Chapter 67
Edam speeds up, but I’m so busy thinking that I don’t worry about it. I merely counter his moves. Block, deflect, block, strike. It’s almost easier to fight when I’m not focusing on it. We move up and down the aisle slowly, darting between rows of startled guards now and then. I choke out a laugh when Arlington trips Edam and throws me a thumbs up.
It’s too bad I won’t have anyone handy to trip Judica.
Alora said the key to melodics lies in knowing my enemy. Even if I can’t trust Alora, I think her advice was sound. So what do I know about Judica? Her primary motivating force is ambition, or maybe anger. She’s furious I stole Mom’s time and love, and maybe impatient with how long she’s having to wait to lead Alamecha. I was positive she killed Mom, but now I’m not quite as sure.
And if she didn’t, who did?
And did Sotiris’ existence precipitate Judica poisoning her, or was the poison the reason Mom became pregnant in the first place? And for that matter, who was the father?
How has this question not occurred to me before now?
I spent nearly every minute with Mom, and I never saw her express an interest in anyone. Why would she hide a relationship from me? And who could he be? Surely he knew about her pregnancy. Right?
Maybe Judica tired of waiting for Mom to age and decided to poison her. She might not have gone through with it, but she wanted to feel like she was in control. She might have unwittingly caused Sotiris, and when Mom told her the truth, it prompted Judica to finish things. Or perhaps it was my reaction to the ring that set her over the edge, or some combination of the two. Either way, Judica would have needed help from someone older to pull it off, someone knowledgeable with poison to locate the toxin. Of course, she has an entire guard of people who could help her and who are tasked to serve her. Presumably she trusts at least a few of them.
Edam sweeps my legs out from under me and my back whams against the floor, knocking the air from my lungs. I look up into Edam’s wide eyes.
“What was that for?” I ask. “I said warm up, not take down.”
He offers me a hand. “I told you we’re preparing to land, but you weren’t listening.”
Duh. “Trapped up here.” I tap my forehead. “Sorry about that.”
He and I scramble back to our seats and buckle up. I hear the landing gear deploying and I take one deep breath. Edam opens his mouth and I pray he’s not about to try and convince me to make him my Consort again. I feel his gaze on me and slowly turn to meet his eyes. They burn into mine, so beautiful, so strong, so sure. How could I have doubted he supports me? If he asks to be my Consort right now, maybe I should say yes.
His voice is low, steady, and confident. “You are ready. You can do this.”
In some ways, it’s harder that he didn’t offer. Am I being an idiot? I feel like an idiot, flipping and flopping and emotional. I close my eyes and lean against my seat. I thought I was nervous before, but as the plane lands, my knee begins to bounce. Edam covers it with his large hand.
“I don’t feel well,” I say. “I’m not sure what’s wrong.”
Edam unbuckles and wraps an arm around me. “The humans call this ‘feeling sick.’ You’ve never felt it before, but I’ve seen that look on a lot of their faces.”
“I’m dizzy and light-headed, my stomach aches, and I’m shaky. You’re telling me humans feel this way frequently?”
Noah barks out a laugh from up ahead, his head craned around so he can see me. Is anyone on this plane wearing their seatbelt? “That’s pretty much Human 101.”
“I’m truly sorry to hear that. How awful.”
Noah rolls his eyes and turns back around.
The plane lands safely on our family’s landing strip and the doors open. Frederick insists on the majority of my guards deplaning first, with Noah, Lark, and me leaving just in front of Edam and himself. As I walk down the stairs to the ground, rows and rows of guards stand at attention in the pre-dawn light. An honor guard always welcomed my mom and me home, so it feels right.
Except Mom’s not here.
The moment my feet touch the pavement, Judica shouts, “Now.” That’s when I realize that, uniforms notwithstanding, all of the guards present were part of Judica’s private guard when I left.
The guards all pull their guns. Edam pulls a gun too, and my crew springs into action. Even Noah thinks on his feet, disarming the guard nearest him and pointing the weapon at the now unarmed and shocked guard’s head.
It’s still not enough, not by a long shot.
“Wait,” I say.
There’s no way we can survive this many bullets. They’d take us down while we tried to heal the damage. I don’t even want to think about what would happen to Lark and Noah.
“Didn’t Inara tell you?” I ask. “If you shoot me, you’ll never get the ring.”
“Oh I think we’re capable of searching through your corpses until we find it.” Judica’s mouth turns up in the corner.
“If I had it on me, that would be true enough,” I say. “But I’m guessing you didn’t find it in my absence, so I doubt you’ll figure it out any time soon.”
“You hid it here?” Judica’s eyes widen.
