She told him about the attack aboard the Rampion and how Sybil Mira had taken Scarlet, and now it was only her and Wolf … and this guard, who she wanted to trust, felt she needed to trust, and yet she didn’t even know his name.
“He said that he serves his princess,” Cinder said, the words wispy and thin. “Somehow, he knew about me.”
Erland rubbed at his frizzy hair. “Perhaps he overheard Thaumaturge Mira, or the queen herself talking about you. We’re lucky that his fealty is to the true crown. Many of Levana’s minions would just as soon kill you and claim a reward than see you recognized as queen.”
“I figured as much.”
He sneered, like he wasn’t happy to have to acknowledge the guard could be an ally after all. “And speaking of recognizing you as the true queen…”
She shriveled into her seat, squeezing Wolf’s hand.
“Miss Linh, I have spent years planning for the time when I would find you again. You should have come to me straightaway.”
Cinder wrinkled her nose. “That’s precisely why I didn’t.”
“And what does that mean?”
“When you came to my jail cell and dropped this whole princess thing on me … how was I supposed to react? All of a sudden I went from being nobody to being long-lost royalty, and you expected me to jump up and accept this destiny that you’d worked out in your head, but did you ever consider that maybe that’s not the destiny I want? I wasn’t raised to be a princess or a leader. I just needed some time to figure out who I was … am. Where I came from. I thought maybe those answers were in France.”
“And were they?”
She shrugged, remembering the underground lab they’d found on the Benoit farm, with the suspended-animation tank where she had slept, half alive, for eight years. Where some nameless, faceless person had given her a new name, a new history, and new robotic limbs.
“Some of them were.”
“And how about now? Are you ready to accept your destiny, or are you still searching?”
She frowned. “I know that I am who you say I am. And someone has to stop Levana. If that someone has to be me, well … yes. I accept that. I’m ready.” She glanced down at Wolf and bit back her next words. At least, I thought I was ready, before I ruined everything.
“Good,” said the doctor. “Because it’s time we developed a plan. Queen Levana cannot be allowed to rule any longer, and she certainly cannot be allowed to rule Earth.”
“I know. I agree. I had a plan, actually. We had a plan.”
He raised an eyebrow at her.
“We were going to use the wedding to our advantage, especially with all the media that’s going to be there. We were going to get past palace security, and I was going to sneak into the ceremony and … stop it.”
“Stop the wedding?” Erland said, sounding unimpressed.
“Yes. I was going to tell everyone who I am. With all the cameras and the media and the whole world watching, I was going to insist that Kai couldn’t marry her. I was going to tell the world about Levana’s plans to invade all the Earthen countries, so that the other leaders would refuse to accept her as a world leader. And then I would demand that Levana relinquish her crown … to me.” She pulled away from Wolf, finding that her palm had grown too warm. She rubbed it nervously on her pant leg.
Dr. Erland’s expression had gone dark. He reached forward and pinched Cinder hard above her elbow.
“Ow, hey!”
“Hmph. For a moment I thought you must be another one of my hallucinations, as surely your plan couldn’t be that stupid.”
“It’s not stupid. The news would go viral in minutes. There’s nothing Levana could do to stop it.”
“It certainly would go viral. Everyone would be clamoring to witness the tirade of the crazy cyborg who fancies herself a princess.”
“They could test my blood, like you did. I can prove it.”
“No doubt Her Majesty would stand by patiently while you did so.” He huffed, as if he were talking to a small child. “Queen Levana has her talons so deep into the Commonwealth that you would be dead before you finished the word princess. Your Emperor Kai would do anything to appease her right now. To ensure that war doesn’t break out again and to get his hands on that letumosis antidote. He wouldn’t risk angering her just to validate the claim of a sixteen-year-old girl who is already a wanted criminal.”
She crossed her arms. “He might.”
He raised an eyebrow at her, and she sulked in her chair.
