Fantasy of Fire (The Tainted Accords Book 3) (9 page)

He continues. “Olina returned to the Ire with the boy and managed to convince their leader … Arox?”

“Adox,” I correct him.

“Managed to convince Adox to help,” he says with a nod to me. “Over the last week the Ire have removed the supports on the pathway to Osolis.”

There are murmurs at this news. I can’t discern the overall feeling.

“The Tatuma will be receiving weekly updates from the Ire regarding the army’s progress. She’s negotiated what promises to be an advantageous alliance between Glacium and this new community,” he says. “Unfortunately, during the removal of these supports, we believe Cassius—the leader of the Solati army—sighted the Soars.” I notice he leaves out the part where Cassius is my uncle. I know many of the people in the room will realize this anyway.

“How convenient that the leader of the army found out about the Ire,” Drummond says dryly.

Jovan opens his mouth to respond, but I cut in. “Drummond, I can understand your misgivings. Perhaps it would help you to understand if I explain that another of the groups dropped one of the wooden supports they were meant to be destroying and it gave us away. The noise alerted the Solati to our presence. During our attempt to return to the Ire we were spotted. I recognize you have nothing but my word on this. But I hope my actions in forging an alliance between Glacium and the Ire will go some way in securing the probation of your judgment.” I take a shaking breath, grateful I got that all out without fumbling.

“I’m interested to hear what you promised this Adox in return for our alliance,” Blaine cuts in. The man next to him nods fervently.

I don’t try to conceal my dislike of him. “Blaine, how nice to see you’ve returned from exile.” My voice is dripping with politeness. “I simply promised, on behalf of the king, that we would protect the Ire from Osolis.”

“She says ‘we’ like she belongs here,” one whispers. I feel my face burn under the veil.

Jovan holds up a hand. “The problem of war is solved for now—though delayed, not ended. The Tatuma and I agree that the Tatum will not stop now she has shown her hand.”

“We need to attack while they’re not expecting it. Set fire to their world. That’s the sure way to finish this for good,” the man next to Blaine blusters. I’m so outraged I see red for half a second.

“Gerden, what do you think happens to ice when it melts?” Jovan asks quietly. I simmer in my seat. My hands are in tight fists. I uncurl them and place them flat on my thighs.

“It turns to water,” Gerden stutters. Jovan continues to glare at him for a long moment. The man sags when Jovan returns his attention to the rest of the room.

“Half of our force will remain in the First Sector as security, with the rest returning here, or to their homes to conserve resources at camp,” Jovan concludes. The men murmur their agreement to this order.

“This problem aside for now, we must address the civil issues which Blaine has recently brought to my attention,” he starts.

Civil issues?

“There has been unrest in the Outer Rings since before my father’s rule. This has recently turned to mass unrest. Reports.”

His order meets silence.

“In front of her?” one asks.

Jovan stands for the second time. I’ve never seen his men question him like this. Outside of the council everyone hastens to his beck and call. Do they question him because they’re in session? Or because of how strongly they oppose me witnessing their civil agenda?

“The next person to question why the Tatuma is here will never utter another word,” he says. “You insult me by doing so. I do not tolerate insults well,” he warns softly. A shiver runs down my spine.

His threat seems to do the trick.

I sit back against the cold stone of the chair, astonished as I listen to Yate speak. The Outer Rings are uniting in rebellion and attacking the Middle Ring. Possibly gathering weapons. What started this? Was it the Dome? I lean forward, listening closely to the conversation around me.

“King Jovan, we have reason to suppose the whorehounds are close to the root of the trouble,” Blaine states, looking toward Jovan and then quickly around the group. The whorehounds were a criminal gang who collected young boys and girls for prostitution. I’d killed seven of them who tried to take me when I ran to the Outer Rings. Blaine leans forward and covers his mouth with a few fingers. “This group have been slowly strengthening for years. They’re involved in most of the crime rampant in the Outer Rings.” He covers his mouth again briefly, and points at Jovan. “Mark my words, the whorehounds are at the root of the trouble.”

Roscoe addresses the group next, but I don’t hear him because I’m reeling inside.

The quick head movements, the covering of the mouth, the pointing, and the word repetition. Blaine is lying!

Two sectors ago, I’d searched Blaine and Macy’s room, trying to find some evidence he was Prince Kedrick’s murderer. Instead, I’d found documents. Incriminating documents. At the time, I honestly hadn’t cared what happened to Glacium, so I’d hidden them away in my room and forgotten them. But the details of those letters flood back to me now that I’ve caught the greasy delegate lying to his king. Much of the content of those letters could be linked to what was now happening in the Outer Rings! On top of that, I’d seen Blaine’s relationship with Hale’s shady barracks, and then there was his presence in the dodgiest part of Glacium during his exile.

