The empress’s royal Magician strode into my line of vision and stopped beside Genevieve. His black robes swirled about his legs. The breeze stirred his dark, wavy hair. From the corner of my eye, I watched for the princess’s reaction. Her face gave away nothing, but she stiffened, and her grip on my arm tightened. One problem at a time, princess.
“The empress demands justice for these offenses.” Otokar flicked his fingers, and Tereza’s guards hustled to surround the members of Le Poing Fermé who still lay insensible on the ground at the opposite side of the circus’s encampment. The Magicians Jackie had sent in search of Svieta came stumbling out from between two wagons. A pair of the empress’s guards followed close behind, pistols aimed and ready.
“This isn’t mortal judgment.” Gideon nodded at me. “Evie is a goddess, unless you’ve forgotten. It’s her right. Faercourt has committed several offenses against her as well.”
“Otokar,” I said, biting back a smirk. “Your presence here is uncanny. It’s almost as if you’ve been watching us.”
He snorted. “You knew I was. The princess has been invisible to me for days, and then she suddenly reappeared in my scryings. I was afraid you had set a trap for us, but I miscalculated the nature of your prey.”
“It’s an honor that you would make an appearance yourself. I was certain you were tracking her from the safety of your laboratory.”
He hacked in his throat, a sound of disdain. “And take the chance of losing her again? Hardly.”
I looked away from Jackie long enough to glance at Genevieve. She’d gone pale, but fingered the clasp at the neck of her Thunder Cloak. Regret and grief burned in my stomach as though I’d swallowed some bitter, medicinal brew. I was going to miss my beloved cloak. The princess caught my stare and held it. I winked at her and nodded. Her relief was instant, and her stiff posture eased. She might have fled with my cloak regardless of my consent, but having my approval obviously eased her guilt. How could I have denied her? Her survival was almost as important to me as my own.
“If I release Faercourt into your control,” I said, “what guarantee do I have that he won’t be a dog nipping at my heels again soon after. Will this Council merely slap his wrist and set him loose on the world again? I can’t take that risk.”
“And I can make no promises.” Otokar raised one long finger. “However, I can tell you that if you do not give him to me, the Council will be that dog at your heels. Le Poing Fermé is fierce. The Council is fiercer.” Jackie snorted at that, but Otokar continued, ignoring his mockery. “If I am not mistaken, my lady, you need allies. Believe me when you say you would rather have the Council on your side.”
I gritted my teeth hard enough to make my jaw ache. The fervor of battle had died, and any aggression against Jackie at that point would, indeed, be considered cold-blooded and brutal. Was that the reputation I wished to establish at the beginning of my quest to restore my throne?
If you start on that road, Granddaughter, your life will become a never-ending battle. You’ll have to fight to the blood for each gain you wish to make. Offer diplomacy instead, and you may receive equivalent considerations in the future, when you need them most.
Give mercy if you wish to also receive it.
I’d come to a similar conclusion myself. With a jerk of my chin, I conceded. “Take him, then. But you can tell your Council that if the captain of my guard”—I pointed at Gideon—“or I, set eyes on Jackie or any member of his cabal again, we’ll consider it a hostile act and respond accordingly.” Jackie might have been subdued for the time being, but Ruelle Thibodaux was as entirely dedicated to executing Le Poing Fermé’s schemes as Jackie had been. The cabal’s momentum had been temporarily stalled, but not defeated.
“Then it is agreed.” Otokar nodded and flicked his fingers. Two soldiers scurried to take Jackie into their possession, locking brass cuffs around his wrists before grasping him firmly by his upper arms.
Gideon glowered at the cuffs. “You think those are enough to hold him?”
Otokar’s chin jerked up. He peered down his nose “Those are not regular bindings. Those were designed to make a Magician impotent. He will be harmless.”
“Don’t underestimate him.” I slit my eyes at Jackie, and he returned my gaze boldly, a smirk playing on his lips. “He’s sly and devious.”
