And even though I know how very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star
And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
It helps to think we're sleeping underneath the same big sky
Somewhere Out There—Troy and Abed (in the morrrrning)
It's unseasonably warm out, children have swarmed en masse into the marketplace, and Jacopo is in a good mood. Julianne's certain this is what mid-westerners call the calm before the storm because there's no way in hell that this isn't leading up to something bad. Jacopo's never in this good a mood. Never.
"Come out on the balcony with me," Jacopo says, pulling on her hand. "Sootbird is going to play with fire for all the kids!" She follows with a laugh, hoisting him up on her hip so he can see better. Down in the marketplace, Sootbird is climbing onto his stage and digging through the bags of alchemical powders.
"He can't conjure fire very well," Julianne says. "He's too afraid of burning his pretty face. The Fire-Dancer is far better. He can make flames take on the shapes of flowers and even people." She remembers a quiet night by the sea, torches sailing high in the air and caught in expert hands before going up again.
"Is it true that you married the Fire-Dancer? That's what Piper told me."
"We were never married, little man."
"But you had a son with him." She nods, able to spot her son in the crowd, settled on Jehan's narrow shoulders. Jaime is near the back of the crowd with the other parents, but Dustfinger and Firefox are with the robbers getting Farid settled in. "Why would you have a baby with him if you weren't married?"
"Do you remember hearing about Capricorn?"
"Yes, Grandfather used to sic him on villagers that were disobeying the laws."
"Well, my family and Dustfinger were trapped in a village that Capricorn controlled in a land far away from here. Dustfinger had brought me and my father to him because he liked my father's voice. As a reward I was given to Dustfinger for the night and we knew that if we didn't share a bed Capricorn would punish us."
"Do you love him?" She smiles and dips her head in a nod. "That's good, I guess. Mother says a marriage without love is the worst thing in the world. I think that vegetables are the worst thing in the world. What do you think?"
"I think you're both correct." The show has started below them, green and red smoke filling the air until even Julianne's eyes are stinging. The smoke and flames are all illusion, dulling the senses until you feel as though you're untethered from the earth. Julianne has to set Jacopo down so she can take deep breaths, coughing the smoke out of her lungs.
"Run!" The voice echoes off stone walls, pale in comparison with the raucous laughter. "Luc, run! It's a trap!" Julianne's brows furrow as she spies a boy running toward the crowd, little more than a brown blur of hair as he sprints. "They're coming! Run!" And then the horsemen are spilling out of the alleys, circling the crowd to keep the children in the middle. The parents react like Julianne would, but a few of the men jump down to point lances at them. In the middle of the crowd are her boys, cowering with the others.
"No," she gasps. She turns so fast that she trips over her own feet, cracking her chin against the marble floor. Jacopo shouts something at her, but her ears are filled with a head-splitting ring, like a television on a dead channel. She clambers to her feet and runs, flinging the door open. She'd been planning on rushing down to her son, but a guard promptly flings her back in the Prince's room. "Let me out!"
"Piper's orders," the guard grunts. "You're to stay right where you are until this is finished."
"Like hell I will!" She lunges forward, but a small body collides against her legs and sends her sprawling. "Get off me, you little bastard! Get off!" The guard hauls her to her feet and then pulls her up onto his shoulder in just two moves, ignoring her thrashing legs and the pounding of her fists against his back. "No!"
"Shall I tie her up, my lord?"
"Bind her hands," a cold voice orders. The Piper steps into the room like he owns it, his silver nose jutting out from his face like a beak. She thinks again of a heron and has to suppress a manic laugh. A second guard steps inside with two lengths of rope, binding Julianne's hands with one of them and tying the other around her throat like a leash.
"I'll kill you," she growls, still struggling. "Let me go! Stop this!"
"You're a feral little thing today, aren't you? I don't think I've seen you so angry before." Piper stays just out of her reach, studying her until understanding lights up his eyes like fireworks. "Ah, I know. Your little boy was down there, wasn't he? That's wonderful news." He looks to the guard and nods sharply. "Put her on her feet but don't let go of her."