Blaine was behind this.

I should’ve shown the letters to Jovan. Then all of this could’ve been avoided. Now the letters were in the castle in the Third Sector, days’ travel from here.

“You need to be seen helping the Outer Rings in some way,” a man, Jak interjects. “This will calm them. Paint you in a favorable light.”

“Is it possible the instigator of this rebellion could be from the wealthier rings?” I interrupt. Silence meets my words. I press. “It seems odd that the Outer Rings has previously only caused trouble on a small level. I don’t feel as though these whorehounds you speak of would be able to spark such a movement. Surely if they cause the majority of crime in the Outer Rings, they’d be avoided, not followed.”

“I agree, Tatuma,” Roscoe puts in. “I’ve had the same suspicion myself. With the king’s reign still in its early stages and with war at our doorstep, it’s not unreasonable to suppose there’s disquiet in the general populace. A rebel may consider this an opportune time to take over.” Outraged murmurs fill the room.

Jovan is leaning forward looking across at me. Unlike the others, he knows I have firsthand experience living in the Outer Rings. He’ll read between the lines of what I am saying.

“We need to talk to a source.” Yate pounds his fist on the table. “A local.” It’s a good idea. I nod along with the others and murmur my approval.

He continues. “Whatever happened to that Frost woman?”

* * *

“I wish I could’ve seen your face when he said that,” Jovan laughs in my ear at dinner. I’ve been dragged up to the throne table despite my protestations. At least I got one meal down with my friends. Adnan is there tonight, Roscoe’s son. He must have travelled back from the front line. It’s nice to see one of my delegate friends. The others will soon be back as well, with Jovan’s latest order.

I grin, even though Jovan can’t see it. “It did shock me,” I whisper. “But now that I’ve thought of it, I think the idea has merit.”

Jovan chokes on his drink and I laugh, leaning in. I know Olandon listens on my other side.

“Frost can get your answers. I can get in contact with my friends in the Outer Rings and find out what’s really happening,” I say in a low, rapid voice. I want to find out what Blaine’s really doing in the Outer Rings.

“No.” Jovan sets his jaw. I wait for his reason. He usually has a good explanation for saying no.

It doesn’t come.

“You can’t survive an attack on two fronts, Jovan.” I remind him. “I could leave under cover of a meeting with the Ire.” I sit back in my chair and fidget with the hem of my tunic. Jovan continues eating. The ignoring tactic might work with his subjects, but it won’t work with me. Time for a countermove.

“There is something else I’ve been meaning to speak with you two about. Adox has now seen my face. The number of people who’ve seen my face is growing—even if they don’t know my name. It only takes one person to figure out who I am, and then everything is out of my control.” I turn to Olandon to make sure he’s listening. “I want to get an idea of a larger reaction to my face,” I say.

Olandon looks at me with confusion.

Jovan lowers the goblet from his mouth, looking around. Only Jak and Gerden remain up here, and they’re several seats away.

“You want to show people?” he asks. There’s no mistaking the eagerness in his voice. I tuck away a smile as I nod. Jovan has made his view on my veil clear, time and again.

He continues. “I mean, it’s always been a matter of when someone would find out, rather than
if
,” he agrees. “But I’ve several ideas on the subject. I think it best if you show those closest to you first and build a small support group.”

I blink a few times. I knew he wanted the veil gone, but how long has he been planning this for?

“What if this group you show do not react the way you expect?” Olandon asks. My heart beats rapidly at the thought.

“That risk has long kept me quiet on the matter. But I won’t know how to proceed if I don’t know how people will react. I believe this is necessary, whatever the outcome.” Olandon doesn’t agree with what I am saying. But he won’t say more here. A small part of me wonders if he’s embarrassed about the plan. Ashamed to have a mixed sister.

“You seem very … calm about this,” Jovan speculates. I don’t blame him. In the past, any talk of removing my veil has resulted in a panic attack. I’m not calm about this to any degree. But it’s easy to control when I can think of removing the veil as some distant event. And I walked around without a veil for a whole sector. Part of my fear in removing the material was always based on what people would think. After my time in the Outer Rings, I knew the reaction to my appearance. I knew I looked the same as others. The part which still terrified me was their reaction to who I
was.
My position.

“Let’s just say I had a moment of clarity,” I say. “Plus, soon both worlds will find out an entire mixed race exists, i’m not alone anymore. And I know I can go to the Ire—if all else fails.”

I frown at a faint growling noise from Jovan and I go in for the kill now that he’s distracted.

