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Lyr turns to Perl. “Go. I’ll take care of it.”

Perl reaches out for Lyr’s chest. “Are you sure? I will need to take all that is left. It will not feel pleasant.”

Lyr looks down again at Inez, struggling in the hands of Atticul and another bodyman. Almost at the door.

And Kerik, fighting his way across the hall, still some distance away

Lyr nods. Get Kerik to her.

Perl puts a hand on Lyr’s chest. Magic glows. An unpleasant sensation rocks through Lyr, so strong he thinks he will vomit.

Wings erupt from Perl’s back.

29

INEZ

The worst time of Inez’s life were the days she spent imprisoned in fine rooms, knowing that Atticul meant to make her his Empress. A fate she had long thought she had escaped by marrying Damon Darekul. She had been betrothed to Atticul as a child, long before it ever seemed likely he would come close to the Imperial Throne of Azuria. But when Rafus’s brother Markus had been exiled and Rafus’s other brother Selim had ascended, the truth had become clear. Selim would sire no children. Atticul would one day rule.

Inez was glad of it. She had seen, in her short visits to Attar, a cruel boy who would grow into a cruel man, and she was certain, Atticul’s new status would likely lead to a broken betrothal, a compensation, and an escape.

But Inez’s parents had been delighted by the way fate had handed this gift to their family. And when the inevitable letters had come, they had refused to break the betrothal, even when the compensation offered was double what Lady Ilyne of Fanost was rumoured to have been offered for her broken betrothal to Markus. Although that amount was likely lessened by the fact Ilyne had borne another of Rafus’s illegitimate sons.

Perhaps it was that son that first gave Inez the idea of Damon Darekul. She had not given it so much consideration. She had simply understood that only escape for her would be to persuade her parents she ought to wed someone else. To tell them she was lovesick for another.

They had believed her protestations that she had fallen in love with Damon, that she could never love another. And that if her marriage to Atticul went ahead it could only end in heartbreak and scandal.

She had not realised her mistake until she had stood outside the Sarelik temple robed in gold, beside her new husband, the One Man Army, and Atticul had strolled up to her and put his lips to her ear. “You think he will be emperor,” he had said, before walking away.

She knew then, that if she had chosen anyone else to free her from Atticul, it likely would have worked, but Atticul would not lose his bride to his lauded half-brother.

And now he plans to make her his wife, having refused to marry all others, waiting for his throne and the power that would mean no one could stop him.

In the evenings, imprisoned in her fine rooms, Inez becomes restless. She paces over the silk rugs, ringing her hands, frustrated that there is no hope of escape. One evening, Marko — imprisoned with her — also becomes restless as the sun sets. Marko enjoys a little more freedom than Inez, her mistress, as Atticul sends a silent wide-eyed maid daily to exercise her. The maid never speaks, but Inez can tell she is growing fond of Marko. This provision has meant Marko has spent her evenings sleeping on a settle while Inez paces.

But this evening, Marko begins racing around the small chambers, yapping and scratching at the furniture and the fine tapestries on the walls. Inez tries to stop her, worried Atticul will use her destruction as an excuse to take her away if she damages the wall coverings.

Inez picks Marko up, holds her tight and crouches down to look at the wall she has been scratching at, inspecting for damage as she softly chides the dog in her arms.

And she hears voices, speaking, in the rooms next to her own. She knows she is somewhere on one of the upper floors of the tower kept for visiting dignitaries and envoys. Rooms that are easily locked and guarded.

Does Atticul have visitors here for the Ascension? Surely he would not put someone so close to her. What then?

Does Atticul have another prisoner?

She listens for a long time, until the voices cease and she is sure she recognises one of them. And of course, it makes sense that Marko would want to get to him.

Carefully Inez places Marko down on the floor and she begins yipping again, scratching again. And this time, the person on the other side of the wall hears. There is movement, then a voice. “Marko?”

Marko yips.

“Marko,” the voice says again. Then, “Inez?”

“Lukas,” Inez says back, as loud as she dares. “Thanks to Zai you are alive.”

“Inez,” Lukas says again, “My Lady. How did you come to be here? Did they drag you all to the Rose Palace? The Lordling? Damon?”

“No, no,” Inez says to the wall. “They left. They had to flee the city. They went for Kerik.”