"Fucker! I'm going to tear that nose off your face and shove it—" Piper stuff a silken handkerchief into her mouth before she can finish her threat, tying another over her mouth to make sure she can't spit the first out and continue her tirade.
"That's much better." He steps close, winding the end of her leash around his hand. "These Princes may like your voice, but I prefer my birds plucked and roasted." Julianne narrows her eyes, a dark promise etched across her face. She's going to get loose and then she's going to put this peacock on a skewer.
"If you keep her gagged, then she can't sing to me," Jacopo pouts.
"I'm here to sing for you now, Highness. I'll sing anything your heart desires." Jacopo's face brightens at that and he skips out onto the balcony. Piper tugs harshly on his end of the rope, forcing Julianne to stumble with him out into the sunlight.
The parents are scattered below them, one woman and six children lying on the cobblestones as the White Women start to appear. The other children have been herded closer to the castle, but the one who'd screamed a warning was bent over a dead boy.
"Women of Ombra," Piper calls. "Let this be a lesson to you! I gave you your warning! Now I'm giving you a time limit of one week!" He pauses and gives the onlookers a sinister smile that curls his lips away from his teeth. "Give up the Bluejay or your children will be sent to the Adder's mines!" He yanks Julianne forward until the stone railing presses harshly against her abdomen. "And tell the Bluejay that we've got his baby girl in a pretty cage!"
Piper turns his back on the wailing parents, yanking hard on the rope so that it digs into Julianne's neck as they walk back into Jacopo's room. The little boy skips after them, a cheeky grin making his face glow. She's never once hit a child, but her hand itches to smack the smile off his face. Damn all these rich bastards! She wants her baby in her arms!
"Put all the children in the dungeon."
"What about her," a guard asks. He's an older man with a greasy beard and no eyebrows, one of the Adder's men that came over with Piper. "Should we put her in the dungeons, too?"
"Put her in one of the towers. I did say that her cage was pretty, after all. No need to start lying now." He passes the rope off to the guard, giving her a nasty smile over his shoulder as he heads for the door. "Behave, Songbird, and I just might let you visit your son."
It's nearly a week before someone other than a guard shows up outside the tower cell. She can hear soft voices outside and then the door is opening to reveal Violante. Julianne doesn't get up from the bed, barely acknowledges the Princess' presence.
"Brianna brought herbs for the sick children," Violante says as she steps inside. The door shuts behind her and she comes over to the bed to sit down by Julianne's knees. "Your son doesn't need them. He's got a healthy appetite and the boy looking after him does, too." Julianne says nothing. There's no point in screaming or pounding at the door because it's not going to get her boys out of the dungeon. "Roxane left instructions for the herbs and I was wondering if you could look them over. My eyes are sore today." There's a rustle of paper and then the instructions are pressed into Julianne's hand. Her finger traces over a broken seal, brows furrowing.
"She sealed it?"
"I guess to make it seem proper." Julianne sits up and really examines the seal, taking in the unicorn head that's been stamped on the spines of all her books. It's a bookbinder's seal, Mo's seal. She unfolds the sheet of paper and lets out a soft sigh as she takes in Resa's fine handwriting.
This is the Bluejay's answer, Resa has written. In three days' time he will give himself up to Violante, widow of Cosimo and mother of the rightful heir of Ombra. In exchange the Piper will set free the children of Ombra whom he tricked into his power. This agreement shall be sealed with his master's seal, so that they may be safe for all time. Only when this condition is met will the Bluejay be prepared to cure the White Book that he bound for the Adderhead in the Castle of Night.
"Do you understand?"
"All too well," Julianne says as a stone forms in her belly. "You have to be careful with the herbs, Highness. They're very precious and I'd hate to see them misused." She meets Violante's gaze and her true meaning bleeds through: if my father dies, I'll burn this castle to the ground with all of you bastards inside it. Violante dips her head in a nod before leaving the room.
