71

This way,” Rowena called to a small group of sluagh gorta that were milling around a large, polished marble fountain. They tended to cluster if left to their own devices, and Mordha wanted them spread as widely around the city as possible as quickly as possible, like a net being cast across Magna Alto. If the Aureumians were prevented from gathering in large numbers, the townspeople might stay put, and with some luck, they could seize Magna Alto with only minimal bloodshed. At least, outside the palace, anyway.

That woman with white hair had looked so much like Sonya that Rowena had instinctually called out when she’d seen the sluagh gorta strangling her. A relative, perhaps? Regardless, Rowena probably should have just let her die. It wasn’t as though Sonya would forgive her or the Uaine for what they had done simply because she’s spared a distant family member for a few minutes. Judging by her injuries and general lack of fortitude, the woman was unlikely to make it to safety before being overtaken by another pack of sluagh gorta. Not that there was any true safety in Magna Alto anymore.

“Have you heard how they’re faring at the barracks?” asked Blaine as he trotted over to her, his blood-slick sword laid flat on his shoulder.

She shook her head. “Run into some trouble?”

He glanced at his sword and shrugged. “Small imperial patrol. They hadn’t even realized what was happening.”

“That was the point,” she said. “Surprise assault from within.”

“Seeing their stupid, shocked faces as I cut them down gets dull quickly,” he said. “I would have preferred a real fight.”

“I’m sure you’re not alone,” said Rowena. “But we’ve still got a long way to go yet before we reach our goal, and time grows increasingly short. We have to be sparing with all our resources. Even headstrong young men with a death wish.”

He scowled at her. “I don’t have a death wish.”

“Ever since you lost Sonya and Jorge, you have thrown yourself into every fight with a recklessness that suggests otherwise.”

“What does it matter? You can always just bring me back as a sluagh gorta.”

“I would rather keep you as you are for as long as possible.”

“Why? You don’t even like me.”

“True,” admitted Rowena. “But your brother did, and I promised him I’d look after you.”

He grunted, clearly not pleased that she was once again bringing up his brother. But sometimes she had to be harsh to snap him out of his foolishness.

“Ah, there you are!” Lorecchio rode up to them on one of the tall Aureumian horses. “Glad to see you’re both doing well.”

“Do they need me at the barracks?” asked Blaine. “The soldiers putting up much of a fight?”

Lorecchio pursed his lips and looked around. “I suppose things are pretty well in hand here. If you’re pining to go down there and split a few imperial heads before they’re all gone, I won’t stop you.”

Blaine nodded, a dark eagerness in his eyes. “I’ll see you both later, then.”

Rowena and Lorecchio watched him hurry off.

“His father really should speak to him,” said Lorecchio.

“He has,” said Rowena. “It didn’t end peaceably.”

“Ah,” said Lorecchio.

“What did you expect? He was excluded from our inner circle for months, and latched on to the only friendly faces he could find. Then we got rid of the friendly faces.”

“We only excluded him because he’s a terrible liar.”

“And that’s his fault?” asked Rowena. “We are not all as gifted with scheming and duplicity as you.”

“I can’t tell if that was an insult,” said Lorecchio.

“I know,” she said. “More’s the pity.”

He regarded her for a moment, then sighed and shook his head.

“I suppose I better get going.”

“To the palace?”

Lorecchio nodded.

“Should be quite the spectacle.”

He gave her a pained smile. “Our ally does seem to have a flair for the dramatic, doesn’t he? I’ll get word to you and the rest of the Bhuidseach once everything is settled.”

Rowena watched him canter up the hill toward the palace. Then she turned back to the vast manors and sprawling gardens that surrounded her. She’d thought Gogoleth opulent when she’d first seen it, but it was a poor cousin compared to this place. Foreigners said the sluagh gorta were hideous abominations. But to her eye, this “Silver Ring” was far more grotesque. To have so much wealth concentrated in such a small place for such a small group of people. It was easily the most unnatural thing she had ever witnessed.

This was the power of the gods gone unchecked. She did not like these methods, but if this was what it took to finally tear them and their machinations down, she would gladly accept it.