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The city once more passed before me as we rode by in Lady Penelope’s carriage. It did not look much different from earlier, when I had walked home from the Cabal, but I felt more tired as I looked at it. Not only was I still upset about everything that happened, but I was about to make things even more complicated.
We were on our way to Count Potocki’s address, and the plan was in place. I fiddled with my skirts, ruffling the gypsy red silk with an unacknowledged wonder. I was on my way to announce and celebrate my engagement. If I was not secretly a spy trying to dismantle foreign dissents and a traitorous prince, I might have actually been excited. Assuming I would have been in love.
“Are you well?” Ben reached forward and gave me a quick pat on my arm.
Mindlessly, I nodded. I did not want to admit I was looking forward to the end of the charade. I wished I did not have to drag my good name down with it, and I hated that I had to risk Lady POW and the others’, too.
Harshad was up on the box, disguised in a footman’s livery, and Xiana was also hidden away. She had twisted herself up in ways I never imagined possible, before securing herself to back of the coach.
Ben was with me in the carriage. I appreciated his presence, even though I wished I had the time to myself. I gripped my dagger, slightly irritated it was buried underneath another one of the fine gowns Lady Penelope had ordered for me. Much like the other one, I could easily dismantle myself from it and resume my movements in my stealth habit. I was not nervous. I was out for blood.
I wanted the time to myself for other reasons. There was a wide chasm between justice and vengeance; one was a divine calling, and the other a sin. While I accepted that there would be things in my life I would have to do for the betterment of others, I did not want someone I loved as much as Ben to see my nature tainted as I indulged it.
“Everything will be fine.” Ben tried to reassure me once more.
I looked at him as he sat across from me. He was dressed in his normal clothes, the everyday clothes of a servant he had worn when Cecilia was in charge of our lives.
“I know that I can count on Harshad and Xiana to save Lady POW,” I said. “What will you be doing?”
“While you attend the party at the count’s house, I’ll be heading into town,” Ben said. “Clavan sent the notice that Zipporah would be coming into the Cabal tonight, and she has the herbs we ordered. Once I have them, I will come back to meet up with you and the others.”
“Are you sure that it’s a good idea to leave us?”
“I’m certain between you, Harshad, and Xiana, you will find a way to extract Lady POW from her captors,” Ben replied. “Besides, we should get the herbs. Lady POW has wanted them since she came here. She wants me to find out the names of other buyers, and if Zipporah has had any trouble getting her supply.”
“It seems unusual that you would worry about getting the silver thallis herb now,” I said.
“Disappointed you don’t have any to use on Karl?”
I snickered at Ben’s teasing grin, but I had to admit he was more right than morally aligned.
“Either way, it can’t be helped. We’ve waited this long, and Xiana will be able to make some of the antidote for us. We might be able to save some of the people that are dying off.”
“I haven’t heard of any new deaths lately.”
“If you ask me, I think Karl’s too busy planning for your nuptials.”
Karl had talked about marriage at every occasion we had together. It was part of his plan, I assumed; gain the approval of my following, use the power of the people as leverage, secure the Bohemian throne, and reveal himself to be the true heir to the kingdom. Then all he would need would be a family to inherit his legacy, and Karl would have everything he had ever wanted.
“I would have thought Lord Maximillian would be doing more of those,” I said. “He has been remarkably silent in recent weeks.”
“Karl seems to have made it pretty clear he wants to marry you, and even more so since the Advent Ball.”
“Lady Penelope and I did run into him at the Estates Theatre,” I said. I thought of Ferdy’s letter again, the one where Karl offered Lord Maximillian a role as a counselor. “Lord Maximillian tried to threaten us there. He was more than polite about it, and he would be the first to deny it, of course.”
Ben frowned. “Is he coming to the ball tonight?”
“I don’t know.” I sighed. “I’ll keep an eye out for him.”
“Be sure to watch yourself most of all.” Ben gripped his fingers together in his lap. “I know you can take care of yourself, but I won’t be around to help.”
“I’ll be in good company.”
“I know, or I wouldn’t leave you.” Ben sighed. “Amir was right. You are a weakness of mine.”
