The Fox’s Tale

When I woke up the bed was empty, sunlight was trying to force its way in around the curtains, and a tall glass of that blue drink we’d been plied with was sitting on my bedside table. I guzzled it down as I tried to get my bearings. Was it last night that we’d crashed? Two nights ago?

I couldn’t tell how long I’d been asleep or when I had fallen asleep to begin with. I staggered to the bathroom, pausing to peek in the dressing room as my memories tried to flicker to consciousness and my eyes tried to focus on the images in front of me. Quinn wasn’t on the floor. Why did I think he would be?

I headed straight for the toilet, not bothering with a light, and groaned as I peed. “What the hell happened?” I mumbled to myself as I shook the last drops off and reached for some toilet paper to dry myself properly.

“Lucas left you forcibly awake for too long.”

“Oh shit! Esmeralda! What are you doing in my bathroom?” I scrambled to put myself away, looking over my shoulder trying to locate her. It wasn’t until I heard water splashing that I figured out where she was.

“My apologies, Alexander, but I was ever so sore and Ellery suggested a good soak to help. If you’re worried about seeing more of me than you’d like, don’t worry. Between the dimness of the light and the bubbles you won’t see anything scandalous.”

I flushed the toilet, but didn’t turn around since the dim light wasn’t an impediment for me. “Where’s Ellery?”

“I believe she’s briefing everyone on the plan you created to draw out the bastards who killed my Rowan and who’ve been causing trouble within my realm. You are remarkable, you know. Anyone else would have been reduced to gibberish hours before you even began to crack under the strain.”

This caused me to turn around in confusion. “What are you talking about? What plan?”

Esmeralda furrowed her brow. “The plan you drew all over your walls the other morning. Or perhaps it was afternoon. We didn’t find it until after we got you in bed around one that day.”

“That day? What day is it?”

She drummed her fingers on the edge of the tub. “I’m not very familiar with the way humans mark their time. Sunday? I think that was the word Ellery used. Although it might be Monday. As I said, the human passage of time is not something I’ve ever paid a great deal of attention to. Quinn could tell you. I believe he’s in the living room, just outside the door.”

She sighed and moved deeper into the tub. “I shall have a tub just like this put into the new palace when this is all over.”

“New palace?” I asked, befuddled.

“Lucas and I discussed it and we’re both in agreement that not only is the palace hideous, but neither of us can bear the thought of living in the same place where our child was murdered. So when this is all over, which should be in less than a day if all goes according to plan, we are going to raze it to the ground and build a new one.”

“I don’t remember any plan, Esmeralda, just bits and pieces of ideas.”

“Oh, well, in truth it wasn’t complete, but Ellery and Lucas were able to pull it all together. Hand me a towel and I can show you.”

I grabbed up a towel and squeezed my eyes shut as she stood up. Once she’d wrapped it around herself Esmeralda stepped out of the tub and flicked on the lights. I gasped at all the writing on the walls.

“Holy shit.” I wandered around, reading over what I had written in my sleep deprived state. “I remember now. There are three descendants of those who died along with your parents who had the means, ability, and motive to try to overthrow the House of Thorn.”

“Yes, Tarquin, Lady Oleander, and Sir Aconite.”

I bristled when she said Sir Aconite. “I fucking hate that guy.”

“As do I. That’s why I knighted him, so that he would be forced to stay away from Ellery, and so that he would not be able to have children.”

“Come again?”

“Winter Knights have to remain celibate during their tenure, and they are not supposed to travel into any other realm. Aconite craves respect and accolades. It will be easy to feed his ego and keep him wedded to his work as it were.” She cut her eyes to me and saw me gazing at her in admiration. “What?”

“Lucas told me you were smart and cunning, but I didn’t realize just how cunning until this moment.”

She beamed. “I have had centuries of practice at being underhanded.” Her smile faded and she huffed a sigh.

“Which brings me to Alastair. I hope that you are wrong and that he is not involved in this, but the evidence does suggest that he is a participant to some degree. There is no doubt that the intent seems to be to frame the Incorruptibles for the attacks and for Rowan’s death. The reason I suspected Peregrine of her murder was the item used to stab her. It was a dagger made of bog iron. I…I hid it, to protect Lucas and Ellery.”

“So only you and the murderer know that piece of information?

She nodded. “Yes. I hope it will trip them up later.”

“Didn’t her attacker die?”

Esmeralda turned to me. “One of them did, yes. But there were two.”

“Two? You know this for certain? How?”

She nodded again. “Because…because of where the bodies were found. Where Ellery was found. The burned body was in the bedroom and Rowan was in the hall.” She stopped to fight off her tears. I put my arm around her shoulders and she turned into me, burying her face in my chest and sobbed.

“Where was Ellery found, Esmeralda?” I asked, as I stroked her hair. Esmeralda clung to my shirt as she shook with sobs.

“In the nursery.”

“The nursery? I don’t understand; why is that so upsetting?”

“The nursery at the Sinclair’s.” Esmeralda lifted her tear stained face up at me. “Rowan could teleport herself, but she needed a running start to do it. She was running away from him, trying to get to Jones because it would be safe, and she didn’t make it.

“She was only able to send Ellery. Had I not been so terrified of my secret getting out, Jones would have been there! Rowan would still be alive! It’s all my fault.” Her sobs turned into a keening howl that had me crying along with her.

“No, it’s not your fault,” I blubbered and then Lucas was there taking her in his arms.

“No Esma, it is not your fault. It is the fault of the murderer alone. Hush now, my beloved, do not continue to punish yourself.”

Ellery tugged me away and I scrubbed my face with my hand to clear away the tears. I stole one backwards glance and Lucas was on his knees cradling Esmeralda as she continued to weep.

“I can’t wait to catch these assholes,” I said once we’d stepped out into the living room. “I want to tear them to pieces for what they did, what they’ve tried to do, but it looks like I’m the last in a very long line of those who want their blood.”

“Don’t worry, Alexander. Everyone will get a chance to collect their pound of flesh. Everything is ready. Once Mathair Mhor has regained her composure we will set it all in motion. By this time tomorrow they will be dead and it will all be over.”

“You seem very confident about all of this. What aren’t you telling me?”

“We’re setting up a most irresistible trap,” she replied with a grin.

“With what sort of bait? Isn’t it hard to bait a trap for an unidentified opponent?”

“Oh that’s easy. We’re going to give them everything they’ve wanted.” Ellery grinned up at me.

“You cannot be serious.”

She cocked her head and her smile deepened. “Can you think of better bait than you and Lucas in chains?”