"We have to help Lissa,' I told him, when he didn't respond to the request. "Time's running out. Please. Please help us.' I wasn't above groveling, if that was what he needed.
Fortunately, it wasn't. Adrian took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a brief moment. I was certain he wished he had something stronger than cigarettes. At last, he nodded. "Let's go.'
We left Sonya with the keys to the second car, and she stood there with shining eyes, watching as we drove off. Dimitri, Mikhail, and I spent most of the journey analyzing the our data collection. The woman Ian had described couldn't have done everything we'd been pinning on the murderer.
I was sitting in the backseat with Adrian and Jill, leaning forward and checking things off on my fingers. "Motive? Yes. Ability? Yes. Paying off Joe? Yes. Access to Tatiana's chambers ...' I frowned, suddenly thinking of what I'd overheard while with Lissa. "Yes.'
This earned me a surprised glance from Dimitri. "Really? That was one piece I couldn't figure out.' "Pretty sure I know how she did it,' I said. "But the anonymous letter to Tatiana doesn't make sense. Not to mention obscuring Lissa's family--or trying to kill her.' Or trying to frame me.
"We might be dealing with more than one person,' said Dimitri.
"Like a conspiracy?' I asked, startled.
He shook his head. "No, I mean, someone else had a grudge against the queen. But not someone who'd go as far as to kill her. Two people, two agendas. Probably not even aware of each other. We're mixing up the evidence.'
I fell silent, turning over his words. It made sense, and I picked up on the nuance that by someone, he meant Daniella. We'd been right about reasons she'd dislike Tatiana-- the trainings, the age law not being hardcore enough, encouraging spirit ... But that hadn't been enough for murder. An angry letter, bribery for her son's safety? Those were the kinds of actions Lady Daniella Ivashkov took. Not staking.
In the ensuing silence, I heard soft words between Jill and Adrian, who'd been having a conversation while the rest of us plotted strategy.
"What do I do?' Jill asked him in a small voice.
His answer was swift and sure. "Act like you deserve to be there. Don't let them intimidate you.'
"What about Lissa? What's she going to think of me?'
Adrian hesitated only a moment. "Doesn't matter. Just act the way I told you.'
My stomach sank, listening to him give her such earnest, kind advice. Rowdy, smug, and flippant ... he was all those things. But his heart was good. The heart I'd just broken. I knew I was right about his potential. Adrian was great. He could do great things. I just hoped I hadn't set him back. At least I hadn't had to tell him his mother was a murderer ... but still.
All of us grew quiet when we reached the gate. The line of cars was still there, and we became more and more nervous as we crept forward. A flip to Lissa's mind told me we weren't missing anything in the Council. The chaotic situation was pretty much the same as before, though the exasperated look on Nathan's face made me think he'd call a close to proceedings soon and continue tomorrow. I wasn't sure if that was good or bad.
The guardians recognized Mikhail, of course, and while still vigilant, their initial instincts didn't suspect him of nefarious deeds. He vaguely said he'd been sent to pick up some people. The guardian looking in the car scanned over Dimitri, me, and-- thankfully--Jill. Adrian, a well-known figure, got us added respect. After a mandatory check of the trunk, we were sent on through.
"Oh my God. It worked,' I breathed, as Mikhail drove over to the guardians' parking area.
"Now what?' asked Jill.
"Now we reestablish the Dragomir line and call out a murderer,' I said.
"Oh, is that all?' Adrian's sarcasm was palpable.
"You know,' remarked Mikhail, "that the instant your illusions are dropped, you two are going to be jumped by guardians and thrown back into jail. Or worse.'
Dimitri and I exchanged looks. "We know,' I said, trying to ignore the memories of that terrible, claustrophobic experience. "But if everything works out ... we won't have to stay there for long. They'll use what we've found out and then eventually set us free.' I sounded more optimistic than I felt.
Once parked, our party headed toward the ballroom's building, which could have been seen miles away with all the people around it. How strange. Not long ago, I'd made this same journey, with nearly the same people, hurrying away from Court. We'd worn spirit disguises then, too, and had been seeking escape. Now we were knowingly walking into peril. I was convinced if I could make it in undetected and deliver my news, everything would work out. Sonya's charm had worked perfectly when I saw the Alchemists. I had no reason to doubt it, but the fear still lurked in the back of my mind: what if it stopped functioning? What if the disguise failed and I was spotted before even getting into the building? Would they arrest me? Or would they simply shoot first?
The doors were barred to spectators, but guardians were allowed access, so once again Mikhail talked us in--using a sullen Adrian as the reason. The late queen's nephew could hardly be refused, and with the chaos inside, more guardians--which Dimitri and I appeared to be--were welcome. Adrian kept an arm around Jill as they entered, and the guardians let her pass.
We slipped into the ballroom, completely unnoticed. I'd seen the arguing through Lissa's eyes, but it was totally different in person. Louder. More grating. My friends and I exchanged looks. I'd braced myself for a big confrontation with the audience--hell, it wouldn't be the first time--but this was a test of even my skills.
"We need someone to get the room's attention,' I said. "Someone not afraid to make a spectacle--I mean, besides me, of course.'