Piper comes in soon after that, binding her hands and tying a rope around her throat to lead her through the castle. He makes a grand speech to the women who've been crowding the gates this past week, his voice echoing out dramatically. He accepts Mo's deal, the Bluejay in exchange for the kidnapped children.
Three days, Julianne thinks as she's tossed back into the tower room. Three more days before my boys are safe.
Those three days pass agonizingly slowly, mashing together until she loses track. There are no more visitors during that time beyond the guard that brings her slop for breakfast and supper. On that last night she finds herself lying on the bed, staring out the unglazed window that looks out on the inner courtyard. The tower dungeon of Ombra castle is eerily similar to the one in the Castle of Night, though the furniture isn't quite as nice. She supposes no one of royal lineage has ever been imprisoned here, just political hostages or common criminals. Given the lack of evidence, she supposes she might be the first person to occupy it.
"Almost dawn," she murmurs, spotting a blue faerie as it soars past her window. She sighs and turns her back to the window and then gives up on the bed altogether, tired of the scratchy blanket and uselessly flat pillow. She shuffles over to the little table and sits at it. There are rose petals scattered over the tabletop, Tulio had snuck them in after her second day locked away.
"—think the Bluejay's going to show himself," a guard asks outside the door. There's a response from the other guard, but the wood muffles it. Julianne sighs again, bringing a rose petal up to her nose and taking a deep breath. She needs something cheerful, something hopeful to focus one. Without realizing her sister is reading the same words aloud, Julianne begins to sing softly.
"Piper, beware, your end is near, the Adder's power dwindles. He writhes, he goes in mortal fear, nothing his strength rekindles. Though you seek the Jay in country and town, no sword can wound him, no hound run him down, and when you think you'll succeed in your quest, you'll find that the bird has flown the nest."
The day dawns gray and cloudy, threatening rain as the door of her cell is opened once again. The Piper steps inside with Jacopo trailing after him, a tin nose tied over the small one made of flesh. Jacopo is bouncing on his heels, excited at the prospect of what's to come.
"Are you ready, Songbird," Piper asks.
"Depends," she sighs, rising from the table. Her legs are sore from the lack of exercise, but she doesn't show him her discomfort. "If you're asking if I'm ready for my father to hand himself over like a pig to slaughter, then the answer's no. However, I'm totally ready to make you eat that ugly ass beak on your face. Say the word and I can make it happen."
"I like his nose," Jacopo says, and fiddles with his own. "I think it makes him look mean." He curls little fingers into claws and bares his teeth in a low growl. He's truly growing up to be a little tyrant. Violante will have to keep a close eye on him soon enough.
"Do you know what happened to his old nose? I hear he got it cut off for making moves on some Lord's daughter." Piper's smile is cold and hard as marble, the gray light only enhancing the effect.
"It doesn't matter how I lost my old nose," he says. "And you know very well why I'm here. Come along." She leaves her cell for the first time in nearly two weeks at a slow shuffle. Her thighs really do ache and her lower back is in shambles from that pathetic excuse of a bed.
She's led down to the front hall and then has two guards assigned to keep her from running off. Farther away down one hall, she can hear a gaggle of small voices and a familiar cry. Dustin's down there. She'd know that crying in the middle of a hurricane, one that makes all her instincts kick into hyperdrive. She tries to head in that direction, but she's stopped by the guard with no eyebrows.
"You're to wait right here until the Bluejay turns up," he tells her. The Piper and Jacopo head through the doors with Violante and the Milksop hurrying after them, Julianne certain they'll position themselves on the battlements over the front gates. She gets a brief glance of a crowd of women before the doors are shut again. There's a long stretch of silence and then Piper's booming voice reaches her ears.
"Here he is, everyone! Your precious Bluejay in the flesh! I really thought you'd send someone in your place, but you're too noble for all that. You and I both know you're nothing more than a filthy vagabond."
"I'll take being a vagabond over a child murderer any day, Piper," the Jay calls back. It's both Mo's voice and isn't, the musical cadence the same as it's always been but there's a hard edge to it. Hatred drips from the words, a cold promise of violence lurking behind them like a lion readying to pounce.
