Veiled Innocence (Book One, The Soul Cycle)

by Jones, Krystle

  The woman’s moon-flecked eyes searched Vishka’s face. Lian caught the glint of a drawn butcher knife.

  As if noticing her for the first time, the woman looked past Vishka at Lian. At first, she blinked and squinted her eyes even harder, reminding Lian once again of how grungy she must look. She shifted from foot to foot and hugged her arms over her chest.

  Slowly, recognition passed over the woman’s features, followed by disbelief and then joy.

  “By the gods,” she breathed. “It’s you. You’re the one who helped me.”

  She smiled and threw open the door. Light flooded the path, at last illuminating the woman’s frayed blue dress.

  Lian gasped.

  It was the woman from the Marketplace.

  CHAPTER 25Reunion

  THE WOMAN SMILED AND let her breath escape in something that was both a laugh and a sigh. “Praise Dreaka! I prayed so hard that you survived the fire. Oh! Forgive me, my Lady. Please come inside.”

  She stepped aside and ushered them in. A wave of warm air smelling of baked bread rushed out, and Lian’s mouth watered. It had been days, maybe even weeks, since she had fresh bread.

  Lian swayed on those first few steps, still dizzy from the effects of whatever Lord Winter had done to get them there, and Vishka caught her by the elbow to steady her.

  The woman rambled off more apologies as she shut out the cool night air. They walked into a small common room that doubled as a kitchen. An old, crooked table with a tiny basket of fresh wildflowers sat by the window to the left, and a waning candlestick sat at its center. A small fire burned low in the fireplace, barely lighting the room, but it was enough to keep the space warm.

  “Please have a seat,” the woman said, motioning to the table. Lian noticed a few streaks of silver around her temples. She looked about Ana’s age, but the resigned way she carried herself suggested she had seen far more hardship than her sister ever had.

  They sat down, and Lian relaxed into the back of the rickety wooden chair, her strained, sore muscles relishing the feel of a real seat.

  “If you’ll excuse me, there’s someone here who I think will be very excited to see you,” the woman said, wandering down a darkened hallway that was partially hidden by the fireplace.

  Lian heard the creak of stairs and the gentle thum-thum of the woman’s footsteps on the floor above them. Neither Lian nor Vishka said anything, content to be lost in their own thoughts. Voices drifted down the hall, and before long a tall man with dark, curly hair strode into the room after the woman.

  A small gasp escaped Lian’s lips, and her face lit up in a bright smile. “Rowan!”

  He looked healthier and far stronger than he had in the woods. His cheeks had a ruddy glow and were no longer sunken in. His once dull, tired eyes were bright and shining as he crossed the room and pulled her into a fierce hug.

  Lian wrapped her arms around his chest and held him tight as they both laughed. “I can’t believe it’s really you,” she said, embarrassed at her inability to hide the tears flowing freely down her face. “I didn’t think we were ever going to see you again.”

  He stroked her hair, whispering reassurances in her ear.

  Vishka cleared her throat, and they pulled apart at last. Lian wiped at the streams of tears, and watched as Rowan slowly walked toward Vishka.

  He stopped before her, and though she clenched and unclenched her fists, she kept her eyes locked onto his. “Thank you for keeping her alive,” Rowan said. “I am in debt to you.” Then he grabbed her wrist and pulled her to him, circling her in his arms before she could react.

  Vishka’s face mirrored Lian’s surprise. It turned red, and she shot out of his arms like he had stung her. She stumbled backward, the first time Lian had ever seen her look clumsy, as she stared wild-eyed at Rowan. The color drained from her face, but she did not speak.

  There was an awkward silence as they gawked at one another, and the woman took a few small steps toward Vishka. She placed a hand on Vishka’s arm. “My Lady, are you hungry?”

  Vishka flinched under her touch, but the panic fled from her eyes. She gave her a curt nod, following the woman to the table where a fresh basket of bread and a small pot of steaming soup waited.

  The woman laid out several chipped plates and dull silver cups. “Perhaps your friends would like some refreshments as well?” She smiled warmly at Lian and Rowan, and Lian’s stomach growled. She blushed and resisted the urge to run to the table and immediately start stuffing food into her mouth.

