43. Petra

It was the second time she’d been summoned to the Rok Estate in a few month’s time. It wasn’t that Petra didn’t enjoy inspiring frustration and anger in the man who was supposed to be revered as her supreme ruler, because she did—she enjoyed it a lot. Shameful amount, really. But she just had other things to do.

Running a House, managing nobles, and overseeing the wellbeing her family was enough to fill anyone’s plate. Throw on regicide and treason while trying to broker deals with—apparently—the most temperamental Fenthri there were? She barely had time to sharpen her claws these days.

She clicked her tongue off her teeth, pulling lightly at the boco’s feathers, guiding it with her knees to bank toward the landing area for nobility. Other giant birds milled about, some saddled, some not. Their iridescent feathers shone in the midday sun.

With the buffeting of large wings, her cerulean mount landed with a dignified caw. At least Petra found it dignified. She didn’t speak boco, and some of the other birds ruffled their feathers at whatever it was her Raku had said.

Petra patted him lovingly on the bill. “You annoy the feathers off these gaudy chickens.”

She might not speak boco, but she suspected Raku understood her language as he cooed gleefully in reply. Spinning, she adjusted the thick beaded necklace that ran down front and back, sauntering into the Rok estate as though she already owned the place.

“I haven’t met you before.” She gave a wide smile to the Rider who was escorting her to Yveun Dono’s infamous red room. The thought of it made her yawn. He did it to be intimidating, but it made him predictable and dull.

The real way to intimidate people was to capture their imagination. The imagination was far more wicked than anything someone else could think up because it knew every insecurity to play off. Yveun Dono was too overt. House Rok sharpened their blades, but not their minds.

“We have not had the pleasure, Petra’Oji.” Nothing about the Rider’s tone made Petra think that meeting her was a pleasure. She raked her fingers through her golden curls, drawn back and pinned away from her face.

“You have two whole beads I see.” She made a scene of fussing over them. “What an accomplishment.”

The man almost swatted her hand away. He might be new, but he was trained enough to avoid making that mistake. If he struck her, she would kill him. Not even Yveun Dono would bother denying her that duel.

“Dono, I have brought Petra’Oji,” the Rider announced as they crossed into the threshold of the red room. The man strode ahead of her, assuming the place at the side of the King.

Petra tilted her head. Now this was too delicious not to comment on. “Yveun Dono, did you change staff? Or is our dear Leona sick?”

The King’s claws dug into the throne. He was on edge. No, not on it—past it. Further than she’d ever seen him before.

Petra drew her magic within her, bracing herself subconsciously against the King’s aggression. If he wanted to fight her here and now, that would be fine. In fact, it’d save her a lot of time and effort if he just challenged her to a duel. But she wanted it to be a fair duel, one that didn’t involve outside interference. And the Riders seemed to have their own definition of fairness when they claimed they were all one to begin with.

“You know what happened to her,” Yveun Dono snarled.

He looked like an old man guarding a stupid bone. Petra didn’t tell him so. She just continued to play dumb. “Me? My lord, if I knew I would gladly tell you as your most humble servant… But I’m afraid I’ve been overseeing the smiths lately, working on establishing our own gold tempering mills here on Nova as you yourself requested.”

And for every one she set up for the King, she set up one for House Xin.

“You are on your last line, Petra,” the King barked. “Leona is dead, and I demand Cvareh’s head for it.”

He led them down the exact path Petra had been expecting.

“Cvareh had nothing to do with it. He’s been praying at the Temple of Lord Xin, as I told you months ago.” Petra watered the seed she’d sewn and watched it flower.

“If you’re lying to me Petra—”

“See for yourself, Dono,” she interjected. “If you are so concerned, venture to the temple. While he is in private mediation, I imagine even the gods would forgive the intrusion of our supreme ruler.”

“Perhaps I will.” He grinned madly.

Oh, Yveun Dono, you make this too easy. He thought he was calling her bluff while she watched him play right into her palms. House Rok certainly hadn’t stayed in power for so long because they possessed the most wit of all the Dragon houses.

“Very well. I will gladly go with you. I haven’t seen my brother in far too long.” She smiled easily, flashing her canines.

The King stood, furious. “If you are lying, I will kill you.”

“I’m not lying.”

“Then lead on, Petra’Oji, and we will see where we stand when the sun falls.”

She led without hesitation or concern. She’d stalled the King’s demands for an audience long enough that Lord Agnedi had turned his lucky eye on her. Cvareh had arrived just that morning. And a few hours was plenty of time to hide a glider, position her brother where he needed to be, and mask the curious scent of the Chimera who traveled with him.

Petra smiled as she mounted her boco, running her fingers through his feathers. She rose to the sky like a proverbial curtain. The stage was set and the actors she’d so carefully selected were in their place. It hadn’t all gone according to script, but oh, if the climax hadn’t proved interesting. She’d sent Cvareh down with schematics of a Philosopher’s Box, and he’d returned with the inventor herself.

She would focus on that fact later. For now, she had a King to make her fool.