by K. T. Webb
“Thank you, sir. We appreciate your help. This is our first time visiting your city, so we are not familiar with the layout.” Rowan nodded at each guard before taking Honor by the hand and walking confidently past them through the gates.
The guard was right about the vendors closing up shop for the night. As they ventured further into Goldenlark, they began noticing vendor carts covering their wares and locking valuable items away for the night. The signs leading them to the Exchange took them through a maze of streets and narrow alleys until they found themselves on a wide road that led to an ornate building. The words etched into the stone above the building proclaimed it as the County O’Hehir Exchange.
The structure was formidable. Honor knew within the building were records for every birth, death, marriage, and land deed in the county. Inside, she would find the authentic documents she would need in order to one day marry Rowan. The bond from her mother would also be on record within those walls. If everything checked out, Honor would leave that building with more money than she had ever had to her name—not that it would take much as she had never had any money to call her own.
“Look, there is Lotus House. We should go secure a room before we lose the opportunity. I am sure a busy trading hub such as this fills up quickly. Especially for an inn so close to the Exchange.” Rowan tugged Honor across the road toward the inn.
Lotus House was a much more profitable establishment than Soren’s Place. From the moment they stepped inside, Honor felt underdressed and out of place. The few patrons who had remained after the dinner rush did not notice when they entered; it was as though they were too insignificant to take note of. That simple fact told her the traffic in and out of Lotus House was steady enough that strangers went unnoticed. A young woman stood behind a neatly appointed table directly in front of the main entrance. It was separated enough from the bar and restaurant that they had no trouble hearing her as she greeted them.
“Welcome to Lotus House. How can we help you tonight?”
Honor returned her warm smile. “My husband and I need a room for at least one night. Would you be able to accommodate us?”
She looked down at the handwritten ledger, skimming through to determine if she had any openings. “Oh, here. We have one room left open for the night. We are booked for tomorrow night though, so if you require more than one night you would have to look into one of the . . . other inns.”
Honor raised an eyebrow at the manner in which the girl mentioned that there were other options. It almost made her feel like they should turn and leave right that moment. It was not her style to interact with people who treated others as though they were below them. Rowan did not seem to notice the demeaning tone behind her words. He smiled at the girl as she batted her big brown eyes at him. Honor cleared her throat to remind him that she was still there.
“We will take the room for the night and see where we end up tomorrow. Thank you, miss.” Honor managed to keep her tone even.
Rowan was not fooled. He shot her a sidelong look with a slight grin. He was doing it on purpose. Honor waited patiently for the young woman to hand them their key and offer directions for how to find the room. By the time they made it to their destination for the night, Rowan was practically exploding with pent up mirth. Honor scowled at him.
“What seems to be the problem, Honor?”
With narrowed eyes, she stuck out her tongue and plopped down on the bed. “This looks like a nice place for me to sleep, but where will you be tonight? The tub? The hallway?”
Rowan laughed aloud at the venomous tone she projected at him. “Oh, are you the jealous type, my love?”
He kneeled beside the bed so their faces were level. Honor tried desperately to maintain her scowl as he leaned closer to her until their noses touched. They sat there, staring into each other’s eyes, waiting until one of them cracked. It was a game they had played as children; one Honor had never lost. This time, she was struggling to maintain her composure as Rowan stared into her eyes. Now that they were open about their feelings for one another, the emotion reflected in his eyes sent shivers down her spine. Honor gently pressed her nose forward until she reached his lips. With a soft kiss, Honor gave up her title as the undefeated champion of their childish game.
“Did I just win?” Rowan put a hand on his chest in shock.
“It would appear that way, yes.”
“Why, Honor, I cannot say I’ve ever been more shocked in my life. I do not think you have ever willingly relinquished a victory.”
“I am just as surprised as you are. However, I must say you have won more than a staring contest with me.” Honor gave him another swift peck on the lips.
“We need to get married,” Rowan whispered.
“We will, I just could not tell you when our lives will settle down enough for that to happen.”
His face fell slightly. “I was hoping we could find a way to fit it in somewhere between breakfast and saving the world.”
“Not if you keep making eyes at innkeepers.”
Rowan fell over gripping his chest. “You have wounded me. I would never make eyes at any other woman. I was simply laying on the charm.”
Honor rolled her eyes. “I supposed we should eat something. I would rather just go to sleep right now, but I know I would regret that in a few hours.”
“You stay here, I will take care of dinner,” he insisted.
Rowan left her in the room before she could stop him. As she lay in the plush bed, she wondered what their time in Goldenlark would be like. There were still so many mysteries waiting to be solved. Somewhere out there, the future Queen of Alderwood was waiting to be found and brought to her rightful place on the throne in Pallisaide. Something there in Goldenlark was waiting for Honor to discover it, something Renata had intended for her to find from the day she was born. There were things she needed to uncover about herself and her destiny that may alter the direction her life would take. She wanted answers more than she wanted anything else. It was making her crazy not knowing what lay ahead.
