Zandrue took three glasses of wine from the tray, two in one hand and one in the other. “Thank you, Marna. Please give us some privacy now.”

  The girl curtsied. “I’ll be in the next room if you need me, my Lady.” Zandrue had requested her services after Quilla had been banished.

  As the girl backed away, Zandrue turned to Tianna, who was already making herself at home on the chaise longue. Zandrue handed one of the wine glasses to her, and placed another on the table. “For La?nne when she gets here.” She sat beside Tianna. They clinked glasses, then each took a sip.

  “These are nice apartments.” Tianna pointed towards the fireplace. “I like the picture of Queen Felit?a. I suppose it’s appropriate for Princess Felit?a’s room. Still, her grandmother was a far greater woman than she’ll ever be.”

  Zandrue frowned. “You don’t like Felit?a much, do you?”

  “I know she’s your friend, Zandrue, but she’s been nothing but rude to me and Annai.”

  Zandrue shrugged. “Maybe she has, but maybe you just need to sit down with her and work things out.”

  Tianna rolled her eyes. “I doubt that, but then…” She looked away. “I didn’t like you at first, either, so…” She looked back and smiled.

  Zandrue smiled back. “So, what’s this all about? Why did you insist we come here?”

  Tianna smiled conspiratorially and put a finger to her lips. “I chose here because there’s no way Annai will ever come here, and this needs to be a total secret. It goes no farther than me, you, and La?nne. Got it?”

  Zandrue took a sip of wine. “You’ve certainly got me intrigued, so yeah, I got it.”

  “Well, as you know, I was trying to plan a surprise for Annai’s birthday, but she knows about that now. I still intend to do it, but it’s not a surprise anymore, so I need something new. I was thinking the three of us can do something together for her.”

  Zandrue continued to sip at her wine. “What were you thinking?”

  “We sing a song for her. At the concert. La?nne will play as usual, and you and I will sing a duet. A brand new song specifically for her. I’ve already started writing it, but I’d value your contribution.”

  “I like the way you think,” Zandrue said.

  Tianna grinned. “I knew you’d like the idea! As soon as La?nne gets here, we’ll go over it in detail. I wonder what’s taking her so long.” She looked towards the door.

  “I’m sure she’ll be along,” Zandrue said.

  “I know, but we’re supposed to stay in sight of each other.”

  “Yes, but we knew when we made the agreement it would be impossible to do all the time.”

  Tianna nodded. Then her eyes widened. “I know! How about, while we wait, you show me around these apartments?”

  Zandrue shrugged. “Sure, why not? I mean, they’re not much different from Annai’s really, apart from how they’re decorated, I suppose.”

  “That’s exactly the sort of thing I want to see!”

  Zandrue stood up. “To be honest, there’s not much of that. Felit?a’s barely ever lived here, and I just haven’t had a chance to decorate.” Largely because she hadn’t really expected to be staying so long. “But I’m happy to show you what there is.”

  Tianna jumped to her feet. “Great!”

  Zandrue gestured towards the fireplace. “You’ve already noticed the portrait of Queen Felit?a. It...um...hangs above the mantel, which is...which is in some style or other. I presume.”

  Tianna giggled. “You don’t have to explain everything. Just show me.”

  Zandrue snickered. “Yeah, that’s probably the better way to do it. Follow me.”

  “Is the room layout like Annai’s?”

  “I think so,” Zandrue said. “The dressing room is through there. Bedroom over there. Study cabinet up the stairs. Handmaids’ room over there.”

  The main door opened and the guard on duty, Edmon, let La?nne into the room. The slim woman was dressed rather informally in a light kirtle, her brown hair done up in a bun held together with the two hairpins she’d bought in Arnor City.

  “There you are!” Tianna said.

  “Sorry I’m late,” La?nne said. “I got held up.” She hugged Tianna, then Zandrue. “So, what’s this all about?”

  “Tell you in a bit,” Tianna said. “Zandrue’s giving us a tour.”

  “I thought that was just to pass the time until she got here,” Zandrue said.

