The Gray Wolf Throne (35 page)

or like a lover after an episode of kissing.

nightwalker watched from his corner, taut as a bowstring.

Then the wolves came. Singly and in pairs, they slid under the canvas dividers and through the walls, eye bright, tongues lolling, until a dozen were assembled, sitting on their haunches in a circle around them.

it reminded raisa of the dream she’d had after Byrne was killed in Marisa pines pass—the visitation of the wolf queens on the night her mother died. There was gray-eyed Hanalea, and green-eyed Althea. Sometimes, for a split second, she thought she saw the queens themselves.

Han glanced at the wolves, then back at raisa. “Friends of yours?”

raisa blinked at him. “you can see them?”

“i’ve been seeing them, off and on, since we—since i healed you,” Han said. “i hoped they would come today. i don’t know if this will work, but . . .” He extended his hands toward the wolf queens. Flame danced on his fingertips. Light arced from his hands to the wolves and back to him.

Hanalea tilted her head, gazing at Han with a wolfish grin.

why would Han Alister see wolves? raisa wondered. That 302

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was a trait of the Gray wolf line, linked to the gift of prophesy. it didn’t make sense.

Must be some quirk of the healing process, she thought. of their joining together.

The wolves closed their eyes and laid back their ears. Lifting their muzzles toward the sky, they began to howl, a mournful cry that raised the hair on raisa’s neck.

“oh!” she said, shivering.

nightwalker came upright, looking ready to spring. “what is it, Briar rose? what did he do?”

“your Highness, have you ever noticed how hard it is to concentrate and do things right when somebody’s yammering in your ear?” Han said. “if this goes wrong, i’m just saying, i’m not the one to blame.”

Despite his sardonic tone, sweat pebbled his forehead and dewed his upper lip, like he was expending considerable energy.

or was nervous about the outcome.

The wolves finished their dirge. Hanalea turned toward raisa and dipped her head. The royal pack melted into shadow and dissipated.

Han withdrew his hand and stood, head down, taking quick shallow breaths like he’d run a great race. The Lone Hunter amulet underlit his face, creating shadows and highlighting planes.

Sweat dripped off him, spotting the rug.

raisa wrapped her arms around herself, gripping her elbows to either side. She still tingled all over, but that seemed to be the only lasting effect. “was it . . . did it work?” she asked.

Han raised his head and blotted perspiration from his forehead with his sleeve. “we’ll see soon enough.”

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raisa saw the question on nightwalker’s face and decided to ask it herself, thinking she might actually get an answer. “what were you trying to do?”

“i was creating a sending.”

“A sending? what’s that?”

“A glamour. An image to use once we’re on Marianna peak.

Something that will impress and confuse the wizard Council and the rest of the bluebloods. Something that will make you a difficult target.” Han glanced at nightwalker. “remember? i said i would create a magical distraction,” he said, as if nightwalker needed simple speech.

“Can i put my ring back on?” raisa asked, pressing her fingers against her pouch.

Han frowned, biting his lower lip, then shook his head. “Better not. i think we have to keep the magical connection alive until after.”

elena poked her head through the doorway. “Are you ready?

we must go, granddaughter.”

raisa would ride hidden amid the Demonai contingent escorting her grandmother to the queen’s memorial.

Fire Dancer waited with the ponies. Han pulled him aside, leaned in, and murmured something in his ear. Dancer nodded, looking at raisa.

nightwalker came and draped a Demonai shadow cloak over raisa’s funeral garb, fastening it at the neck, and letting his hands linger on her shoulders.

The memorial for the queen was scheduled for late afternoon. Their journey would take them the better part of the day since they intended to keep to the mountains, circling around the 304

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Vale from Marisa pines, crossing the Dyrnnewater to the west of Fellsmarch, and coming at Marianna peak from the northwest.

elena and willo rode alongside raisa, while the Demonai warriors rode ahead and behind. Han and Dancer rode side-by-side, hands on their amulets, stoking them up for what lay ahead.

raisa wondered how much Han’s had been drained by the cre-ation of the “sending.” She hoped it would be worth the cost.

whenever raisa looked at them, the two wizards had their heads together, talking quietly as they rode along. Dancer carried two large panniers on his pony, in addition to his bedroll.

it would be a cold, clear day in the mountains, perhaps a bit warmer downslope where the service would be. The stars blinked out to the east as the sun broke over the Spirits, spilling into the Vale below.