“Fine,” Cinder said. “What do you suggest? You clearly know all about this political revolution stuff, so please enlighten me, O wrinkled one.”
Dr. Erland grabbed his hat off a small writing desk and pulled it onto his head. “You can begin by learning some manners, or no one will ever believe you could be royalty.”
“Right. I’m sure that poor etiquette is the number one reason for most failed revolutions.”
“Are you quite finished?”
“Not hardly.”
He pinned her with a glare and she glared right back.
Finally, Cinder rolled her eyes. “Yes, I’m finished.”
“Good. Because we have a lot to discuss, beginning with how we are going to get you to Luna.”
“Luna?”
“Yes. Luna. The rock in the sky that you are destined to rule. I trust you’re familiar with it?”
“You expect me to go to Luna?”
“Not today, but eventually, yes. You’re wasting your time with this wedding business and viral media. The people of Luna don’t care what the people of Earth think. Proclaiming your identity here won’t persuade them to rebel against their monarch, or crown you as their queen.”
“Of course it will. I’m the rightful heir!”
She drew back, stunned by her own words. She didn’t think she’d ever felt so invested in her identity, and determined to claim her place. It was a strange feeling, bordering on pride.
“You are the rightful heir,” said the doctor. “But you have to convince the people of Luna, not the people of Earth. The Lunar people must be informed that you are alive. Only with them on your side can you expect to have any success in claiming your birthright. Of course, Levana will not give up easily.”
She massaged her neck, waiting for the adrenaline warnings to dissipate. “Fine. Let’s say you’re right and this is the only way. How are we supposed to get on Luna? Aren’t all the entry ports underground? And, I might guess, heavily monitored?”
“Precisely my point. We must find a way to sneak you through the ports. Obviously we can’t use your ship…” He trailed off, rubbing his cheek. “It will require careful strategizing.”
“Oh, good, more strategizing. My favorite.”
“In the meantime, I suggest you not venture too far outside the heart of this town, and stay inside your ship as much as possible. It isn’t entirely safe here.”
Cinder glowered. “In case you didn’t notice, everyone already saw me. There’s no hiding me now.”
“That isn’t what I mean. This area has suffered more cases of letumosis than any other on Earth. Although there haven’t been any severe breakouts in over a year, we can’t let our guard down. Not with you.”
“Um … I’m immune. Remember? That little discovery that kicked off this whole mess?”
He sighed, long and slow. The defeat in his expression shot a dart of worry down her spine.
“Doctor?”
“I have seen evidence that the disease is mutating,” said Dr. Erland, “and that Lunars may no longer be immune. At least, not all of us.”
Her skin began to crawl. It was amazing how fast the old fears returned. After weeks of being invincible in the face of one of Earth’s most merciless killers, the threat was back. Her immunity could be compromised.
And she was in Africa, where it had all started.
A knock startled them both. The guard stood in the hall, damp from a recent shower and wearing some Earthen military clothes found aboard the Rampion. Though his wounds were no longer visible, Cinder noticed that he was carrying himself stiffly, favoring his unwounded side.
In his hands was a tray of flatbread that smelled thickly of garlic.
“Heard you talking. I thought your surgery might be finished,” he said. “How’s your friend?”
Cinder glanced at Wolf. He, too, would be vulnerable.
Everyone in this room was Lunar, she realized with a jolt. If Dr. Erland was right, then they were all vulnerable now.
Cinder had to swallow to unclog her voice. “He’s still alive.” Leaving Wolf’s side, she held a hand toward the guard. “I’m Cinder, by the way.”
He squinted. “I know who you are.”
“Yeah, but I figured a formal introduction would be nice, now that we’re on the same side.”
“Is that what you’ve decided?”
Cinder frowned, but before she could respond, he’d shifted the flatbread to his other hand and grasped hers.
“Jacin Clay. Honored.”