“I’ll want to show the delegates. But I also want to show the members of the barracks.”

“The poor people?” Olandon says incredulously.

“They’re richer than you or I will ever be,” I say with a bite.

Jovan changes position, sprawling back on his throne. This time it’s not a dismissal. He’s contemplating everything I’ve said. He won’t talk until he’s ready.

Several minutes pass before he leans toward me, knuckles resting on the table. “Well played, Tatuma. You can go and collect your friends. Though it goes against my instincts to tell anyone not within my reach. These people from the Outer Rings will be much harder to kill than the delegates,” he says.

“Jovan!” I reprimand. The thought of my friends dying makes my stomach churn.

“You’d be surprised what I’d do to keep you safe,” he says. My mouth snaps shut. My mind is screaming at me to check Olandon’s reaction, but I resist.

Jovan continues. “However, it’s your secret to tell, and I’ll help you if you deem them worthy.”

I blink back a few tears, wondering if I’m not more emotional about this than I thought.

“I’m sending men with you,” Jovan decided.

I’m shaking my head before he’s finished. “They’ll expose me.”

The king’s hand shakes. He’s seconds away from slamming his fist on the table. “Dammit, Olina, don’t be so stubborn.”

“I’m not—”

“My sister is fully capable of protecting herself,” Olandon interjects. I groan inwardly as I feel the Jovan’s anger

“A fact I’m constantly made aware of,” the King says coolly. “But I don’t think you realize the current dangers waiting for your sister in the Outer Rings.” It’s the scary voice. I lower my head into my hands, staring at Kaura underneath the table. She tilts her adorable head to the side, whining slightly. She always knows when something’s wrong. I scrunch my eyes closed at the angry comments passing over my head, chuckling when Kaura buries her face under her paws.

“I know, girl. Believe me, I know.”

It looks like I’ll be going back to the barracks.

I duck out the back of the house before day has broken.

Fiona’s aware of the sneaking I’m about to do. Jovan spoke to her briefly—well,
ordered
her—to let her know that I’d be using her house to ditch my watchmen in order to carry out “official” business. If all went according to plan, my guards would soon be experiencing a timely distraction.

It’s much easier to run away when the king of Glacium is in on my plan.

My veil is off, and I’m in the poorest quality clothing I was able to source. Unfortunately, even the kitchen helper’s garments are far better than the rags worn in the Outer Rings.

I clamber over the low stone walls separating the assembly housing until I reach the pathway into the Inner Ring. Hoisting my pack, I take confident strides, worthy of my Frost persona, in the direction of the Second Sector. I hope to find Alzona there. And my other friends from the pits too. They should have returned to the barracks after the ball in the First, but I haven’t spoken to any of them since Crystal left the Ire. I need their help. Frost is the best hope we have of getting accurate information, or any information not fed to the council by Blaine. I have a few of my own ideas I want to set in motion as well.

I stick to the wide lanes during my travels, knowing I’ll make more ground by using the roads in the wealthier circles. In the Inner and Middle Rings, the housing is split into neat blocks with lanes and ways in between each block. The Outer Rings, in contrast, are a mass of winding, dead-end alleys I’ve yet to completely figure out. A journey between two sectors using the
Outer Ring’s
paths could take a full day—if you knew where you were going—because as well as being impossible to figure out, there was more ground to cover; the Outer Rings are the largest of the three rings, wrapping around the far outskirts of Glacium. I needed to keep this visit as short as possible to avoid raising suspicions in the castle, as the Tatuma’s absence would be noticed. It meant the main roads for me.

The sky has long grown dark as I cut into the Second Sector and turn toward the edge of Glacium. Though I spent nearly a whole sector out here, the tall shadows and quiet rustlings from above unnerve me. I know a dozen pairs of eyes linger on me right now. Soon everyone will know Frost has returned.

Luckily I have a fearsome reputation now. While living in the barracks I’d beaten most of my opponents in the fighting pits at one time or another. The people here knew the penalty of trying to fight me. Or they used to …

I find the main cobbled walkway in complete darkness, secretly proud of myself for remembering the way. The difference between my first fumbling journey to these streets and my return is like fire to ice. In no time, I’m turning down the alleyway to Alzona’s barracks. I just hope they’re here. They could be at the pit fights in another sector, though it’s mid-week.

I take a deep breath and raise my fist to knock on the first of many heavy gates into the compound.

It takes several minutes of knocking to get a response.

“This better be fucking good.” I bounce on my feet when Alzona's grumbling reaches me over the uncovered, barbed gates into the barracks. “If it’s those little shits again, I’m going to get Avalanche to kick them into Sector Four.”