“He’ll be closely guarded until he’s in the Council’s custody.” Otokar jerked his head, and the soldiers towed Jackie away.
I released a huge breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. The clouds overhead immediately thinned. The winds eased. “What about Gen—Karolina? What are you plans for her?”
Otokar glanced at the subject of my inquiry and frowned. “She’ll return to the castle with me, of course. Tereza will be anxious to have her home.”
I twisted my lips into a wry grimace. Good luck with that. I hated leaving Genevieve to execute this part of our plan on her own—securing her own escape using the Thunder Cloak—but she’d have a better chance at success if I played along and did nothing to raise Otokar’s suspicions. We had to appear complicit. We had to get him to let down his guard.
She would escape. She would fend for herself. She was a survivor, like me.
Otokar bent a brief bow in my direction. “The empress wishes to extend her invitation to you. She bids you to return to the castle as her guest for as long as you wish to stay. Despite many unfortunate turns of events, she bodes you no ill will and hopes you feel the same.”
My stomach turned over as I considered Tereza’s offer, but I thought again about my grandfather’s counsel regarding diplomacy. “Tell the empress I’m grateful for her invitation, but I must decline. I’ve made other arrangements and won’t be returning to the east for some time.”
He cocked his head aside and scanned our surroundings as if noticing the wagons and tents for the first time. “You are staying with the circus?”
“For now.” Giving away my plans invited too much interference, especially if it increased the chances of Jackie learning of my intent to train with the Fantazikes. Only those I trusted needed to know the details, and I didn’t trust the empress or her Magician. I bobbed a curtsey, turned to Genevieve, and drew her into a tight embrace. “I’ll miss you, princess. Promise to take care of yourself.”
She squeezed me back. “Of course I will. Promise me the same.”
“I’ll be fine. I’ve got Gideon looking after me, right?” I pulled away and stared into her dark eyes. “I hope to see you again soon.”
She winked and lowered her voice. “Maybe sooner than you think.”
Biting back a smile, I released her and stepped away. “Take care of her, Otokar. She’s my friend and a great ally. I want to see her happy. And safe.”
A subtle flinch of facial features indicated the Magician’s discomfort at my words, but he quickly masked it. “She’ll be spoiled, of course.”
Genevieve rolled her eyes, but when two more guards from Otokar’s retinue flanked her sides, she allowed them to escort her away. I waved goodbye. It’s not the end, my friend.
Movement around the periphery of the circus grounds caught my attention. The circus troupe trickled into camp like mice returning to forage in the kitchen after the cat has been put outside. The storm’s disappearance and the quiet after a raging battle had likely piqued their curiosity. Falak strode toward us, head up, back straight, exuding his usual confidence. He briefly glanced at me before his eyes tracked the Bonhemmish Royal Guards’ departure.
The troupe rode out on horseback, except for Otokar, who had taken Genevieve and Jackie into his big black coach. The other members of Le Poing Fermé were bound, gagged, and distributed among the guards, where they were forced to ride in tandem. Genevieve’s horse trailed behind the troupe, flicking his tail as though eager to run.
The ringmaster folded his arms over his chest and snorted. “The princess is coming back, isn’t she? She still owes me a show tomorrow night.”
I snorted at him. “Priorities, right?”
“I’m a business man, Evie.” He glanced at me from the corner of his eye. “It’s all about the bottom line. That girl has the potential to make my accounts very comfortable.”
“Right. Business.” I rolled my eyes. There was nothing businesslike about the faith and prayers of his troupe. Their belief had saved me. It was a debt I could never repay. “If I were you, I’d have Ynnua saddled and ready to go. She’s got the Thunder Cloak and a strong will. We have to believe in her.”
My wound throbbed mercilessly and the beginnings of a bad headache pounded in my temples, but rest would have to wait. I scrubbed my hands over my face and stiffened my shoulders. Now for the really hard part.
