THE EIGHTEENTH

 

Blasting horns woke Zane, sending birds shrieking in the trees and flapping off into the distance.

“What the bloody sea snake…” he muttered, uncurling from a ball. He used the wall to drag himself up, rubbing his eyes.

I’d stayed awake, watching the early morning shadows fade and blue skies trickle in, smothered by the constant gray clouds trapping Winter under a spell of smoke. I’d pinched myself every few minutes so I wouldn’t drift off.

Heavy thuds filled the path outside, and the lock to our room clanked. The door flung open.

“Out.” The Evergreen Host soldier had a braided beard, and a wreath of branches in his hair.

I obeyed and Zane followed closely. A body hit me, nearly knocking me off my feet. “Ragnashuck, you scotchy saltslugs! Watch it!” Lucas shouted at the man who’d thrown him.

I looked back for Kaley and her green eyes locked onto mine. “We heard you get taken by the Host last night,” she whispered ahead. “I couldn’t sleep.”

“Silence,” a soldier shouted, and Kaley obeyed, eyes darting to her shuffling feet.

We were led up the path through snow-dusted woods to a wide, open-top arena made of upright logs. A door lifted upward like a hatch, and the soldiers nudged us through.

The arena was filled with thousands of people viewing what appeared to be a business meeting.

“The Council of Pines,” Lucas whispered.

The Queen of the Pines rested upon an intricately carved throne, her green gown draping over the willow branch armrests. The Council of Pines sat in a crescent around her.

Across from them, on a bed of frost-kissed dirt, stood Edward Haid.

I stopped walking.

Edward’s dark hair and gold eyes made him look young, even with the speckles of silver in his hair. At his back stood Gathadriel, the ally that was supposed to have gotten Kaley out of the Green Kingdom.

The queen listened to Edward speak, her face stone, but her stance looked as fragile as glass.

Gathadriel’s gaze flickered to us when we were pushed ahead. Edward’s hands clasped and unclasped at his waist.

“I’ve brought my prisoners, as you requested. Now, tell me your plot before I cage you with them.”

“Ever…” Edward’s deep voice carried—the arena was dead-quiet. The royals’ voices were magnified like they spoke into microphones. “Grant me the opportunity to make a thing right with you.”

Gathadriel’s wings bristled, and he studied the crowd.

“You may speak of your intentions, Brother. But I do not have to listen,” the queen warned coldly.

“In one day’s time, you’ll face the Crimson King in a battle he has already won once,” Edward said. “But it is my birthright to fight the Crimson King. To be slain by him, if it comes to that.”

Gathadriel’s jaw hardened, his tattoos beginning to quiver.

The Queen of the Pines stood. “You have no birthright anymore.”

“You’re right.” Edward raised both hands. “But I know what will happen to this kingdom if you’re turned back into snow.”

“You think I’ll lose?” Vicious rosiness brushed the queen’s cheeks.

“I think it’s a chance you shouldn’t have to take. I wish to make a deal to fight on your behalf at sunrise.”

“Edward…” Gathadriel cut in; he was at Edward’s side now.

“Wait, Fairy.”

The Queen of the Pines’s dagger-voice seemed to brush up Gathadriel’s back. He reluctantly turned back to the queen, nodding once, then swept out of the way. He whispered to himself, eyes squeezed shut.

The queen reached for a long, branch-like scepter and dragged it down the dais with her, scraping the wood. She stopped, inches away from Edward.

“This kingdom will not accept you as its king if you win,” she promised.

But Edward nodded. “I don’t intend to steal your crown.”

“Really, Brother? I thought my crown was exactly what your allies came to steal.”

Edward’s gold eyes darted up in surprise. “You were always intuitive, Sister.” He stole a look at us, and I felt his glance drive all the way down into my toes.

“The Crimson King will turn you to pinespittle,” the queen said. “And I’m insulted you think I need your aid. But you are right about one thing—this dying kingdom needs me. So, I’ll take your deal.”

Her pale hand came out. I saw Gathadriel flinch, but he didn’t intervene. Edward looked at his sister, and he took her hand. “Deal.” His whisper was almost lost to the wind.

“But I know you, Brother,” the queen cut in. “You will run.” She dropped Edward’s hand and turned her back on him, climbing to her throne as the arena erupted with noise—sticks banging against chairs, silver bells ringing, and cheers flooding the breeze.

Edward’s gold stare followed the queen up the dais, his shoulders relaxing. He nodded.

But I gawked at the Green Prince. The Crimson King enjoyed killing his enemies as much as he enjoyed licking pudding off a spoon.

Edward Haid exited the arena through a tunnel. He snuck one last glance back at where the queen lowered onto her wood throne, and I recognized the look on his face—it was how I looked at Kaley, and Grandma, and even Winston.

Back in our log cells, I watched Zane play cutlery-catch with Lucas over the walls until I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer. While I slept, I heard the creatures of darkness laughing at this turn of events.