Chapter 60: The Web Closes In

Reika woke to the pale light that filtered through heavy curtains in her room. The black feather still lay upon her desk, starkly real, reminding her of what happened last night. Everything weighed on her-threats, her brother's death, and now warnings. Daisy was already bustling about the room, preparing the tasks for the morning. Though recovered, she seemed to make up for lost time. Good morrow, Your Majesty," Daisy piped, setting a tray containing tea and pastries before her. "You certainly look like you wrestled some demons in your sleep." Reika gave a thin smile. "Not very far off, actually." Mmm, Daisy grumbled, shifting her weight onto her hipbones. "Well, a decent breakfast might help in slaughtering such monsters." The smile fell from Reika's face as she looked down at the tea; she was not hungry, her mind already working over in her head what she had to do next. The halls of the palace were uncannily silent, her footsteps echoing off the marble as Reika walked down them. She did have an idea, though not well considered yet. If the threats were connected to Riftan's death, then perhaps it was in his past-or rather, what remained of his past-that the answer lay in wait. She gained the dungeon where Riftan had spent his last days. The air there was dank and chill, heavy with the scent of mold. The two guards on duty straightened as she approached, their faces betraying curiosity. "Open the door to his cell," Reika ordered. One of the guards hesitated. "Your Majesty, are you sure? There's.nothing left in there." "Open it. It creaked on hinges of iron, opening to a cell cold and dark. Reika stepped inside; her dress rustled against the cold stone floor, while scratches and scuffs along the walls continued into the metallic taste of blood hanging in the air. Her gaze swept to the cot upon which Riftan had spent his last days. She dropped to her knees beside it and laid her fingers upon the straw mattress. Part of herself abhorred her for being here-for digging into matters she most wanted to inter beneath thick layers of oblivion. Now she looked again around the cell, barely making out words - writings of grime or something-somewhere near obscured-, on the walls. Lean in closer and strain for readable words that come suddenly into deciphering focus: "The debt must be paid". She could almost feel a cold rush inside as her heartbeat skipped: handwriting the same as had flowed over the yellow legal-pad pages she had found. By noon, Reika sat in the council chamber, the words etched into her head. She called for Lord Darius and Captain Harren, head of the palace guards. "You asked to see us, Your Majesty?" Darius asked, entering, his composed mask unbroken. "Yes," Reika said, gesturing for them to take a seat. "I have found something disturbing in Riftan's cell-somebody was leaving warnings-messages, threats. I think they are connected with his death." Captain Harren scowled. "One of the guards, my queen?" he asked. "It is possible," Reika said. "But I need answers, not guesses. I want a full investigation into anyone who had access to the dungeons before and after Riftan's death. Darius nodded. "Done, Your Majesty. Now-the threats you have been getting-are they increasing?" Reika hedged. "Yes. And I fear that they will not stop until I find out the truth." --- Meanwhile, there was Daisy, in the kitchens, chatting with the staff and finding out all sorts of information in her inimitable way. Sharp as a tack and quick of wit, she had a tongue that could get people to loosen theirs. "Riftan was a nasty piece of work, wasn't he?" Daisy said casually as she leaned against a counter. One of the cooks, an older woman named Martha, snorted. "That's an understatement. But he didn't deserve what happened to him. Not like that." Daisy cocked her head. "What do you mean?" Martha was a bit more cautious and looked about before leaning in closer. "There were rumors, you know, that somebody wanted him dead long before the queen had made up her mind." "Rumors, huh?" Daisy leaned forward, narrowing her eyes. "Any names taken in connection with those rumors?" Martha shook her head. "No names, just whispers, but if you ask me, it wasn't a question of justice in someone's mind. Somebody had a grudge." Q: What does Martha say that makes Daisy look at her in surprise? Later that night, Reika had found herself on the banks of the river, a place she always was whenever the need for clarity of mind was required. The pale moon's light hung caught in the water, and soft hums of the current melodious. Daisy joined her, though an unusual silence lay between them now. "You've been so distracted all day," Daisy said after a while. "What is it?" Reika let out a deep sigh and peered into the water, its surface a mass of ripples. "I don't know who to trust anymore, Daisy. I think there is something very big behind the scenes of this, and I've only seen snatches." "Well, you aren't," Daisy said with finality, "alone. Whoever is behind all this mess hasn't run across who they're messing with." Reika forced a weak smile. "You can always say the things to lift my mood." It's a gift, Daisy said, winking. "Now, let's get back to the palace. The last thing we need is someone accusing the queen of consorting with river spirits." --- On their way back to the palace, a messenger stumbled up to them, red-faced and white-lipped. "Your Majesty," he said, bowing low. "We've found something-something in the dungeons." Reika's heart pounded in her chest. "What is it?" The messenger tripped. "A body, Your Majesty. One of the guards. And another note." Reika remained statue still, her thoughts running wildly. "Take me there. Now." --- A heavy weight of unease hung thickly in the air as Reika came to the dungeons: a guard fallen near the cell Riftan used to occupy, the guy having his throat slashed open while on his chest he had pinned: "The debt grows heavier." Anger and fear clouded her vision. Whose doing was this? Why to her? Captain Harren stepped forward, his face somber. "Your Majesty, whoever did this knew the layout of the dungeons. They avoided detection and left no trace." Reika balled her fists. "Double the guards. Nobody comes in these halls without my expressed permission." "Yes, Your Majesty," said Harren and bowed. As Reika turned to leave, Daisy clutched her arm, eyes wide with apprehension. "This is serious, Reika," Daisy whispered. "Whoever's behind this isn't just sending messages—they're escalating." Reika nodded, a steely determination hardening in her gut. "Then it's time we escalate too." --- Night had fallen, and Reika was alone in her chambers, the black feather and the notes laid out on the table before her. The pieces were falling into place, but the picture they painted was terrifying. A light knock broke into her musing from outside the door. "Enter," she called. Daisy came in carrying a tray with two glasses of wine. "Thought you could use that," she said, bending to set the tray down. Reika chuckled low in her throat. "You always seem to know what I want." As Daisy poured out the wine, she let her eyes wander to the notes. "What's next, Reika? She took another fresh sip of the wine. Her eyes narrowed, "I'm going to get to the bottom of all this. And when I do, they will see it was the wrong battle they chose." Daisy lifted her glass. "To finding out the truth, then." Reika clinked her glass with Daisy. The shadows in her life were getting grim; still, she would fight.