“Do you think she’s responsible?”
“We’re going to find out.”
THIRTY-SEVEN
IT WAS THE middle of the day when I warned James that Melanie and I were going out. We disguised ourselves as boys, armed ourselves, and headed toward the lowcity.
News of my impending coronation had already spread outside the castle, along with gossip fueled by the bridge explosion. The subjects mixed together like spilled inks, darkening the rumors I’d have to address later.
“The queen will be crowned tomorrow, and her wraith boy collapsed the bridge to trap the Indigo Kingdom people here.”
“No, the Red Militia did it because they don’t want Wilhelmina to be queen.”
“It was those Indigo people. They’re protesting the coronation.”
“But why would they collapse the bridge?”
“I don’t know. . . .”
The rumors swirled on and on as Melanie and I slipped through the crowds, the hoods of our cloaks drawn low to hide our faces. Midday heat pressed against the city like a solid force, though it was too early in the year for hints of summer.
Maybe it was an effect of the wraith on the way.
I shuddered as Melanie and I made our way to the water-processing factory. At the door, she knocked twice, waited a beat, and knocked three times—our code for Claire that we were about to enter.
She waited in the center of the room, her hands on her hips. “You’re here about the bridge.” There were rarely questions with her, just blunt, straight-to-the-point statements. “I didn’t do it, and I don’t know who did.”
“Will you find out?”
“Why should I?” She strode toward us, her jaw tight and eyes hard. Her steps echoed and the whole place had a sense of emptiness about it. Though we rarely saw many of the others, there were often signs of their presence: whispering, clothing dropped in corners, and packages of food. But now, I sensed only stillness in the factory.
“Where is everyone?” I asked.
“Gone.”
“Working?” Melanie didn’t sound hopeful.
“Maybe.” She gave a one-shouldered shrug and tilt of her head, trying to look casual, but red rimmed her eyes, and the skin underneath was swollen.
I made my voice gentle. “Claire, what happened?”
She shook her head and started to turn, but I grabbed her arm and drew her back. She pulled a knife and held the edge to my neck.
Melanie already had her daggers out, one on Claire’s wrist and the other on her throat. I, too, had snatched a dagger with my free hand, and pressed it against Claire’s stomach.
No one moved.
My heart sped in my throat, and carefully I relaxed my grip on Claire’s arm. “My apologies for grabbing you.”
Claire shook it off as she sheathed her knife. “No harm done.”
“What happened to everyone? Where are they?”
She glared at a wall. “After Patrick was captured, the Red Militia fractured. When I stopped the riots, others began to question what we were doing or where orders were coming from. I could influence, but not control, what actions other sections took.”
I nodded. Those were things we’d already discussed.
“But yesterday, my people began to disappear. Astor, Laura, Darcy. Adrian was here this morning, but I haven’t seen him since the bridge explosion.”
“You think they’ve found someone new to rally around?” Muscles around Melanie’s jaw clenched.
“Not someone new.” Claire locked eyes with Melanie. “Patrick. He’s in control. He has been this entire time.”
“From prison?” I hadn’t been to see Patrick since the day we arrived, but I checked in with his guards frequently. James had selected them himself, so I’d trusted they were loyal to me.
But maybe not.
“The Red Militia is organizing again,” Claire said. “Since your return, Patrick allowed them to run loose, causing chaos and hurting refugees, but nothing too big. Nothing you’d need to come down on too hard. But now the Indigo Kingdom is gone, and you’re to be crowned queen. The anniversary is tomorrow.”
I glanced at Melanie, and she nodded. Our next stop would be to Patrick’s cell.
“You should return to the castle with us,” I said. “There could be a place for you on the Queen’s Guard.”
“I’m hardly the type to serve.”
“No, you’re the type to fight for a cause.”
“And that cause is you?”
“That cause is our kingdom’s freedom from tyrants and overlords. That cause is food and water and safety for everyone. That cause is acceptance of our abilities while keeping the land clean of wraith.” I shifted my weight to one hip. “I’ve had people working on the water problem. Within a few months, we’ll be able to use this factory to clean water and pump it to the lowcity without using magic.”
Claire released a smile. “Thank you.”
“I promised I’d look for a solution.” I glanced at Melanie. “We have to go.”