City of Spells (Into the Crooked Place #2) - Alexandra Christo Page 0,24

eyes.

How Lionus in particular had to bite down on his lip to keep it from curling into a snarl.

These Lieges weren’t going to be sympathetic to a girl who’d lost her sister. They were angry with a Crafter who had betrayed her kind.As though Zekia’s actions made Saxony an enemy too.

“I don’t know the Creijen Liege,” Saxony said quickly, before they had time to voice their doubts on her intentions. “I never met anyone from their Kin while I lived in the city and I’ve heard no word from them since Ashwood started attacking districts.”

“They were small,” Theodora said. “Only six of them. Their old Liege and his entire family were killed by buskers in their home twelve years ago. Creije’s magic trade makes it unsafe for many Crafters to gather there.”

The trade that Tavia and Wesley had been a part of and that, even by extension, Saxony and Karam had joined. They had buskers in their army, and Theodora’s revelation meant that didn’t bode well for an alliance.

“Your sister,” Lionus asked. “She has joined Ashwood?”

“Zekia was supposed to be our Liege,” Saxony said. “Until he stole her and used her powers for his evil. Now the Loj elixir is creating soldiers out of civilians. It’s infecting Crafters and non–magic users alike.”

“What does Ashwood want?” Lionus asked.

“To kill us all,” Theodora said.

“Actually, it’s worse,” Saxony said. “He wants to create a world where everyone without magic is a slave and he becomes king of everything. A world where even Crafters will be subject to his brutality.”

It was the seven Uskhanyan Lieges, those of Saxony’s own realm, who looked most troubled by this. It was their home, after all, that was in the most immediate danger.

“I think we can all agree that would be bad,” Saxony said. “He’s attacking the capital city of Uskhanya as we speak and it’s only a matter of time before Creije is under his command.”

“What is it that you want from us?” Lionus asked.

“Help,” Saxony said. “I want you to send members of your Kins to help us fight Ashwood’s army.”

“You want us to turn against our own kind?” he asked, clearly conflicted at the thought of Crafters fighting Crafters.

She hadn’t seen what Saxony had seen. Lionus didn’t know how the Loj could change a person.

“The Crafters with the Kingpin must be saved,” Saxony said. “Either from the Loj, or themselves. I don’t want to hurt them.”

“Then how will you save them?” Lionus asked.

“I’m still working on that,” she said honestly. “But I can’t do it without your help.”

“I am the Liege of the only city in Naustrio with a Kin,” one of the women said. “Our realm is not a magic one and I decline to join a war that could destroy the few Crafters we have left. May the Scholarly Goddess be with you in battle.”

The woman bowed and then her image dispersed into smoke.

“I decline too,” another said.

“I will not risk my people for a battle that hasn’t touched our shores,” another agreed.

“We wish you luck from the Lonely Goddess,” a fourth said.

They dispersed as the only Naustrios woman had, leaving just eleven remaining. Two Volen, two Wrenyi—Asees included—and all seven of the Uskhanyans. Or eight, Saxony supposed, if she counted herself.

“I think I speak for all of Uskhanya when I say that those lot can go to the fire-gates,” Theodora said. “This war belongs to us all and we’ll fight it.”

“Hear, hear!” the other Uskhanyans yelled out.

Some muttered cowards under their breaths and though Saxony tried to keep her face neutral—though she understood the fear of those who had left—she couldn’t help but secretly agree with the sentiment.

“The Uskhanyan Lieges amongst us can join you,” Lionus said. “But why should the rest of us? I do not wish to be callous, but Ashwood exists in your realm. If we join you, it will make us a target.”

“We are already targets, Lionus,” Asees said.

She stepped to Saxony’s side and Saxony felt oddly strengthened by that small act of solidarity.

“Ashwood attacked my Kin in the realm of Wrenyal. In the holy city of Granka.”

Lionus blinked. “He came for the holy city?” he asked. “Why were we not told of such things?”

“I was busy trying not to be killed,” Asees said, adopting Karam’s sarcastic monotone. “He slaughtered many of my people and took the rest of us as puppets. Myself included.”

Asees swallowed and Saxony could feel her grief like a fist. If Ashwood hadn’t intercepted her letter to her family, then maybe Asees’s Kin would