  Rowan pulled out a chair for her, and she paused, taken aback. “Thank you,” she finally said, sitting down on the opposite side of Vishka, who was glaring at Rowan as he took the seat at the head of the table.

  They sat in tense silence as they divided up the bread, but the woman didn’t seem to notice anything amiss, or she was pretending not to notice. “Poor dears. You look half-starved,” she said, pouring red wine into their cups. “Sir Rowan was in even worse shape when he showed up on my doorstep several nights past.”

  Lian nearly choked on her wine. “Several nights past? When exactly did he show up?”

  “I’m right here,” he growled. “The first thing I remember is waking up in a bed. I felt tired but also incredibly good, like my body had more energy than I can remember having in a long time. Then I remembered the Dracor and how its talons had pierced my flesh. I moved around, half-scared to see the wounds that would undoubtedly scar my body for the rest of my life, but there were no marks. I didn’t even feel any soreness or pain. It was as if the attack never happened. Then you two showed up a few hours after I woke up.”

  “You should be dead.” Vishka said it as matter-of-factly as if she was commenting on the color of a gown.

  Rowan looked at her evenly. “But I’m not.” He smiled at the woman, who sat quietly beside him with her hands folded in her lap. “Lady Mardon was kind enough to take care of me while I slept.”

  Her cheeks colored, and she stared at her hands. Embarrassment looked pretty on her, and Lian was again reminded at how young the woman was. “I often wondered while you were sleeping if I had done the right thing in bringing you into my household,” she said. She fussed with a loose thread in her skirt. “I mean, I’m a widow with two babes. Your shirt was so covered in blood when I found you, but once I peeled it off and found no wounds… well…”

  Rowan chuckled. “For all you knew, I could have been an ax murderer. But you took me in anyway.” He smiled at her, and she blushed even deeper, giving a small smile of her own.

  “How did your husband die, lady?” Lian asked gently.

  Rowan shot her a warning look, and she almost regretted asking.

  The smile fell from Lady Mardon’s face, and she lowered her head, hiding her eyes. “He was a knight in the service of the Arch Duke,” she said quietly. “He was murdered on his way home several months ago, right after I found out I was pregnant. He managed to make it home, but he was too severely wounded. He died in my arms.”

  No one said anything. Lian reached across the table and squeezed her arm. “Do you have any idea who might have done it?”

  Lady Mardon’s eyes were shining when she looked up at her. “He could barely speak,” she whispered. “But I caught one name – Gerard.”

  Rowan’s eyes shot to Vishka, whose face was masked in shadows save for her mouth. She was smiling. “Lady,” Rowan began, “You may be happy to know Gerard was murdered a few weeks ago.”

  She gave a small gasp and cupped a hand over her mouth. “By the gods. So Dreaka has taken her vengeance. May his soul find peace on the other side.”

  A baby’s cry floated down the stairs. Lady Mardon pushed back her chair and curtsied, her swollen belly preventing her from dipping too low. “Excuse me for a moment.” Then she disappeared upstairs and the baby soon quieted.

  Lian, Rowan, and Vishka picked at their food in silence.

  After a few minutes, the crying stopped, and Lady Mardon returned. Lian picked at what was left on he
r plate, suddenly without appetite. In Lady Mardon’s presence, all she could think of was how cruel Ana had been to her. “I’m sorry,” she blurted. The phrase felt inadequate, and she knew no words that could express the terrible shame rising in her chest.

  Lady Mardon’s brows curved up, raising the wrinkles around her eyes and forehead. “What do you mean, my Lady? You have shown me nothing but kindness. You have nothing to be sorry for.”

  “I do.” Lian said, her voice wavering as she took a steadying breath. “The way Ana treated you that day. I was so –” Tears stung her eyes at the thought of her dead sister.

  Oh, Ana!

  She buried her face in her hands to hide her tears, unable to look Lady Mardon in the face any more. She heard a chair scrape across the wooden floor, and a second later, two delicate hands cupped her cheeks. “You don’t need to feel guilty, sweet lady,” Lady Mardon said.

  Her voice was warm, and its kindness made Lian want to cry even harder. “I miss her so much. I didn’t know her very well, and sometimes I don’t even think I liked her, but I still miss her.”

