Fall

Kane

They stopped the search for Charlotte at daybreak. If what Cooper said was true, she had no chance of escaping the quicksand. If Piper had not had an alea, she would have suffered the same fate.

Kane stared blankly at the rippled earth, now hardened in its marred state. What a horrible way to die.

Flint pondered this. I wonder if she knew what the sphere did.

I think she had an idea. Otherwise she wouldn’t have let one loose in the camp, causing an inverted avalanche. Boulders had suddenly come from the deep, nearly destroying their base within the span of a half hour. Cooper had thrown an antidote sphere at the ground, making the boulders come to a shuddering halt. He had done the same to the swirling quicksand just outside.

“Perhaps I should work on these a bit more, refine them,” the inventor had chuckled.

Donovan had not been amused. “King Asher will hear about this in the report. You nearly killed the Amurs.”

Cooper shrugged. “Not intentionally.”

Donovan had gone beet red, and stormed away.

Now they crunched over the remaining snow, headed to the prisoners. His father was clearly nervous, but denied it when he asked.

Ambassadors aren’t supposed to be scared, Flint noted.

Though fathers can be, Kane said. This was Kit’s life they were approaching. With Charlotte gone, they had nothing over Queen Celia. No bargaining chips. Only her threats and their refusal of release.

The queen had been set aside for questioning, her cat stationed with the rest of the enemy fera. She still retained her regal air despite the rope binding her wrists and ankles. Even as Lady Harper, she had a dignified air that could only turn barbed or impossibly cold. It was someone not used to compromise, only obedience.

Atlas tipped the ambassador cap he wore. “Queen Celia.” Hudson gave a shallow bow.

“Are you agreeing to my terms?” The queen said. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously.

“We have information about your daughter, in exchange for ours,” Atlas said.

She seemed to consider this. “I would like to hear your information first.”

“I’m afraid that’s not possible. This is our last offer, should you choose to accept.” Kane let his father do the talking, although the queen addressed him with her remarks.

“What do you know of Charlotte?” she asked him. Her face was unchanged, but her voice held something beneath it. The barest fracture, it was almost imagined.

Kane needed to whet her appetite, make her hungry for this offer. “She is not safe.” Flint watched her reaction closely.

Queen Celia looked from Atlas, to Kane, and back. “You’re pulling the wool over my eyes.”

“If that were the case, we would say something kinder,” Atlas said.

“You’re lying, you sniveling snowflakes,” Queen Celia hissed.

“Tell us where Kit is.” Atlas crossed his arms. He was a stone giant, resistant to her jeers.

“Charlotte is dead.” Kane let the hammer drop. Atlas gave him a glare. He wasn’t supposed to say that yet.

Queen Celia hardened. “What?” Her voice was flinty.

“Tell us where Kit is.” Atlas stayed by the question. Queen Celia would not go back.

“Explain why you think she’s dead. I need proof,” the queen snapped. “You’re lying to get your backstabbing daughter back.”

“Backstabbing?” Atlas demanded, flipping the tables. “What do you mean by that?”

“Why do you think Charlotte is dead?” Queen Celia tried to wrench the advantage away from them, but Kane helped his father.

“Tell us where Kit is,” he said. “And we’ll tell you what happened to Charlotte.”

The queen was on the ground, bound, and without a country. Now without a daughter. Her fera was separated, and she had no allies to help. King Kayden had fled the scene before the battle was over, although the North wouldn’t let him go that easily.

She cracked. “Where… is Charlotte.”

They were silent. She knew how they would respond. Where is Kit?

Queen Celia dipped her head. It was the greatest show of humility Kane had seen so far. “Kit is in red.”

What? Kane thought. Red as in blood, or red as in…

The East? Flint finished.

“Explain,” Atlas encouraged. He was shaking slightly.

“She was captured, and brought to me. I made a deal with her.” Queen Celia recovered somewhat. A defiant spark was in her eyes. “She would fight under my banner, or be cut down.”

“Kit was in the battle?” Atlas gaped.

“A footman, yes.” The queen grinned. “How does it feel, to be fighting against a loved one?”

“She could have died!” Kane exclaimed.

“She survived well enough. You’ll have to find her now.” Queen Celia darkened. “Now for Charlotte.”

Kane let his father tell the story of last night. He was already gone, shouting for his guard to help him find Kit.