Page 85 of The Ragpicker King
Elsabet shrugged gracefully. “For too long, Malgasi and Castellane have been at daggers drawn,” she purred. “House Belmany has a chance now to make sure we and the government of Castellane are... aligned.”
Kel felt the words like cold fingers walking up his spine.
“And there is much we can do to help return tarnished Castellane to her former glory,” Elsabet added. “First, the city will be cleansed of the filthy Ashkar. You will see—”
“I think you discount the latest political wrinkle,” said Lady Alleyne. “The Prince allies himself with Anjelica Iruvai. Few would dare strike at Kutani.”
“I do not fear them.” Elsabet threw back her head proudly, and the stone at her neck flashed. It was not a pendant; Kel could see no chain. “When Malgasi controls the Aurelians, no mere army shall stand against us.”
“They have ten thousand warships—” Lady Alleyne began.
Elsabet flung out her arm. For a moment, Kel thought it a gesture of exasperation, but it was not that. She stood stock-still, her eyes half closed, her gloved fingers extended.Black-gloved hands, covered like the hands of the King are covered.
And at her throat, the stone began to glow. Like a fragment of a star, burning brighter as it fell, its light intensified until Kel could see that it was indeed not a pendant or a necklace. The stone had been inserted under Elsabet’s skin and glowed through it, like flame through a lampshade.
“There are other kinds of power, Alleyne, than those that can be bought with gold. Other weapons than blades and powder.”
Elsabet uncurled her fingers. A narrow column of fire blazed through the air, striking the temple floor at Lady Alleyne’s feet. The marble cracked and splintered.
Lady Alleyne cried out, stumbling back. Artal caught her by the arm as Elsabet brought her hand down in a quick, swooping gesture. Fire burst again from her palm, arrowing up into the sky, a plume of brilliance. The flames spread and scattered, and for a moment, Kel thought he saw them make the shape of a bird with outspread wings.
“Elsabet!” shouted Gremont. “Enough—”
His shout was choked off in a grunt. Kel whipped around to stare. It was easy to see Gremont in the sharp light of Elsabet’s fire; he was struggling, his hands flailing at his throat. There was a dark shadow behind him, a flash of something silver against Gremont’s neck.
Lady Alleyne screamed.
Gremont fell to his knees, his hands wrapped around his own throat. Blood pulsed between his fingers, and he sank to the ground with a choking gurgle. Behind him stood a figure in a black cloak, the edge of a silver mask glinting from beneath his hood, a scarlet-stained blade in his hand.
“Jerrod,” whispered Merren. He looked horror-struck.
Jerrod spun and vanished into the shadows as Gremont’s body sprawled bonelessly at Lady Alleyne’s feet. With a small shriek of horror, Liorada aimed a kick at Gremont’s prone body, causing him to roll onto his back.He’s supposed to be invulnerable,Kel thought, but Gremont was utterly limp, blood spreading around him in a dark pool.
Lady Alleyne screamed again. This time she picked up her skirts and ran, putting on a burst of speed as she passed within inches of Kel’s hiding place.
Elsabet cried out. Liorada was gone, crashing away through the brush, but Elsabet’s eyes were fixed on Kel, Ji-An, and Merren: the brilliance of the fire she had conjured had illuminated their hiding place, and now that Elsabet was staring directly at it, it was clear she could see them plainly.
“Podrot! Siszokti!” she shouted.
“Go!” cried Ji-An, shoving Merren—who had frozen in shock—ahead of her. “Run!”
They ran. As they cut past the temple, more dark figures spilled from the shadows. Elsabet’s guards. Kel was in the rear, his throwing dagger in his hand. As he twisted around to hurl it, something caught at his ankle and he nearly fell.
It was Gremont’s hand. Kel sank to one knee, staring. Gremont’s face was twisted and bloody; he was bone white, and more blood pumped from a wound in his throat as he choked on his last breaths.
“Kel Saren,” he gasped. Kel was surprised; it seemed like Gremont’s windpipe must not have been cut if he could still speak. He felt sick at the idea that Gremont knew who he really was. But of course he did—he had learned it from the Malgasi. “Help me—” A bubble of blood formed on his lips. “I’ll give you anything—money—more than the Prince could ever give you—”
Kel bent down, and for a moment he thought that he saw a spark of relief in Gremont’s eyes. He closed his hand around the amulet—which had done Gremont no good at all—and wrenched; it came free, and he held the bloodied jewel in his hand.
“Help me,” Gremont gasped again; his voice was weaker now, his eyes beginning to dart and film over. “Please...”
“You deserve worse than this,” Kel said, almost shocked at the cold remove in his own voice. “You thought you could treat Antonetta as you treat everyone else. You thought she had no one to protect her.” He stood up. “You were wrong.”
Gremont made a last, choked noise—perhaps a sound of protest, Kel would never know—and went rigid, his blank eyes turned up to the night.
Kel ran. He raced over the uneven ground at top speed, desperate to catch up to the others. He plunged down the ancient stairs as bright pinpoints of light exploded in the darkness all around him. Something whistled through the air, past Kel’s left ear; it hurtled into the trunk of a dwarf pine tree, where it blazed like a miniature star.
“What’s going on?” Merren yelled as Kel caught up to him; Jerrod and Ji-An were there as well, just ahead. Kel shoved the amulet into his pocket, almost tripping as his boot landed in a tide pool with a splash.
