Xiang Yi looked over a garden of lush blooms. Fruiting trees swayed over the advisor's head, their crowns heavy with colorful flowers and cooing songbirds. The advisor closed his tired eyes, as if to savor the peaceful sight.

"Why," Xiang Yi asked, voice as dry as Hel's deserts, "could we not hold this meeting indoors?"

"Oh, come, Xiang-ah, have some fun," Mari said. She did not bother to look up from her book as she did, the charms of nature scorned in favor of whatever story occupied the text's yellowed pages.

Xiang Yi leveled a glare at the demoness. That proving ineffective, he turned flinty eyes on Rae, who looked right at home amid the turquoise grass and flowers the size of small sheep. Carmen reclined against her, his head pillowed in Rae's lap. The queen carded clawed fingers through her husband's hair, an adoring smile on her lips.

"I thought we could all use a break," Rae said.

"That, and the Great Hall is currently flooded," Mari added offhandedly.

Rae cast Mari an accusing look while Carmen laughed, tucked against her stomach.

Xiang Yi drew to his full length. "What happened?" he demanded.

"There may have been a minor misunderstanding involving a diplomatic party from T'ala," Rae said.

"So minor so as to warrant a flood?" Xiang Yi asked dryly.

"We may have served some less than appropriate dishes at the welcoming dinner," Rae allowed.

"Seafood hors d'oeuvre," Mari offered.

Rae cut her another glare. "Thank you, Mari."

"Sea–" Xiang Yi took a breath to steady himself. The gods worshipped in T'ala were all sea-born deities. Their descendants ruled T'ala, and wielded the powers of tempest. They did not take slights to their heritage lightly.

That said, it was hardly Rae's responsibility to check the kitchens' menu for potential faux pas. "Was the individual responsible punished appropriately?" Xiang Yi asked. This was obviously a purposeful mistake.

"Composting as we speak," Crow said.

The man sat perched in a tree, watching the gathered party with hawk eyes. The honor of hosting a meeting of the Queen's inner court escaped him entirely. If anyone was to step even a foot outside of their designated seating area, the grumpy gardener would be on them in a snap. The only reason Crow had allowed this trespassing in the first place was because the royal gardens were an insulated space, protected from curious ears by Crow's magic and the many lifeforms Crow had cultivated for the sake of the gardens' defense.

Herein, Xiang Yi supposed, lay the purpose of the meeting.

"I shall return to my duties in six days' time," Xiang Yi said.

Rae looked at him with her brows raised. "The House of Todd was that easy to manage?"

"Hardly," Xiang Yi snorted. A headache bloomed behind his eyes just at the thought of all that awaited his attention. Gabriel did not care for order, including that of his own household. Had it not been for Laurent Duvall's faithful service, the House of Todd would have long collapsed due to disrepair and insidious plots carried out by its own servants.

"Anything to report?" Rae asked.

"Nothing of note," Xiang Yi dismissed.

"Dominus Todd's besieging the property does not warrant mentioning?" Rae pressed, eyes smiling.

Xiang Yi's expression soured. "Do not remind me. He has attempted entry no less than four times over the last two days."

"Do you need assistance?" Carmen offered.

"The household's defenses are sufficient," Xiang Yi said. The advisor's sanity was in much direr straits.

"Sha Nue's loyalty held remarkably well," he added.

"It was bought at a high enough price," Rae said, but did not disagree. The Sha family's brand of devotion was one she found agreeable.

Xiang Yi was of similar mind. While Gabriel's departure was handled with a high level of secrecy, it was impossible to account for all potential weaknesses that could be exploited by those who specialized in trading information. The Sha family was the best in that particular business, and Sha Nue was singularly motivated to keep a close eye on the Todd household. She had learned of Gabriel's departure not much later than Xiang Yi and approached Rae with an offer.

Her silence was worth its weight in gold, quite literally.

