Knight of Wands (A Steampunk Fantasy Adventure Novel) (Devices of War Book 2) by SM Blooding Page A

raised an eyebrow, lifting the parchment. “Good work. I never imagined you’d be able to perform this well, and so quickly.”
    I didn’t know what she was talking about and didn’t want to find out. “You promised me safe passage.”
    Dyna nodded, her gaze never leaving mine. “How does it feel to be her knight?”
    I stopped several feet away from her. “I am not.”
    “According to this, you are.”
    I took the paper from her. Perhaps, I hadn’t fallen into Nix’s trap. In order for this to arrive in Dyna’s hands ahead of me, Nix had to have sent it beforehand. So, maybe I really had taken her by surprise.
    “Read it out loud,” Carilyn muttered. “I want to hear.”
    I swallowed. “’Effective immediately, the boons for any known or previously known persons caught in action directly against the Hands of Tarot are hereby dismissed. No conflict of any sort shall be permitted with or against those who do not support the policies or practices of the Hands of Tarot.’”
    “Impressive,” Carilyn muttered.
    “’The Seven Great Families are once again free to take to the skies and oceans. All ports are again open for trade, pending the treaty as written and negotiated by Synn El’Asim Primus, Knight of Wands and leader of the El’Asim.’”
    I had to stop there as a chill cascaded down my spine. So this was what she’d wanted all along. She knew I’d refuse. She wanted me to remain leader of my tribe. She’d orchestrated this entire thing. I’d been nothing more than a puppet. Now she wanted me and the second most powerful of the Seven Great Families under her control?
    Carilyn scratched her cheek. “What did you do in there?”
    I couldn’t stop staring at the paper in my hands. “I didn’t negotiate a treaty and I did not become her knight.”
    Queen Dyna sighed. “Then, I’m afraid she’s at her games again.”
    And Dyna wasn’t?
    “No,” Nix said from behind me.
    I turned on her. “How did this get here so soon?”
    “You walk slowly.” Nix stopped in front of me and took the parchment. “I sent out a broadcast along all our normal frequencies. My dear sister simply had her communications officer write it down.” She glanced up at Dyna. “You should really have a word with her. Her penmanship is getting sloppy.”
    I stared between the two of them. A heavy rock sat in my chest. My head buzzed at the full impact of the trap’s punch. If she’d sent this out on all their normal frequencies, the Families had intercepted the message. They would all think I’d become the enemy.
    Nix’s lips twisted in a smile. “Exactly, my dear, Primus.”
    I swallowed the bile rising in my throat. “What about this treaty? You and I didn’t even discuss that.”
    “I am allowing you . . . ” The tip of her diamond claw penetrated my button-up shirt. “ . . . to negotiate it yourself. You now have the power and backing of my House.” She handed me a rolled up parchment. “And you have my signature and seal.”
    Queen Dyna’s blue eyes lit on the parchment Nix had given me. Her hands twitched.
    The parchment in my hands felt like a death warrant. I’d just lost everything. The Families and tribes had the knowledge that I’d just turned traitor. Yes. That had been the whole point of staying behind in Sky City . . . but that moment was now. I wasn’t a knight and I was a member of the Great Families. I was suddenly nothing and no one. “Will it be honored by the other queens?”
    Nix’s expression softened as she took a step toward me. She cupped my chin. Her dark eyes filled with what I would have called honesty on another person. “We will have to run it by the council of the queens. All I ask is that you are fair to all sides. That is the only way you will achieve the other three signatures.”
    Dyna narrowed cool eyes at her sister, but said nothing.
    Nix gestured behind her and Varik stepped forward, something black in his arms.
    I shook my head. I knew what that was and I