Page 13 of Queen’s Gambit

‘You asked me yesterday about the blood key…’ his voice trailed off as he gazed at the deep blue sky visible through the window. ‘Most of the knowledge of it is just a legend. Like the one about the priest who, through the centuries, guards Arachne’s maze, bound by blood to the giant web. It’s destructive magic, and not one that will help you win the war.’

‘But what does it do?’ He might have soothed my headache, but I wasn’t in the mood for riddles.

‘It binds the object to the person through the blood in a very gruesome ritual, then the person becomes the key… or parts of them do. Those spells are held under lock and key in the vaults of the fae empires. I never studied them, and I’m curious why you need to know.’

‘A hunch, really. I found something I needed to check.’ I would not tell him about schemata, not without talking to Rey first. Alaric might be an ally, but I wasn’t ready to trust him yet.

He tilted his head before a knowing smile ghosted across his lips.

‘Take some time to relax, Lady Roksana. I’ll ensure no one disturbs you. Including me. Once you decide to trust me with your hunch, we’ll talk again.’

He bowed, leaving me alone with my thoughts, surrounded by the quiet aura of ancient knowledge.

Hours passed, and despite reading through several manuscripts, I wasn’t any closer to finding what I sought. Eventually, I closed my eyes and let my thoughts drift to Rey, hoping he’d soon return.

‘I told you no visitors,’ I said, hearing the soft whisper of approaching footsteps.

‘Why? Are you doing something illegal or immoral? If so, why am I not involved?’

‘Irsha?’ Of course it was Irsha. ‘What are you doing here?’

The Brotherhood’s new Grand Master stood before me, clenching his fists. The pain in his eyes was unmistakable even in the library’s dim light. When I embraced him, his large body sagged, his arms wrapped around me as his forehead dipped to my shoulder.

‘This is tearing me apart. The waiting is… Give me something to do. I’ll take any job, just… I feel so fucking helpless.’ His voice broke, and all I could do was stroke his back while he fought for control.

‘Oh, Blade,’ I whispered, wondering how much it cost him to open up like this. When his breathing settled and the shivers subsided, I pulled away.

‘Boyan wouldn’t be so weak,’ he said, but I shook my head.

‘Boyan lived like a ghost after my mother died. He was even weaker. You didn’t lose her. Lily’s coming. The mages confirmed it. In four days, the Lumivitae delegation will arrive through the portal.’

Irsha sucked in a breath and grasped my shoulders so hard I knew it would leave a bruise. ‘Four days? Where’s she staying? What did you prepare?’

With a slight twist, I escaped his grasp and tapped his chest. ‘Keep it together, Blade. You don’t want Reynard finding fingerprints on my skin.’

‘Sana, you’re killing me,’ he grunted, so I took pity on him.

‘I haven’t prepared anything yet. If you’re desperate for a job, help me organise it, and ask the Observers to look into the pasts of our new servants. I don’t want any accidents or botched assassinations.’

Irsha bent over and kissed my forehead.

‘You’ll have the best, Nightshade. How do we get her back? I saw this look before, Trouble. What is your plan?’

‘When Lily arrives, I’ll talk to her. There might be circumstances we’re unaware of, and I don’t want her getting hurt,’ I said, noticing Irsha wince. ‘If she wants to disappear, I’ll send her upstairs. There are servants’ clothes behind a panel in her wardrobe. Once she’s changed, take her out of the city.’

He looked at me, eyebrows arching. ‘She won’t leave. Lily loves Truso, and… we talked once. She wants to keep running the House of Lillies.’

‘And she will. Just for now, she’ll do as I say. I’m trying my best to protect her and my kingdom. If the Lumivitae find out I’m helping her, they could use the outrage to start a war. It has to look like she ran away on her own. I want her safe, but we need allies… It’s so fucking complicated.’

I took Irsha’s hand, hoping he’d understand I couldn’t solve every problem with poison anymore. Any misstep could bury Dagome.

Before he could answer, the Chamberlain burst into the library. His panicked gaze swept between Irsha and me as he collapsed onto a nearby chair with a pained moan.

‘I thought you were with the king. What do I do now? What can I do?’ he muttered, wiping the sweat from his brow with an embroidered handkerchief.

‘You start by telling me why you’re here, huffing like a draft horse!’

My words snapped him back to reality as he realised where he was.