“I offered you an opportunity to work together. You went back on that deal.”
“We make a new deal, right now. I don’t kill you—”
His laughter interrupted her. “You think I care about death? You think I have people I love whom you can threaten? Arianna, you are the most idealistic fool of them all.” Arianna watched with disdain as the man continued to lay there, his magic slowly re-growing his muscles and bones, popping his sagging flesh back into place. “If you kill me, you won’t have the organs the Alchemists need for the Perfect Chimera. You won’t have a means to get those precious flowers off Nova.”
Arianna tilted her head to the side. How the tides shifted . . .
“Oh, Louie, that’s your bargaining chip?” She drew her dagger. She didn’t want to do this with Dragon claws. She wanted the tool that took Louie’s life to be Fenthri-made. “That queen you so adore has betrayed you. She failed to inform you that her plans have been thwarted and her minions have been killed. That Xin has saved some of the flowers for themselves.” Arianna crouched down as Louie’s eyes widened with surprise. “Yes, my sweet King of Mercury Town. My friends have not sold me out, unlike yours. And they just so happen to be able to provide organs as well as any other Dragon.”
Arianna pointed her dagger at his throat again, thinking back to Cvareh. She wondered if he had killed Finnyr yet. “You know, for most of my life, I’ve wanted to kill a king. You weren’t the man I had in mind, but I think your death may be just as satisfying. Let’s find out, shall we?”
“Wait, Arianna, let’s not be hasty, I can still—”
“Still what?” She nearly purred with delight. He’d really come alone, thinking his contacts could protect him. He was an old knife, one that would snap if she even tried to put it to whetstone. Only one solution for such a worthless thing. “Be useful? I think there are a few Ravens who have just as much use as you, and they happen to know most of your network.”
Arianna leaned forward, sliding a hand around his shoulder. It was an odd sort of embrace. She could feel the pistol he carried in his vest, but he didn’t reach for it. He must’ve known it’d do nothing against her. Even if it alerted someone, he’d be dead before they arrived.
“Did you know it would end like this for you?”
“I couldn’t imagine a better death than at the hands of the best thief and killer I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with.” Louie spoke softly, as if to a lover. Arianna wondered if it was the first time the terrible man had been touched by a woman. “Eat my heart, after you cut it out.”
“No,” she whispered against his ear. “I know it’ll taste rotten.”
Arianna plunged the dagger between his ribs. She twisted it, the chorus of shattering bones and ripping tissue harmonizing with his final breath. Louie spit black blood that oozed down her shoulder—a stain on her white coat that she’d wear as a badge of honor.
Arianna plunged her hand into his chest, ripped out his heart, and cast it aside.
She stood, leaving the body of the King of Mercury Town oozing black onto the cold floor of the hangar. She left it as a clear warning to any who found it that the White Wraith had returned to Loom.
She slammed open the door Louie had been blocking with a bang, not caring who heard. The passage back to the guild was a blur that ended with her yanking another door open without warning. Will and Helen jumped to attention, wide-eyed and startled. Arianna leaned against the doorframe, flipping her knife, blood on her shoulder.
“All of Louie’s men—bring them here, now,” she demanded cheerfully. “Try to run and I’ll flay you alive.”
“What?” Helen stuttered.
“We need to do as she says.” Will grabbed Helen’s arm and dragged her from the room. The boy gave Arianna a sidelong look that she reciprocated. She hadn’t forgotten his attempt to warn her on the airship. It may not be enough to save him, but it was enough to keep him alive for the time being.
They returned with three men in tow. Arianna closed the door behind them, appreciating the looks of apprehension each of them wore. She leaned against it, making it clear that no one was getting out without her blessing.
“So, let’s talk about loyalty.” Arianna pointed her dagger to the man with the red ears. “You first.”
“My name is Adam.”
“Fantastic Rok ears, those are. They’re a whisper link, right?”
“To a woman named Topann.”
Continued cooperation would earn him minutes, maybe even hours of life. “And that woman is in the employ of Coletta Rok, the Dragon Queen?”
“Yes.”
“Would you sever the whisper link now if I demanded?”
“Yes.”
“What’s going on?” Helen demanded. “Where’s Louie?”
The child wouldn’t let herself see the obvious. “I killed him for crimes against Loom.”
“You can’t do that!” The girl seemed genuinely distraught.
“Occupational hazard for operating outside the law. Louie knew what he was about.” There were few laws on Loom—Fenthri laws anyway. Most were unspoken, at that. “Don’t commit treason” was a fairly obvious one. Louie’s protégé seemed stunned still, so Arianna pressed the point home. “Helen, I am not the Master Raven and will never turn a blind eye to treason against Loom. As loathe as I am to kill talent, I dislike those who work against Loom much more.”
The child pressed her lips shut.
“Louie liked deals. So how about this? I won’t kill you all, and you—and everyone else who was loyal to Louie—work for me now. Whatever he paid you, I’ll pay.”
“Sounds more than fair, boss.” Adam was the first to speak, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning against the wall. The idea clearly didn’t bother him the slightest.
“Count us in.” Will spoke for himself and Helen. The girl seemed to have a moment of protest, but she had the sense to swallow it.
“Cross me and die—”
Adam held up a hand. She arched her eyebrows at being silenced but permitted him to continue. “We all know what you can do. Would rather work for the Queen of Wraiths than the King of Mercury Town anyway.”
Queen of Wraiths. That was new. But she’d killed Louie, which meant she’d get his title according to Dragon law. Arianna didn’t bother hiding a smirk.
“First things first, then. How was Louie communicating back to Ter.4? I demand word on Florence.”
Cvareh
The streets of Napole were empty.
Restaurants were quiet enough to lure the rats out in search of food that had been left at tables—unpaid for, uneaten. Gaming parlors were still, decks unshuffled and wheels unspun. The tasting rooms for both wine and tea were, for the first time in the history of the capital city of Ruana, void of patrons.