Sara shrugged. “No worse than he’s said to my face.”
“I never could understand what you saw in him.”
“He was uncompromising,” Sara said. “I felt like a better person when I was around him, like I was one of the good guys. But he had no vision, no reach. He never understood that some of us can’t be happy just maintaining the status quo. It didn’t matter what miracles I showed him, he always found some fault.” She shook her head. “Uncompromising men are easy to admire, but they’re impossible to live with.”
“I can imagine,” Sparrow said as they reached the foot of the stairs. “Still, congratulations. You won!”
“Hardly a glorious victory,” Sara said, walking between the suspended Relay tanks toward the brightly lit platform at the center of the enormous cavern. “I’d always hoped that Etmon would see things my way someday, understand the great work I’m doing.” She heaved an enormous, smoky sigh. “Considering our history, I suppose it’s only fitting that I be the one to deal the breaking blow.”
“How do you mean to do that, by the way?” Sparrow said. “He’s locked himself up quite nicely, and I don’t think he’s going to come out to talk to you.”
“The Spirit Court’s Tower is still only stone,” Sara said with a smile. “And I’ve been needing something to test our new weapon on.”
“It’s done, then?” Sparrow said.
“Done enough,” Sara said, sticking her pipe into her mouth. “Words won’t do it justice, though. You’ll just have to wait for tomorrow.”
Sparrow smiled a wide, toothy smile. “And see the haughty Spiritualists brought low? I can’t wait.”
“I’m sure,” Sara said distractedly. “Come on, we’ve got work to do.”
Sparrow fell in behind her as she marched out onto the platform around the enormous tank that served as her headquarters and began shouting for her assistants.
CHAPTER
16
Josef woke with a snort, hands going instantly to his blades. He looked around a moment in groggy confusion, grinding his teeth as the world came together. It had happened again. He was still on the couch where he’d sat down to wait for Adela, only now it was morning. But the sunlight streaming through the window was still more white than yellow. Early morning, then. That was better than yesterday.
He looked around for Nico and found her sitting behind the couch, wrapped in her coat with her back resting against his through the wooden frame, sound asleep. Josef smiled. Catching Nico asleep was rare. Then his smile fell. Rare, and a sign of something very wrong.
A knock sounded at the door, and Nico’s eyes popped open. She saw him at once and rolled to her feet, a confused and slightly alarmed look on her pale face. Josef put up his hand, motioning her to keep out of sight. She nodded and shrank back behind the couch. The knock sounded again, soft but urgent. Josef pulled his shirt straight and started for the door, but whoever was knocking must have grown impatient. Before Josef had gone two steps, the lock rattled. The door opened with a click and Eli stepped in, palming his lock pick with a hurried glance over his shoulder.
“Good,” he said, closing the door behind him. “You’re up. We have a problem.”
“We have several,” Josef said as Nico stood up from behind the couch. “What’s going on?”
“I’m not sure,” Eli said. “But word is the queen’s up and on the warpath. I’m surprised she hasn’t—”
A banging on the door cut him off, and the three of them froze. Josef was the first to recover. He caught Nico’s eyes and glanced at the corner. She nodded and slid sideways, fading into the small shadow behind the fireplace. When she was gone, Josef walked to the door. He motioned for Eli to get behind him before lifting the latch.
A page stood in the hallway, his hand raised to knock again. He was flanked on both sides by stern, armored guardsmen and looking decidedly unhappy about it.
“My lord prince,” the page said, recovering from his aborted knock with impressive speed. “Your royal mother requests your presence.”
Josef frowned. “Now?”
“Now would be good,” the man said.
Josef shook his head and turned back to the room, leaving the door open. He walked to the corner and grabbed the Heart. When it was securely on his back, he walked back to the door. Eli stepped into place beside him, ready to go.
The servant glanced nervously from Josef to Eli. “My lord,” he started. “Your mother specifically asked—”
“My adviser comes with me,” Josef said, stalking into the hall.