Chapter 42
Lynx paced the tiny cell in Mother Saskia's cloister, where Stefan had brought her, Malika, and Kestrel. Hiding here went against her every instinct, but Stefan had told her it was Axel's wish.
How could she disobey?
Axel had stepped in front of a quarrel for her. The depth of his love left her humbled-and furious. Furious they could not be together and even more livid that he could die while she paced here helplessly. Stefan had left immediately, promising to return with news of Axel and Lukan.
From the bed, Lynx could feel Kestrel's glares burning her back but ignored them.
Kestrel thumped her hands down onto the bed. "It was my wedding, supposed to be the best day of my life, and you all ruined it for me."
"We ruined it for you?" Malika jerked her tear-stained face toward Kestrel. "We saved you. The next quarrel could have been yours."
Kestrel folded her arms across her chest. "I'm a loyal subject of the crown. No one would harm me. And I don't believe anyone would want to harm Lynx, either."
"Don't be so sure," Malika hissed. "You don't know how tempted I am right now. And my brother is dying because he took that quarrel to save her."
"How much longer do we stay here?" Lynx asked, not wanting to listen to them argue.
"Until Stefan returns," Malika said in a firm voice that belied her trembling shoulders.
Kestrel jumped up off the mattress. "Where is Tao? What could be more important than looking after his wife?"
"You do know his father has just been murdered?" Malika snapped. "He must be up to his ears in politics right now. The whole court must be in an uproar."
Kestrel stamped her foot. "Then I repeat, what could be more important than looking after his wife?"
Malika opened her mouth to retort, but Lynx cut her off. "Did Axel tell you what he planned?"
Malika's mouth closed with an audible click. She turned to Lynx with a distraught expression. "Last night, while he was looking for you, he saw footage of Lukan talking to the assassin in the lair. They were discussing plans to kill you as well as the emperor. He tried to change the programming, but my father stopped him." Malika wrung her skirt as tears flowed freely down her face. "Once my brother failed, there was no stopping him. Nothing Stefan and I could say would change his mind."
"Why didn't he come to me last night? Didn't he see footage of me being taken to the cloister?"
"He did, but he knew you'd be safe because my father commanded Mother Saskia to protect you."
"That still doesn't explain why he didn't come to me."
Malika looked up at Lynx with bloodshot eyes. "He was scared you would talk him out of it, if you knew. And he was so . . . distracted, you would have known something was wrong."
"He's right. I would have stopped him," Lynx said. Then she paused. "Mali, I'm worried about one thing."
"Just one?"
Lynx managed a wan smile. "Axel's lips-they were turning blue. Did you see that?"
"Between your kisses? To be honest, no. Anyway, what does that matter?"
Even Kestrel perked up, taking an interest. "My sister knows quarrel wounds." She turned to Lynx. "Blue lips aren't typical, are they? Not unless . . ."
Lynx and Kestrel exchanged frowns.
Malika leaped to her feet. "Unless what?"
Lynx ran her hands over her face before speaking. "I-I don't know. It shouldn't be possible . . . but yet-"
"What?" Malika's voice spiked.
"Tell her, Lynx," Kestrel said. "It's her brother. As annoying as she is, she has the right to know."
Malika glared at Kestrel and then faced Lynx.
Lynx took Malika's hand but continued speaking to Kestrel. She wanted facts before saying anything to further upset Axel's sister. "How would Felix and Lukan have gotten hold of it? That's what's making me doubt."
Malika pulled her hand away and dug her nails into Lynx's arm. "Stop protecting me. Kestrel's right. He's my brother, and I love him as much as you do."
"Did Axel say anything to you about poisoned quarrels?"
Malika looked from Lynx to Kestrel. "No. Why?"
"Nothing to Stefan?"
"I don't know. Please, Lynx, what's going on?"
