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.I held my tongue."It has been difficult to secure a private audience with my Tuuli Thea, and I did not wish to ask inside a room full of court gossips," Gerard explained."Will permission from the Tuuli Thea's alistair suffice?" In the Keep, Danica and I seemed to have equal power.The only difference was that in a disagreement, Danica's word won out.The arrangement was much the same as that between Diente and Naga in the serpiente palace.Gerard suddenly glowed with joy."So long as Andreios — I mean, Kel — and milady Shardae do not object, your word is certainly good enough, my lord.""Then court your lady," I encouraged."Thank you, sir."The raven turned as if to start obeying my words that instant, but as I watched him go, a shriek of ky-eee froze us both, halting Gerard's steps and draining the smile from my face.Heads in the market were upraised, and an open area quickly grew as five peregrine falcons dove into the center, each taking human form as she hit the ground near where Danica had been standing with her gaggle of court ladies.The crowd parted like water as I hurried down the stairs to greet the unwelcome visitors.Combined with such a formal escort, peregrine wings could mean only one person: Araceli of Ahnmik, heir to the falcon Empress — and one of the three who Kel had assured us had not left the island in thousands of years.CHAPTER 15THE HEIR TO THE FALCONS' EMPRESS was an imposing woman, with silverblond hair pulled back in a tight, waist-length braid, and eyes as clear and pale as the purest blue opal.Strands of hair in similar shades of blue had been pulled out of the top of the braid to frame her pale face.She wore the wings of her Demi form as gracefully as a cloak; their violet-black tops contrasted with her fair skin, while their reddish undersides gave her a nefarious halo.She wore boots laced to her thighs over black suede slacks, and an ivory low-backed silk shirt with golden embroidery.More disquieting were gauntlets that looked like the golden snakeskin of a Burmese python, and a simple dagger at her hip, no doubt coated with the deadliest of the falcons' poisons.Her carriage and expression warned that she needed no physical weapon, as did the four guards who accompanied her, all standing at strict attention."What urgent business brings the Lady Araceli and herMercy to the Hawk's Keep?" I asked, half shocked and half angry.She met my gaze instantly — a fear of the Cobriana garnet was not for this woman —as she stepped forward and brushed her guards aside."Cobra, do you claim this palace as yours now?"I bristled at the words, but forced myself to remain as calm as circumstances allowed.Danica stepped forward, and though she wore a mask of avian calm, I could see the tension in her shoulders and the anger in her eyes."I am Tuuli Thea here," she answered, not quite able to conceal her fury."Zane Cobriana is my alistair, and I am sure you are aware of that.If you are still seeking your lost falcon, Syfka must have told you — ""Syfka told me many things," Araceli interrupted, "and none of them convinced me that she tried very hard.I want my falcon returned.The aplomado has failed in finding him, and while she faces the Empress's tender mercy, I'm forced to go after the brat myself." Looking into her pale eyes, I was as lost as any sparrow whose gaze fell on cobra garnet.I found myself recoiling with a hiss when Araceli had done nothing more threatening than look at me.Danica's hand touched my wrist, calming me.What would the world be like if Kiesha and the other eight serpents from the Dasi had survived as the royal falcons had? Or Queen Alasdair and her first avian kin? What magic might our people have had if we had not wasted thousands of years and countless lives in war?"It's a pity you aren't still," Araceli murmured."You might actually remember some of Anhamirak's magic if you stop slaughtering each other for long enough.Still, I see no reason to hurry you back into war; you'll manage it on your own in time.Now, my falcon?""We don't know who you're looking for," I answered, glad that I could be honest on that point.Unless I had spoken aloud without realizing it, the falcon heir had read my thoughts a moment ago.Lying to her seemed like a bad idea.She sighed and then glanced at her guard."You sense him here, too?" He nodded.""Well shielded, but yes.Higher."Araceli nodded."Excellent." She took a breath as if to sigh, but instead let out a piercing call any avian, serpent or landlocked creature could recognize — a hunting falcon's war cry.Only shock held me still as everyone else in the room jumped, some gasping.Danica went rigid beside me, but before we could consider protesting, Araceli issued an ultimatum."If my falcon is not standing before me within the next two minutes," she declared, "I will take this Keep down stone by stone and timber by timber, slaughtering those inside until I find the right one.I suggest you spread the word.""Araceli — " said Danica."You had better hope he's loyal to you," Araceli said calmly to her, eyes glittering with ice."Otherwise he might just leave.""Araceli," I said, "you can't intend — ""I never make a threat I don't intend to keep, cobra.Though, honestly, I don't think it will be necessary.He will come [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]