The Rebel Assassin

Chapter 25: Queen Rising

"Need your help?" Magali repeated, her voice somehow both level and inflected with disgust. "You'll understand if I don't accept so easily that you're done trying to kill me, of course."

"Of course. But you did agree to meet with me." Though Aiden's posture and expression were appropriately humble, his voice gave away a trace of smugness, as if he were already bragging that he was capable of planning to murder the Heir and then commanding an audience with her months later.

That cockiness was a mistake. All Magali had to do was turn her head slightly toward Luca and he had drawn his sword and stepped toward Aiden.

The rebel took a hasty step back, hands partially raised in alarm. His companion was steadier, going for her own hidden blade before Aiden could calm himself and catch her arm. "Don't," he hissed, and composed himself.

"Please, your highness, believe me. I mean you no harm. I asked to meet with you for our mutual good."

"I don't see what could possibly be good for both me and a rebel," Magali said. She had barely deigned to glance at him since the two rebels entered, choosing instead to look with half-lidded eyes somewhere behind them. "In fact, I fully plan to have Luca kill you before the night is over, if you can't conjure a reason for me to keep you alive."

Aiden looked appropriately wary, Irina thought, but not scared. He truly believed he had a reason for Magali to deal with him.

"My princess," he said courteously, "It would only be fair. But give me a chance to explain why we can be friends."

"Let me make it clear, Amathos. I may choose to let you live, but don't ever presume you are my equal. If we form an alliance, you will be less to me than my shoe is. A necessary thing to step on. I see you are already proving yourself untrustworthy, not coming alone."

Aiden's bitter smile suggested Magali might regret saying these things before the night was over, but Irina, reviewing the situation, felt confident. They could very quietly get ride of any evidence of whatever happened here tonight with no one the wiser; it was Aiden who ought to be cautious.

"I never said I would come alone," Aiden said patiently. "This is Dahra. She was once the leader of a rebel faction."

"Once?" Magali gave the woman the barest examination before returning to looking over their heads. "Drop your weapon and kick it over to my guard."

Dahra, still holding her knife, shared a look with Aiden, clearly unwilling. Aiden's glare held until she did as the princess commanded, and Luca scooped over the knife and sheathed his sword.

"Explain yourself, and why she is here," Magali continued only once it was done.

Aiden swept another bow, as if in apology for Dahra's course manners. She had yet to make any sign of deference toward the princess, and it was unclear if Magali noticed or cared. "Simply put, we have split from the Phoenix. We no longer find our goals compatible—"

Magali's ringing laughter cut off his speech, but though he paused for her, she did not explain what was so funny. Irina thought it less likely that Magali was amused that Aiden had given up regicide and more likely that she merely wanted to remind him that he couldn't tell what she was thinking.

"Dahra and I have reexamined our goals," Aiden continued awkwardly. "And we have realized what we really want is not for you or your father to die."

"How generous, at a time when so many do." The sarcasm was mocking.

Aiden raised a palm in a half shrug and a faint smile, as if in on the joke rather than the butt of it. "It's true we have been dissatisfied with the state of Solangia. But we were overzealous to think we needed new leadership for the whole country. Rather... rather, I think what we really wanted was a chance to implement the ideals of the revolution in a small part of Solangia, and see how it works."