Red Hood's Revenge

the flames.
    It was Rajil herself who spoke, though she was hidden from view. “Whoever you are, you shall suffer for—”
    “I have Princess Talia,” Roudette interrupted.
    “Give me proof.” Undisguised eagerness dripped from Rajil’s words.
    Roudette reached over to grab Talia by the throat. Caught off guard, Talia slammed a fist into the outside of Roudette’s elbow. Roudette grunted and tightened her hold. Snow was readying a spell when Talia relaxed, allowing herself to be dragged in front of the mirror.
    “I’ve a very generous offer from Queen Lakhim for this one,” Roudette said. “I’ve been told your fairy friends can pay more, but if not, I’ll be on my way.”
    Snow watched as the jinniyah stepped aside, making way for Rajil. Hatred filled Rajil’s gaze as she studied Talia. One hand touched her throat, no doubt remembering Talia’s arm clamping around her neck. Rajil’s gaze moved to Roudette. “I know you.”
    Snow tensed. Roudette had been in her wolf shape the entire time they were in the mansion. If Rajil had somehow recognized Roudette and realized she was working with Talia, this plan was useless. But Rajil merely smiled. “How did the Lady of the Red Hood find the power to control my scrying pool?”
    “I didn’t,” Roudette said easily. “That was done by one of Talia’s friends, a witch from Lorindar.”
    “Talia’s friend helped you?” Rajil asked.
    “Not at first.” Roudette bared her teeth. “They had another friend. By the time I shattered both of her knees, the witch agreed to do whatever I asked.”
    Few things rattled Snow these days, but Roudette’s casual smile as she lied about torturing Danielle made her shudder. Something in Roudette’s eyes suggested she would have no qualms about doing exactly what she said if the situation required it.
    “What is it you want?” Rajil asked.
    “Zestan controls the Wild Hunt. I want her word as a fairy that the Hunt will never again enter Morova.”
    Snow frowned. That hadn’t been part of the discussion.
    Rajil didn’t even blink. “How will we find you?”
    Roudette grabbed Snow’s robe, hauling her in front of the glass. “The witch will lead you.”
    “The mirror,” Snow said, doing her best to sound broken and resentful. “There’s a bond connecting it to your pool. Any halfway competent wizard can follow that thread.”
    Rajil smiled, hunger plain on her face as she stared at Talia. “I will pass your request to Zestan. Perhaps she’ll be kind enough to give Talia’s friends to me in payment. They would make fine additions to my garden.”
    Roudette brought the mirror to her face, so close her breath clouded the glass. “You have until sunrise. I know Zestan wants Talia alive. Betray me, and I’ll kill her myself. I’ll claim my bounty from Lakhim, and you can explain your failure to Zestan.”
    With a thought, Snow darkened the mirror. She tugged free of Roudette’s grip and massaged her eyes, trying to ease the headache. She still needed to cast yet another enchantment that would allow the others to follow Talia and Roudette. “We’re safe. They can’t hear us unless I let them.”
    “We will follow you as quickly as we can,” said Muhazil. “The Wild Hunt has plagued my people for too long. I am in your debt.”
    “Yes, you are.” Talia slashed a hand through the air, cutting him off. This was a side of Talia that Snow had rarely seen. She held her head high, articulating every syllable. She was shorter than Muhazil, but her posture made it seem as though she was looking down at him. “In payment of that debt, you will welcome Faziya back into your tribe. This shall be her home for as long as she chooses.”
    Muhazil glanced at Faziya, who had gone still at Talia’s words. “She left of her own free will. She walked away from her heritage, from her—”
    “Do we have a bargain?” Talia asked.
    Muhazil bowed, one hand to his chest. “We do indeed, Princess.” He turned to shoo the crowd away. When the others had left, he said, “If Zestan is indeed deev, you know there is little chance you will survive. The strength of a deev can split mountains. Their temper shakes the earth itself. Their skin is like rock, their—”
    “Their flatulence slays entire herds,” said Talia. “Yes, I know. I learned about the deev before your grandfather was born.”
    Muhazil burst into laughter. “So you did.” He glanced to the south. “I hope you are wrong about Zestan, Princess. For