Stars May Fall (Stars May Burn #2)

21. Sophie

SOPHIE

I t had been a long, tiresome day. I’d sent a servant to ask Annabelle if I could call on her, but she had responded that she was negotiating with envoys from Nibawae and asked that I come tomorrow. I tried not to be intimidated by everything she was doing at such a young age. I hadn’t achieved anything impressive by the age of nineteen. If I was more like her, able to shoot a crossbow and sneak effectively through downtown Adenburg, maybe Kasten would worry about me less. As it was, I could barely defend myself. It was my weakness that made him so terrified about my safety. But recently, I’d felt stronger and more capable than ever before. The clash between those two facts was frustrating.

That was if I didn’t count how I’d felt this morning.

I’d deliberately not thought about our night together. I didn’t want to descend into that confusing spiral of worries about becoming pregnant again. So I’d busied myself with preparing herbs and aiding Callum with his kryalcomy, though even he’d been gone most of the morning. Kasten had asked him to put out feelers for the missing Regan Jones amongst his mysterious friends while he made his other arrangements. I had to admit that by the afternoon, the walls of the house felt like they’d closed in. I wished yet again we were back in Kasomere. But I was the one who had begged Kasten to take us here. I had chosen for us to enter danger. I only hoped it would all be worth it.

Kasten arrived home after seven. Somehow Kasten had returned to the house still full of energy and was discussing Callum’s meeting with his friends. It sounded mostly like they were pulling in favors to hide troops around the city inconspicuously. I hoped we wouldn’t have to use them.

I sipped my sage and rosemary tea hoping it would help sharpen my tired brain. The whole house felt different now that Kasten was inside, the atmosphere gaining purpose and energy again. I kept my eyes on my husband, admiring his efficiency and competence, while feeling a strange sense of disconnection. I wondered if everyone felt the magnetic pull that surrounded him, or if that was just because I loved him.

Kasten was frowning at a map of the city, a second map of the palace beside it. He tapped a finger over Duke James’s mansion. “We need a way to hamper Duke James. If it turns to fighting in the streets, it would be far more efficient to aim for the city guard’s leadership. Those guards follow orders pretty much blindly since that’s how they’ve been trained. Kill one man, and we will stop them all.”

Callum raised an eyebrow. “Hmm, nothing personal about it at all, I’m sure.”

Kasten gave him a dry look. “He’s one of our biggest threats. But yes, I would also take great satisfaction in seeing him removed from his station.” He glared back down at the map. “Duke James technically outranks Lord Lyrason. I would love to know how he got him under his thumb.”

I frowned, warming my hands on my teacup. I avoided Kasten’s eyes. “Wouldn’t Annabelle’s orders to the guard override Duke James?”

Kasten sighed. “If we’ve got to the stage of fighting in the streets, it will be chaos. Annabelle won’t be able to take control of the city guard easily. Especially if her fears are correct and they’ll be fighting on the side of Lord Lyrason and not the royal family.”

“Oh.” I looked down at the map, wishing I could be more useful in this area. Kasten reached out and placed his hand over where mine lay in my lap. Some of my awkwardness dissipated under the reassurance of his touch. I turned my hand over and interlocked my fingers with his.

Kasten’s eyes met mine, his manner still businesslike despite his touch. “Sophie, your job is to liaise with Annabelle. See if she can help get more of our soldiers into the palace and investigate what Lord Lyrason is doing with his troops. She’ll have plans of her own, I am sure. The more closely we can work together and use each other’s resources, the better. Your role is probably the most important in the whole plan.”

I nodded, grateful that Kasten trusted me with this—I wanted to be an integral part of the plan—but also feeling rising nerves that stole my appetite for breakfast. Kasten’s hand felt further away, even though his fingers remained interlocked with mine.

Callum swung back in his chair. “Can’t we just deal with Duke James the old-fashioned way? Fire, explosives, blow him into a million tiny pieces, that sort of a thing?”

Kasten scoffed. “It leaves too much of a trail for somebody to find and disrupt. Remember, we cannot be caught before we have the chance to move or this will be a disaster.”

Callum pouted. “Pity. I really wanted to blow up his house. It would make me feel a whole lot better about life.”

“How would you even get beyond the outside wall with that many explosives?” Kasten snorted. “Just focus on creating the cure and meeting with your friends. Lord Lyrason likely has soldiers with newly invented kryalcomy we’ve never seen. Ideally, we’d have a way to combat that.”

Callum swung forward with a sour expression. “You say these things as if they’re easy.”

The clock struck nine, causing a lull in the conversation.

