A Queen of Gilded Horns (A River of Royal Blood #2) - Amanda Joy Page 0,57

I almost forgot I hadn’t told her about my plan. “Did you know the General who governs the Northern Enclosure hangs khimaer? Did you know Mother allows it?”

Anali’s mouth twisted with disgust. “Throllo is a vile brute. Your father nearly killed the man on two occasions if what I’ve heard is true. But the General is a favorite of the Queen’s and he resisted acting against him.”

My smile was more of a grimace. “Well. We’re rebels now. I’ve stolen my sister and forsaken my duty to the crown. Now that I have this free time, until my mother catches up to us, I want to use it for something good. We’re going to do what my father wouldn’t. Kill General Sareen and liberate Sher n’Cai.”

“Don’t you worry staging a rebellion will attract the attention of the Queen?” Falun asked.

Suddenly I could feel Isadore’s stare on the back of my neck. I should have sent her away, but maybe showing her some measure of confidence might help her trust me. “Not if we’re careful, Fal. Not if we’re smart.”

Falun cleared his throat. “It’s too dangerous. There are twenty of us, ten of whom might not want to go to the Enclosure. How are we to take over the force of two hundred soldiers at Sher n’Cai? And forgive me, but if we soldiers are captured by the General, he’ll be free to hang us.”

Silence fell.

The nightmare I’d been having, about hanging bodies of soldiers, my friends. I was walking them into a death trap.

“Lieutenant,” Aketo began, voice cool, “what do you know of the force of khimaer soldiers in Sher n’Cai? Suppose each of us is five of the grunts stationed there, I can rally at least two hundred trained khimaer.”

Falun’s cheeks darkened. “My apologies, Prince. I only meant to suggest the wisdom in lying low. Especially now that Eva is injured.”

“I am well, or at least I will be soon!”

Falun stepped wide around my new . . . limbs. The tips of the longest feathers dragged against the marble floor. My previous reality crashed into the current one at the sight of them. I was keenly aware of each sensation. As I breathed, the muscles of my back and wings flexed in turn. And I felt this strange lightness in my step.

I had changed. Again.

“We’ll have to give everyone a choice. I won’t force anyone to go, but I think we should do this. Unless you can think of anything else worth doing? I’ve given up almost any chance of becoming Queen. I’d like to do something with the freedom that has been given to us.”

Anali pulled me into a tight hug. “Yes, you’re right. Thank you.”

I flushed, not at all deserving of her praise. “Thank your Prince for advocating for your . . . for our people.”

Anali and Aketo embraced. Falun took my hand, and though he still look worried, the smile he offered warmed me.

“There is something else. When I was unconscious, I was trapped in my mindscape.”

Anali, Aketo, and Falun exchanged confused looks. I realized then none of them were human and as such likely had no idea what I was talking about. “It’s where my magick lives. Just . . . all you need to know is that it’s the place in my mind where my connection to Baccha is strongest. While I was there I looked into his mind. Fal, he’s safe in the North, somewhere in the mountains.”

As usual, Baccha hadn’t been very forthcoming, but it wasn’t difficult to deduce where he was headed.

I relayed the story Baccha had told me about the Tribe hidden in the cliffs of the A’Nir and Baccha’s betrayal over a century ago: how he brought Raina into the Palace and she killed the last khimaer Queen, sparking a war that left khimaer caged and humans in power above everyone else. He’d been repaying that debt by seeing to the Tribe’s interests across the realm.

“I can only assume he’s in the mountains to seek out the Tribe, and who knows what that could bring? They ordered him to destroy the Killeen line the last time, so whenever we see him again, our interests may not align.”

“What will you do about it?” Falun asked.

“There’s little I can do, except keep an eye on him.” My stomach gave a lurch. There was so much to do and learn, and soon. Apparently walking down the hall had been too much for me. The nausea I’d been fighting since I first woke was