Page 79 of To Save a Kingdom

Aliya slammed her hand over the other woman’s mouth before she could reveal Aliya’s surname and glanced at the other prisoners surrounding them. The last thing she needed was for everyone to figure out who she was and for someone to report her to Brooks to negotiate their own freedom.

A heartbeat later, Sorisana’s eyes narrowed and she nodded her understanding.

Aliya removed her hand.

“It’s what convinced El to help me in the beginning, I think,” she whispered, as she stared at the pendant, her thoughts back on their first night. “The first night, when he found me in the woods.”

Sorisana smiled, her eyes softening as she reached out and traced the carving. “He told me you had it. I suppose I didn’t quite believe you actually wore it. It’s our family crest. I gave it to a,” she paused, “friend, your ancestor, I suppose, as a marker for my life debt.”

Aliya blinked. Oh. Reaching behind her neck, she worked her fingers to unclasp the chain. “I should return this. Your son has more than paid back anything owed.” He had, after all, saved her life three times.

Sorisana’s hands stilled hers, her eyes sparkling with a mix of joy and pride. “Keep it. It rightfully belongs to my son’s future bride.” Leaning close, she whispered, “Your Majesty.”

The backs of Aliya’s eyes burned. Maybe, in another life, that could’ve been her. But not anymore. Shaking off the other woman’s grip, Aliya finished unclasping the pendant and handed it to Sorisana. “Then you should give it to Princess Tsara.” The words scraped up her throat, sounding for all the world like she’d been drinking acid. “They’re married.”

Sorisana blinked, astonishment clearing all expression from her face for the second time in as many minutes. After a deep breath, she shook her head. “No, you must be mistaken.”

Aliya snorted, wiping her eyes before the tears spilled over. “Believe me,” she hissed as the anger bubbled to the surface. “I wish I was.”

Grabbing Aliya’s hands, she folded her fingers over the pendant, pushing it back into Aliya’s chest. “No. Yesterday, he was ready to defy King Enorathil and stay here, because he loves you. My son is not so fickle he would engage himself to another less than a day later.” She pursed her lips. “Something’s going on, and we’re going to figure it out.”

Aliya resisted rolling her eyes. It wasn’t Sorisana’s fault she was unintentionally rubbing salt in open wounds. “Tsara manipulated him into it in exchange for convincing her father to maintain our alliance and provide food for my people.” She swallowed, clearing her throat in an attempt to eliminate the lump swelling to fill it. “The same boons your king used to manipulate me into agreeing to marry him, even though he was previously bound by way of Tsara’s arrangement.”

Sorisana’s jaw slackened. “Double dipping?”

Aliya nodded, relieved that Sorisana seemed just as offended as she was. Perhaps honor did exist in some of the elves, just like in the humans. “And being they’re already married, and I don’t see Roland letting me out of our contract, I don’t know that there’s anything to be done about it.”

The silence settled between them for several heartbeats.

Eventually, Sorisana spoke. “Nevertheless.” Sorisana pushed Aliya’s hands tighter against her chest. “Hold onto the pendant until we get this sorted out. I bet there’s more going on. King Enorathil would never permit Tsara to debase herself by marrying anyone other than a pure-blooded sun elf. Both Tsara and my son know the king’s opinions on the other elven races, and mountain elves are at the scum beneath his shoe, as far as he is concerned.”

Aliya flinched. Zadé had made a few references to Roland’s racism, but Aliya had never given it more than a passing thought. But Sorisana had a point. Someone as racist as Roland would never allow his daughter to dilute the blood of his heirs. “What does Tsara have on him?” she asked.

Sorisana shrugged. “I don’t know. You should ask my son. He’s spent most of his life working as a spy and navigating political maneuverings, for the elves and others. If anyone could get it out of Tsara, it would be him.”

Aliya snorted. As if she wanted to give him more reason to devote time to his new wife. Pulling her knees to her chest, she wrapped her arms around her legs, hugging them close. She sighed. As long as she was a prisoner here, Elessan could spend as much time with Tsara as he desired.

Perhaps she’d been stupid to let her emotions get in the way. If she’d had Elessan lead the charge against the library instead of trusting Roland, the soldiers would’ve attacked as agreed and she might not be in this mess, the prisoners would be free, and Brooks may well be executed.

“Oh!” She dug into her pockets and pulled out a handful of wax balls. “I forgot! Brooks is in possession of several Whisperers, and could set one off at any minute.” She handed out a pair to each of the hostages. “These are for you. If he decides to activate one, anyone not wearing them is dead.”

Most of the elves gasped at the word Whisperer, and crammed the offered plugs into their ears. Others stared at her blankly.

“What?” she asked, catching a few of their eyes.

“Who’s Brooks?” one of them asked.

By the mages. “The human with the white eyes and glowing gem in the middle of his forehead.”

The one who’d spoken wrinkled his nose and shivered. “He’s creepy.”

The hair on the back of her neck prickled. She suppressed a shudder. “You have no idea, trust me.”

Aliya studied the last set of plugs in her hands, then met her aunt’s quicksilver eyes which were framed by black fur and long whiskers. Without opposable thumbs, Shadow would have no way to insert them, should the need arise.

“Don’t worry about me, niece. I’ll be fine,” Shadow said, keeping her voice quiet.

Sorisana was still sitting motionless in front of Aliya, her earplugs in her palm. Her eyes went round as she gaped at Shadow. “A shapeshifter!”