I stood and picked up the small bag of medical supplies from the table. I intended to wear it attached to my belt for emergencies and had spent most of the day restocking the medications inside.

“I hope you don’t mind, but I’m going to retire early.”

Kasten stood up beside me. “Are you feeling all right? Would you like me to come to bed early too?”

I shook my head, resting my hand on his shoulder. “I need more sleep than you do.” I stood on tiptoes and kissed the light stubble on his cheek. “Good night.”

I walked upstairs leaving Kasten and Callum to chat alone. Meena was playing a card game with Beatrice on a low table beside the door to my room. They looked up in surprise, and my maid stood, bobbing a curtsy. Her hair, which was normally pushed back from her face, was a loose Afro, and she wasn’t wearing her normal apron. “We thought you’d likely be talking downstairs for hours.”

I shook my head. “I’m going to retire early. Beatrice, could you run me a bath?” The bath here was far smaller than the sunken pool in Kasomere but took significantly longer to prepare.

She nodded and left her cards discarded. Meena frowned at me. “Are you feeling all right, my lady?”

Yes. No. I didn’t know.

I smiled. “I’m just tired.”

I bathed, and Beatrice massaged oil into my skin before leaving me. When Kasten came to bed an hour later, I pretended to be asleep, not responding to the tender kiss he placed on the crown of my head.

Until I had my emotions straight, I couldn’t let there be a repeat of last night. I needed to focus on our mission at hand.

The next day, I clenched my jaw in determination as I dressed in one of my finest gowns to meet Annabelle. She was a princess, after all, and I intended to look like I belonged. I’d found a new love of corsets now the aim of them wasn’t to make my waist as thin as possible, and I was pleased with my reflection. I’d wanted a chance to prove myself, and this was it. I wouldn’t let Kasten down. I wouldn’t let myself down.

Kasten and I arrived at the palace arm in arm an hour before his military meeting was due to start. Meena trailed a respectful distance behind. I was still tired, but the constant thrum of adrenaline in my veins kept me alert as we entered through the grand front doors. When I jumped at a servant coming around a corridor, Kasten placed his free hand over where mine rested on his arm and stroked the back of my hand.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered. Kasten must be used to fighting enemies on all sides with terrifying weapons, and here I was, jumping at nothing. I wasn’t doing a very good job at proving to Kasten that he didn’t need to worry about me. I could have kicked myself.

He didn’t stop the rhythmic strokes. “Don’t be. It’s natural to be on edge.” He stopped and turned to face me. “Remember, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. You can go back to Highfair at any time and rest safely there. Keep your detector on and stay alert. I’ll try and check on you when I can.”

I nodded, looking down and rolling my lips between my teeth. “I can go the rest of the way with Meena.”

Kasten shook his head, straightening and glancing up and down the corridor. He started walking again. “No. The least I can do is stay with you until you’ve reached Annabelle.” He turned into General Batton, his posture stiff and hard, glaring at everyone we passed.

Kasten stopped outside Annabelle’s room, kissed my hand, and left. I watched his retreating back, feeling the strength of his presence ebb away until he disappeared around the corner.

I knocked on the door, and Annabelle’s voice called for me to enter. I nodded to Meena. She took up a guard position by the door. It took effort to push my tangled emotions surrounding Kasten from my mind.

I pushed open the door, still feeling nervous despite how well things had gone two days ago. Annabelle sat by the window, looking beautiful in a deep red gown. Her hair was up and cascaded to her shoulders in tight ringlets. It was only an hour after dawn, and I wondered how early she had needed to wake to get those done.

Annabelle saw me looking and gave me a mischievous grin as she stood to welcome me. “Your image is a mask. If people think you’re spending hours on your appearance, they will think you’ve not been up to much else.”

I nodded. I understood how people judged you on your appearance all too well. I raised my hands to my own hair. Beatrice had left me to sleep as long as possible, then done a quick twist and clip with an emerald brooch, spending more time on getting the gown to sit well.

Annabelle took my hand and pulled me to the couches. “Your hair is fine. Now tell me what Kasten said when you told him what I had found.”

She poured me a mug of melted chocolate, added cream, and sat down next to the fire, tucking her legs beneath her voluminous skirts.

I settled in a much more formal posture, Annabelle’s relaxed manner difficult to emulate when we were inside the royal palace. “Did the envoys’ visit go well yesterday?”

She wrinkled her nose. “Well enough, considering how distracted I’ve been. To be honest, it was all a frustrating bore when I’m far more concerned by other matters. The trade routes had mostly been worked out beforehand by the head of the merchants’ guild. I merely presented it, smiled, laughed and nodded, and gave them a tour of the palace. Now what did Kasten say?”

