says nothing, thankfully.
Jhamal bows, half his chest covered in a gold breastplate. “Ruler Aasim.”
“No need for all that.” My father waves a hand as he finishes his bite and stands. “I was just, uh—finishing up. Rue, if I could see you over here a second?”
I resist rolling my eyes as Jhamal dips his chin.
“What’s that about?” my father asks, pulling me to the side.
“Nothing,” I say, pushing him to walk away. “Weren’t you just leaving?”
“No, really. Who’s that?” He points back, craning his neck.