"It was a bargain, truly," Xiang Yi said. Dominus' tantrums were highly irritating at present. Had the demon accosted Xiang Yi during those first tumultuous days of his transition into the Todd household, Xiang Yi would not have been able to maintain civility. Murdering a high-ranking demon was not how he wanted to begin his reign, even if it did adhere to tradition.

"Mm. I trust you have scared the household staff into submission by now," Rae said, teasing.

"There are not enough servants left to frighten," Xiang Yi lamented. "Laurent Duvall has acted as the household Chief of Staff for many years. I allowed him to purge the estate of those he saw as unfit for their duties. We are currently operating at less than half of our original manpower."

Rae raised a brow. "Quite the culling. Was Duvall perhaps taking vengeance for past slights?"

"Hardly. The servants he dismissed were all of questionable loyalty. Several were executed for treason against the House, after a short but thorough investigation. Their relatives nearly fell over themselves in haste to cut all ties with the deceased." Xiang Yi said, lip curled in disgust.

"Gabriel must have been aware," Carmen said.

"He was. His approach was simply different," Xiang Yi said.

Gabriel sought entertainment in misfortune. Xiang Yi had discovered an ingenious web of misinformation in the stead of proper administrative records in the House of Todd. Staff with impure motives would find it impossible to distinguish truth from lie.

The trouble was, the same held for Xiang Yi. Just thinking of the chaos that was the Todd archives had the advisor grinding his teeth in agitation.

"Loyalty is indeed hard to find. Which brings me to the purpose of this meeting," Rae said.

"Finally," Mari muttered.

"Xiang Yi's post cannot remain vacant during his term in the House of Todd," Rae continued, blithely ignoring the interruption. "It is also impossible to install an outsider into such a high-ranking position."

Xiang Yi understood the Queen's meaning quite well. Hel's Court did not lack for talented individuals, but eight out of ten such people came from noble families and danced to the string of their benefactors. The remaining two could – and often were – bought or threatened into representing interests that did not always align with Rae's own. The number of true confidents Rae had at hand was terribly small in comparison.

"Not it," Mari said, breaking the uneasy silence.

Carmen laughed. Rae attempted a glare, but her lips were hooked at the edges.

"Carmen has already taken over most of Xiang Yi's duties," Rae said. "However, there are matters to which he cannot attend due to his rank."

Xiang Yi naturally turned his eyes toward Crow. He was not alone in doing so; Crow's frowning face grew even darker.

"No," the man said.

"There is not much to do," Rae cajoled. "You would still have plenty of time for your regular tasks."

"I have no wish to be a courtier," Crow snapped. His dark wings shifted in irritation behind him, rustling like leaves.

"I will double your budget," Rae said.

Crow's stony expression flickered, but he remained stubbornly silent.

"I will also tell you who let Mekur know that you come from a royal bloodline," Rae offered.

Xiang Yi was curious himself. The Sixth Kingdom was bound by tradition in many aspects of social life. King Mekur would not have dreamed of approaching Crow so openly, had he not learned that the man came from a high noble background.

Crow let out a clacking snort. "Lord Todd already laid claim to that particular honor."

"Oh?" Xiang Yi said, more surprised than he probably ought to have been. Gabriel did enjoy causing mischief wherever he could and did not shy away from recognition for his efforts. One did wonder where the man found the time.

"Bastard sent a fancy missive, asking that he be given the Matchmaker's seat at the wedding," Crow added. He seemed to have been holding onto his ire over the matter for some time, as his tone was unusually plaintive.

Mari cackled. Carmen tried to stifle his laughter, but his shoulders shook with mirth.

"There is no hope for Mekur's quest to win your heart, then?" Rae asked through a teasing smile.

Crow's wings flared briefly before the man tucked them resolutely back. "None! The pointy-eared idiot already has two husbands, not to mention the three wives –"

"Two wives," Xiang Yi corrected. At Crow's suspicious glare, he explained, "Lady Talia had an unfortunate 'accident' earlier this month."

