65
The first test would be the most dangerous—and informative.
Passing through the guards stationed at the edge of the camp—and learning if they’d heard of Ianthe’s demise. Learning what sort of power Ianthe truly wielded here.
I kept my features in that beatific, pretty mask she’d always plastered on her face, head held just so, my mating ring turned facedown and put onto my other hand, a few silver bracelets Azriel had borrowed from the camp priestess dangling at my wrists. I let them jangle loudly, as she had, like a cat with a bell on its collar.
A pet—I supposed Ianthe was no more than a pet of the king.
I couldn’t see Azriel, but I could feel him, as if the Siphon parading itself as Ianthe’s jewel was a tether. He dwelled in every pocket of shadow, darting ahead and behind.
The six guards flanking the camp entrance monitored Ianthe, strutting out of the dark, with unmasked distaste. I steadied my heart, became her, preening and coy, vain and predatory, holy and sensual.
They did not stop me as I walked past them and onto the long avenue that cut through the endless camp. Did not look confused or expectant.
I didn’t dare let my shoulders slump, or even heave a sigh of utter relief. Not as I headed down the broad artery lined by tents and forges, fires and—and things I did not look at, did not even turn toward as the sounds coming out of them charged at me.
This place made the Court of Nightmares seem like a human sitting room filled with chaste maidens embroidering pillows.
And somewhere in this hell-pit … Elain. Had the Cauldron presented her to the king? Or was she in some in-between, trapped in whatever dark world the Cauldron occupied?
I’d seen the king’s tent in Nesta’s scrying. It had not seemed as far away as it did now, rising like a gargantuan, spiny beast from the center of the camp. Entrance to it would present another set of obstacles.
If we made it that far without being noticed.
The time of night worked to our advantage. The soldiers who were awake were either engaged in activities of varying awfulness, or were on guard and wishing they could be. The rest were asleep.
It was strange, I realized with each bouncing step and jangle of jewelry toward the heart of camp, to consider that Hybern actually needed rest.
I’d somehow assumed they were beyond it—mythic, unending in their strength and rage.
But they, too, tired. And ate. And slept.
Perhaps not as easily or as much as humans, but, with two hours until dawn, we were lucky. Once the sun chased away the shadows, though … Once it made some gaps in my costume all too clear …
It was hard to scan the tents we passed, hard to focus on the sounds of the camp while pretending to be someone wholly used to it. I didn’t even know if Ianthe had a tent here—if she was allowed near the king whenever she wished.
I doubted it—doubted we’d be able to stroll right into his personal tent and find wherever the hell Elain was.
A massive bonfire smoldered and crackled near the center of camp, the sounds of revelry reaching us long before we got a good visual.
I knew within a few heartbeats that most of the soldiers were not sleeping.
They were here.
Celebrating.
Some danced in wicked circles around the fire, their contorted shapes little more than twisted shadows flinging through the night. Some drank from enormous oak barrels of beer I recognized—right from Tamlin’s stores. Some writhed with each other—some merely watched.
But through the laughter and singing and music, over the roar of the fire … Screaming.
A shadow gripped my shoulder, reminding me not to run.
Ianthe would not run—would not show alarm.
My mouth went dry as that scream sounded again.
I couldn’t bear it—to let it go on, to see what was being done—
Azriel’s shadow-hand grasped my own, tugging me closer. His rage rippled off his invisible form.
We made a lazy circuit of the revelry, other parts of it becoming clear. The screaming—
It was not Elain.
It was not Elain who hung from a rack near a makeshift dais of granite.
It was one of the Children of the Blessed, young and slender—
My stomach twisted, threatening to surge up my throat. Two others were chained up beside her. From the way they sagged, the injuries on their naked bodies—
Clare. It was like Clare, what had been done to them. And like Clare, they had been left there to rot, left for the crows surely to arrive at dawn.
This one had held out for longer.
I couldn’t. I couldn’t—couldn’t leave her there—
But if I lingered too long, they’d see. And drawing attention to myself …
Could I live with it? I’d once killed two innocents to save Tamlin and his people. I’d be as good as killing her if I left her there in favor of saving my sister …
Stranger. She was a stranger—
“He’s been looking for you,” drawled a hard male voice.
I pivoted to find Jurian striding from between two tents, buckling his sword-belt. I glanced at the dais. And as if an invisible hand wiped away the smoke …
There sat the King of Hybern. He lounged in his chair, head propped on a fist, face a mask of vague amusement as he surveyed the revelry, the torture and torment. The adulation of the crowd that occasionally turned to toast or bow to him.
I willed my voice to soften, adapted that lilt. “I have been busy with my sisters.”
Jurian stared at me for a long moment, eyes sliding to the Siphon atop my head.
I knew the moment he realized who I was. Those brown eyes flared—barely.
“Where is she,” was all I breathed.
Jurian gave a cocky grin. Not directed at me, but anyone watching us. “You’ve been lusting after me for weeks now,” he purred. “Act like it.”
My throat constricted. But I laid a hand on his forearm, batting my eyelashes at him as I stepped closer.
A bemused snort. “I have trouble believing that’s how you won his heart.”
I tried not to scowl. “Where is she.”
“Safe. Untouched.”
My chest caved in at the word.
“Not for long,” Jurian said. “It gave him a shock when she appeared before the Cauldron. He had her contained. Came here to brood over what to do with her. And how to make you pay for it.”
I ran a hand up his arm, then rested it over his heart. “Where. Is. She.”
Jurian leaned in as if he’d kiss me, and brought his mouth to my ear. “Were you smart enough to kill her before you took her skin?”
My hands tightened on his jacket. “She got what she deserved.”
I could feel Jurian’s smile against my ear. “She’s in his tent. Chained with steel and a little spell from his favorite book.”
Shit. Shit. Perhaps I should have gotten Helion, who could break almost any—
Jurian caught my chin between his thumb and forefinger. “Come to my tent with me, Ianthe. Let me see what that pretty mouth can do.”
It was an effort not to recoil, but I let Jurian put a hand on my lower back. He chuckled. “Seems like you’ve already got some steel in you. No need for mine.”
I gave him a pretty, sunshine smile. “What of the girl on the rack?”
Darkness flickered in those eyes. “There have been many before her, and many will come after.”
“I can’t leave her here,” I said through my teeth.
Jurian led me into the labyrinth of tents, heading for that inner circle. “Your sister or her—you won’t be able to take two out.”
“Get her to me, and I’ll make it happen.”
Jurian muttered, “Say you would like to pray before the Cauldron before we retire.”
I blinked, and realized there were guards—guards and that giant, bone-colored tent ahead of us. I clasped my hands before me and said to Jurian, “Before we … retire, I should like to pray before the great Cauldron. To give thanks for today’s bounty.”