A few moments later, Rowan walked through the door followed by a man carrying a tray with a variety of foods.
“I present you with your dinner.” Rowan bowed low, gesturing for the man to place the tray on the bed.
“May I congratulate you on your recent marriage?” The man asked with a slight nod.
“Oh. Thank you, sir. That is very kind of you,” Honor replied as Rowan winked at her from behind the server.
He did not linger beyond their exchange; he closed the door behind him leaving the fake newlyweds to their meal. Honor shook her head at Rowan’s antics. He was laughing to himself as he handed her a plate and napkin. The boy she knew from camp was still in there and coming out more and more the longer they were on their own. It made her happy to know that he would always be a kid at heart. Someday, she hoped they would be able to raise their own family, she would love to see Rowan as a father.
They ate their dinner and chatted about what the next day would bring. First thing in the morning, they planned to go to the Exchange in search of the documents and bond. Once they had accomplished those things, Honor wanted to continue searching for information about Renata or her mother. Anything that would tell her what to do next.
Chapter 15
They slept soundly in the most comfortable bed either had ever had the opportunity to sleep in. Honor was surprised to discover the sun had already begun to peek above the buildings by the time she opened her eyes. Rowan was still fast asleep, so she took the opportunity to use the facilities that were separated from their bedroom by an actual wall and door. The plumbing in this bathroom was more sophisticated than any she had ever seen. She did not have to use a pump, just turn a few knobs connected to the wall and water began to flow. When she plunged her hand into the tub, she was pleasantly surprised to discover it flowed at a much higher temperature than she was accustomed to. On the counter she noticed multiple options for cleaning. Shampoo, conditioner for her hair, an
d soap all smelled heavenly as she scrubbed every speck of dirt from her body. Her hair was soft and easily combed through and her skin was brighter than it had been in years. While she did not appreciate the snobbery of the wealthy, she could get used to their finery.
By the time she finished in the tub, Rowan was awake and had arranged to have breakfast delivered to their room. They ate together before he enjoyed a bath. Once they were both clean and fed, they packed up their things and checked out of the inn.
The streets of Goldenlark were already bustling with activity as street vendors set up for the day. It was hard not allowing herself to be distracted by the colorful carts and boisterous salespeople who tried to stop them along the way to their destination at the end of the main road through town. Rowan held her hand tightly, helping her remember they had a purpose for their visit. By the time they reached the bottom step of the Exchange, Honor had a knot in her stomach.
“What if the Makt are in there?” she whispered.
Rowan rolled his eyes. “What if they are? They have no idea who we are or what we know. The documents we are here to retrieve have nothing to do with that part of your destiny.”
Deep apprehension still rolled through her core at the idea of facing any soldiers. Of course, Gray had taught her the basics of self-defense from the time she was old enough to hold a dagger without cutting herself. But she was none too keen on employing the things she had learned against an endless army of ruthless soldiers. Her heart pounded wildly at the thought. Panic rose in her throat, burning like bile, as she struggled to breathe. Honor swallowed it down. Panicking would not help. Fear would not get her through anything. She had to be a leader. She had to be in control of her emotions if she hoped to remain undetected by anyone who may be searching for them.
Guards lined the stairs on either side, leaving no more than two steps between each man. She knew their presence had nothing to do with her arrival and instead spoke of the important items held within the smooth stone walls. She mentally repeated the things she needed to find—her mother’s death certificate, the bond she was supposed to inherit, and a marriage license. She repeated the tasks like a mantra to keep her focused until they reached the top step.
A check-in desk was situated just inside the cavernous main hall. Honor approached with her head held high.
“How can I help you today, Miss?” asked an older woman with graying hair and wrinkles earned from scowls rather than laughter.
“I have a few things I am in need of today, I am hoping you can point me in the right direction. I need to find a copy of my mother’s death certificate, she died in Milltown, and I have a bond paper to collect on.” Honor paused and gave Rowan a sly smile. “And, we are in need of a marriage application.”
Momentary shock washed over Rowan’s face, but he managed to rein it in before anyone else noticed. A face-splitting grin spread from one ear to the other. Honor had more surprises in store for him but did not want to show her hand all at once. The woman behind the counter took down Laurel’s name and location of death.
In a matter of moments she had assigned the task of locating the death certificate to a young man pushing a cart. He took off quickly, undoubtedly heading for a storeroom somewhere deeper in the building. Next, the woman asked Honor to produce the bond papers. She reached into her bag and pulled out the leather-bound pages. The clerk looked it over closely, staring at the edges with a monocle to verify authenticity.
“Wow. I did not know any of these were still uncollected. You’ll have to wait a bit for us to gather the funds from the vault. While you wait, I will have Tessa help you with the marriage application.” She gave them a small nod after failing to keep her expression neutral from the shock of the bond she held in her hand. “Tessa. Can you come help this lovely young couple while I scurry off to see procure Lord Mahuron’s signature on this bond?”