I smiled. “And you are one of mine. But we can work with that, and that’s the important part.”
“Amir is one of your weaknesses, too, you know.”
My eyes met Ben’s from across the carriage bench. “I am sure he is,” I admitted.
Ben was different from me in that I had been allowed to consider my weaknesses thoroughly; I was given time to work on mine. Ben had to begin his struggle right away, with our father’s dismissal of him after his injury, and then Cecilia’s further harm. Ben was taught to hate weakness, to get rid of it, and to condemn it. He was morally tied to the destruction of his weaknesses, while I was largely ignorant of mine. When I thought of my love for Ferdy or my admiration for Amir, I could see it as a weakness or as a strength, and I was unable to dismiss it entirely.
I looked away from Ben, turning my attention back to the city streets before me, feeling the clatter of the wheels as they turned over the cobblestone streets. “You know, if things had worked out differently, Amir would be our father instead of Táta.”
Ben shrugged but he said nothing. I sank back into silence, too.
The coach slowed down as the traffic became thicker. The moon was just peeking out from behind the snowy clouds when Ben said his farewells and slipped out of the coach, heading off for the Cabal.
I envied him. Ben was going into a den of friends, while I was waltzing into the heart of darkness.
To be fair, it was a very grand-looking trap. Count Potocki’s manor had the high arches of Gothic architect, with brightly patterned windows and elegant masonry. The coach stopped, and Harshad hurried down to assist me.
“Once you’re inside,” he whispered, “go and find your grandmother. Karl will likely want to rehearse his terms, so you will be able to give us time while Xiana and I look for a way to overpower any guards he might have.”
“I will.” I patted his hand as I stepped down. “Thank you.”
His face was expressionless, but I thought I saw a twinkle in his eye as I headed toward the door.
I picked up my skirts, making sure I was able to leave my boots covered. Underneath my dress, I wore my stealth habit and the matching black boots Lady POW had ordered for me when we had set out to captivate Society. My dagger was tucked away at my side. I could grab it through a slit in my skirt, one that was usually reserved for pockets.
It was strange to think I was dressed for war, and that I was marching into battle wearing a gown.
I held my head up proudly. The fact that I was wearing a gown, yet still facing my enemy, gave me confidence. Warriors came in all sorts of outfits, and I had chosen to don a disguise worthy of a spy.
The fact that I was here to help my own grandmother, the spymaster who was tangled up in our adversary’s grasp, was only slightly less relevant. Karl was not anticipating a fight, but he was going to get one.
Upon entering, a hand reached forward for my cloak. I took it off and handed it over, only to find I recognized my helper.
“Amir.” His name escaped in a gasp as I stood there.
“Shh, please, Eleanora,” Amir whispered, holding a finger up to his lips. He hurried to pull me off to the darker confines of the castle before anyone else noticed where we were going.
As we walked briskly through a darkened hall, I was admittedly disappointed; if I was going to be rescued from a ball, I would have preferred Ferdy had come to save me rather than Amir.
But considering Ferdy had been killed by Amir, I knew that was not going to happened.
At that thought, I tugged myself free from his grasp. “What do you think you’re doing here?”
“I came to help,” Amir said. “Lumi told me that Karl managed to coerce Lady Penelope into leaving the rededication ceremony with him before, but we have a problem.”
Lumi. Amir called Lumiere “Lumi,” as if he was a friend.
“You aren’t really trying to betray Lady Penelope, are you?” I asked, suddenly very worried. I took a step back from Amir, unable to see how any of this could make sense. Was he here to finish her off?
I struggled to maintain my composure. “I didn’t want to believe it when she said that was what you were doing, but I can’t believe that you would consider Lumiere a friend!”
“Eleanora—”
I felt my heart clench, as if it was struggling to continue to beat. “He orchestrated everything, Amir. He made you kill Karl’s brother.”
“What?” Amir shook his head. “I didn’t kill anyone, Eleanora.”
“I know Lumiere sent you after the coach,” I insisted. “Ben told me that you were talking with him, and then you left for days.”
