"The wolves said they owed you a life debt."
I lay awake as the early morning sun streamed through my window, unable to shake Elisha's words from my memory. I'd completely forgotten about my trip through the Niemenian mountains, or the young Nestoris who'd nearly gotten the better of me. But they hadn't, and had come to help my forces get through an impassable barrier.
Jax had been responsible for getting my people to safety on Severian warships. Jax, who butted heads with me more often than not over my penchant for protecting people, had given thought to and executed a plan to help others. He could tell me one day that it was a strategic decision, but I knew better.
Elisha was taking Felix to meet with Katarine and Luard, who had an entire army waiting to help me reclaim my kingdom, courtesy of Queen Ariadna. The only people missing were the Kulkans and the rest of my forces, and after all I'd seen the night before, I couldn't imagine the Mother would keep them from me.
It felt like the small seeds I'd been planting all these months were finally starting to sprout, mostly in unexpected, but welcome, ways. For all my fears that my soldiers and forces had abandoned me, they'd been keeping to the spirit of The Veil all along. Save as many as possible, cause a little trouble, and get the bad guy.
I sat on the edge of the bed, filled with more hope than I'd had in months. The only thing I had to do now was be ready for whatever my trusted forces came up with.
When the servants came to fetch me, I was already dressed and ready. Knowing that Ilara would sense my happiness from miles away, I stuffed everything down low and kept myself neutral. I was, however, hoping to pump Luisa for information on how badly Ilara had eviscerated Coyle.
Unfortunately, the man himself was at breakfast—a bad sign.
"I trust you slept well," Coyle said, tilting his head up at me with a smile.
"Like a lamb," I replied, taking a seat. "Surprised you're able to sit after the ass-chewing you got."
His lip twitched, but I wasn't sure why. "Her Majesty's capacity for forgiveness is incredible. She's offered me a second chance to find the missing Forcadelians."
"Well, if you need any help," I said, smiling sweetly, "ask someone else."
Still, for all his confidence, Ilara barely acknowledged him. Today, Luisa arrived with her, and they appeared to be in deep conversation until they walked through the door. I doubted Luisa would give me any indication of what they'd spoken about, but I might be able to get something out of her.
"Dearest Brynna," Ilara said, once breakfast had gotten underway, "I'm sorry Coyle dragged you into the desert late into the night. You must be exhausted."
"I slept exceedingly well," I said with a nod. "Does Her Majesty wish for me to continue working to find the missing Forcadelians?"
"I have confidence in Captain Coyle," she said, casting him an unfriendly look. Clearly, her capacity for forgiveness had limits. I fought a smile.
"They must've gone somewhere," Luisa said. "There aren't many places in the city. Perhaps they found a ship to take them up to Skorsa?"
"Even if they did, Captain Mark has orders to send them right back," Ilara said, spearing a potato with her fork. "Do not trouble your mind, dear Luisa. Captain Coyle will find them." She cleared her throat. "Today."
"I have a plan to smoke them out," he said. "And I will not fail you."
"See that you don't." Her glare left no doubt in my mind; if Coyle did, he'd find himself at the bottom of the bay by nightfall. And perhaps sensing his own fate was drawing nearer, Coyle excused himself from the breakfast table with his food only half-eaten.
"Quit looking so pleased with yourself," Luisa whispered.
"It's hard not to be when Coyle made a colossal ass of himself," I replied. "You can't blame me."
She pursed her lips and shook her head, but there was a little mirth in her eyes.
One of the other Severian merchants who'd been sitting nearby cleared his throat. "Your Majesty, I hope this new development doesn't preclude you from visiting the arts district today. We've made great strides these past few days to clean and rebuild, and it would mean a lot to our Severian workers to see their queen amongst them."
She smiled. "Nothing would make me happier."
After breakfast, Ilara yet again invited the gaggle of artisans and merchants to join her for the day, and Luisa and I were included in that number. I was fine with the distraction, as it told me Ilara thought nothing amiss in her city. So far, so good.
Luisa dropped back from the crowd to join me. "Pleasant day today, isn't it?"
"It's always a pleasant day when Coyle is in trouble." I cast her a sideways look. "Give me some indication of how badly Ilara tore into him."
"I shall not," she said then cleared her throat. "It wasn't that bad, actually. But her patience with him is growing thin. It's only due to his loyalty so far that she's even allowed him to retain his captain's badge. He did manage to clear Forcadel, but with so many missing…"
"With his own neck on the line, I'm sure he'll do his best to make her proud," I said. "That seems to be the only thing that motivates him, after all."
"Yes." She tilted her head up to the clear blue sky. "You know, it's funny. When we first arrived here in Aunela, I distinctly remember telling you about the convent in the northeast."
I nearly stumbled over my feet. "You did?"
