“Both Julian and I managed to get locked up in Queen Trina’s dungeon,” Ruby stated. “It wasn’t a great place to be.”
I nodded, taking a moment to let the rage that was free-flowing through my veins subside. I took a few deep breaths, not wanting Julian to have to hear my ranting when he was obviously so unwell.
“How are you feeling?” I asked him.
“Better now that I’m here. I had thought you’d all be home by now.”
“We wouldn’t have left without you!” I replied.
“That’s what I keep telling him,” Ruby added.
She mock-glared at Julian, and he rolled his eyes. It was the only indication he’d given so far that it was still Julian in there and not just a broken husk of a kid who had been through far too much.
“Do you want to rest?” Jenney asked Julian solicitously.
He nodded weakly, then coughed with bone-shaking intensity. I smiled, not wanting Julian to know how alarmed I was by his health. I was glad that Jenney seemed to be taking up the role of nurse—I hoped that she would have some medicine to give him, or know someone who would.
Ash, Ruby, Yelena and I all traipsed out of the room. Under instruction from Jenney, Yelena went off to fetch extra blankets from the servant quarters. When we were alone, I turned to Ruby.
“I’m glad you found him when you did.” I swallowed. It didn’t look like Julian would have survived Queen Trina’s dungeons for much longer. Ruby nodded, wrapping her arms around her body to comfort herself.
“We’re going to kill her, right?” I added, looking at Ash.
He looked faintly surprised at my statement—I was only half joking.
“Something needs to be done,” he replied. “Though from what I’ve heard, Tejus has it in for the queen after Varga’s death.”
“What?” Ruby burst out.
Ash belatedly realized that Ruby hadn’t known about the commander.
“I’m so sorry,” he replied. “He was killed.”
Ruby went completely white.
“Sit down,” I told her, walking her over to one of the sofas.
“I don’t understand!” she exploded. “He was going back to Hellswan castle—I thought he was safe…”
I looked at Ash, who shook his head, his eyes pleading.
“I’m so sorry. He was one of the few good sentries here,” I said, putting my arms around my shocked friend.
I then proceeded to tell her the series of events that had taken place in her absence: the runes found by Varga’s body, Benedict becoming possessed by the entity, what had happened to Yelena and Benedict’s mention of Queen Trina’s involvement—and how I truly believed she was part of the Acolyte cult somehow. When I was finished, Ruby’s eyes were wide as saucers, and she had remained as white as a ghost.
“I had something to tell you—about the rune. I saw one when I was staying in Memenion’s castle. It’s tied to an old cult, originating from his kingdom…but I guess you knew that already?”
“Not that Memenion’s kingdom had anything to do with it.” I frowned. “Maybe Tejus and I have been looking at the wrong history books…”
“They’re all really friendly there. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind helping us.”
“What were you doing there anyway?” I asked.
“I was on my way here when the ice fires began. Commander Varga stopped me at the Hellswan border and took me to Memenion’s kingdom. Then he was supposed to ride back here. And I got thrown in Trina’s dungeons before Ash came to the rescue—again.” She smiled up at him, and I resisted the urge to snigger. I’d never really seen Ruby behave that way before toward a boy. She was normally so tough and resilient; to see her make moon eyes kind of turned the Ruby I knew on her head.
“Where did you hear that Tejus had it in for Queen Trina?” I asked Ash, trying to make sense of events—as far as I was aware, the only person Tejus had mentioned that to was me.
“He threatened her in full view of everyone,” he replied, “at the Fells. So she knows he’s on to her—but I imagine that she thinks she’s untouchable, or that there won’t be any evidence to connect her to his murder.”
I nodded. “It was a bold move to jail Ruby after that. Maybe she does think she’s untouchable. If she does it will work in our favor. She’ll make riskier moves, and then it won’t just be us who believe she’s dangerous.”
Tejus hadn’t told me that he’d threatened Queen Trina. Privately I wanted to cheer—I was so glad that he’d finally said something to her…and it eradicated any fears I might have had, no matter how small, that he still had feelings for her.