The Catbird Seat

Chapter 10

The King of Diamonds shed off his coat and hung it from the decorative coat hanger. He let out a tired sigh and rubbed at his eye before looking out at his kingdom below. He rested a hand against the balcony doorway. The chilling breeze was sobering—comforting, even—until the aromatic candles blew out. A single hum yanked Francis's eyes from his kingdom. The king froze in fear when his gaze landed on a Joker—the smaller of the two.

"King Francis." Despite the Joker's knowing grin, something akin to sympathy or pity nestled itself in his eyes.

Francis nodded ever so slightly. "Peter." He took a step back into the bedroom. "… Would you like to come in?"

Peter marched into the bedroom and pressed a hand against the balcony door when Francis went to close it. Francis released the door's handle and stepped back. "I'm not staying for long. Gilbert doesn't even know I'm here."

"He doesn't?" Francis asked, unconvinced.

"… Well, maybe he does." Peter shrugged as if they were talking about something simple like food preference. "I gotta tell you. I'm sure you noticed the tension. Clubs's mines are turning up empty, the citizens in Hearts keep painting scenes of destruction, and Spades's technological advances are booming. They must be jealous of your wealth and food."

Francis chose his words carefully. Every sentence was a mind game with the Jokers. Who could guarantee that Peter was even telling the truth? "That's the nature of my kingdom's land. Diamonds was built up on farming, and since we're at the center of Cards, trade merchants pass through constantly. We're smart with our money, and we care for those that need it."

"Helps that Lilli's Heirloom keeps those fields nice and fertile, huh? And fair weather keeps your citizens happy and sedate." Peter took a seat in Francis's desk chair, feeling at home.

"The social programs help with that as well. Not everything is about magic," Francis muttered as he eyed Peter lounging about. "What's this about the tension? You're under the impression that there's another War coming?"

Peter, again, shrugged. "Don't have to think about it. I already know. …I also know about Heirlooms and fortunes—what might happen, how it might happen. Y'know." He leaned on one arm rest, leaving his fingers to tap against the other. "There're many things that can happen this time around. Diamonds could end up winning after beating everyone over their heads with money. Clubs could grab their pickaxes and take everyone by surprise. Hearts could find some way to appeal to everyone's interests and win the world that way."

"And Spades?" Francis lifted an eyebrow, wanting Peter to get to his point.

"Well." Peter tapped against the arm rest. "We've got our eye on the Spades Queen."

"…Not on their inventions?"

"The inventions help." Peter stretched and let out a yawn before nuzzling against the chair like a child up past their bed time. "But the Spades Queen's Heirloom is what I want to watch. You know how Lilli's power works. She uses it all the time. Those fertile fields and fair weather and whatever."

"Yes." Francis's fear had long disappeared. This Joker seemed too content to be dangerous. And that was worrying. He'd be safe for now, but Peter's amusement meant danger was on the horizon. "All of our queens are going to use their Heirlooms in the War effort. Everyone will be equally matched. Isn't that the point of your sick entertainment?"

Peter rolled his eyes. "Here." He placed a decrepit journal on Francis's desk. "You're gonna need it when you realize what's going on. At base value, all the Heirlooms are equal. But they work in different ways and fuel different behaviors or different worldly functions. Read up on your history and figure it out. Then this'll mean something to you." Without another word, the Joker disappeared into thin air and the aromatic candles flickered on again.

Francis peered around the room before pulling the balcony doors closed. He muttered to himself. Well, at least Peter had made the visit before he'd actually gone to bed. "Heirlooms," he hummed. Francis knew about the Diamonds Heirloom inside and out. The Clubs and Hearts Heirlooms were known as well. But the Spades Heirloom merely sat around and looked pretty. Spades had to catch up to the rest of the world somehow since the physical world of Cards just wasn't kind to their landmass—which was heavily ocean, anyway. Of course they have tons of innovation. Things didn't just work out for them. Francis let out a sigh. "The Spades Heirloom is useless." Save for the fairy tale curse attached. The absurdity of it brought a hint of amusement to Francis.