“I can explain that,” Amir said. “But you need to calm down, please.”
“Fine.” I took another step back, digging my fingers into my skirt, reaching for my dagger. I did not want to pull it out entirely, but I needed to protect myself. “Tell me about Lumiere first, and why you would be friends with that vile creature.”
“Lumi is an old friend of mine,” Amir said. “He was the one who originally told me that Karl and Lord Maximillian were working together. He knew because they were also in contact with Louis, who is Lumiere’s father and the leader of the League of Ungentlemanly Warfare.”
“I know about Louis, and the League, too.”
“Then you know Louis is dangerous,” Amir said. “Lumi told me that Father Novak had sent word to him, and he decided to come, especially since his father told him Lady POW was coming to Prague.”
“Lady POW said he was your friend, as well as Máma’s,” I said. “For all you are his friend, he was not very nice to me.”
“He is an acquired taste.” Amir smiled, unable to hide his amusement. “But I know I can trust him.”
“Which is why you went to kill Karl’s brother,” I accused, my voice nearly breaking. “Karl and Clavan told me what happened. I know that there were witnesses to the attack on that coach heading for Silesia. You can’t deny it.”
“I did not kill anyone, let alone your beloved.”
I went silent at his words, taking the moment to glance around to make sure we were alone. “How did you know?”
“Lumi is a friend of his, too,” Amir said. “They met each other while Ferdinand—or Ferdy, if you prefer—was at school in Paris. Lumi met Karl at Oxford for his education, too.”
Breathing seemed abnormally difficult all of a sudden. I felt my hand cover my mouth in shock, as my mind raced with the implications.
Ferdy? Friends with Lumiere?
Ferdy had told me before he knew of the Order and the League, and it looked like he had plenty of personal connections to the two of them.
“Your beloved has been keeping secrets, hasn’t he?” Amir took a cautious step toward me. “And he has asked you to keep them, too.”
“Not entirely.” I sighed. “His servant did. Empress Maria Anna seems to remember Máma, and I did not want to disappoint her, either.”
“That’s why you haven’t said anything, and that was what you were keeping from Lady Penelope, wasn’t it? You knew Karl had a younger brother.”
Frustration ate at me. “I haven’t known for that long. I found out the night of the Advent Ball. Keeping silent seemed to be the most prudent thing to do. I didn’t want him to get into trouble.”
“It seems as though he has a talent for it, living on the streets.” Amir suddenly let out a small laugh. “I’ll commend him on his disguise, though now that I think of it, I should have seen it from the beginning.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“No ordinary street urchin would just happen to know formal Arabic.”
“Well, that doesn’t matter now, does it? I heard about what happened. I know he’s dead.” I turned away. I did not want to face Amir. “And it’s all your fault, isn’t it?”
There was a long, uncomfortable moment of silence between us that told me everything I needed to hear.
“You said you heard the story about what happened,” Amir said quietly. “It is true those men are dead.”
The lump in my throat suffocated me. I ducked my head into my hands and slumped down against the wall. My gown fluttered out around me as my dagger leaned into my hip.
Amir telling me that Ferdy was gone was like losing him all over again.
“Please, believe me when I tell you I am not the true villain; I had to go to the castle and find a way to track down the coach, and then I had to catch up with it. I was warned that there was another henchman following, to ensure that everything happened according to plan. Lumi was right about that; a man attacked about half a day’s journey from Prague, killing everyone in the coach. I had only managed to catch up when he attacked. Once he was finished, I saw him light the coach on fire, and a piece of luggage exploded.”
“You were too late.” My voice was scratchy as I looked over at him. “Did you go over to help? Is that why the story was changed where you were the one who was ...”
I couldn’t bring myself to finish the sentence.
Amir seemed to understand what I refused to say. “I changed the message before it was sent out.”
“You criminalized yourself?”
“I had to,” Amir said. “Once a nearby village saw the fire, others came to help, including a vicar. Some people noticed me, and they assumed I was the villain anyway. There is a reason I do not join you and Lady Penelope in Society, and that I am an honorary member of the League instead of a full one. My skin color cannot be changed, and others know of my heritage just by looking at me. I know the assumptions that come with it very well.”
