Scrainwood flicked a hand out to swat the Spritha from the air, but missed as Qwc dodged back swiftly. The little creature pointed all four of its hands at the Oriosan king, then it spoke. Whereas its voice previously always had a high, keening quality, it dropped several octaves and throbbed out in bass tones.
“Drotha car est jynda pros!”
“Aaahhhhh!” Scrainwood screamed hoarsely and dropped to his right knee. He clutched his right hand to his chest, his left hand around his wrist. The ring of state on his right hand pulsed red, as if molten. Scrainwood had a spell worked into it that would warn him of another’s hostile intent, and the magick clearly was working.
Resolute rested a hand on Scrainwood’s shoulder and let his voice slide into a whisper. “Anger not the wee ones, Highness. When a Spritha laughs, all is right with the world, but when one snarls, even the most mighty is brought low.”
“Out, out, everyone out!” Qwc’s voice returned to its normal soprano pitch as he flew around the room. He drove the others before him. Peri crowded in behind King Augustus, and Alexia squeezed close to Resolute as the Vorquelf opened the door and propelled the king into the hallway. They exited the room and Qwc managed to shut the door. Peri opened the door to Kerrigan’s room and they entered it, with Scrainwood’s two guards leading the way.
The two men gasped and drew back as they saw the arachnomorph hanging there by one hand. The light from the DragonCrown fragment still splashed against the inside of the roof, painting it red save where black splotches of sullanciri blood had been sprayed.
Scrainwood rubbed at his hand. “That is the thing?”
“Yes.” Alexia stepped closer to the sullanciri’s remains—not because she had any real desire to do so, but because she knew Scrainwood would keep his distance. “We think Chytrine fashioned it out of the Azure Spider.”
“The thief.” Scrainwood looked up. “To what is it clinging?”
The princess hesitated, then looked at King Augustus. The Alcidese leader nodded. “It is a portion of the DragonCrown, Highness. It was brought from Fortress Draconis by Kerrigan Reese.”
“A portion of the crown here, and no one told me?” He flexed the fingers on his right hand. “I am the king, and this is most important. Why was I not informed?”
Alexia lifted her chin. “The information was imparted to me in strictest confidence. I deemed that the fewer the people who knew about it, the better.”
“I am not people, Princess Alexia, I am the king.” Scrainwood shook his head and flicked a finger toward the fragment’s hiding place. “Get it for me.”
The two guards looked at each other, each one shaking his head at the other. They hesitated, then slowly moved forward, as carefully as if they were crossing thin ice over the Reydo River.
“Hold for a moment.” Alexia’s raised hand stopped them. “Highness, there are spells worked on the fragment to prevent its theft. They stopped a sullanciri. They will stop these men.“
The guards took two big steps back.
Scrainwood tapped a finger against his lips. “No, no, this will not do. You have sorely used me, all of you, and I will not stand for it. I will have to confiscate the fragment of the Crown and make sure it is safely kept.”
Augustus shook his head. “My friend, do not look upon the secrecy here as an affront to you, but see it for what it was. Princess Alexia determined, quite rightly, that the fewer people who knew of the fragment, the less chance it would be taken. We already know your palace is not proof against the predation of sullanciri, so her caution was not misplaced.”
The Oriosan’s head came up and he blinked at Augustus. “Oh, my friend, I think you mistake things. This fragment is doubtless what provoked the aggression against my realm. Had I known of it, had I taken charge of it, the Norrington would not be dying across the hall. By deciding that she knew better than I, she placed my realm in jeopardy. She is as much a threat to Oriosa as is her supposed husband.”
Alexia watched an iron expression settle over Augustus’ face. The Alcidese king looked past Scrainwood at his two bodyguards. “You are dismissed. Fetch Crow here.”
“Move and I’ll have you slain.”
Muscles bunched at the corners of Augustus’ jaw. “He’ll do nothing of the sort. You have my word. Go. Get Crow, bring him here.”
Resolute loomed forward and Peri flashed talons, convincing the two guardsmen to leave their liege.
“Come back here! Cowards! Your livers will be feeding crows before the week is out.”
Peri closed the door behind the two men.
Augustus kept his voice even and strained almost all of his fury from it. “Understand something, my friend. While I appreciate the desperate situation in which Oriosa finds itself, and while I have appreciated your information about the activities of Chytrine’s troops, her armies are moving south and have already plunged into Sebcia. If Muroso falls, she will race through Oriosa and then into Alcida. I will not fight her on my land. I will meet her in Sebcia or Muroso or, if I must, Oriosa. One word on an arcanslata and the southern third of Oriosa is mine. I can cut Meredo off against Bokagul, then fight Chytrine in your northeast corridor. Croquellyn will secure my flank.”
Scrainwood shivered and toyed with his ring. “You threaten my nation.”
“No, Scrainwood, I threaten you, because you threaten my nation. Will you listen to reason, or must I weep as I tell your son that the sullanciri, regrettably, still had life in it and killed you? I shall be most eloquent in delivering your eulogy.”
“You cannot do this! I am king!”
“Oh, I know, my friend, and I am your friend. I shall give you a chance to prove that you are yet mine.” Augustus pointed toward the arachnomorph. “You will be given custody of the Crown fragment.”
“Yes!”
Scrainwood’s avaricious hiss twisted Alexia’s guts around. “Sire, are you certain that is wise?”
Augustus nodded. “In exchange for it…”
Scrainwood’s eyes tightened. “Exchange? It is my right!”
“A right that shall not confer to your heir, Scrainwood.” The Alcidese king sighed impatiently. “You will deliver Crow to his wife, and you will cease your persecution of him. You will support the efforts against Chytrine. You can no longer play one side against the other. The time for that is well past. You have to be with us, in opposition to the Aurolani. You have no choice.”
Scrainwood looked up at the fragment. “I am not stupid, Augustus.”
“No, but you are not nearly as clever as you believe you are. This is the bargain I offer you. Accept it and I shall not feel the need to invade your nation. What say you, my friend?”
Scrainwood’s nostrils flared with a snort. “I accept, my friend, and I shall remember. You will get Crow, though formalities need to be observed. You do understand the need for that, yes?”
Augustus nodded. “I do.”
Alexia frowned. “Sire, is this really the time for little political games?”
“It is just one point in a grander game, and we are winning that.” The Alcidese leader sighed. “Grant him his point.”
Alexia nodded reluctantly. She knew well enough that politics at the highest levels required exquisite manners to cover vicious uses of power. Augustus had openly threatened to murder Scrainwood and take his nation. The choice he offered Scrainwood was to accept a portion of the DragonCrown and to turn over Crow. Scrainwood had no choice but to agree, but the illusion of power parity needed to be maintained.
Augustus clearly did not want to invade Oriosa. The Oriosans, despite their current king, were known for their fighting spirits. If Alcida invaded, the Oriosans would oppose them, sapping both nations’ strength when they both needed to be fighting Chytrine.