  Tianna waved her hand dismissively. “Yes, but we’re committed now. I want to see everything.”

  “I’m game,” La?nne said.

  So Zandrue gave them a tour around the apartments. It was quick as there wasn’t much to show. They walked into each room, Tianna and La?nne took quick looks, and then they moved on to the next room. As they moved about, Tianna told La?nne about her idea.

  In the bedroom, Tianna went straight over to Rudiger’s wardrobe as soon as Zandrue pointed it out. She opened it and peered inside.

  “I don’t think Rudiger’s got anything that’ll interest you,” Zandrue said.

  Tianna laughed. “Just looking. A bit of fun, you know. Still, this sword here is incredible. It’s huge! Can I look at it?” She reached into the wardrobe.

  “I’m not sure that’s a good idea without asking Ru—”

  There was a crash.

  “Gods, that thing’s heavy.” Tianna backed away from the wardrobe a few steps. “Sorry. I might have knocked it over.”

  La?nne looked over her shoulder. “That is a huge sword. Still, he’s a big man. He can probably lift it.”

  “Can’t we just take a quick look?” Tianna said. “I’m sure you and I together could pick it up?”

  Zandrue shook her head. “Not unless he says it’s okay. Ask him later if you want.”

  La?nne put a hand on Tianna’s shoulder. “Zandrue’s right. Let’s go compose that song of yours.”

  Tianna pouted. “I suppose you’re right.”

  They returned to the lounge, where Tianna sat on the chaise longue again. She patted the cushion beside her and nodded to Zandrue.

  “You know this is meant for one person to spread out on, right?” Zandrue said as she sat down.

  Tianna shrugged. “I know.”

  La?nne pulled up a chair near them.

  Zandrue pointed to the glass of wine on the table. “That’s for you, La?nne. I made sure to leave one for you.”

  La?nne smiled and reached for the glass. “Your glasses are empty. Let me refill them for you.” Instead of picking up her own, she picked up the empty ones and carried them over to the wine table.

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  “This is what I was thinking,” Tianna said. “Zandrue, you’re named after Zandromeda the Volg Killer, right?”

  “That’s right.”

  “I thought we could reference the Volg Killer in the song as a reference to you. Unfortunately, I’m not named after a legendary figure, so I’m not sure how to get in something for me.”

  La?nne returned with the wine. “Why not just make something up? Just claim there was some other legendary hero named Tianna.” She handed one glass to Zandrue and the other to Tianna, then picked up her own from the table.

  “Bur surely people will notice that,” Tianna said and took a drink of wine.

  “There are hundreds of stories out there. No one will be able to prove it’s not just a story they’ve never heard before.” La?nne grinned. “For all we know, there really is one out there.”

  “I suppose,” Tianna said.

  “And of course, you need to reference the hero La?nne as well. Just because I’m only playing and not singing doesn’t mean I should be left out.”

  Tianna laughed. “Don’t worry. We’ll definitely get a reference to you in there.”

  They discussed the logistics of the song for a while, and Zandrue surprised herself by actually getting excited about it. She wouldn’t have liked to admit it to Rudiger or Quilla or Felit?a, but she was starting to enjoy all this singing.

  “You haven’t touched your wine, Zandrue,” La?nne said.

  Zandrue looked down at the glass she’d been holding to her chest and laughed. “Sorry, I just got caught up in everything. Besides, I’m trying to cut back.”

  “At least have one glass,” La?nne said. “After all, I poured it for you.”

  “Oh, all right, you’ve bent my arm.” Zandrue raised the glass and took a sip.

  Tianna lay her head on Zandrue’s shoulder. “This is surprisingly tiring work.”

  Zandrue lowered the glass. Tianna’s eyes were half closed. “You all right?”

  Tianna smiled. “Absolutely perfect.” Her words were slurred. “Just tired, but happy you’re here.”

  Zandrue looked at the table, where manuscript papers was scattered about. Tianna’s wine glass sat empty. La?nne was watching Zandrue.