"Mm."
"I must've forgotten."
"So you did." She cast me a knowing look. "It doesn't matter anyway. Coyle found nothing there, did he?"
"Indeed, he didn't."
The tension in my chest loosened, but I didn't say anything further, my mind spinning with the potential dangers all around. If Luisa knew, presumably Ilara did as well. Perhaps there was a larger target on me than anticipated. I would have to let—
"Fire!"
Luisa stopped short, looking behind us. "Another one?"
A soldier came running around the corner, his face pale as he blew past us toward the front of the group. "Your Majesty, come quick. The school—"
My heart dropped to my stomach before I took off toward the southeast. It wasn't long before I had a group behind me, led by the queen herself, screaming at every soldier she saw to fetch water and more soldiers. But my pace was faster than hers, and I broke ahead, running through the dusty streets as fast as I could.
A column of smoke twisted toward the sky, and I prayed that my people had nothing to do with this. Or if they had, that they'd evacuated the school first. There were hundreds of innocent children in there, none of whom had anything to do with Ilara's invasion.
"Please don't have done this," I whispered, as the scent of burning wood filled the air. "Please, oh, please."
I skidded around the corner and came onto the burning building, orange flames shooting out the windows. Out front, the children were watching with eyes wide open. The headmistress was standing in the street, her hands covering her mouth.
"How many are left?" I asked.
She shook her head. "The upper levels. I don't know—we don't have any of our older kids."
A child screamed from inside, and a small head poked out of the third-story window, waving her hands for help.
"What in the Mother's name…?" Ilara said, finally arriving. "Someone…someone do something!"
I balled my fists, breathing out through my nose and searching the rooftops. The bottom floor looked impassable, but the second story might work. A nearby building would be a jump, but I'd made longer before.
I turned and walked away, but Ilara grabbed my arm. "Where are you going?" she snarled.
"To help," I said, pushing her arm off gently.
I ran to the nearest building and climbed to the second story, finding enough room to get a running start. Exhaling, I took off as fast as I could, leaping toward the building. Down below, the street passed beneath my body, and the wind whispered through my hair. The window came closer and I braced myself, flying through the open window and landing in a heap on the floor.
"Wow."
I looked up to see ten children and their terrified teacher. The child who'd spoken offered me a small smile.
"We have to get you out of here," I said. "The building is going to collapse soon."
"How?" she said. "The stairwells are all on fire."
I swallowed and looked at the curtains on the windows. "Grab the curtains, anything you have that we can tie together. We're going to climb down."
"They're just children," the teacher said.
"I've seen younger do more," I snapped as a loud banging echoed from outside. "And we don't have time to argue, so make it happen."
With the children working together, they created the makeshift rope and I tied it to the teacher's desk and tossed the other end out the window.
"Go," I said to the first kid. "Just walk down the side of the building."
"I'm afraid of heights," he said.
Something crashed in the distance and we both ducked. "You're going to be more afraid of what's coming if you don't get a move on." But I softened, seeing real fear in his eyes. "It's okay. You won't fall. Just keep a tight grip on the curtains."
One by one, they descended, down into the waiting arms of the soldiers—who weren't exactly rushing forward to help. I didn't wait too long before sending the next student down, until there was only the teacher and me.
"I don't know who you are, but you're a saint," she said.
"Is there anyone else up here?" I asked.
"I don't know."
"Then you go. I'll keep looking."
I checked every room on this floor, then the one above, but they were empty. The fire was starting to rage, and there wouldn't be much more time before the building collapsed. So I climbed out the window and landed on the ground, rushing across the street to Ilara, who was holding onto one of the children I'd saved.
A cup of water was pushed into my hand and I looked down at a young Severian girl. "Thank you for saving my brother."
"You're welcome," I said with a half-smile as I took the cup and washed away the smoke in my lungs. "Is that everyone?"
The headmistress nodded. "You…you…"
"It's what I do," I said, looking up at the building and exhaling. Felix and I would have to have a little talk, but at least everyone was safe.
"Ilara, say something," Luisa said, pushing her queen forward with a smile.
The Severian queen, her face pale with fear and a light sheen of sweat on her forehead, looked torn between disgust and relief.
"You don't have to say a thing," I said, waving her off.
Ilara turned toward the building, folding her arms across her chest. "I suppose I can't blame you for this, can I?"
"I'm not in the habit of running into fires I started, no," I said, coughing up more smoke. "But I'd be happy to find out who did it."
She made a face. "That won't be necessary."
"For Mother's sake, Ilara, thank Brynna for risking her life to save the children," Luisa said with a look. "It's the least you can do."
"Fine." Ilara inhaled deeply. "I'm—"
Something glinted in the sunlight, and I heard the whistling of the arrow too late.
Luisa was faster.