"Call me what you like, bookbinder, but I hear you know something about butchery yourself! Why have you brought Dirtyfingers with you? I don't remember extending an invitation to him! And where are the scars Basta so lovingly carved into his cheek? Did you leave them behind with Death?" A muffled curse follows the words and Julianne doesn't attempt to hide her smile. She lets it curl her lips in a way that makes her guards uncomfortable.
"I left certain things with the dead and bought certain things back with me," Dustfinger calls. His voice is the same as it's always been, aloof and sarcastic. "I'm here with a warning, Piper. Do not mistreat your guest because fire is as much his friend as it is mine now. You know what happens when fire doesn't like you."
"Did you hear that, boys," she asks in a low murmur. "The father of my child is right outside those gates and he's just as spiteful as I am."
"Guest," the Milksop cries, his voice shrill. "Is that what you call a man who has an appointment with the Castle of Night's hangman?"
"The Bluejay is surrendering himself to me, Governor," Violante says in a voice just as hard as Mo's. "He is under my protection until my father arrives. If something should happen to him before that, I'll make sure my father knows it happened on your orders."
"Very well," Piper calls. "Let's show our guest some hospitality!" There are a few screams outside and Julianne makes an aborted sound of her own. If she could at least see what's happening, then maybe this suspense wouldn't be so bad.
"Send the children and my daughter out, Piper," Mo yells, voice so cold that Julianne shivers. "Send them out or you can tell your master that his flesh will go on rotting on his bones!" There's a long moment where Julianne can hear nothing from outside, just the quiet sniffling of small children.
"Open the gates! Let the children out and the Bluejay in!" The grizzled guard signals to another one farther down the hall, and then a swarm of children is coming toward the front door. Julianne spots her boys in an instant, catching Dustin when he launches himself at her and taking Jehan's hand. Her boys don't look any worse for wear, dirty and tired, but not hurt.
"Are you two okay," she asks, studying them both frantically.
"I'll be okay when I see my mom and daddy again," Jehan rasps. She keeps her hold on him tight as they head out of the castle, the children all squinting in the weak sunlight. The guards herd them over to the gates and then through them, mothers dropping to hold their children, older siblings crying as they hold onto them for fear of losing them again. Julianne stops between the horsemen, but Jehan keeps going until he's got his face buried in Roxane's shoulder. Mo's face softens as he takes her in, running soft fingers along a bruise on her chin.
"I'll go in there with you," she tells him, though her voice shakes with fear. "Dustfinger and the others can protect Dustin."
"No, you of all people know that a child needs both its parents," Mo says, quiet and gentle. It's the same voice that had read such wonderful stories before he knew what his voice was capable of. "Go with Dustfinger, help them to keep these kids safe from the Adder's men."
"Only if you promise that you'll come out of this alive. I can't lose you Mo." He smiles even as the other kids start whispering his and Dustfinger's name, MoBluejayFire-Dancersavior. They all merge into a quiet rumble, but Mo doesn't even seem to notice.
"I promise, Juli. How could I possibly leave you and your sister without me? We're the Three Musketeers." She can't help her laugh, making herself step away from him. "I love you."
"To the moon and back." She hands her son up to Dustfinger, then climbs up behind him on the saddle. The children have swarmed again, three of the older ones standing between Mo and the castle while a couple others held onto his horse's reins to keep him from moving.
"Go on now, it's alright," he murmurs to them, gently nudging the thin shoulders that he can reach. "Let me pass, little ones." But the kids don't move, still whispering like Mo's name holds magic.
"Bluejay," Piper calls," come through this gate or I'll take those children back! We'll hang them in cages by the dozen and let the ravens feast on them!" Mo straightens his back and manages to get his reins back, making his way carefully past each child until the way is clear again. He passes through the gates by himself and part of Julianne's heart goes with him.
"Disarm him," the Milksop orders. The last thing the crowd sees before the gates close again is a dozen armed men dragging Mo off his horse.