Donnersmarck rubbed his stiff leg. "I didn't know you had a brother. Come to think of it, there's probably a lot I don't know about you."
He looked at the window. "If it hadn't been for the Fairy, we would have won this war."
No, you wouldn't, Jacob thought. Because their King is the better general. Because my father showed him how to build better rifles. Because they made the Dwarfs their allies. And because you’ve been stoking their rage for centuries.
Donnersmarck knew all that as well, but it was so much easier to blame the Fairy. He struggled to his feet and walked to the window.
"Every evening just after sunset she walks in the palace gardens. Kami’en has them searched beforehand, of course, but his men aren't very thorough. They know there's no one who can harm her."
He turned to Jacob.
"What if nothing can help your brother? What if he stays like them?"
"One of them will soon be married to your Empress's daughter."
Donnersmarck didn't reply to that. There were voices in the corridor. He waited until they'd receded.
"As soon as it gets dark, I will send you two men. They will take you to the gardens."
He hobbled past Jacob to the door. At the door he stopped again. "Did I ever show this to you?" He stroked one of the medals on his chest, a star with the Empress's crest in the center. "They gave me this after we found the glass slipper. After you found the glass slipper."
He looked at Jacob.
"I came here in my uniform, and I hope you're aware of what that means. But I call myself your friend, thought I know you don't like to use that word. Whatever it is you know about the Dark Fairy, this is suicide. You ran out on her sister and got away with it, but this one is different. She's more dangerous than anything you've ever encountered. Just go and find the hourglass, or the Tree of Life, the Fire Horse, or a Man-Swan. Anything. Send me back to the palace to convey the message that you've changed your mind. Make peace! As we all should."
Jacob saw a warning in his eyes, and a pledge, but still he shook his head.
"I'll be here at dusk."
"Of course you will." Donnersmarck smiled wearily. And then he was gone.
46
The Dark Sister
An hour had passed since sunset, but there were still no footsteps in the corridor. Jacob was beginning to suspect that Donnersmarck was trying to protect him from himself, when he finally heard a knock on his door. There were no imperial guards, however, but a woman.
Jacob barely recognized Fox. She was wearing a black coat over her dress, and her red hair was pinned up.
Clara wanted to see your brother one last time." Her voice sounded not of brightly lit streets but more of the forest and the fur of the vixen. "She convinced the Dwarf to take her to the wedding tomorrow."
She smoothed her coat. "Looks silly, doesn't it?"
Jacob pulled her into the room and closed the door.
"Why didn't you talk Clara out of it?"
"Why should I?"
He flinched as she touched his injured arm.
"What happened?"
"Nothing."
"Clara says you went to find the Dark Fairy. Jacob?" She took his face between her hands. Such slender hands, those of a girl. "Is that true?"
Her brown eyes looked straight into his heart. Fox always sensed when he was lying, butt his time he had to manage to deceive her, or she would follow him, and Jacob knew he could forgive himself for a lot of things, but not for losing her.