But the Crimson King let out a merry, raspy laugh. “Don the ancient yuletide carols!” he invited the bandsmen with sinister, dark purple eyes. “We’re to have guests who represent the Dead King!” Then to Porethius, he said, “Yes. I should very much like you to stay.”

“We cannot be here overnight,” the fairy whispered to Cane.

“Then I suppose we’d better come up with something to trade before the eve arrives,” Cane whispered right back.

Porethius and Cane bowed as Legionnaires came to escort them away. They were led from the throne room, down a hall or three.

When they rounded a corner, Cane spotted a lock of honey hair in the mirrors’ reflection. “I’ll meet you in the guest chambers,” he said to Porethius.

“Cane,” Porethius warned, but Cane had already slipped into a servants’ tunnel.

He waited until the girl came ‘round the hall’s corner. Then, he swung open the door, took her wrist, and tugged her in with him.

The slat metal door slapped shut and Cane tore off his mask.

Scarlet Strange mimicked a rigid, porcelain statue.

“Hello.” He smiled, handsomely.

“You shouldn’t be here,” she said, though it did not sound like a threat.

“You should not be here either, Scarlet.”

“Don’t call me that,” she whispered. “Why are you trying to get to that drum? You know it’s behind lock and key until the Red Holiday.”

“I need it.” Cane swallowed his nerves. “Help me,” he added.

Scarlet’s brassy eyes tightened. “Help you, what?”

“Help me get it. And then I’ll scuttle off and you’ll never have to see me again for the remainder of your timestring.”

The metal door swung open, and an elf trudged in with a stack of baskets. Scarlet froze to the wall, but Cane tilted his head, trying to recall the elf’s name. “Shnuckle,” he guessed. The elf paused, blinking in surprise. The creature glanced back toward the hall, then at Cane a time again, and with a dip of his head, he whispered, “Your Highness.”

The elf continued down the tunnel with his baskets, and Cane released a breath.

“Kingsblood,” Scarlet breathed. “You’ve been discovered, and I’ve been discovered with you!” she chided.

Cane cracked his beautiful smile. “You have a lot to learn, Scarlet—”

“I said, don’t call me that.”

“—the first thing being that a measure of the servants here are still loyal to me.”

Scarlet Strange stared at the once-prince for a long, heart-thumping measure. She lifted off the wall and exited the servants’ tunnel without glancing back.

THE EIGHTH

THE EIGHTH