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Edward’s phone rang quietly in his pocket. He picked up the call, listened to it and sighed, turning an annoyed face toward Kai. She recognised that he needed to tell her something and linked into his mind instantly.
“What’s the matter?”
Edward seemed unable to bring words to his thoughts.
“Show me.”
Pictures flowed effortlessly; Amin’s face overlaid with the colours of worry and love, Zhao’s face, a face that Kai didn’t recognise but that Edward labelled “Shen”. Then an amorphous flood of figures streaming along a street, accompanied by Shen, Amin and Zhao. Finally, a picture of the Red Monkey’s logo appeared, and she understood.
“The Fae is packing the area with tourists deliberately. I wonder if Tabatha knows...”
Edward shrugged and looked at the young fae woman.
“ok.” Kai bit back the irritated sigh that threatened to push past her lips and linked to Tabatha, “MOJITO.”
“What’s the matter?” Tabatha looked at her as she replied silently.
Amira looked at her as well, clearly aware that they were mind linked, so Kai linked the Dragon Priestess into the conversation as well, sliding up shields around the four of them.
“The Queen is packing tourists into the area around the Red Monkey.” Kai showed them the images that Edward had shown her, “I suspect a leak from our council meeting. Who, apart from Tabatha, could have told them what we decided?”
Amira and Tabatha looked horrified, then thoughtful.
“Wood Horse.” The name came as one in Kai’s mind.
She thought about it and his reaction in the council meeting and slowly nodded, “I agree. I’ll get my dept to investigate as soon as this emergency is under control.”
The other two indicated their agreement.
“This is why there is no plan; I need to be able to react quickly to whatever happens.” Kai said.
They nodded again.
The car swept through a pair of impressive gilded gates. I need to find allies against the Queen. Who else, other than the Dark Cities can I ask for help? This is clearly bigger than just us... Kai sighed out loud this time as she dropped the shield and the mind links.
“We’re here.” Edward said in a hushed tone.
“Don’t let my Mother affect you, Edward.” Tabatha said sourly, “She’s a bitch through and through. Keep that in mind.”
The car pulled to a halt in front of the palace and a footman opened the door. Amira stepped out, followed by Tabatha. Both had their masks on.
Edward stepped out, took a breath and called out, “Let all pay reverence for the Head of The Triang Council, The Jade Cat.” He looked around at those in the area, “Everyone here is now under a Death Sentence should any word of what happens in these walls escape to outside ears, for the Jade Cat comes Unmasked.” He turned to look at each person, obviously fixing their faces in his mind.
Kai waited for a long minute, impressed by Edward’s grasp of the rules and his use of it. She’d left her mask behind at the temple deliberately, for this reason. Then she stepped out of the car, adjusting her robes and willing what Amira had called her obvious goddess-ness to shine through.
Everyone who stood in the hedged in turning circle; the car driver, footmen, butler, maids and other people who had obviously got wind of the incipient showdown, stood frozen like statues... then they dropped to their knees where they stood, placing their heads down to the ground, arms outstretched in front of them.
There was a kerfluffle of movement at the door to the palace and the Queen of the Fae stepped out, blindfolded by a scarf tied across her eyes.
Hmm, someone told her that I was unmasked. Our unseen watcher perhaps? Kai swept her mind out and touched that same presence that had followed Tabatha. Yes. So, she escapes the Death Sentence through a technicality; I have no illusions that she really cannot see me through that silk. Maybe I can use that to my advantage...
“Queen Aoife the Undying, Ruler of the Fae of Light and Mother to the Golden Phoenix greets Lady Kai Riordan, The Jade Cat and Head of The Triang Council, Ruler of the Dark Cities Region.” The Queen inclined her head regally, “May I inquire as to why you have visited our city and in such an abrupt manner.
Edward coughed, “Your Majesty, as the Jade Cat’s Herald and Assistant, I will speak for her.” He bowed in the European court style.
Kai kept her face as calm and still as she could without laughing at his adlibbing. Maybe I ought to make that an official title? Might make up for his situation a little, especially as I could increase his pay with it.
The Queen nodded.
“It has come to The Triang’s notice that the Fae in this region have the services of a pair of Ghouls.” Edward said, “You may have heard of the deaths in Te Ling due to Ghoul Pox and their feeding habits. Thus, the Jade Cat must ask you, Have your ghouls been allowed to run free of restraint?”