“They only do it because they’re hungry. Maybe if you gave them our scraps they wouldn’t annoy you.” I smile at Blizzard’s reprimand. He never stops thinking of others.

“Save your ‘feed the world’ crap,” she snarls. “Plus, Avalanche doesn’t leave scraps.”

They reach the final gate and glare through the slits at me. I wave at them, lamely.

“Frost!” Blizzard exclaims. Alzona wrenches open the gate and I’m enfolded in a hard hug before she pushes me away and replaces her look of shock with a scowl.

“There’s no king chasing you this time, is there?” she asks. Jovan had chased me to the barracks after I escaped the castle for the second time. I laugh, glad Jovan didn’t hear that, and attempt to reassure her over my shoulder as I’m dragged into Blizzard’s arms.

I trail happily after my friends, looking fondly around the damp, chilly stone and wood surroundings that I’ve come to love. There was a time when I couldn’t wait to escape this place. Now the narrow hallways and thin walls are familiar. Cheering noises fill the kitchen when I’m presented, Blizzard’s arm still wrapped around my shoulders. I’m passed around to receive hugs from everyone: Shard, Avalanche, Ice and Crystal. I look around for a moment, waiting for Flurry before remembering he’s gone, that he never survived the Dome. The realization delivers a solid blow to my elation at returning. I recover my smile as I catch a questioning look from Crystal.

“I’ll tell you later,” I whisper to her. Last she’d seen me, I was still in the Ire and not planning to return to Glacium anytime soon.

A drink is shoved in my hands as Shard straddles the bench next to me.

“What brings the mighty Frost back?” he says, a twinkle in his eye. It softens the sharpness of his features.

I smile. “I've been wanting to see you all for a long time.”

“Look! The girly’s gone and got all fancy on us again,” Ice blurts. I feel my cheeks heat as they laugh. They don’t know who I am, but my language, and that of Shard’s and Blizzard’s, sets us apart as outsiders in the Outer Rings. I’ve guessed the others think I’m from the Inner Ring. Nerves rattle in my abdomen as I remember my plan. Talking to Jovan and Olandon about my unveiling is one thing, doing it is another. Do I have the courage to confess my true identity?

“My time since seeing you all has been … interesting, to say the least.” I smile quickly at Crystal. Alzona scowls at her. My heart sinks as I see things haven’t improved there.

“I need to know what’s happening in the Outer Rings. And … I have a couple of favors to ask.”

Blizzard smashes his cup on the table, sloshing liquid over Avalanche, who whacks him in the back of the head.

“About bloody time people made a stir in my opinion. The situation here has been too bad for too long! The king needs to do something about it.” He speaks loudly, and stares daggers around the table, daring anyone to disagree.

“Yes, but why now? What's changed?” I direct my question to the group.

“You couldn’t feel it on your way in? Didn’t see it?” Shard inquires. I shake my head, thinking back on the last part of my journey. But the Outer Rings always felt dangerous to me. I’d have to pay more attention.

“Your question needs to be ‘who,’ not what. You know I like to keep an eye on things,” Ice answers. “There have been a lot of murmurings going around. Hale’s been busy. Not putting many in the pits nowadays, really.” Ice follows up his words with an evil grin. “Makes me wonder where he’s getting his goldies.”

“I don’t care. Hale’s absence from the arena has been
great
for business,” inserts Alzona with a face-splitting beam. Crystal rolls her eyes.

“I knew it,” I say.

“Knew what?” Ice asks quickly. Shard snorts.

It’s funny what I can tell this group of people that I wouldn’t dare tell others. I would die for every person here, and they me. “I think Blaine is behind all this,” I say truthfully. I watch closely for Alzona’s reaction to my words. I’m not disappointed. Her eyes widen. She knows something, but what I’m not sure. Last sector, during a pit fight, Zona caught sight of Blaine and hid, emerging incapable of speech once the slimy delegate was gone. There was some kind of history there, and I had hopes she knew something about his plans.

Ice has a frown between his brows. “The man I followed for you in the arena that time?” he asks. I nod.

“Ain’t seen him, but there’s been a few fancy-dressed outsiders about. He might be staying away, keepin’ clean.”

“This is the first favor I want to ask of you.” I turn to Ice. “I want you to spy on Hale and any of the unrest in the Outer Rings and report to me.” Ice is nodding before I finish, but not everyone is happy with this.

“I happen to be the owner of these barracks. You want one of my fighters, that’ll cost ya. Especially because you’re working for the king.”

“You’ll be telling the king everything? What makes you think we want to help him?” says Blizzard, arms crossed.

I address Blizzard first. “If Hale is involved, it can’t be good. Who would you trust more? Hale or your king?”

