friendlier in recent years, trading resources and even visiting each other’s courts on occasion.
Like it or not, Reiko Yamato was the closest thing I had to an ally in Myrkvior.
“Instead of trading insults, we could do the smart thing and agree to work together,” I suggested.
Reiko let out another merry laugh that sounded like bells pealing. Or talons scraping across stone. I couldn’t quite decide which.
“Why would I want to work with you? I already made my way inside the palace, and I didn’t have to get hoodwinked by a common thief, severely injured, and kidnapped by a prince to do it.” Her chin lifted with pride. “I am an excellent spy, the best in all of Ryusama. Why, I’m just as good as Lady Xenia Rubin. Maybe even better.”
Well, Reiko certainly was confident, although comparing herself to Xenia was a bit much. If Xenia were here, the ogre morph would have whacked the younger woman with her cane for her impertinence. Still, Reiko’s boast gave me an idea.
“Yes, do tell, who are you masquerading as? I would hate to blow your cover by calling you by the wrong name.”
Reiko crossed her arms over her chest, and her inner dragon glared at me. They didn’t like my pointing out that they were just as dependent on my keeping Reiko’s identity a secret as I was on her protecting mine.
She sighed. “Reiko Morita, a Ryusaman metalstone master who is offering her jewelry designs to wealthy nobles so they can bedeck themselves in stunning style for the queen’s birthday ball tomorrow night.”
“You obviously don’t have any metalstone magic. Do you even know how to make jewelry?”
She lifted her chin again. “I know enough.”
No, in other words, although she would probably never admit that.
“Well, if you need any help . . .”
“I won’t.” Reiko eyed me. “What name are you using?”
“Lady Armina, a Mortan noble from Ravensrock who was waylaid by bandits and rescued by Prince Leonidas.”
“He even had to save you in your cover story. How sad.”
My teeth ground together, and my hands fisted in my skirt. With those sorts of catty comments, she should have been a panther morph instead of a bloody dragon.
“I wonder what Prince Leo would say if he realized exactly who he had brought to Myrkvior.” Reiko frowned. “Why did he bring you here? I can understand saving your life in the mine. Unlike some of his other relatives, Leonidas actually seems to have a modicum of honor and common decency. But why not leave you in Blauberg? Why haul you all the way to the palace?”
I still didn’t know. Oh, I could have said that Leonidas had brought me to the palace to be properly, fully healed, but that didn’t feel like a satisfactory answer to my own suspicious mind.
Reiko was right. Leonidas had risked a lot to save me from the mine, and he had gambled even more by bringing me to Myrkvior. Perhaps he had only saved me to use me for his own ends. Perhaps he was playing some Bellonan long game that I hadn’t picked up on yet. The idea hurt my wary heart far more than I cared to admit.
I focused on the dragon morph again. “My offer remains the same. We should work together. That’s the best way for us to get to the bottom of things—and not get executed. I adore being a pampered princess, and I plan to return to it after this is over.”
Reiko and her inner dragon both studied me. I reached out, trying to skim their thoughts, but their whispers were as silent as smoke curling through the air, and I couldn’t hear any of their musings. Not surprising, given their combined morph magic.
Her gaze flicked past me, and she dropped into a curtsy.
Delmira stepped up beside me. “Lady Reiko! I’m so glad you were able to come to dinner.”
Reiko straightened. “It was an honor to be invited, Your Highness.”
Delmira beamed at the other woman, then glanced at me. “Lady Reiko recently arrived at the palace. In addition to being a metalstone master, she also has an exquisite singing voice. She was kind enough to give me a private recital this morning, as well as entertain the nobles this afternoon.”
“Did she now,” I murmured, staring at the spy.
Reiko stared right back at me. Delmira kept smiling, not seeming to pick up on the tension between the two of us.
A series of bells chimed, signaling that the dinner was about to begin.
Delmira touched my arm. “Come,