The Rogue Guardian

Chapter 52: Spreading Rumors

It was early morning-- early enough that she was entirely justified in swearing loudly when she saw me climbing in through her window-- when I went to see Ysmay.

"What do you think you're doing?" She demanded, not putting down the knife she'd pulled from beneath her pillow when the sound of the window opening had spooked her awake.

I crossed my arms and leaned back against the windowsill. "Good morning to you too."

"You're a goddamn nuisance, Laerhart."

"Trust me, I know. I had a question."

"It couldn't wait?"

"I have very little patience."

"So do I, at five in the morning," she groused.

I gave her a moment to collect herself as I looked around her small, bare room. You might have thought the leader of the Phoenix would be somewhat more pretentious in their living arrangements, but I appreciated Ysmay's simple clothing and surroundings. It made me feel better about her ambition than Aiden's rather snotty ways had.

"What's going to happen to Ca-- to the spymaster?" I finally asked, still looking around the room. I didn't want to appear too invested in the answer.

"Still debating the specific details, not that you should care."

Clearly she wasn't going to tell me outright if they planned to torture him for information. My stomach clenched, filling me with the same anxiety that had jolted me awake just ten minutes before. He was a liar, and no longer any friend of mine, but he was Caer. It would kill me, if they did that to him.

"Think of ransoming him back to the royals for a high price?" I prodded.

"Yes, Laerhart, the idea crossed our minds. Is this what you came here for? I will warn you I'm very close to having you thrown out, so choose your answer carefully."

I did heed her warning, actually, considering my next words for a moment before speaking. "I think it might be rather barbaric to have him tortured."

"He may be on the young side, but he's an adult. He will be treated as one, and you will not question my decisions or coddle him." Her tone left no room for argument.

We both knew I'd never stop questioning her. As for the latter, Caer was no longer my responsibility. I let the subject drop for now. If I heard they were going to hurt him, then... I had no idea what I'd do. I didn't have to decide now.

"You know what would be great?" I asked, changing the subject abruptly.

"I hesitate to even ask."

"If we could get the Silvers to join the Phoenix."

"I would also like for King Aeric to simply give up the throne willingly, but some of us live in reality."

"The reality where we now have an alliance with the Court of Assassins because I had the guts to do what everyone else said was impossible?" I asked.

She glared. "Do us all a favor, Laerhart, and at least attempt to keep your arrogance in check."

"That's not arrogance, that's reality. Sometimes impossible things just need guts and a new perspective."

"True as that may be," she allowed grudgingly, "Guts and new perspective won't make Dahra change her mind."

"About what? What made the Silvers split off in the first place?"

Looking like she knew she'd live to regret this conversation, Ysmay said, "The Silver faction thought we were moving too quickly. They thought we needed a strong leader to centralize behind before we stood a chance. Yes, Laerhart, a stronger leader than me. A lawyer old enough to be a grandmother isn't the kind of figure that strikes fear into the hearts of our enemies, is it?"