my mouth into a line. âThe wraith had just reached the city. Trying to deal with that and Patrick at the same time would have been impossible. I made a choice that would save lives.â
Francescaâs voice flattened. âYour choice nearly cost the lives of my son and nephew.â
The accusation twisted my heart, but I held my posture stiff.
âTo be fair,â Tobiah said, âshe did tell me yesterday about Lien. We were already in pursuit after the first attempt on me, though.â He glanced at James. âAnd I think Her Highness would have told me about Fatherâs assassination if Iâd bothered speaking to her instead of keeping her confined to her quarters.â
Meredith, silent all this time, granted him a deep smile, like she was proud heâd remembered to be courteous. He ignored her.
âAll right,â said the queen. âAllowing that, why did we not know of Lienâs location until last night, when Wilhelmina was apprehended outside an inn in White Flag?â She looked at me. âIsnât that when you told Sergeant Ferris to go to Fisherâs Mouth?â
âIt was at the inn I learned of his location.â
James lifted an eyebrow; heâd been waiting to hear about this, too.
âOn my way to fetch the Ospreys, Melanie and I met. She told me where to look.â
âDo you think she warned him?â Jamesâs tone was neutral,but the comment stung. âShe did side with him when you split.â
As if I could forget. âPatrick is paranoid; he probably left Fisherâs Mouth as soon as she returned. The entire city is hunting him.â
âLetâs remember weâre not interrogating Her Highness.â Meredithâs voice was soft, but everyone looked at her. Francescaâs expression warmed. âWhile questions must be answered, letâs not forget that Princess Wilhelmina is our guest.â
âThat does lead to another question, though.â Francesca faced me again, a challenge in her eyes. âWhy was it that you chose last night to sneak out of the palace and fetch your Ospreys?â
I glanced at James. He nodded.
âYour son wasnât going to live, Your Majesty.â I couldnât make myself look at Tobiah, but even from the corner of my eye I could see his expression of impassive boredom. It was a mask. That face always had been, and I hadnât been able to see through it. But he was listening to every word, every breath, every hesitation. Earlier, heâd asked what Iâd done. Here it was: âOne of my Ospreys is a healer. A flasher with the power to heal.â
The room went silent.
Tobiah pressed his palm over the bandages and the princely mask dropped away, revealing confusion and betrayal and wonder. âMagic.â
Meredithâs eyes were wide.
âI was told youâd sent for a friend.â Queen Francescaâs words were soft, but cutting. Iâd always thought her meek before, but now I knew that was as much of a mask as anything Tobiah and I wore. âI didnât think much of it. But magic.â She sucked in adeep breath. âWhy wasnât I informed?â
Neither James nor I answered.
âWhich Osprey is this? Had he ever used it before? Did either of you consider that what you did is illegal ? The wraith is already so close.â
âI did consider that.â I pulled myself to my full height. âBut I am neither a citizen of the Indigo KingdomâI was kidnapped almost ten years ago, if you recallânor have I ever been overly concerned with the law when the law prevents me from doing what is necessary. Remember that last night, my friend was the only thing standing between your son and death. Your son, who is now sitting up and scowling. Alive. And just hours ago, he was slipping toward the saints.â
The queen regent turned her eyes to her son and acquiesced. âAnd your friend? Had he ever done anything like