“Kasten is worried that if there is a coup, Lord Lyrason may have bribed or otherwise convinced some of the palace guard to follow his orders. He suggested you subtly include some soldiers from Kasomere into your guard. Just in case. We have some in place already, but we’ve only been preparing for a couple of days, so it's going to be hard to get enough troops inside this building to make a difference.”

Annabelle snorted. “Let men loyal to Kasten into the royal guard? Father would have a fit and probably never forgive me.” She barked a laugh before cradling her cheek in one hand. “Kasten could just as easily use the Kasomere soldiers I bring into my guard for his own coup and kill my family.”

I raised an eyebrow, uncomfortable with her reaction. “If Kasten wanted a simple coup, he could do it single-handedly.”

Annabelle stirred her hot chocolate. “I suppose.” Then her eyes flicked up to mine, the casual motion failing to hide their intensity. “He still has it, then? That weapon he used before?”

I nodded, cautiously. I had decided to be honest with Annabelle, or she would never agree to help us. “He does. The power is inside him constantly. He can’t get it out. He doesn’t want to use it, though. Not unless we’re desperate.”

Annabelle tilted her head and took a sip of her chocolate. “Hmm. I never saw Kasten as a man of great restraint. I guess I was wrong.” She sighed and took another sip. “And what if Lyrason intends to take the palace by setting loose halfsouls?”

I grimaced. “Callum’s working on the cure as fast as he can.”

She finished her hot chocolate, and I’d barely touched my own. I took a sip and savored the rich taste. The morning was cold, and I still hadn’t warmed up from the carriage ride here.

Annabelle pursed her lip. “If the palace is full of halfsouls, I suspect we won’t have a chance to use a cure. When Kasten and I hunted halfsouls, it was hard enough just to inject them with a sedative. Most of the time, you have to kill them before they kill you.”

I shivered and clutched the faint scar on my arm where I had been bitten, remembering their twisted features and sharp teeth. “I…I’m immune to them. It’s what Mister Gregane was testing. The Originals ignored me. It might have to be me who uses the cure.”

Annabelle looked skeptical. “Perhaps. There would be a lot of them, though.”

I rubbed my arm, knowing how small and weak I must look and how unbelievable it would be for me to take action against those creatures. I remembered the ones in the corridor and how I had cowered and sunk to the floor, even when they’d ignored me.

The princess didn’t seem to notice my reaction and suddenly held up one finger. “A moment, I’ve got something for you.” She stood and came back with a glazed flowerpot full of damp soil.

I took it in surprise. “Thank you.” I looked up askance.

Annabelle flopped back into her cushions and adjusted her bodice in a rather unladylike manner. “It’s got a starleaf bulb in it, a variety meant to be exclusive to royals. I know you like unusual plants and thought since you’re married to my brother, that makes us sisters, and so a royal too. I can’t imagine anyone would really object to you having one.”

I gaped at her, not just because of the enormously rare and treasured plant but for her willingness to call me her sister. It was a completely unexpected gift.

Annabelle shifted as if I were making her uncomfortable. “It’s just a bulb. It might not even grow.”

“Thank you.” I managed. I overcame my surprise and beamed. “I will treasure it. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would ever own one of these. Did you know Kasten first saw me in the gardens at Trembok Castle? I snuck out during the king’s speech because I’d heard there were starleaves there. I searched but never found any of those plants. Kasten was watching from a tower.”

It was strange to think that Kasten had existed and noticed me when I was still married to Frederick. I placed the flowerpot carefully on the table beside me in reverence and picked up my mug to finish the chocolate.

Annabelle smiled, a warm genuine smile. “You should definitely have this then. You will appreciate it far more than any other royal.”

I suddenly sat up remembering something I’d intended to do straight away. I found the velvet pouch in my bag and handed it to the princess. “Kasten asked me to return the earpiece and thank you for letting him borrow it.”

She sighed as she took it, though there was a slight twitch to the corners of her lips. “Well at least he’s returned one thing that he borrowed.” I could tell she wasn’t genuinely annoyed.

I licked my lips, reluctant to turn the conversation back to less pleasant topics when Annabelle had just made a moving gesture of friendship.

Annabelle noticed my hesitation and tilted her head to one side. “Speak whatever is on your mind, Sophie. Please.”

I drew in a deep breath. “We’re concerned about the relationship between Lord Lyrason and Duke James. If there’s a coup, Lord Lyrason could use the city guard to take control of the city. We need a way to stop Duke James quickly in that situation.”

Annabelle frowned, an idea clearly forming in her mind, but she looked uncertain. “Let me think about that.” Her trepidation grew. “Has Kasten found out anything about Regan Jones?”