I went silent at his sadness. I knew the prejudice that existed in the world, and given that Amir was armed, he would have been arrested on the spot.
“People would have contradicted the story if they heard I was actually trying to rescue them, and there was no proof I was not the villain. You know no one would have believed it then,” Amir said. “So I adopted the villain’s role as I headed home. I had to watch out for those who heard and avoid the gossip. That is the reason for my delay in returning.”
I said nothing again, as I attempted to right myself. I did not want Amir to think I was weak, but I was. I was devastated.
I could see Ferdy dressed up in his princely attire, waltzing around Prague Castle’s ballroom, confessing his love for me in a way that infuriated me as much as it captivated me. The first time I saw him, arguing over my mother’s journal with Amir. All the times I had seen him in costume—so many costumes any regular person would have wondered which was the real Ferdy, or if he existed at all.
But I knew him. I could see him again in my mind, dressed in proper breeches and a formal shirt. He wore boots but no cravat, and his copper hair was tousled in the wind.
And then there was a blaze of fire, and he was gone.
“Their bodies have been salvaged as much as possible,” Amir said. “The Royals have been informed of their son’s passing. And it is likely, since he was the king’s son, they will have a funeral for him, although a private one. The king never announced his birth to the kingdom, so he was not a prince of the nation.”
“I don’t want to hear anything else,” I said, struggling to stand up. I had to force myself to focus. There was a reason I was here, and it was not to worry about Ferdy. I could no longer worry about him. I had to let him go for now.
“I’m so sorry, Eleanora. I know it does not mean much, or even anything to hear, but if I could do anything to save him for you, I would.”
Amir’s apology hung in the air between us as I waited for myself to accept it.
I did not want to accept it.
It seemed like a long time later when I breathed in deeply, wiped my eyes clear of any tears, and stood up tall. “It’s too late to do anything else. We’re here to save Lady Penelope, and Karl’s expecting me.”
“Please, listen. Lumi sent me to stop Ferdy’s assassination from happening,” Amir said. “He also told me that Karl cornered Lady POW after the rededication ceremony and forced her to leave with him.”
“So?”
“So Lumi is on our side.”
I wiped my running nose unceremoniously against my shoulder. “I do not believe it.”
“The information he has given me is correct.”
“It is also possible he’s lying, and you’re too close to him to see it.” I crossed my arms. “Is he a weakness of yours, Amir?”
Amir grimaced. “This is getting us nowhere. Right now, we have to find your grandmother.”
“That’s the only reason I am here. Although I would not say no to killing someone right now.”
Amir ignored my anger. “Lumi told me Karl wanted to offer a future to the nation, especially given his age, so that is why you—as the daughter of Adolf Svoboda, the former king’s most loyal servant, with your charming innocence and the wealth from your dowager Duchess grandmother who is a close friend of Queen Victoria—play such a key role in his plans.”
“Good to know I’m worth something to someone.” I huffed.
“Considering who we are dealing with, I would not feel bad for being a pawn if I were you.” Amir’s expression softened. “It does nothing, but I can tell he does genuinely like you. He could have had Lady Teresa Marie as his bride if he did not think you were the better gamble.”
“Well,” I said, “Karl’s about to find out that sometimes when you gamble, you lose. Once I find Lady POW, I will make sure he pays for his duplicity and treachery.”
Not to mention his heavy-handedness. I gripped my dagger again, remembering his warning to me back at the museum.
“That brings us back the problem we now face. Lady Penelope is not here. I have been watching for you for the last hour, trying to intercept you. You will gain nothing if you confront Karl tonight without her here.”
“Where else would she be?” I asked, perplexed. Amir was right. Even with as little I did know about Society, I knew if Lady POW was not here to protect me, Karl would have an easier time getting me to agree to his terms.
“Lumi told me that she was with Karl earlier,” Amir said, “but that’s clearly changed. She could be anywhere. If we are going to stop Karl, we will have to find her quickly. If you do not show up here, he is in a position to use her life as leverage.”