Oh, very good Edward. Kai grinned inwardly.
The Queen remained silent.
After a few moments, Edward continued, “Ghouls have been frowned upon in the Dark Cities region since the last Fae/Vampire war. The fact that you have a pair of them makes you complicit in the deaths they have caused and thus subject to the Rule of Law set out in the Treaty of Te Ling.”
The Queen took a deep breath but stayed quiet.
“As the Jade Cat’s Herald and Assistant, I must once again ask, Have your Ghouls been allowed to run free of restraint?” Edward was the picture of calm, but Kai could feel his frustration at the Queen’s silence and sensed he was struggling to contain his own Ghoul nature.
Amira cleared her throat softly and Edward looked at her, “If I may, Ser Edward?”
He nodded and stepped back to stand by Kai.
Amira turned toward the Fae Queen, “We are here as a representative of the Triang Council, Your Majesty. Since these attacks began, we have worked with your representative on the council,” she gestured at Tabatha, “to resolve this situation as quietly as possible, but as this is your final warning unless the attacks stop and your ghouls are restrained, we will have to force you to obey the Treaty.”
The Queen inclined her head to one side in acknowledgement but still said nothing.
She’s waiting for something to happen. Kai realised, and partially closed her eyes to focus, stretched out her mind to see if she could ascertain what it was. A jingle of metal and the thud of many feet nearby attracted her attention; she followed it.
The scene that she saw sent her back to her body immediately. “Mojito.”
“Yes?” Tabatha linked with her without turning toward her.
“Faidren and a unit of soldiers are coming through the gardens behind you. I believe that the queen is going to try to capture us.” Kai showed her what she had seen and felt Tabatha’s rage explode, “Stay calm. Amira, be ready!”
The Dragon Priestess fluttered her fingers to show she had heard Kai. She stepped back toward Kai and Edward, leaving Tabatha standing alone.
“I’ll distract mother. You’ve said what you needed to say; get out of here.” The young woman stepped toward the Queen purposefully, “Your Majesty, having seen the evidence set before the council, heard the testimony of the witnesses and reviewed the applicable treaty sections, I have no other choice but to side with the Triang Council on this. The Ghouls should be recalled and incarcerated immediately, and reparations paid to the families that have been affected.”
The Queen smiled, “Traitor.”
Tabatha shrugged, “You told me yourself that you needed me to rule here. I will be head of the council in time, but I will do it through the Treaty and rule of Law, not via death, violence and destruction.”
Amira liked that, Kai could feel the amusement even though she couldn’t see the smile on her friend’s face.
The large wooden gate in the hedge to the right of them, behind where Tabatha stood, burst open and soldiers in fae livery swept out smoothly to surround her.
At the same time, Amira dropped her mask to the ground, shimmered and changed into her dragon form, curling her long body around Kai and Edward. Kai hiked her robes up and climbed up onto the car bonnet, then onto Amira’s back.
“Come on Edward.” She snapped.
He stared up at her, “I’d rather die than fly again...”
“You’re dead already, remember?” She lost all semblance of patience and growled at him, “Get up.”
He shook his head panic in his eyes.
The soldiers swarmed toward them.
“I name the Triang Council, Enemies of the Fae. No longer will we participate in this farce of a council.” The Queen called out, “The Rule of the Fae in the East begins with the annexation of Te Ling.”
“Shit.” Amira swore and grabbed Edward with one paw, “We’re getting out of here.” And without waiting any longer, the huge green dragon leapt into the air, rapidly gaining height.
Edward shrieked then went silent. Kai looked down to see him hanging limply from Amira’s paw.
“He’s okay, he fainted.” Amira told her.
“Hover a second please.” Then Kai called out, “I forgive all Fae present who have seen my face the Death Sentence under the Treaty. However, this declaration of war will not go unpunished. Should any of the Fae or Half Fae wish to switch sides, then they should make haste to Te Ling; there will be a three day dispensation before the city is locked down under Martial Law. Any who arrive in that time will be considered innocent.”
Tabatha looked up at her and they locked eyes. Then the golden phoenix nodded before she took her mask off.
Good, she understands. Kai sat up straight, “Amira, get us out of here. Time to find Ao Qin.”
The dragon swooped around in a circle and headed south.