I half nodded and half shrugged. “Callum has friends in the city. Yesterday, they found out exactly where he was when he went missing and have talked to his friends and family. He has well and truly disappeared. The only lead was that he was watching Lord Lyrason’s house. If Lord Lyrason took him, we’ll probably never find him—unless he’s released as a halfsoul, that is.” I reached out to touch her knee, softening my features as I noted dismay on Annabelle’s face, quickly hidden. “It doesn’t sound good, Annabelle. But if Lord Lyrason has taken him, that’s not your fault.”

She looked away, her lips tightening, and immediately changed the subject by checking the clock. “I’ve told a servant to let us know when Lyrason arrives so we can eavesdrop on any conversations he has with the king. Venerick will be here in thirty minutes. I think it would be good for you both to meet and talk. He’s still half terrified of Kasten. But…I want him to start making up his mind for himself about the two of you, instead of basing his opinion on what he must be constantly hearing from Duke James, and it will be interesting to see how he behaves. Of course, he has no idea of what is really going on. Give him nothing. I truly don’t know where his allegiances lie. I’m hoping to slowly find out. After you leave, tell Kasten that if he can sneak soldiers into my guard, he has my permission, but it won’t be easy. I’ll talk to Sir Finch. He’s in charge of my protection and security. If you can send me some female guards, I will say to Sir Finch that I wish to have more guardswomen since I feel more comfortable around them and that these have come recommended. I know Kasomere is close to the Tyrazastan border so you have a few of their famous female warriors settled there, like your own. Guards like that would be appreciated, but they can’t seem to come from Kasten or he will go straight to the king, and I will be in enormous trouble.”

I nodded. “We can arrange that, I’m sure.”

She stretched and looked across the room at the window before seeming to deflate. “I just feel that none of this is going to end well.”

I reached out to take her hand. She must have been so lonely contemplating all of this. “I know what you mean. Whatever is about to happen is going to be scary.”

Annabelle nodded, almost to herself. “There has to be some way to prevent things from becoming violent. I should talk to Father again and try to turn him against Lyrason. Warn him of my fears. If he can find another way to keep Stirling safe…I mean surely they’ve harvested enough vitality for him by now? Can’t they just use that and stop making halfsouls? He shouldn’t need to keep working with that man.”

I nodded in enthusiasm. “If he stops Lyrason himself, everything will be much easier.”

Annabelle clenched her fists. “If only he weren’t so proud and stubborn.” She sighed and suddenly looked down and picked at her nails. “I’m sorry. You must think I’m selfish. My father has tried to kill your husband so many times. And the experiments under his orders almost killed you. He has clearly done unspeakable things. Yet here I am fixated on ways to save him and brushing everything he’s done under the carpet. I know he has wronged you. Deeply. I just…” She sighed in frustration. “I’m sorry. Forgive me.”

I stood up, crossed the small space between us, and sat beside her, still cradling my hot chocolate. “It’s all a mess, isn’t it? It’s good to want to protect your family, but in truth, I think the public deserves to know what he has done. He should admit to it and abdicate. That would be the easy, smooth solution. As far as we know, Stirling is ignorant of all of this. But he might not be healthy enough to take the crown once the halfsouls stop.”

Annabelle stared at the fire. “Then that would leave me as next in line to clear up the mess. I always assumed Father would live to an old age and then Stirling would take over in decades time. I never…. But there’s no use wishing, is there.”

I took her hand again with my free one. “Kasten and I will support you. We’ll make sure you have everything you need.”

She met my eyes, and I could see many conflicting emotions in hers. But she merely squeezed my hand in response before letting it go.

She straightened, and her voice became strangely bright as if she were forcing it. “While we wait for Venerick, have you ever shot a crossbow?”

I almost dropped my mug at the sudden change of topic. “A crossbow? No. I don’t think I’ve ever done anything with a weapon.”

Annabelle stood. “You should. Things might become violent, and you should be able to defend yourself. It’s easy. You don’t need to be as strong as if you were shooting a normal bow. I have one here. I practice shooting a target across the room when I'm bored. Of course, Father doesn't know I use it inside. But since we’re sharing secrets, here’s one more.”

It seemed to me that Annabelle got bored very easily.

My eyes widened as she pulled a scarred target from under her bed and hung it up over a priceless painting. Then she fished out a crossbow from her wardrobe. It was far larger than I had expected; I’d never seen one up close before. She said it was easy, but that thing looked heavy.

She grinned at my expression. “Come on. I’ll show you. This is my lightest one, though it’s still good exercise for your arms. You’ll be surprised how fun it is.”