Lynx pulled away from Malika, darted to the door, and started pounding on it. If she was right, Axel needed her right away. "Mother Saskia! Open up. I have to speak to Lukan and Felix. Urgently." She turned to Malika. "Blue lips and extremities are telltale signs of murghi, a Norin poison. It slows the heart, addles the mind, and then paralyzes the limbs. After that, death is sure." Lynx lowered her voice to a grim tone. "It has stood for centuries between Norin and destruction by you Chenayans."
Malika blanched.
Lynx pounded on the door again. "Mother Saskia! Winds! Where is this woman?"
The door flew open, making Lynx jump back.
"Your Majesty?" Mother Saskia bowed low.
Lynx blinked, wondering to whom she was referring. Then, she remembered. Mott was dead. That made Lukan emperor, and by default, it made her empress.
She brushed the title aside. "I have to speak to Lukan and Felix about Axel."
The priestess looked doubtful. "It's not safe."
"That can't be helped." Lynx pushed past Saskia but, in her haste, tripped over her skirt and high heels. "Dragon's arse. Someone give me a knife."
Mother Saskia hesitated and then obeyed, handing Lynx her stumpy dagger. Lynx grabbed a handful of fabric and bent down, stabbing the dress just above her knee. Then, she hacked away at the silk.
Mother Saskia hissed. "Your Majesty, generations of crown princesses have worn that dress."
"There won't be any more crown princesses if I have anything to do with it," Lynx said, relishing the screech of tearing silk. She stepped over the mound of discarded fabric with bare feet. "Where will I find them?"
The clatter of boots on stone drowned out anything the priestess may have said. Stefan stormed around the corner, skidding to a halt in front of Lynx. Fit as he was, his breath came in rasps.
"Axel . . . he needs you. Come. Infirmary."
"Is Lukan there?" Lynx demanded, falling into step with him.
"Felix, too. Axel's been poisoned."
Skirt swaying, Malika ran after Lynx as she and Stefan raced down the passageway.
As they rounded the corner, Lynx heard Kestrel shout from behind, "Don't mind me!"
Ignoring her petulant sister, Lynx ran on. The route to the infirmary took Lynx down different passages and halls, ones she had never seen before. In each one, people clumped, faces drawn and frightened, audible snippets of their conversation centered on the horror of the wedding. They dropped into deep bows as Lynx sprinted by. There would be no wedding party in the great hall tonight. Who celebrated the assassination of an emperor and the attempted murder of one of his heirs?
Only the assassins. Lukan will pay for this if it's the last thing I do.
Breathing hard, she, Stefan, and Malika finally stopped outside a white door bearing the ubiquitous Dragon emblem. Stefan flung it open, and Lynx bolted in, dodging her way around beds filled with the sick and dying.
A priestess looked up from a man she was tending. She bobbed a knee and then gestured to a closed door. "In there, Your Majesty."
Lynx surged past Stefan and Malika and barged into a small private ward. Stark and utilitarian, it was furnished with only a single wooden bed, a chair, and a small table with a bowl of water, a cloth, and a heap of bloody bandages. Axel lay on his stomach, his clothing ripped open to expose his back. His father sat at his head, mopping his sweaty face. Lukan leaned against the wall, his arms crossed against his chest.
Malika fell down next to Axel and took his hand. Stefan stayed close to Lynx's side.
Lynx gasped when she saw Axel's face. Although his eyes were closed, his wildly fluttering eyelids and rambling moans all pointed to murghi. She gently lifted his other hand and swore. His fingers were blue up to the first knuckles.
She turned to Lukan. "The poison. How did you get it?"
Felix answered. "That is unimportant. What matters now is to heal him."
Lynx agreed. Still, she folded her arm. Murghi in the hands of the enemy was devastating for Norin. While she would do anything to save Axel, she also had to protect her tribe. That meant the destruction of all stocks in Chenayan possession. Axel was the only bargaining chip she had. Surely, Felix wouldn't hesitate to answer her questions if he believed she might not save his son? She meant to, of course, but Felix wouldn't know that.
She thrust her chin at the Lord of the Household. "Answer my question."
Felix stood. "My son sacrificed himself for you, and this is how you repay him . . . by arguing details?"