  Tianna put her arms around Zandrue. “I’m sorry I didn’t trust you at first, Zandrue. I was wrong. You’re wonderful.” Her eyes closed, and her body relaxed and slumped over.

  Zandrue leaned forward, and placed her wine on the table, watching La?nne the whole time. She extracted herself from Tianna’s arms and stood up.

  La?nne’s eyes followed her the whole time.

  “Going to say anything?” Zandrue asked.

  La?nne sighed. “You should have drunk your wine, Zandrue. Still, that small sip you took should slow your reflexes at the very least.” In a flash, she fell backwards in her chair and flipped off it as its back hit the floor. She landed on her feet, turned, and ran towards the bedroom.

  “Shit!” Zandrue took off after her. She had no idea what drug La?nne had put in the wine, but Tianna had taken a full dose and it had taken several minutes to affect her, so the smaller dose Zandrue had taken would need time as well. Nevertheless, she needed to stop La?nne before it started to work.

  Zandrue ran to the bedroom. La?nne was at Rudiger’s wardrobe. She reached down and picked up Slay, lifting the sword off the ground with one hand and pulling the sheath away with the other.

  Zandrue ran around the four-poster bed and leapt at her. La?nne turned and pointed the sword at her. Zandrue stopped and stepped backwards. How had she gotten so strong?

  “I have to commend you, Zandrue. All that sucking up to Annai, manipulating yourself into a position of influence. You got Annai to switch from hating you to considering you one of her best friends. Though that was a bit my fault. I should have chosen a different time to set the dogs on you.”

  “So that was you. I didn’t even know you then.”

  La?nne laughed. “But I knew you. And then you somehow managed to turn Tianna from paranoid you were going to steal Annai from her to being all love-dovey over you. All presumably so you could track down Servants in the Palace, and the whole time you never noticed the one right beside you. How will Tianna take it, do you think, when she finds out you’re the one who followed her and scared the hell out of her? Gods, you’re pathetic.”

  Zandrue shrugged. “Once you’re exposed as a Darker, I’m sure I can make things right with Tianna again.”

  La?nne laughed. “Yes, but I’m not going to to be exposed, am I? Tianna’s going to wake up, find you dead, and me injured. We were attacked by thieves and you perished. If you’re lucky, I might tell her you died in a valiant attempt to protect her. Feed into that little crush of hers and make her cry a lot. She’s incredibly manipulable.”

  Zandrue yawned, making it as noticeable as she could. “Look, if you’re going to kill me, just get it over with. You’re boring me.”

  La?nne sneered. “Oh, I was just distracting you long enough to get used to the balance of this ridiculously big sword.” She lunged at Zandrue.

  Zandrue hurled herself to the side and onto the bed. La?nne swung Slay, which cut right through one of the posts. Zandrue rolled across the best as the corner of the canopy came down. Slay cut right through the frame of the bed as well.

  La?nne gasped. “Ridiculously big, but what power!”

  Zandrue rolled off the other side of the bed and hopped to her feet. “You’re a lot stronger than I realised. That was a good act in Arnor City.” La?nne wasn’t much bigger than Tianna. It was absurd that she could lift Slay effortlessly, never mind swing it one-handed. Hell, even Rudiger didn’t use Slay one-handed.

  La?nne smiled. “That wasn’t an act. Things have just changed since then. A little perk of being a Servant. I’m still getting used to it.”

  Zandrue pushed the bed at La?nne, who leapt backwards. Zandrue rushed around the bed again, and dove towards her own wardrobe, sliding across the floor for the last few feet. She opened wardrobe, then rolled aside as La?nne swung Slay down at her. She spun around, tried to use her feet to trip La?nne.

  It was like hitting a stone wall. La?nne didn’t budge, but raised Slay again. Zandrue rolled again, only just avoiding the blow. She jumped back to her feet. The room swam around her.

  Shit. The drug must be taking effect. She didn’t need this right now.

  La?nne swung again, nicking Zandrue’s arm. “Getting a bit sluggish, I see. A shame. I was starting to enjoy this. Now your death’ll be too easy..”

