“Perhaps, but neither should he be a murderer. Not even my father murders trolls.” Though he’d torture them to the point that they wished they were dead…
“And here I thought you were against discrimination… but it would appear that even you, with your lofty morals, value troll lives over those of your precious humans.”
I shot her a dark look. “That wasn’t what I meant.”
“Are you certain?” Her eyes searched mine. “I know some of them are precious little pets to you, but is it possible you weigh our lives equally with theirs?” Ana?s sighed. “I, myself, do not. Oh, I recognize the need to treat them well or risk another embargo, but within reason. We are better, a higher level of being. It is like comparing dragons to mice.”
“There are no dragons here any longer, Ana?s,” I chided.
“I know.” There was longing on her face. “But when the curse is broken, perhaps they will come back. All the others, too.”
The witch had been more than savvy in her cursing. My people were not the only ones who looked for her death. “All things are possible,” I said, and Ana?s was too lost in her own thoughts to notice my non-committal response.
The silence stretched. “We have little power to control such things,” Ana?s finally said. “But we can resolve the matter of your brother.”
“Leave the matter be, Ana?s. I’m no murderer, and I’m certainly not going to kill an inno… a child.” My voice caught on the word. Innocent, Roland was not.
She tilted her head to one side. “Of course you’re not, that’s why I’d do it for you.”
Leaping to my feet, I leveled a shaking finger at her. “Ana?stromeria, you will not…” I broke off before giving the order, and slowly turned away. I could hear the sound of her ragged breathing. A bead of sweat dripped down my neck as the temperature rose, her magic responding to her fury.
“I gave you my true name as a token of trust, Tristan. To demonstrate my loyalty to you and you alone. Not so that you could use it to compel me whenever we disagreed.”
Her voice was bitter, and I had to fight down the wave of guilt it inspired. Not only because of what I’d nearly done to Ana?s, but because it occurred to me that I’d lost count of the number of true names I possessed, the number of trolls I had the complete power to compel. It was a power I never intended to use – it was enough that they knew I could, but chose not to.
“It’s time,” she said, handing over my hat. “They’ll be waiting for you now. You’ve only got about another half-hour until curfew.”
Glad to have a reason to drop the conversation, I pushed the bed aside, lifted the trapdoor, and jumped into the tunnel leading to the cellar of the tavern next door. When I emerged, they were all there waiting for me. Hair more brown than black, eyes more grey than silver, I could feel the weakness of their magic, could tell even with my eyes closed that everyone in the room was half-blood. Except for the one human. I frowned at Esmeralda, who leaned against the wall. Her patience with my timeline was growing thin. I would have to find an excuse to get her out of Trollus before she caused any more trouble.
Walking to the front of the room, I silently regarded my followers. I would be their champion, lead the revolution to tear down the autocracy that valued only power and bloodlines, even if it meant starting a war against my father. I would risk my own life and those of my friends to accomplish these goals, but there was one thing I’d never do: break the curse.
Some creatures were best kept in their cages.
CHAPTER 13
CéCILE
I hadn’t heard Tristan come in during the night, but when I awoke the following morning, there was something sitting on the pillows next to me. At one end was a clear glass ball that was attached to a pommel-like handle wrapped with soft white leather. The handle had a thin leather wrist-strap hanging from the end of it. Next to it was a short note written in the flowing script I recognized as Tristan’s.
You looked ridiculous walking around the city carrying an empty wineglass. I don’t care to be associated with a drunk. Particularly one who damages glassware. Touch the diamond with your finger to turn it on.
TdM
Examining the item more closely, I saw that there was a formidable diamond embedded in the handle. Tapping it with my finger, I smiled in delight as the bulb at the end lit up. Tapping the diamond again extinguished it. “Clever, clever,” I whispered, climbing out of bed and dragging the covers with me.
The door flung open. “Good morning, Cécile!” The Queen smiled at me, but as usual, it was the Duchesse who had spoken.
Even though my ankles were tangled in the pile of linens, I managed a passable curtsey, wondering if they intended to intrude on me every morning. “Your Majesty. Your Grace.”
“Where is Tristan?” The tiny troll demanded. “Matilde, turn around so that I can see.”