Jace planeswalked back to Ravnica, directly into Vraska’s royal bedchamber.
He had been hoping to find her there—and hoping there were things they could do there together—but wasn’t exactly surprised to find that the Golgari queen wasn’t confining herself to her chambers in the middle of the day.
He exited the room and nearly walked right into Storrev.
“Excuse me, Master Beleren,” she whispered. “I was not aware you were here.”
“I just got back.”
“And will you be staying with us…long?”
“That’s up to your queen, I suppose. For the time being, I have nowhere else to go.”
“Ah, yes, your embassy was destroyed.”
“It was. And in any case, it’s not my embassy anymore. Whatever’s left of it—save for a handful of books—belongs to the Firemind now.”
“Of course.”
“The queen?”
“Yes?”
“Where is she?”
“Wherever it suits her, I imagine. I do not question the movements of my sovereign.”
“Storrev, you’re taking a simple question and making it complicated. I think you know my feelings for Queen Vraska. And her feelings for me. I simply want to see her.”
“I am aware of all these things, Master Beleren.”
Jace waited, but the Erstwhile said nothing more. Beginning to get cross, he said, “You’re intentionally obfuscating. Another thing I don’t doubt you’re aware of is my abilities. Perhaps you think they won’t work on the undead, but you’d be wrong on that account. Tell me where Vraska is, or I’ll take the information from your mind. And it will not be pleasant, I assure you.”
“You may do as you must,” she said stoically, “but I will not willingly betray the confidences of my queen and mistress.”
“Confidences she’s keeping from me?”
“You are better suited to answer that than I, Master.”
Jace glared at her.
She whispered, “Would you prefer if I stood still for the…procedure?”
Jace shook his head. When push came to shove, he couldn’t bring himself to telepathically force intelligence from the loyal Storrev.
I don’t want to be that guy anymore.
“Then may I go?” Storrev asked.
Jace nodded.
“Thank you, Master Beleren.”
She glided off, and Jace watched her depart.
He had his suspicions about what Vraska might be up to, and if he was right, he’d have an extremely difficult decision on his hands…