out a wrist. The Hawks looked taken aback at a Sparrow speaking like a commander, but the war-witch stepped forward and laid their hand on Jasimir’s forearm.
A moment later, their eyes widened. They gave Jasimir the slightest smile, then nodded to Khoda and Fie. “Your associates, too?”
“Deputies,” Jasimir said. “They’re my deputies.”
The war-witch only briefly clasped their wrists, looking from Jasimir to them and back. Then they took the work order slip and said, “Let me verify this with the master-general.”
They ducked through the mahogany doors. After a minute, they emerged and held the door open. “The master-general says now is an acceptable time.”
“Thank you.” Jasimir bowed and led them in.
Draga was on her feet, face strained, but she waited until the door shut to ask, low, “Is it really you?”
Fie let the glamours go. Draga dropped into her chair, then motioned for them all to come closer. “I—I thought you’d all be long gone. How?”
Barf squirmed in Fie’s arms until she set the tabby down. “When all this is over,” Fie said, “we’re having a long talk about palace security.”
“Like I said, the queen underestimates everyone else,” Khoda added dryly. “Including a Crow witch with a grudge and a bag of teeth. Do you think Rhusana’s lost her hold on you?”
Draga nodded. “Obviously, there’s no way to be certain, but it felt like a … a hand was on the back of my neck, and an hour or so after the coronation broke down it was suddenly gone. But it was too late by then.” She sent a rueful look at Fie. “I should have figured the mess with the ceremony was your doing.”
“And the plague beacons last night were yours,” Fie returned.
Draga winced and leaned back. “Something’s wrong here. The crows, the Sinner’s Brand, the outbreaks … We’re in uncharted waters. At least it looks like there’s a way out.”
“You’ll help us against Rhusana and Tavin, then,” Khoda said.
“I can fight the queen for the beacons. I can’t—” Her breath hitched. She coughed, but it didn’t cover the wobble in her voice. “Taverin made his choices. I won’t delude myself about whether he can survive them. But it won’t be by my hand.”
“I could pardon him,” Jasimir offered.
Both Khoda and Draga shook their heads. “You’d be leaving an opening for the Oleander Gentry,” Khoda said. “They’ll take up arms in his name, claiming he’s the rightful king.”
“I’ll support you for monarch, Jasimir,” Draga said. “And you’ll have my help taking on Rhusana. That’s what I can offer.”
Jasimir’s eyes darted around the room, nervous. He took a deep breath, licked his lips, and asked, “Will I still have your support if Fie is my queen?”
There was a heartbeat of perfect, stunned silence. Then the eruption of noise sent all three cats bolting under Draga’s desk.
“ABSOLUTELY not,” Khoda half bellowed, while Fie, jaw agape, could only manage a “What?”
Draga herself was staring at Jasimir as if he’d grown another head. All she asked was “Why?”
“She’s Ambra reborn,” the prince said in a rush. “It would only be a formality, and—”
“Stop.” Draga held up a hand. “Go back. Fie is what?”
Fie couldn’t make herself answer. If Niemi had heard this, she’d be shrieking with glee at the prospect.
Jasimir wanted to make her a queen. A true queen. He’d raise her to a place untouchable, and through that, she’d raise all the Crows into safety.
Jasimir balled up his fists. “She’s Ambra. You can ask the Black Swans. That’s why they sent Khoda to keep an eye on Fie. And—”
“Can we prove it?” Draga asked. “And I don’t mean by interrogation from a Crane witch. What I’m asking is how we convince the rest of Sabor that Ambra, Queen of Day and Night, was reborn as a Crow.”
“She gets it,” Khoda grumbled.
Fie still couldn’t find words, but Jasimir was not deterred. “We can figure out something. But if I marry Fie, that elevates the status of every Crow. It will be immediate, undeniable protection for the whole caste.”
“Until a few monarchs down the line, when both of you are gone and terrorizing Crows is back in vogue,” Draga snapped. “Then what? The Crows need protection, but this will only last as long as you do.”
“What’s the alternative?” Jasimir fired back. “Because Rhusana’s getting ready to raid every Crow shrine she can. We can’t do nothing.”
Draga shook her head. “Rhusana’s already imploding. She’s emptying the palace treasury on these parties, she’s terrorizing the aristocracy, and she’s asking all of Sabor to roll shells with