Fire - Kristin Cashore [108]
I suppose we could start by getting a look at each other. I’m on the balcony just across from you and up.
Suspicion. Fire was trying to lure Murgda out again.
Very well then, Lady Murgda. If you think our plan is to kill you publicly at our winter party and start a war in the court, then by all means, don’t venture onto your balcony. I cannot blame you for caution, though it does seem to disallow your own interests. Goodbye, then.
A burst of irritation in response to this, which Fire ignored. Then scorn, then mild disappointment; and finally, silence. Fire waited. Minutes passed, and her sense of Murgda shrank, as if Murgda were pulling her feelings away and closing herself tight.
More minutes passed. Fire was beginning to try to cobble together a new plan when suddenly she felt Murgda moving through her rooms toward her balcony. Fire nudged Gentian to a place in the courtyard where he would not be able to see Fire but would have an unobstructed view of Murgda’s balcony door. Then Fire stepped forward into the light of the candles on her own railing.
Murgda stopped behind her balcony door and peeked out at Fire through the glass pane. She was as Fire remembered her: a short, plain-faced woman, straight-shouldered and tough-looking. Fire was pleased, oddly, by the strong and purposeful sight of her.
Murgda didn’t emerge to the balcony; she didn’t even crack the door open. But this was what Fire had expected and the most she dared to hope for, and it was enough, for down below, Gentian’s eyes caught hold of Murgda.
His reaction came to Fire plain as a pail of water thrown in her face. His confidence surged. His nerves were immensely comforted.
She understood now why Gentian wasn’t spying on Murgda, and why Lord Mydogg’s ally Captain Hart had known so much about Gentian. She understood a good many things, including why Murgda had come. She had come to help Gentian see his plans through. For somewhere along the line, Mydogg and Gentian had become allies against the king.
And Fire was reading something from Murgda as well, something less surprising. Whether Gentian knew it or not, his ally had come for one other reason. Fire read it in Murgda’s eyes that stared across the courtyard at her, and in the feeling Murgda was releasing now without meaning to: stupefaction, wonderment, and lust, though not the lust Fire was used to. This lust was hard and scheming, and political. Murgda wanted to steal her. Mydogg and Murgda wanted her for their very own monster tool - had wanted her since the first moment they’d seen her last spring.
Knowledge - even the knowledge that your enemies had unified to outnumber you - was strengthening. Fire saw now quite assuredly what she must do. What she could do, if she took care and kept hold of all the stray ends. You see? she thought now charmingly to Murgda. You’ve shown your face, and you’re still alive.
Murgda’s mind sharpened and closed. She narrowed her eyes at Fire and rested her hand on her stomach in an interesting manner Fire understood, because she’d seen it before. Murgda spun around and walked out of sight, never once noticing Gentian, who was still craning his neck at her below.
Fire stepped back into the shadows. Flatly, without dramatics, she communicated to the others all she had learned. They were surprised; horrified; unsurprised; eager to proceed. She answered as best she could what she believed to be their questions.
I don’t know if I’ll ever get Lady Murgda out of her rooms, she thought to them. I don’t know if Murgda will die tonight. But Lord Gentian will do whatever I say, and I can probably manage Gunner. Let’s start with them. Lord Mydogg’s allies can tell us Lord Mydogg’s plans.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
FIRE WANTED GENTIAN, and more particularly Gunner, to see