“Mother would love this day,” raisa said to elena, squinting against the slanting light. “She loved the sun, even if she didn’t love the cold.”

“Mmm.” elena seemed preoccupied, no doubt worrying about her son, Averill.

Love makes you vulnerable, raisa thought. And yet she’d always hoped for it.

They crossed the Dyrnnewater in early afternoon, on a high bridge over the river’s foaming roar. Though they were too high to smell it, the waters below carried with it all the filth and jetsam of the overcrowded capital to the east.

when i am queen, raisa thought, as she had so many times before. And stopped.

i
am
queen.

They climbed high into the northern Spirits again, catching 305

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glimpses of the greening Vale below. raisa eagerly drank in views of the spires, domes, and turrets of faraway Fellsmarch. it glittered in the sunlight like a child’s fairy city, the kind of place that disappeared when you came too close.

i’m coming home, she swore. Tonight, if i have my way.

northwest of the Vale, they would leave the trail that overlooked the Vale and strike north and east again, to come in behind Marianna and descend between her twin peaks. They paused at the joining of the trails to eat and rest the horses before the long climb ahead.

Leaving Switcher in the hands of night Bird, raisa walked a short distance through the trees to where she could take a last look into the Vale before they rounded the shoulder of the mountain and it disappeared from view.

The valley had come alive with people. Travelers clogged the roads, using conveyances appropriate to their stations. Some rode on fine horses, leaving the roads and cutting cross-country when they became impatient with their slow progress. Fine carriages competed for space with wagons packed with those who could spare a girlie for a ride. And some came afoot, even entire families, mothers and fathers carrying small children, scarves wrapped around their faces to turn the dust of the road.

They jammed the roads that descended from Fellsmarch, crossed the Vale, and climbed Marianna to the north. The citizens of Fellsmarch were turning out to say good-bye to their queen.

raisa was touched and surprised. Marianna had not been popular, at least among the folk in the poorer neighborhoods of the capital. They had exploded in riots when it was rumored that 306

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the queen meant to set raisa aside and name Mellony heir in her place.

“Sweet Martyred Lady,” she whispered. “it looks like the entire city is on the move.”

“ragmarket and Southbridge, anyway. plus all the bluebloods, of course.”

raisa flinched and turned. Han Alister stood next to her, looking down on the Vale. He could ghost about like any clan warrior.

He shaded his eyes, the wind ruffling his hair. “Maybe westmarket, roast Meat Hill, and the Bottoms, too.”

“what do you mean?” she said. “How do you know?”

“i sent Cat Tyburn down to the city,” Han said. “Told her to spread the word that the princess raisa would be here and might need an assist. That there were them that might try and take her throne away from her. or hush her on the spot or slap her in darbies.” He slid easily back into the thieves’ cant she’d spent months tutoring him out of.

“what?” She tilted her head, looking up at him. “After we went to all this effort to keep my presence a secret, you spread it all over town?”

Han rubbed the back of his neck. “Do you think Lord Bayar listens to rumors from ragmarket? Do you think the Council of nobles meets in the keg and Crown?” He laughed. “The raggers and Southies are no danger to you unless you’re carrying a fat purse through the streets. it’s the bluebloods you got to watch out for. i hear they’re rum liars and connivers.” He looked straight at her, his blue eyes hard and brilliant as sapphires.

The pressure of his gaze was like a physical blow, but raisa 307

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forced herself to stand her ground. “Han. i’m sorry i lied to you,” she said, putting her hand on his arm. if i had it to do over, i’d—”

“There are no do-overs, are there, your Highness?” Han said.