He picked up the journal from his desk and held it next to one of the candles to read it. His gaze narrowed as he read nearly-faded words. He turned over the pages. After a moment of silence, he pulled out parchment and a pen. He flicked open the cap to his inkwell and dipped in his pen as he looked over the pages Peter had given him.

"Francis?"

King Francis peered up to see Queen Lilli standing in the doorway. All her regal silks, lace, bows, and jewels were placed in her wardrobe, leaving her in one of her favorite simple nightgowns. She gave him a smile. "I thought you'd be asleep. What's that?" He'd never seen a smile like Lilli's, so small and so filled with unconditional care. If Francis didn't know any better, he would've assumed that Lilli had been born from lambs and warm sunlight. Her smile faltered as she took notice of how Francis's hair spilled from his ribbon and how his handwriting had become frantic. "Francis…"

He remembered himself, and his eyes fell down to the page again. "I had a visit from Peter."

"What does a Joker want?"

Francis knew that if he looked up, he'd see Lilli's face scrunched up with defensive disdain. Despite how soft she was, the sheathed dagger tethered to her hip ensured that no one person would take advantage of and squander her kindness and generosity. Francis couldn't name someone better suited to carry the beautiful but sharp Diamonds Heirloom.

Lilli rested a hand on Francis's shoulder and gave it a squeeze of urgency.

Francis met her eyes. "Forgive me. Peter left me with this." His gaze fell down to the decrepit journal. "He mentioned that he and Gilbert are interested in watching to see what Arthur does with the Spades Heirloom." He shrugged. "He can be…curt, but Arthur wouldn't fall into the fairytale. He'd never be able to draw blood. It's absurd." He looked to Lilli again. "Even then, it's a myth. Spades has had strong Queens, but the Jokers assigned strong people for the position."

"Mm." Lilli circled Francis's chair and leaned over the journal.

"The thought that an Heirloom can control a Queen is absurd." Francis rolled his eyes and directed his attention to the journal. "It's not as if any of the other Heirlooms have power over the other Queens. They're tools to use for a kingdom's prosperity. And if the Jokers and Aces are so obsessed with Balance, all the Heirlooms would work the same."

"Mm." Her soft fingers dipped between pages, giving each one a thorough read-through before passing onto the next page. "This…looks a little like…a Queen's journal."

"A Queen's? Wouldn't it make more sense to be a Jack's?"

Lilli shook her head and flipped through a couple pages.

"But the Jack records historic events like these…histories." Francis's eyes passed over a concise history of the Diamonds Queens. "Why would a Queen write these down if they could just visit their Jack's library?"

Lilli paused on one of the Spades pages. She jabbed her finger at the journal, her nail crinkling the page. "Because of this." Beneath her nail was a string of words grouped together. Even when keeping an old dialect in mind, it was difficult to comprehend so Francis hadn't given it thought yet. She untethered her dagger from her side and guided the blade out of its jeweled sheath. "Watch the blade." She set the dagger down beside the journal and squinted at the spell. In her best efforts, she spoke the words in an old Spades dialect. A glow stuttered to life along the blade.

Francis's eyes widened. Why would a Jack know a spell specifically tied to a Queen's Heirloom? "Did you know because it's a Queen's spell?"

Lilli broke off her concentration in favor of the dagger resting—and to shake off the spell. "A Jack doesn't really need to know a Queen's Heirloom-specific spell." She shrugged. "That's the Queen's job, isn't it?" Her nose scrunched, and she took a step back from the journal as she sheathed her Heirloom. "That spell's wrong."

Francis lifted his pen. "How is it wrong?" He began scribbling down any information he could.

Lilli shook her head ever so slightly. "I felt…the energy shift. It felt wrong. …It'll feel better soon."

Francis's pen slowed. He reached back and held Lilli's hand. Lilli's lips tugged into a relieved smile, and she gave Francis's hand a small squeeze. His pen began writing again.