I still had trouble imagining Karl as one who would take an old lady hostage, but I had no trouble considering that Lumiere had men who would do it for him.
The whole plan we had conceived earlier was for naught. If I was going to save my grandmother, I would have to find her before Karl was able to get away from his own party.
“Do you have any thoughts on where he might have taken her?”
“Karl is staying at the castle,” I said. “Is it possible she is in the dungeons there? It seems like if he was going to coerce her, he would likely find a way to make sure she stayed where he put her.”
Amir nodded. “It is a logical guess.”
“Where do you think he would hold her?” I glanced around. “Are you sure he’s not keeping her here, in some locked room, far away from the crowds?”
“I have been here for hours,” Amir said. “I have examined the servants and walked through the majority of the house.”
“Harshad and Xiana are also here, looking for Lady POW,” I said. “Should we try to help them before we leave?”
“You need to leave right now.” Amir took my hand again and started walking down the hall. “There is a servant’s entrance here. You’ll be able to wait for a lull in their movements and sneak out. Once you’re out, find a way to get a ride on a departing coach and head for the castle.”
“If I get there, I will be able to see the former empress,” I said, suddenly dreading the encounter. Empress Maria Anna had entrusted her younger son’s protection to me, and I had failed her. “She will recognize me and be able to tell me if Lady Penelope is there.”
“It’s the best bet we have right now,” Amir said.
“What if she is not there?”
He shrugged.
“If you stay here, Harshad and Xiana might be able to help you capture Karl as he is leaving still,” I suggested.
“I’ll go and find them, and we will work out a plan. Either way, we will meet you at the castle.”
“Are you sure they will believe you?” I asked. Was I able to believe him, too, then?
In the end, I decided that I could trust him for now. It was true that Amir had kept Ferdy a secret before, and he had apologized for failing to save him. And it was nice, I had to admit, that he wanted me to leave the ball. As majestic as Count Potocki’s manor was, I eagerly embraced the chance to escape.
“Give me a moment.” I stopped in my tracks and pulled out my dagger.
Amir looked at me curiously, unmoving, and I wondered if he thought I was going to attack him. It might have been tempting if I did not believe him, but instead, I ran the sharp and ancient edge through the side of my gown’s bodice, cutting the outer layer of my fancy clothes. When I was done, I shed the outer layers and stood ready in only my stealth habit. The dark fabrics, overlapping each other across my chest and down my legs, allowed me to sink into the shadows like an agent of the devil himself.
Amir raised his brow.
“There’s no use for me to wear the gown now,” I explained. I tugged my hood over my hair and pulled my mask to the bridge of my nose.
“I see your argument,” Amir said, “but you should still wear your cloak on the way out. There’s no need to freeze, even if you will be able to maneuver through the streets with much less notice.”
It was an easy choice for me to grant his wish. I pulled on my cloak, letting the fine fabric conceal my costume.
Amir squeezed my hand before we departed. “I know we have little time, Eleanora, but I have one last question for you.”
“What is it?”
He looked down at me intently. “Did you tell Lady Penelope about anything that I said to you?”
“She thought you told me more, but I only admitted you told me about your family and your scar.” I looked down at his hand, where in the dim lighting, I could still see the heavy outline of the noon above his knuckles. “That was it.”
“Did she ask about Nassara?”
At the tone of his voice, so hollow and detached, I frowned. “I did not tell her about the journal, if that’s what you mean.”
Amir patted my hand and stepped back from me. “Thank you, Eleanora. I appreciate your silence on the matter. Allah yusallmak, and I will see you later.”
At the sound of the foreign words, I suddenly had a new question for him. “Amir? What did Ferdy say to you the day we met in that alleyway?”
“After he understood the problem between us, he offered to trade your life for his,” Amir told me. “He said he wanted to keep you for himself.”
I did not know what to say to that. Amir had always known I had a beloved. I never thought it was strange how well he seemed to know until now.
“Thank you,” I mumbled, before I turned and walked away. I held my dagger tightly as I left, grateful that, even if Lady POW was nowhere to be found, I would find a way to end everything soon.