TOBIAH

In my private meeting with the human monarch of Ordesh, I learned several valuable things. The first is that the man is an ass. He went on for an uncomfortable amount of time about his father and the coup that was staged fifty years ago, pointing out that he was, actually, more Archkethian than Ordeshian. The Archketh Isles are in the far south along the coast of Ordesh and I suppose that the humans make the distinction. Why, I do not know. They are all humans, are they not? Does it really matter exactly where they are from?

Regardless, he lorded this over me for some time before moving onto how much he has expanded Ordesh and the various talented people under his command, namely, the Grand Maestro. He spoke of Ruin Shadowsunder as if he is an object, a thing, and not at all someone with agency. That just rubbed me the wrong way. I have been at court since I was born and you can tell a lot about a monarch by how they treat their subordinates. King Oathblade does not strike me as a good monarch at all.

I also learned that the humans really have no idea of the seriousness of the Grand Maestro's discoveries. Instead of being properly alarmed and trying to find out more, they see it as a cute research project.

It most assuredly is not. It spells the end of this world. Maybe not today and maybe not tomorrow, but sooner than we would all like.

And, I have learned, yet again, that I despise parties almost as much as I despise my kind. Every single celebration is reminiscent of a time that I was close to my family and forced to take part in horrifying rituals that ended with innocents dead. No one really even meant well—my family reveled in the gore and the slaughter and liked to goad me into it as well, even as I wept. Our pure white silken table cloths would become soaked with blood and I, in all of my youth, was utterly powerless.

It is difficult not to see that now. It has long been outlawed, but I am old enough that sometimes the past and present blur into the same thing and suddenly I am back there, with my siblings, as my only human friend is slaughtered by words and claws.

My kind disgusts me. I disgust me. I move in a fog of heinous sin, trying to make up for the sins of my forebearers and attempting to carve out a sustainable future for us all. This usually does not bother me. It is hardly a whisper anymore.

But tonight as these innocent, short lived creatures get drunk under the stars and fornicate in the bushes, it eats at me. I am unsure why I am even here. The wine flows, the chatter is full of giggling and happiness, and the looks sent my way are either terror or unabashed lust. All of it is reminding me of what my father wrought, what he destroyed, what I must fix. It reminds me that my people are not the life force they claim to be—they are death and tear everything asunder.

I sigh and look at my empty glass. I have had four and of course whatever wine these humans have made is much too light to do anything to me. I am stuck here, sober and somber.

My gaze flickers over to Ruin and I must admit I am enamored. I have not seen a human of his insight and abilities in so long that I dare not hope he is what I am looking for. He is somehow tragic and vibrant, powerful and doubting, humble and confident. Perhaps one day he will tell me who his patron is. Perhaps it is who I think. Perhaps I need him.

I did not miss the way his dark green eyes widened or his cheeks flushed as he saw me for the first time. I have that effect on everyone. It is part of being what I am. What I hate. I know it would be a simple thing to seduce him and lull him into a sense of security so tight that he would spill all his secrets to me. I have done it before. I will likely do it again.

But I cannot now. Not to him. Every instinct in me is telling me that he must not be harmed and I must not touch him. I am too stained with blood and he, too stained with pain and torment. I see it in his forest green eyes, from the way they shift and look everywhere but Prince Miguel.

Currently, he is at the center table while I languish in the corner. I had been seated to the left of the king, but got up to stretch my legs a while ago and never went back. King Oathblade left with one of the female dancers about an hour ago and now it is just shameless revelry. The tables are set up in the center dining room, which has large, ornate doors open to the gardens. People come in and out, exploring the tables outside and then coming inside for the warmth and courtly dancing. Everything is decked out in shades of sage green, lavender, and pale silver. The tables are a white wood and intricate in their designs. They hardly need the candles as the moon is so bright tonight that it could set the whole world aflame. It smells of pine and mountain irises and while there is something comforting about that, it does not ease me as it should. I am watching the curious Grand Maestro and do not like what I see.

Crown Prince Miguel is doting on him and Ruin does not care. I do not miss the way the Crown Prince rubs his thigh and kisses his neck and Ruin just drinks more. I do not miss the way everyone is looking away, but Ruin's captain and his guard. She watches, jaw clenched, as Ruin tries not to recoil from the attention. No doubt this is why he was so eager to leave with me. Of course, it had nothing to do with me. If he really can see my magic, he knows I am a fake, a bastard, the "sickened branch of the family tree" as my uncle put it.

After a few minutes of this ridiculous display, I cannot stand it any longer. I put down my glass and take long strides over to the table, people barreling out of the way as if I am a cat and they are mice avoiding detection .

They would not be very far off.

I stop in front of the prince and his prey, smiling as much as I can.

"Grand Maestro," I say and Ruin's head snaps up, his eyes as beautiful as a startled doe. "I had a few questions about the grounds. Perhaps you will accompany me?"

Prince Miguel scowls.

"I'm sure someone else can answer those questions," he sneers and brings Ruin closer.

"Actually, they are specifically magical questions, Your Highness," I say with a charming grin I do not feel anywhere but my face. "The Grand Maestro is the only one who can answer them."

Ruin's cheeks heat and he stands, somehow steadier than I thought he would be.

"Of course, Lord Vestergaard," he says and slides out of his seat.

I see Captain Shatterjaw move forward, looking me over like she can take me out, which is ballsy, especially for a human. She must have nerves of steel.

"But—" Miguel stands too. "I… I can come too."

"No, no, Your Highness, I would not dream of it," I say with another smile. "It is all magic talk. Very boring for someone such as yourself."

Yes, I did just call him stupid, and no, I do not regret it. If anything, this is what I am good at—manipulating court. But Miguel is so obtuse that he just sighs and surrenders, his eyes already tracking the dancers. I offer Ruin an arm and he looks at it like it is a tentacle before taking it and I escort him from the rowdy party to the path leading to his tower. I had noticed it—and him—the second I cleared the mountain path from the way the magic gathers there. Shatterjaw is not far behind, silently judging me.

"So…" Ruin clears his throat. "I, uh, haven't finished the wards yet. I'm on… 118 out of 140. If that's what you were wondering about. "

I am startled at that.

"You… you are working on them yourself?" I ask carefully and he shrugs.

"There's only one Grand Maestro," he says vaguely and I stop walking.

"Ruin… how often do you update them?" I ask next, my mouth going dry.

"Every year," he says, giving me a look. "Why?"

Why? Humans simply should not be able to use that much magic. But he is human. He has no fae or elven aura.

So who the hells is his patron?

"It… it is nothing," I say. "Can you make it the rest of the way?"

"The… rest of the way?" Ruin looks at me, utterly confused. "You're… not trying to… uh… you know."

"Fuck you?" I say dryly. "No. I just could not stand that leech touching you one more second."

He looks stunned and moves his mouth but nothing comes out.

"Anyway, I have to…" I cannot tell him what I have to do. "… have to go. I will see you in the morning?"

He does not even nod, just gapes at me like I am the most confusing person in the world. I am worried for a long moment, but then Shatterjaw is at his side, steadying him.

"I'll take him to his bed, my lord," she says, clipped. "Thank you."

I shrug.

"Yes. Have a good night."

I turn away and still feel his sorrowful green eyes on me. It saddens me that kindness confuses him. Especially since he smells like…

… I shake that desire out of my mind and head back towards the palace to plunder the king's study, Ruin filling my thoughts like a haunting ghost.