“The king put me in the Dome,” he retorts.

“Yes, he did. But then when you proved your worth, he treated you as a guest. He gave you clothing, food, drink, and offered you a place amongst the watch,” I say quietly. “This in no way excuses the monstrosity of the Dome, but Hale would sooner slit your throat than give you bread. I know who I’d choose.” I don’t add that Jovan could just kill him if he doesn’t help. Jovan has his ways, and I have mine.

I turn to Alzona. “You’ll be compensated for Ice’s time, of course. I will pay you the coin for one match won each week.”

“I want the price of two matches, considering the risk to Ice.” I narrow my eyes at her. She’s a fearsome businesswoman, but I wonder if she’s ever tried to convince twin boys to stop pranking their nannies.

“The price of one match won. It’s no certainty he’d win each week. This is more than you’d normally receive.” I ignore Ice’s splutters. “Might I also remind you, you’ll be in the king’s favor. This might prove … beneficial.” Her eyes sparkle with my words.

“I feel like a piece of meat,” Ice says with a happy grin.

“You said there was more than one favor?” Shard presses. He’s sat quietly this whole time, no doubt observing me closely.

“The king wants to garner goodwill from the Outer Rings to help settle the unrest.” This wasn’t strictly true. But it was what Jovan needed to be doing, I was just getting the ball rolling. Jovan’s rule was excellent, but he had no experience in the Outer Rings, and therefore no strategy to calm his people here.

“I’ve talked to him about the main issues this area faces. In particular, the violence against women and children.” I look around at the others and know they’ll be remembering the whore, Ursa, who was strung up, dead in our alley. By the way Crystal’s face pinches, I gather she’s recalling her own horrific experience with Slay.

“The king wants to fund a fighting program for women. I wanted to propose this to you as a side business, Alzona. You’d start it in your two premises on Glacium. I’d gather the women for your first group,” I offer.

Alzona stands and walks away from the table, her back to us. We wait on tenterhooks.

Ice has only slightly more patience than Flurry used to. “So…?” he says.

“It would revolutionize the Outer Rings,” Alzona whispers. She turns back excitedly. “Two evenings a week. Led by my own experienced fighters! We’d expand once word got out. Increase the sessions to daily, or maybe double that.” She stands at the table in front of me. “I’ll do it,” she says.

I raise my eyebrows. “Don’t you want to discuss prices first?” I ask. Alzona always wants to discuss how much money she’ll be making. She waves a hand at me.

“Not for this,” she sniffs. I try not to gape. Zona’s going to do this for free? Blizzard, ever the humanitarian, claps her on the back and she stumbles forward with a glare at him. A smaller woman would’ve ended up on the ground.

“Can I refer these people directly to you?” I ask. I relax my shoulders as she nods.

Avalanche pours me another drink. That was the business side of things out the way.

“How have the pits been?” I ask.

“We’re smashing it, girly. Tricks’ barracks are our only competition.” Ice puffs out his chest, earning a punch on the shoulder from Blizzard. I feel a tug in my chest. Part of me misses the arena. A huge part, if I’m honest. It wouldn’t be so bad if I could openly train at the castle. But at the moment I’m stuck training inside my chambers.

“How are Tricks and the men?”

Crystal rolls her eyes. “The same. Especially Sin; he never stops. You know he slept with Arla at the ball?” I wrinkle my nose. Poor Sin.

“Taking advantage of yet another female,” Shard hisses. I share a glance with Avalanche after he levels a look Shard’s way.

“Have you seen Wrath up at the Castle?” Blizzard asks. I turn my attention from Shard. Wrath was previously part of Tricks’ barracks, but accepted a post in the king’s watch after the dome.

“Yes, he’s one of my guards, actually.” I jerk at my slip, but relax as the others have a good laugh at the thought of the king thinking I need protection.

The mood is a happy one, but I have to know. “Can I ask? Did you bury Flurry?” The jubilation stutters to a halt.

Shard answers, pointed face heavy with grief. “We took him out of the rings, into the trees.”

Tears choke me. “I wish I’d been there.”

Avalanche drops a hand on my shoulder and we all sit for a moment, remembering our friend. I was determined Jovan would put a stop to the Dome. It was nothing more than brutal slaughter.

“Flurry wouldn’t want us to be sitting around all glum like,” Ice sniffs.

“You’re right. And I think Frost has something else to ask us.” Shard raises a fine eyebrow.

The mood sharpens and I attempt to keep my nerves from showing. Shoulders relaxed, face impassive, hands loose. I won’t be fooling Shard for one moment. “I need all of you to be at the castle in three days’ time,” I blurt. A predictable bewilderment meets my words.