Tariq shook his head. ‘Follow.’
Froi followed when his heart told him to leave. But with Tariq, he believed the people of Charyn could find hope. Strangely, he didn’t see traces of Finnikin or Lucian in this new King, but a boy he had once met on his travels with Finnikin and Isaboe through Yutlind. Jehr, heir to the throne of Yutlind Sud had been the first to teach him how to use a bow and arrow. He was a lad of great strength and Froi saw the same decency of character in Tariq. He needed to believe there was goodness in Charyn after the carnage, so he followed the heir through the underground world of the Citavita and listened to his stories.
They stood at a shaft and Tariq held out his hand beneath it and Froi did the same.
‘Do you feel the air? It’s the only other way out of the compound. Gargarin had it built for ventilation and for lowering goods and messages.’
‘From who? Who do you trust?’
‘The people of Lascow have an envoy who lives in the province of Paladozza. He is a passionate advocate of my people and travels to the Citavita each month to bring us news, amongst other gifts. When Bestiano left the palace with the riders, we received word from our envoy that the Provincaro of Paladozza pledged an army if we were willing to speak face to face.’
Froi looked at him, confused.
‘Wouldn’t the Provincaro have sent a message through his son Grijio?’
Tariq laughed again. ’De Lancey of Paladozza would kill Grij if he knew he was risking his life.’
‘Well, after today’s display I think the Provincaro knows everything. Tell me more of Paladozza’s promise.’
‘I agreed to the meeting and in one week’s time the envoy from the Provincaro will meet us at the top of this shaft with the promised protection. They will smuggle us out of the Citavita and into the centre of Charyn to collect my army. Then we will march back into the Citavita and claim the palace.’
Tariq looked around the cave. ‘And we say goodbye to my underground home.’
‘A solid home indeed,’ Froi said, impressed.
‘Mostly thanks to Gargarin’s plans.’
Tariq pointed into another room. ‘The privy. Gargarin’s idea, of course.’
‘Of course.’ Froi laughed for the first time in weeks. ‘He does have his obsessions, doesn’t he?’
Froi followed Tariq into a cluster of small caverns.
‘The hospital,’ Tariq said. ‘Can I introduce you to my cousin?’ he asked quietly. ‘She has had an ailment of the heart for some time now. Nurse says death will take place in the days to come, so we all pray that she will soon be at peace with those who’ve passed before us.’
Her name was Ariel. She would have been a pretty girl. Her cheek dimpled the moment she saw her younger cousin and she patted her bed for Tariq to sit.
‘I have heard the strangest story of a wild rescue in the Citavita,’ she said, fighting for every breath, looking beyond Tariq to Froi. ‘I think Cousin Ortense is giddy for our visitor.’
She held out a hand and Froi took it.
‘And the Princess?’ she asked.
‘She has a strangely strong … spirit,’ Froi said.
‘Or two,’ Tariq added, and he looked at Froi sheepishly. ‘Did it take you long getting used to?’
Froi shook his head. He realised that nothing about Quintana of Charyn took long to get used to except the idea of leaving her behind.
‘Will she visit?’ Ariel asked, and Froi heard the tiredness in her voice. ‘I dreamt of her not so long ago. I told her in my dream that if I had one wish it would be to die with hope and not with such despair for this kingdom. I told her that I dreamed of entering the other life with a smile to greet them all. “Good news!” I’d shout. “Good news for you all.” ’
‘She’ll like that dream,’ Froi said, a sadness overwhelming him that goodness died when baseness lived.
‘We will go collect her, Ariel,’ Tariq said, on his feet in an instant. ‘And tonight we will dine, all of us, together here with you, my love.’
Tariq seemed to hasten his step out of the room and Froi watched the heir stop and lean his head against the stone wall. He knew the lad wept for Ariel and he stood back to give Tariq the time he required to collect himself. Then he followed him through a tunnel to a set of stairs that led them down into another cavern.
Froi felt the cold instantly and realised he was in some sort of crypt. There were two slabs of stone in the middle of the room, one with a body wrapped in white from head to foot.
‘It’s a Lascow tradition for the dead,’ Tariq explained. ‘We lost one of our elders two days past. This is what we will do for Ariel. Wrap her in white linens and call her name out for the gods to receive her. Then we will send her down the underground river and set the raft alight so the gods can see her and lead her spirit towards our people in the Lascow Mountains. Only then can they be sung home to our ancestors.’
Froi nodded, touched by the ritual.
‘Is that how they do things where you come from?’ Tariq asked.
Froi shook his head. ‘It’s important for the Lumaterans to be part of the earth. The earth is the goddess so by being buried at death, we’re returned into her arms.’
‘Buried?’ Tariq shuddered, but then realised what Froi had said. The heir stared. Intrigued.
‘And what is a Lumateran doing in these parts?’ he asked. ‘I would think you hate us for what was done to your people at the hands of our men.’
Froi didn’t respond. He cursed himself for the words he had said, but there was something about Tariq that put him at ease.
‘When I’m in the palace, Froi, and all is calm in Charyn, my first duty to this land will be to issue an invitation for peace to your queen and her consort,’ Tariq promised. ‘The despair of Lumatere is a stain on a Charynite’s soul.’
‘And when that time comes,’ Froi said, ‘I will do anything to ensure your safety within my kingdom.’
Later, they ate with Quintana and Ariel, and Froi watched the two girls sitting side by side. Quintana had spoken little, her eyes fixed on Froi at every moment. If he stood, she’d stand as well, as though waiting to follow him wherever he went.
Froi watched Ariel take Quintana’s hand and Quintana pull away. It made him wince to see how cold she was in their presence when Ariel wanted comfort in her dying days. But then Quintana bent and whispered into the dying girl’s ear and he saw an expression of pure joy on Ariel’s face.
Froi felt Tariq’s eyes on him, wary. Suspicious.
‘You were staring,’ Tariq said. ‘Perhaps at Ariel. She’s beautiful, is she not?’
Froi nodded, but Tariq was no fool and he looked towards Quintana.
‘She was my first, the Princess was,’ Tariq said. ‘The breaking of the curse was to begin with us, for we were born in the same year. She’s the only girl I’ve ever laid with. We were frightened beyond anything and had no idea what to do. Do you know who we had to ask?’
‘Lirah?’ Froi asked.
‘No. She was imprisoned and I was never to meet her.’ Tariq leaned forward to whisper. ‘Did you become acquainted with Aunt Mawfa?’
‘Yes,’ Froi said sadly. ‘Yes, I did.’
‘I think our Aunt Mawfa was a wildcat in her days,’ Tariq said. Froi laughed.
‘Did she die easily?’ Tariq asked quietly.
‘Yes,’ Froi lied, abruptly getting to his feet. Talk of Lady Mawfa and Tariq and Quintana’s first time together was making him uneasy.
‘I need to go.’
Tariq looked dismayed. ‘Have I offended you in some way?’
Froi looked over to where Quintana was still whispering to Ariel. When he turned back to Tariq the other lad’s expression darkened.
‘I can take care of her, you know,’ Tariq said stiffly. Then his face softened and he grimaced. ‘We both … Quintana and I … we both agreed that we would do everything for Charyn. We are fated to be together. Those born last will make the first.’
‘But Charyn has done little for both of you,’ Froi said harshly.