“no,” raisa said, “but—”

“Anyway, don’t worry about ragmarket,” Han said, stepping back, pulling free of her grasp. “it’s the shoulder tap in the back hall of the palace you should worry about.” He seemed determined not to get into the unfinished business between them.

“i know that,” raisa said, giving up. “Despite that, i plan to return to Fellsmarch Castle tonight, as queen-to-be.” Han glanced over his shoulder to where the Demonai were busy with the horses. “They’re not going to be happy about that idea,” he said. “’Specially nightwalker. He can’t control you down in the city.”

“He doesn’t control me now,” raisa snapped.

“He means to marry you,” Han said, staring out over the valley. “Just so you know.”

raisa resisted the impulse to look back at nightwalker. “what makes you think that?”

“He’s not that hard to figure out.” He lifted his chin, the angled light revealing a faint reddish stubble in profile.

raisa wrenched her mind back to the conversation. “well, if he wants to marry me, he’ll have to stand in line,” she said. “i’m sick and tired of being a means to an end.”

Han turned to look at her, puzzlement flickering over his face. “A means to an end. you? what do you mean?”

“everybody wants to marry the bloody throne. nobody 308

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would be interested if i lived in ragmarket. i think i’ll stay a maid.”

“you have to marry, right? So you can assure a peaceful succession?” He’d resumed his carefully blank expression, but she noticed his hands were fisted at his sides.

“Like the one we’re having right now?” She waited, and when he said nothing, went on. “i know you agree with me,” raisa said. “i need to get back to the palace immediately or chance losing the throne.”

“And you’re telling me this because . . . ?”

“i need your help. To return to Fellsmarch, i mean. i’ll need protection.”

Han shrugged. “wasn’t that the agreement? That i’d fight the wizard Council on behalf of the clans and the true line of queens?” That detached, mocking tone was becoming annoyingly familiar.

i’ve hurt him, raisa thought. i’ve hurt him badly, and violated his trust. Somehow i have to find a way to win it back. To win him back. To prove myself to him.

“i wasn’t there when the agreement was made,” raisa said, looking into his eyes. “Anyway, that was between you and the clans. i know you’re still resentful of the bargain you made—

understandably. i don’t need some grudging, halfhearted letter-of-the-law effort. That will get me killed.”

“That’d be a shame,” Han murmured. He paused, thinking, his fair brows drawn together. “isn’t that Corporal Byrne’s job?

protecting you, i mean? you planning to make him Captain of the Queen’s Guard?”

raisa nodded. “He already is, in a way. i’ll make it public at 309

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the coronation. But i’ll need both of you,” she said. “even that might not be enough.”

“what’s in it for me?” Han asked, squinting into the distance.

“i’m a sell-sword, after all. what are you offering in trade, since you seem intent on buying me all over again.” His tone was light, but raisa heard the trader underneath the words.

“what do you want?” raisa asked.

Han pretended to study on it, but she suspected he had the answers ready. “well, first off, i’ll need a crib in the palace so i can keep an eye on you and everyone else. A nice place, mind you,” he said, narrowing his eyes as if she might try to cheat him out of his due. “Big enough so guests can stay over. Adjoining your rooms.”

“Adjoining my . . .” raisa frowned. “no. That’s not possible.” Having a wizard next door was not a good idea. it had never been done. even Gavan Bayar and Queen Marianna had kept a gallery between them.

Han raised his hands, palms up. “Do you want protection or not? Do you want me clear across the palace when you need me?” when she still hesitated, he added, “you asked what i wanted, remember? i won’t take a job if i can’t do it right. you know who’ll get the blame if it goes wrong.”

“All right,” she said, wondering how Amon Byrne would react to this idea. “But no guests. not right next door to my chambers.” For security reasons, she told herself.

He smiled crookedly. “your Highness, i have lots of friends who’ve never even been in a palace and—”

She held up her hand. “never mind, Alister. i can tell this isn’t going to work. i’ll take my chances with—”