Chapter 228: Faithless

Chapter 228: Faithless

Love means nothing. Just because youre emotionally attached to someone, it doesnt mean theyre a good person or that they can be relied on. Believing they love you back doesnt make it so.

Love cannot change reality, not even in a world that has dragons.

These and other depressing thoughts filled my mind as the elevator descended.

Nyx was beside me. Laney and Biadet stood in front, occasionally glancing over their shoulders at me seething and fuming. They were holding a conversation in low voices, their rivalry on hold for the time being, but I wasnt paying attention. I just wanted to get down to ground level and start shouting. Although, the way I was feeling, I might not be able to wait that long.

I was trying to hold judgement for after Id spoken to Jenny. That was the sensible and reasonable thing to do. But as we slowly slid down the shaft, the sense of betrayal became overwhelming. Of course she had agreed to let the Queen use her in return for giving her what she wanted. Thats what anyone would do.

Beneath the rage, though, was something more sinister. Shame. I had allowed myself to believe she was something she wasnt, because I wanted it to be true. I couldnt really blame her for that. It was my fault for being such an idiot.

I should have learned from history. One minute youre singing I am sixteen, going on seventeen, next youre wearing a brown shirt and ratting out your girlfriends family to the Nazis. The lesson was clear: never trust an Austrian.

Are we to head for Fengarad, asked Nyx.

Speak again and Ill cut off your tail. That shut him up.

The lift shuddered to a stop and Biadet opened the iron gate. The unconscious soldiers were exactly as we left them. Maybe they were all dead and Biadet had lied to me, just like everyone else. I realise I can be unbearable when Im moping, but its hard not to wallow when your life sucks arse.

You should take a moment to compose yourself, said Laney.

Im fine, I said through gritted teeth.

Youre sulking, said Biadet. It felt like they were colluding against me. Bringing people together, its what I do.

I pushed Nyx ahead of me and continued down the tunnel that led to the outside and whatever wonderfulness awaited me. So whos your master, Biadet? It isnt the man in the spire, assuming he isnt a woman in disguise. Although it wouldnt really surprise me if he was. Could it be the other queen, the one in Dargot?

Yes, said Biadet. It could. Which I thought was remarkably forthcoming of her, until I realised she hadnt actually said it was her, just that it could be.

We reached the end of the tunnel. I hadnt even bothered to produce a glowing ball, I just marched through the dark, using Nyx and my growing sense of injustice to lead the way.

When I emerged into the light, I was momentarily blinded. If there had been someone waiting to ambush us, Id never have seen them. I didnt care.

Everyone was back up, although most were sitting. The eunuchs looked in most distress, many had blood running from their ears. Claire was going around healing them while Maurice followed her like a puppy. My view of couples was at an all time low, so my opinions of all things romantic may have been somewhat jaded.

The female soldiers were sitting lined up against a wall, watched by a smaller group of female soldiers who were trolls. They didnt look very happy but their weapons had been removed and they still looked shaken up by the weapon Lenda had used. Primus Lenda sat with them, glaring.

And then there was Jenny. She was on her feet. She saw me emerge and her concerned frown turned into a big smile. She started walking towards me and faltered, her smile dropping from her face.

Jenny lifted my hand in hers. Sorry, did I set you off? There was no fooling her.

Gabor and Roland came strolling around the corner.

Where did you two go? I asked them in an effort to avoid everyones questioning looks.

We went for lunch, said Gabor. There didnt seem too much going on here.

Nothing is better, said Roland, than a good meal and a long shit. He seemed extremely pleased with this advice, glancing around to make sure no one had missed out on hearing it.

You have spire key, said Gabor, more statement than question.

I took out the gem the Queen had given me and held it out to him. He shook his head and didnt take it. Jenny reached for it and it began to glow. I yanked it back.

The Queen had given it to me very easily. I had been too worked up to think anything of it at the time, but why would she hand me something that would give me access to the spires and the weapon inside it? My plan was always to destroy it, if I could, but most people would probably want it for themselves.

I inspected the gem more closely. A bomb of some kind, I would guess. Take out Peter and us at the same time. Jenny had something to do with it, but I wasnt sure what.

I walked over to where the trolls were. We are leaving? asked Raviva.

Yes, as soon as Flossie gets here. You, I said to Primus Lenda. Im leaving the eunuchs here. Take good care of them.

Lenda looked at me with contempt which suddenly turned to fear. I wasnt dumb enough to think it was me that caused the change. I could hear the dragons landing behind me.

What the fook happened? called out Flossie. Ah thought it was world war fookin three, or summit.

He got overexcited, said Jenny. She still had a firm grip on my hand. I didnt mind it.

Whats going on? asked Claire as she and Maurice came closer.

Ill tell you later. Here, hold onto him. I shoved Nyx towards her. He might come in very useful indeed, once Claire had picked his brain. I doubted the Queen had entrusted him with too much informationshe was willing to send him on a kamikaze mission with us, so she clearly didnt overly value himbut there was probably still a lot he could tell us, willingly or not.

The four dragons now in the square gave Lenda food for thought. She wasnt quite the cocky alpha female she had been. That was good. I expected to see her again and a little fear could make all the difference.

We boarded the dragons and took off, leaving the eunuchs behind. I had no interest in fighting my way to victory, especially when they could just as easily turn on us. Everything the Queen touched could. Even Jenny could still go all Manchurian candidate if I wasnt careful.

Fengarad? asked Flossie as we rose into the air.

Take us back to the ogres, first.

Flossie nodded and headed towards the ridge overlooking the city. I had no intention of going to Fengarad right now. My enemy was here. The city of Requbar had declared war on me and I wasnt in the mood to let it slide.