“Lochlyn Tisdale,” my roommate said.
In unison, Lochlyn and I curtsied deeply, with Emmaline doing the same a few feet back. Protocol dictated that attendants did not announce their names.
I lifted my head and found Periclase’s eyes boring into mine. The Duergar king’s jaw flexed, though the bunching of muscles was only visible on the fleshy side of his face. His eyes flicked to Mort’s handle, visible over my right shoulder.
“Oliver’s daughter,” he said, his voice almost unnaturally deep.
I blinked, automatically guarded at the recognition. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
He dipped his chin almost imperceptibly. The calculating look in his hard eyes made my stomach tighten.
Not knowing what else to say and wanting to avoid drawing any further attention from Periclase, I gave another, smaller curtsy, and then scooted away with Lochlyn and Emmaline.
When I glanced back, the next diplomats in line were bowing, but Periclase’s eyes were still on me.
“He’s kind of hot in an evil overlord way,” Lochlyn said in my ear, drawing my attention away from the Duergar king. “I mean, that stone. It’s badass.”
I shot her a warning look. “He’s dangerous, Lochlyn. Don’t let his stoicism fool you.”
“Oh, I don’t doubt it,” she said sincerely. “But he only had eyes for you.”
I snorted, finally cracking a smile. “Trust me, he’s not interested in that way.”
“Don’t be so sure. He doesn’t come off as passionate, but I’ve heard he really makes the rounds,” Lochlyn said, but she jabbed me in the ribs with her elbow, and I knew she was mostly teasing.
“I’m glad you’re here,” I said. “But we’re in Unseelie territory. Please be careful.”
She linked her arm with mine in a gesture that I probably wouldn’t indulge from anyone else in the world.
“I will,” she said.
We walked slowly to the loose queue of people gathering at the head of the road that led deeper into the Duergar realm. While we were waiting, Emmaline briefed me on what would come next. After the procession to the palace, we’d be shown to our rooms for a brief freshen-up period before we’d be expected at the welcome reception. The reception would lead directly into a four-course dinner, which as I’d expected would be followed by dessert, drinking, music, and dancing.
This was all an opportunity for the Duergar to show off their riches and power under the guise of merry social events. The diplomatic discussions would formally begin in the morning, and I had no doubt that those would involve very little merriment. But that was Maxen’s department. Marisol had sent him and the others to try to talk Periclase into dropping his bid for absorbing the Stone Order into his kingdom.
I looked around, taking in the faces of the Duergar guards—what little of their faces I could see behind the armored masks—the dancers, and the other attendants. Any of the Duergar surrounding us could be spies. Knowing the Unseelie, maybe all of them were. I sobered as I considered my mission and just how difficult it was going to be to slip through the Duergar palace to search for Nicole. There would be even more people around later that evening, when I planned to break away from the party.
It might be necessary to reconsider my tactics. I wasn’t among fighters and blunt talkers like I was used to with my own people, or with the Guild mercs. Here, everyone was part of some scheme or intrigue, dealing in information and trading secrets.
“Spent much time in Unseelie courts?” Emmaline asked.
“No,” I said. “Is it that obvious?”
She gave a tiny shrug. “I’d guessed,” she said.
“How about you?”
“Yes, actually, that’s one of the reasons I was granted this assignment. From the age of thirteen, my mother made me spend a month every summer vacation at court, both Seelie and Unseelie. I had to bust butt to be ready for training each fall after missing out on summer sessions.” She rolled her lavender eyes, obviously still frustrated at the memory.
My brows rose, and I looked at her with new respect. She’d made it clear she wanted to go into a line of work that involved a weapon, but her parents had made sure she was well-rounded. It wasn’t unusual for young people in Faerie to spend time in foreign courts, but it was less common among New Gargoyles, and it was something Oliver had probably known better than to try to force on me. Or maybe it hadn’t ever occurred to him in the first place. Emmaline didn’t appreciate it yet, but her experiences would serve her well. And perhaps on this particular trip, they’d serve me well, too.
I leaned close to my page. “If you’ll help me out, I’ll make it worth your while when it comes time to apply to the Guild,” I said to her.
Emmaline’s eyes gleamed, but she managed to keep her professional veneer. “It’s my duty to help you, my lady,” she said, her words formal but careful.
In spite of what she’d said, I knew by her deliberate look that she’d accepted—we had an agreement. Now I just had to figure out what I needed her to do.
We didn’t have time to discuss it, though. Maxen had broken away from his post and was sauntering up. Emmaline stepped away, almost seeming to melt into the background of people.
He nodded at Lochlyn. “Lady Tisdale. So nice to see you.”
“I’m honored to be allowed to join your party, my lord.” She gave him a coquettish little smile before lowering her head in a deep, graceful curtsy.
He bowed with a flowery twirl of one hand, and she curtsied again.
I groaned loudly. “Could the two of you stop enjoying all of this quite so much?”
“In case anyone asks why I’m along, you could just tell them I’m a gift of entertainment,” Lochlyn said. She fluffed her hair. “Say the word, and I’ll sing their faces off.”
A bright, ear-splitting bugle flourish nearly made me jump out of my skin.
King Periclase was moving with his guards to the head of the trail, and the entire party was shifting around, ready for the procession.
Maxen linked his arm around mine and offered his other arm to Lochlyn. I tried to pull away—I didn’t want to draw attention by walking on the arm of the most conspicuous New Gargoyle there, but Maxen flexed his bicep, clamping my arm against his side. He pulled us to the head of the New Gargoyle group.
I looked up to find King Periclase’s gaze trained my way. I didn’t like the unblinking way he watched me. I inclined my head in a tiny bow, but then looked away, hoping that someone else would draw his attention. I had a split-second of paranoia, suddenly thinking that he’d guessed I’d come to claim Nicole.