‘It is very bad,’ Froi said.
Tariq’s expression was pained as he cleared his throat. ‘Despite my feelings for the King and my father’s kin, is it true … that they’re all dead?’
Froi nodded. ‘Except Quintana.’
‘Thank the gods for that. She’s my betrothed, you know.’
Froi nodded. After a moment he cleared his throat. ‘I think it’s best that you end the betrothment,’ he said.
Tariq’s eyes narrowed. Froi met the heir’s stare.
‘And why would you suggest such a thing?’
‘Because the people you will rule brayed for her blood,’ Froi said angrily. ‘They stood in the marketplace and cheered when a noose was placed around her neck. Why would you subject her to life in the palace after what she has endured? Why would you not want to set her free?’
Tariq looked contrite. ‘Because we made a vow to each other,’ he said. ‘She would break the curse and I would do everything to bring her to safety.’
‘Forget the curse,’ one of Tariq’s kinsmen said. ‘The people of this kingdom will accept you as the rightful heir, but they’ll not want to see the face of Charyn’s greatest failure alongside you.’
‘To you, a failure, Gisotte,’ Tariq said with a gentle reprimand. ‘To me, a most-beloved betrothed, regardless of our youth at the time we were promised.’
‘How is it that she escaped the noose?’ one of the serving cousins asked from where she was grinding beans.
Froi told the story. He left out the part where the lastborns were laughed at, but by the time he was finished, a crowd had gathered around him, stunned.
‘You’re all heroes,’ one of the women said, smiling prettily.
Froi felt awkward from all the attention and Tariq grinned.
‘Come,’ the heir said, jumping to his feet. ‘Let me show you around.’
They left the room amidst cries of, ‘Stay for more.’
Tariq laughed as they stooped down into a low damp corridor. ‘I’ll confess to you, we’ve not seen many outsiders these past three years,’ he said, ‘and apart from my correspondence with Grij and Satch, sometimes I feel as though I’m an old man who knows nothing but books and keeping out of harm’s way.’
‘There’s not much you need to know about the world,’ Froi said. ‘Except how to use a sword and trust very few.’
Tariq was silent a moment. ‘Well, something tells me that both my betrothed and I can trust you.’
They reached the end of the tunnel and Froi could see Tariq’s eyes blazing with determination. ‘You must come to the palace with my queen and I. To protect her as you did today. To be her personal guard so I need never worry for her safety.’
Froi shook his head, his mouth suddenly dry at the idea of Tariq and Quintana lying side by side, night after night. He looked away, wanting to speak of other things.
‘How is it you survive here?’ he asked.
‘Perabo in the Citavita sends us food. He travels to us once a month. We have a water spring, we have a healer and we have faith in the gods that Charyn will have a new beginning now that the King is dead.’
‘Is Perabo’s tunnel the only way in?’ Froi asked.
Tariq shook his head. ‘Follow.’
Froi followed when his heart told him to leave. But with Tariq, he believed the people of Charyn could find hope. Strangely, he didn’t see traces of Finnikin or Lucian in this new King, but a boy he had once met on his travels with Finnikin and Isaboe through Yutlind. Jehr, heir to the throne of Yutlind Sud had been the first to teach him how to use a bow and arrow. He was a lad of great strength and Froi saw the same decency of character in Tariq. He needed to believe there was goodness in Charyn after the carnage, so he followed the heir through the underground world of the Citavita and listened to his stories.
They stood at a shaft and Tariq held out his hand beneath it and Froi did the same.
‘Do you feel the air? It’s the only other way out of the compound. Gargarin had it built for ventilation and for lowering goods and messages.’
‘From who? Who do you trust?’
‘The people of Lascow have an envoy who lives in the province of Paladozza. He is a passionate advocate of my people and travels to the Citavita each month to bring us news, amongst other gifts. When Bestiano left the palace with the riders, we received word from our envoy that the Provincaro of Paladozza pledged an army if we were willing to speak face to face.’
Froi looked at him, confused.
‘Wouldn’t the Provincaro have sent a message through his son Grijio?’
Tariq laughed again. ’De Lancey of Paladozza would kill Grij if he knew he was risking his life.’
‘Well, after today’s display I think the Provincaro knows everything. Tell me more of Paladozza’s promise.’
‘I agreed to the meeting and in one week’s time the envoy from the Provincaro will meet us at the top of this shaft with the promised protection. They will smuggle us out of the Citavita and into the centre of Charyn to collect my army. Then we will march back into the Citavita and claim the palace.’
Tariq looked around the cave. ‘And we say goodbye to my underground home.’
‘A solid home indeed,’ Froi said, impressed.
‘Mostly thanks to Gargarin’s plans.’
Tariq pointed into another room. ‘The privy. Gargarin’s idea, of course.’
‘Of course.’ Froi laughed for the first time in weeks. ‘He does have his obsessions, doesn’t he?’
Froi followed Tariq into a cluster of small caverns.
‘The hospital,’ Tariq said. ‘Can I introduce you to my cousin?’ he asked quietly. ‘She has had an ailment of the heart for some time now. Nurse says death will take place in the days to come, so we all pray that she will soon be at peace with those who’ve passed before us.’
Her name was Ariel. She would have been a pretty girl. Her cheek dimpled the moment she saw her younger cousin and she patted her bed for Tariq to sit.
‘I have heard the strangest story of a wild rescue in the Citavita,’ she said, fighting for every breath, looking beyond Tariq to Froi. ‘I think Cousin Ortense is giddy for our visitor.’
She held out a hand and Froi took it.
‘And the Princess?’ she asked.
‘She has a strangely strong … spirit,’ Froi said.
‘Or two,’ Tariq added, and he looked at Froi sheepishly. ‘Did it take you long getting used to?’
Froi shook his head. He realised that nothing about Quintana of Charyn took long to get used to except the idea of leaving her behind.
‘Will she visit?’ Ariel asked, and Froi heard the tiredness in her voice. ‘I dreamt of her not so long ago. I told her in my dream that if I had one wish it would be to die with hope and not with such despair for this kingdom. I told her that I dreamed of entering the other life with a smile to greet them all. “Good news!” I’d shout. “Good news for you all.” ’
‘She’ll like that dream,’ Froi said, a sadness overwhelming him that goodness died when baseness lived.
‘We will go collect her, Ariel,’ Tariq said, on his feet in an instant. ‘And tonight we will dine, all of us, together here with you, my love.’
Tariq seemed to hasten his step out of the room and Froi watched the heir stop and lean his head against the stone wall. He knew the lad wept for Ariel and he stood back to give Tariq the time he required to collect himself. Then he followed him through a tunnel to a set of stairs that led them down into another cavern.
Froi felt the cold instantly and realised he was in some sort of crypt. There were two slabs of stone in the middle of the room, one with a body wrapped in white from head to foot.
‘It’s a Lascow tradition for the dead,’ Tariq explained. ‘We lost one of our elders two days past. This is what we will do for Ariel. Wrap her in white linens and call her name out for the gods to receive her. Then we will send her down the underground river and set the raft alight so the gods can see her and lead her spirit towards our