  Zandrue turned and ran for the door. Her only hope was to get to Edmon before La?nne could catch up to her.

  Something hit her in the back of the shoulder, its blade going right through and sticking out the other side. A stiletto with a hilt shaped like the Bear of Arnor with sapphire eyes. One of La?nne’s new hairpins. Zandrue stumbled and fell forwards through the bedroom door. Her chin smacked into the floor. “Edmon!”

  She started to pull herself back up, but a foot pressed down on her back, pushing her back down against the floor.

  The main door opened and Edmon rushed into the room. “My Lady?”

  Another stiletto flew through the air and right through Edmon’s neck. He sputtered, blood pouring out of both his neck and mouth.

  The door to the handmaids’ room opened and Marna peered out. “My Lady, is—” Edmon gurgled and fell over. Marna screamed and slammed her door shut again.

  “That was a much better shot,” La?nne said. “Some nasty little items Ulises got me, don’t you think? Now, let’s see. How should I finish you off? I could cut off your head with Daemonslayer here, hang it up on the wall for Rudiger to discover when you get back.”

  Zandrue tried to crawl out from under her foot, but La?nne pressed down harder.

  “Or I could just apply a bit more pressure and crush your spine and ribcage. That would be kind of messy though. I’ll probably get blood all over my shoes and skirt. Can’t deny it would be fun though.”

  “Zandrue!”

  Rudiger was at the open door, Gabriella right behind him. The Princess threw a dagger over his shoulder. La?nne bent aside to avoid it, loosening the pressure on Zandrue’s back. Zandrue slid to the side, rolled to her feet.

  Rudiger rushed forward, but La?nne swung Slay at him. Rudiger dove out of the way. Zandrue shoved La?nne. It didn’t do much, but it did unbalance her a little. Zandrue ran past her and back into the bedroom.

  Her vision was still blurred and spinning, but she knew where she was going. She made it to her wardrobe and grabbed her sword. She ran back to the lounge.

  Everything was blurry at first, but after blinking a few times, things started to focus. Gabriella was dodging blows from La?nne. The Princess blocked a blow with her sword, but Slay broke the blade near in half. Gabriella dove backwards.

  Rudiger ran at La?nne from behind, grabbing her sword arm and trying to wrest Slay from her. She jabbed her other elbow into his chest and he actually grunted. Then, with a heave, she flipped Rudiger over her head. He crashed onto the table with the song manuscript. On the chaise longue, Tianna jolted.

  Gabriella rushed La?nne, jabbed with the jagged edge of her broken blade. La?nne swung with her free arm, hit Gabriella on the side of her face, and sent the Princess sprawling. La?nne raised Slay over Rudiger.

  The room was starting to spin again, but Zandrue ignored it. She rushed forward while La?nne’s back was turned. She swung her sword into La?nne’s side. La?nne stumbled. Rudiger kicked out and knocked her off her feet. Slay clattered to the floor. La?nne fell on her back. Her hand reached for Slay.

  Zandrue gripped her sword in both hands, turned it point down, and drove it into La?nne’s chest. La?nne screamed, then went still.

  Rudiger got to his feet and grabbed Slay, gasping for breath. “How the hell is someone so small so strong?”

  Zandrue stumbled. Everything was spinning so fast. “Darker. Like Mister Speedy maybe? Except strength?” She grabbed hold of something. The chaise longue? Yes, she was fairly certain it was the chaise longue. She tried to lie down on it, but there was someone already there. But that was okay. Whoever it was shifted aside and tried to make room. Oh, it was Tianna, wasn’t it?

  “Zandrue?” Rudiger said. “You all right?”

  Zandrue snuggled up against Tianna, who put her arms around her. That aggravated the pain from the stiletto in her shoulder. “I’ve been...um...what is it? Oh right, I’ve been drugged. Tianna too. I’m gonna nap now. Get this fucking dagger out of me, would you? That’s a good boy. Goodnight.”

  She closed her eyes and let the sweet darkness of unconsciousness take hold.

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