“If you kill me, the location is gone.”
Judica’s face shows not a twinge of emotion. “Why should I believe that?”
“Where’s Inara?” I ask. “Shouldn’t she be here with you, giving the orders to the guards while I squirm like a fish on a hook?”
“Is that what she’d do?” Judica asks. “Order your execution?”
“I think she’d insist you at least follow through on your bargain and fight me,” I say. “But I wouldn’t know. She stayed with you.”
“Only to report back to you,” Judica practically snarls. She turns around and barks a command over her shoulder. “Bring Inara.”
Two guards duck out and emerge less than a minute later, one holding each arm as a struggling Inara emerges. A quick glance shows several missing fingers, in varying stages of regrowth. Judica obviously did not take the news of my return well. I feel guilty for doubting her now.
“I knew you left her as your little spy,” Judica says. “But I didn’t think she’d be able to send you anything helpful.”
“You’re wrong,” I say. “She’s a good sister to both of us, and she was trying to find a resolution that would have satisfied Mom.”
Judica’s laugh chills me to the bone. “We shared a womb, you and I. You’re my only true sister, but you’re a fool if you think we’ll ever share anything again. I don’t compromise.”
“Are you really so afraid of me that you’re planning to gun me down on a runway?”
Judica’s eyes flash. “I’m not scared of you, but I won’t let your Consort kill me either. I challenged you and you didn’t have a Consort then. I wouldn’t have agreed to a delay if I knew it would shift the stakes.”
“You’ve been misinformed. I haven’t named a Consort,” I say, “and I won’t be doing it any time soon. If you really are brave enough to fight me, I’ll promise to give you the ring if I lose.”
Judica sets her jaw. “If you lose, you’re dead. Corpses can’t keep promises.”
“I’ll leave you a letter that tells you its location.”
“Why am I not surprised to learn you lied the night Mother died?”
I shake my head. “I didn’t know then. Mom sent me a message at Alora’s on the day of her death that disclosed the truth.” I watch her to see whether she knows what I’m really saying. That I know about Sotiris.
Her face doesn’t even twitch. “Which means you may not even know where it is. You haven’t verified that information.”
Frederick catches my eye and inclines his head almost imperceptibly.
“I know where it is.”
“Mother sent you the location.” Judica’s voice is flat.
“Mom trusted me,” I say.
“You’re implying she didn’t trust me.”
“No one trusts you,” I say. “This is a surprise to you?”
She scowls.
“I could have you executed for treason in my absence, you know.” I signal Frederick and another line of guards run out and surround Judica’s. “Or had you forgotten that I’m the real Empress? Maybe that’s your excuse for ordering a hit on me, too.”
“I didn’t try to assassinate you,” Judica says.
“You didn’t send the Recluse to kill me?” Could Alora have hired them to shove suspicion on to Judica? My heart cracks, but I can’t spiral, not now.
Judica glares at me. “Inara promised she had a formal request for an Inquest regarding Mother’s death with the Five prepared that would be filed if you were assassinated. I’m not afraid of them, but I don’t welcome that kind of interference either. I didn’t raise a finger against you.”
I can’t decide if I’m more upset about Alora’s incompetent attack, or relieved that at least she didn’t betray me to Judica.
“I know you’re planning a missile launch against China. You will promise not to give that order, whether I win or lose.”
Judica smiles. “Why would I agree to any requests?”
My heart constricts. I want Judica brought to justice if I die trying to defeat her, but I care more about the people who are still alive. I’m sorry Mom. It’s the only way I can think to guarantee that my people survive and Judica doesn’t bomb China. “If you agree to my terms, Inara will sign away her right to request an Inquest as your Heir. But only if you swear not to order a missile launch on China, and you promise not to kill or punish Edam, Lark, Inara, or any of my other supporters if you defeat me. Including Alora.”
Inara tries to protest, but a guard smashes her in the face, breaking her nose.
“It’s okay,” I tell her. “I’m more worried about keeping everyone safe than pursuing justice if I die.”
“I will agree not to order a missile launch on China after our duel.”
That was almost too easy. “I want it in writing. And what about my supporters?”
She laughs, but it’s an ugly laugh. “You’re bargaining for their lives when you die?” She looks around the landing strip. “This is your Empress? She’s so sure she won’t win that she’s negotiating your release when she fails.”
“Do you agree?” I ask her.
Her eyes are still laughing, but I refuse to be embarrassed for planning for my loved ones, including those who hurt me.
Finally, she says, “I agree. Although, I don’t make any promises regarding exile.” She glances behind me at Lark. “Especially for traitorous mutts who aren’t even supposed to be alive.”
“Done,” I say.