Not knowing how to read his tone, which sounded almost mocking, Cinder pulled away and glanced at the doctor, who had his fingers pressed against Wolf’s wrist. Evidently, he had no intention of joining the introductions.
Cinder wiped her palms on her pants and eyed the tray. “So, what? You can shoot a gun, fly a spaceship, and bake?”
“This was brought by some kids.” He pushed the tray toward Cinder. “They said it was for you, but I told them you couldn’t be bothered.”
She took it awkwardly. “For me?”
“‘The cyborg,’ to be specific. Seemed unlikely there would be two of you around.”
“Huh. I wonder why.”
“I suspect it will not be the first gift you receive from the citizens of Farafrah,” said Dr. Erland.
“What for? These people don’t know me.”
“Of course they do—or at least, they know of you. We are not so cut off from the world here as you might think. Even I had a reputation when I first arrived.”
She set the tray down on the desk. “And they haven’t turned you in? What about the reward money? And the fact that you’re Lunar? Don’t they care?”
Instead of answering, Dr. Erland slid his gaze toward Jacin, who was now leaning statue-like beside the door. It was easy to forget his presence in a room when he stood so still and said so little. No doubt his training as a guard had taught him that. No doubt he was used to going unnoticed.
But while Cinder had made the choice to trust him, it was obvious from the doctor’s expression that she was so far alone in that decision.
“Right,” said Jacin, pushing himself off the wall. “I’ll go check on your ship. Make sure no one’s backing out screws and calling them souvenirs.” He left the hotel room without looking back, his limp almost passing for a swagger.
“I know, he seems a little … abrasive,” Cinder said once he was gone. “But he knows who I am, and he saved my life, and Wolf’s. We should treat him as an ally.”
“You may choose to reveal all your secrets, Miss Linh, but it does not mean I must reveal mine, or those of the people in this town.”
“What do you mean?”
“The people here do not care that we are Lunar, because we are not the only ones. I estimate fifteen percent of the population of Farafrah, and other neighboring oases, is made up of Lunars, or those of Lunar descent. This is where many of our people choose to come after they escape, and they have been immigrating here since the time of Queen Channary. Perhaps even earlier.”
“Fifteen percent?” she asked. “And the Earthens know?”
“It is not widely discussed, but it seems to be common knowledge. They have come to live in harmony together. Once the plague struck, many Lunars took to nursing the sick and burying the dead, as they themselves did not catch the sickness. Of course, no one knew they were the original carriers. By the time that theory was posed, the two races had become too intermingled. They work together now, helping each other survive.”
“But it’s illegal to harbor Lunar fugitives. Levana would be furious.”
“Yes, but who would tell her? No one cares about a poor, diseased town in the Sahara.”
Thoughts swarming, she picked up a piece of the bread, glistening with golden oil and speckled with herbs. The soft inside was still steaming when she pulled it apart.
It was a gift … from Lunars. From her own people.
Her eyes widened and she gaped up at the doctor again. “Do they know? About … me?”
He sniffed. “They know that you stood up against the queen. They know that you continue to defy her.” For the first time since she’d arrived, Cinder thought she detected a smile beneath the doctor’s annoyed expression. “And I may have led them to believe that, one of these days, you intend to assassinate her.”
“Wha—assassinate her?”
“It worked,” he said with an unapologetic shrug. “These people will follow you anywhere.”
Twenty-Two
“Lunar Thaumaturge Aimery Park, Your Majesty.”
Kai and Torin stood as the thaumaturge glided past Nainsi into Kai’s office. Although Aimery bowed respectfully to Kai as he came to stand on the opposite side of his desk, so low that the long sleeves of his maroon jacket nearly brushed the carpet, there was something supremely disrespectful in his air that always set Kai on edge. He had never quite been able to pinpoint what it was about this man—maybe it was the way he always wore a faint smile at the corners of his lips, or perhaps how that smile only reached his eyes when he was using his gift to manipulate someone.