"What kind of accident?" Carmen asked.

"Her ladyship was discovered drowned in her own baths," Xiang Yi replied.

Mari snorted in amusement. "I bet she was."

Crow's scowl worsened. Xiang Yi agreed with the man's distaste wholeheartedly; harem politics were insidious, and often bloody. Crow was too direct in manner and character for the demands of such an environment. He was also not the kind to share lovers.

"I will allow you access to Gabriel's private gardens, in exchange for your assistance in Court," Xiang Yi said, inspired by sympathy and a stroke of annoyance at his absent friend, "I am sure you would like to thank Lord Todd for his assistance with your marriage prospects."

A bloodthirsty plant or two was the least Gabriel deserved. Xiang Yi was especially fond of Crow's man-eating roses. They were beautiful, and very useful in fending off unwanted visitors.

Crow's eyes narrowed in a mean smile. "Now this deal, I will take."

"Great! Let's get inside before the ants carry us all away," Mari said. She did not wait for permission, departing with a simple wave in a puff of smoke the color of ink.

"Crow, if I can have a moment of your time?" Carmen bid, straightening from his comfortable sprawl in Rae's arms.

Crow jumped down from his perch and joined Carmen in the flower field without his usual murmurs of disgruntlement. Crow's reluctance to enter Hel's political sphere was not feigned. The bribes and cajoling however were mostly a show. He would not deny Carmen aid, even had doing so required a great personal expense.

"Rae, can we speak?" Xiang Yi asked.

"Certainly," Rae agreed.

Xiang Yi led the way to a secluded area, then cast a protective spell around them to ensure privacy. Rae raised her brows in question.

"Chervnik has fallen," Xiang Yi said as a way of introduction.

Rae was naturally unsurprised. A network of spies and contacts kept the Queen of Hel well-informed on matters in Samodevia.

"What is your Majesty's plan?" Xiang Yi asked.

Rae sighed. "What is there left to do? The Dvor and Samodevia's Court are united in their desire for a civil war. If Fane did not volunteer to play the match that set off the fire, some other nefarious plan would have been put into motion."

"A war in Samodevia will not leave Hel untouched," Xiang Yi said.

"Hel is already dealing with the consequences of the power struggle in the Kingdom at the End of the World," Rae said flatly. "I will not drag the Lands Below into a war that is not our own."

Xiang Yi's lips flattened into an unhappy line. Rae spoke of the white serpents, the amassment of arms, the general feeling of unease that permeated the Nine Kingdoms Below. He was warmed by the Queen's care for her people, but could not agree with sitting idly as the world spun into chaos.

Xiang Yi put the matter aside. This was not what he had meant to discuss when he had asked for Rae's attention.

"Rae, you must speak with Carmen," he said.

Rae's expression stilled. "You overstep, Advisor," she said, a warning in her eyes.

Xiang Yi refused to be cowed. "The factions pushing for a war in Samodevia are the very same that oversaw the peace process between Hel and the Havens. If they decide to act –"

"I know!" Rae snapped.

Xiang Yi fell silent. Rae bowed her head.

"It is a matter of time, Xiang Yi," Rae said quietly. "He will remember. And when he does, he will leave. I have made my peace with that. All I can hope for now is more time in his company. Do you understand?"

"You do not know that," Xiang Yi replied.

"Would you remain, in his place?" Rae asked. "Would you stay by the side of someone who hurt and lied to you, for years?"

"It was not so simple!" Xiang Yi protested, but his words lacked strength. It was not, but it also was. Rae may not have been whole before she met Carmen, but she was still the same person who had ordered him imprisoned and tortured, his wings broken, his life torn asunder.

"Oh, but it is," Rae said.

Xiang Yi had to avert his eyes. His gaze caught on Carmen, happy and content and utterly unaware of the misery hanging over his head like a blade.

"And when the time is up?" Xiang Yi asked.

Rae's words were soft but clear.

"I will let him go."