Honor had to force her stomach to stay calm. Lord Mahuron worked directly for King Junius, she hoped silently that she would not have to stand in front of a man who had repeatedly and vehemently pledged his allegiance to the king. Rowan slipped a hand into hers, weaving their fingers together before giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. The woman named Tessa was younger than the first with honey colored hair knotted at the base of her neck.
“Can I help you with something?” Tessa requested.
“Yes, we are wondering if there is anyone who could marry us. Today,” Honor blurted out.
A gasp of surprise from Rowan gave her the delightful feeling of butterflies flitting around in her belly. It was her turn to squeeze his hand. He was practically bursting with a mixture of emotions that kept sweeping across his face in a repetitive pattern. Honor just smiled innocently at him.
“Let me check. We do not usually have the ability to perform a marriage on such short notice. I understand you are not from here. Are you just passing through?” Tess inquired.
“Yes. We have been traveling for days. We cannot marry until I have my mother’s death certificate, and now that we can get our hands on it, I do not want to delay any longer,” Honor stated.
Tessa smiled warmly. “I remember how excited I was to be married a few years ago. I will be right back.”
Once Tess was out of earshot, Rowan grabbed Honor into a bearhug. “You are sneaky. How did you keep this from me?”
Honor whispered in his ear. “I was not sure we could make it happen, but last night you told me we had to get married. I knew in my heart your words were true. I cannot think of anything I would rather do.”
“We may not have the wedding we would have if we were surrounded by our family, but I would marry you in a barn if it meant being bound to you forever.”
Someone cleared their throat causing the two of them to pull back from their embrace. “It seems to be your lucky day. Lord Mahuron received your bond papers and wanted to meet you, he has also agreed to officiate your marriage.”
Honor swallowed the reality of the situation she had created for herself. “Oh, we would not want to interrupt his Lordship for this. We can just get the application completed and marry at another place and time.”
“Nonsense! He insisted.” Tessa gestured for them to follow her.
Nerves were working overtime inside her mind, running through every possible way to escape the predicament. Honor repeatedly reminded herself that he would not know who she was, he would have no reason to question her presence in Goldenlark since she was simply there to procure documents. At the same time her brain was giving her a pep talk, she was also aware that she had created the perfect circumstance for their mission to be cut short.
They followed Tessa through a maze of hallways with high ceilings until they came upon two large doors with guards on either side. The doors swung open on well-oiled hinges to reveal a man sitting on an ornate chair at the end of a long room.
“Welcome, daughter of Laurel!” Lord Mahuron called from his perch.
This was not good. What if he had told the Makt of her presence? What if her father, a high-ranking Makt official, was on his way to meet her? Honor tried desperately to remain calm and collected as they were ushered toward the man who governed County O’Hehir. Lord Mahuron was a tall, muscular man with no hair on his head. He wore an outfit that befitted a man of his status complete with a fur-lined silken cape. He quickly dismissed Tessa and the first clerk who had helped them. The guards closed the door behind them, leaving Honor and Rowan alone with Lord Mahuron aside from one formidable guard who stood partially in the shadows.
“I have been waiting to meet you for a long time. I was told you may be arriving soon. Your presence here gives me hope that all our planning has not been in vain.”
Honor and Rowan stood together, unsure what his words could mean. How could Lord Mahuron have heard of her? “I am not sure what you mean, sir.”
“No, I cannot imagine you would have the faintest idea about any of this. Well, as it so happens, I have alerted my contact to your presence and she will be looking for
you when you leave me. In the meantime, I understand you require a few things from me. First, I have arranged for your money to be brought here. Second, I have agreed to perform your marriage ceremony.” He smiled in a way that let Honor know he truly was pleased by their encounter.
“I think you may have me confused with someone else. I do not know who you would have been in contact with that would be looking for me here. I have never been this far from Milltown before.”
Lord Mahuron offered a half smile. “It was for the best that you did not travel away from your home. There are many things at play that you could not have faced alone.”
Honor looked at Rowan wondering if he was following the cryptic path of conversation the man was leading them down. He looked just as confused. Rowan had tensed next to her and appeared to be looking around the room for a possible exit strategy. Honor wondered if they had wandered into a trap set by the Makt. Could they think she was the girl they were looking for? The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as she began to sense danger all around her.
“I truly do not know what you mean, sir. But if you are too busy to marry us, we can be on our way.” Honor took a measured step backward.
Laughter erupted from the oversized man on the throne. “I think I have given you the wrong idea, Honor. I mean you no harm. I am a member of a select group of people who would like to see things improve for Alderwood. I have to keep my true feelings concealed from most of my people here, there are many loyal to our enemies.”
Honor thought back to the chairs in Soren’s secret room. Could this man have occupied one of them? “The resistance?”
He winked at her and smiled widely. “If I can predict how long it takes my friend to get here from her home, we do not have much time to complete your marriage ceremony. Are you ready?”
Honor looked at Rowan who still seemed uneasy. He shrugged as though he could think of nothing better to do than go along with the insanity unfolding around them before he responded, “Yes, sir. We are ready.”