  “I know.” She gently pried Lian’s hands away from her eyes. Her face was blurry as she said, “But you aren’t responsible for other people’s actions. I would never judge you for something that was out of your control.”

  Lian blinked, and the last of her tears splashed down her cheeks. “Please believe me. She wasn’t as awful as she seemed.”

  Lady Mardon smiled and kissed her hand. “The gods keep you safe, my Lady.” She turned to Vishka and Rowan, who had been watching the entire time with mixed reactions. “You are welcome to stay as long as you wish,” she said.

  Lian and Vishka tried to argue, but Lady Mardon wouldn’t have it. “I won’t have you wandering around the countryside until you are all fully well.” She looked them all up and down, as if to emphasize her point. “You’d be easy pickings in your condition now.”

  Vishka snorted and muttered something under breath, but Lady Mardon must not have caught it.

  Lady Mardon stood and motioned for them to follow. “If you’re all done, I will show you to your rooms.”

  Vishka abruptly stood. “Thank you for your kindness,” she said. It sounded awkward but genuine.

  Lian had to make a conscious effort to keep from gawking, and Rowan quirked a brow. Lian thought she saw Vishka blush but dismissed it to the bad lighting. She vaguely registered Rowan saying something that earned him a dry look from Vishka and Lady Mardon, but she was too tired to focus much on what was being said. She stifled a yawn.

  Lady Mardon clucked her tongue. “Look at you, half asleep on your feet.” She gently placed a hand on Lian’s back and pushed her forward. “Let me show you to your rooms.”

  She grabbed a candle, and they followed her up the stairs to a room at the end of the hall. “But,” Lian said, looking at the queen-sized bed and fine but old sheets, “isn’t this your room?”

  “It is,” Lady Mardon said casually, lifting the baby from the bassinet.

  “We can’t take your room! Please, surely there is another place we can sleep.”

  “You can, and there is not. Sir Rowan will be in the spare room down the hall, and I will sleep with my baby downstairs. I will give the best and only the best to Accalia’s heir.”

  “How about,” Rowan said, stepping forward, “I sleep downstairs, and you and your baby can have the spare room. Please, my Lady, it’s the least I could do for the kindness you’ve shown me these past few days.”

  Lady Mardon looked like she was about to argue, but she finally nodded her head and tried to shoo Rowan out the door. “Please make yourselves at home. I will return shortly to draw your bath.”

  Lian listened for her footsteps to fade away. “Does she not have any servants?” she said quietly. “She is a knight’s lady.”

  “Was a knight’s lady,” Rowan corrected. He glanced over his shoulder. “She had to dismiss her servants not long after her husband’s death. They had some small fortune, but with the country’s economic decline and the increase in property taxes…”

  “No wonder she looks so ragged,” Lian murmured. They had to help her; there had to be some way. “Does she not have any money at all?”

  “She sold most of their livestock, and she can sew,” Rowan said. “She tailors and keeps a small garden, but that is all the income she can obtain.”

  Lian glanced at Vishka, who appeared to not be paying attention.

  “What are you thinking about?” Lian asked. Her eyes were already blurring as sleep tried to take over, making Vishka shift in and out of focus.

  Vishka turned to look at her. Her face was blank. “Nothing and everything.”

  “You’re thinking about Orris, aren’t you?” Lian said softly. At the mention of his father, Rowan’s face tightened.

  “Perhaps,” Vishka said.

  “Do you want to go after him?” Rowan said suddenly.

  Vishka paused. “Oh, I’m sure he’ll find us. Now that he knows what Lianora is.”

  Before Lian could ask, Lady Mardon knocked on the door. “Your bath has been drawn.”

  Lian wanted to question Vishka, but she couldn’t ignore the bubble of excitement at finally being clean. Without saying another word, she eagerly, but sleepily, followed Lady Mardon out of the room.

  She wanted to stay in the bath forever, to lose herself to the luxury of hot water, but she knew Vishka might appreciate it if the water was still warm. She was a little surprised and delighted to find her skin had tanned beneath all the mud and grime. On the flipside, her hair was bleached out from sun exposure and was now whiter than ever. Oh, well. At least I have some contrast now instead of being one solid color from head to toe.

  When Lian returned to the room, Vishka was gone, and two folded nightgowns lay on the bedside table. Lian picked one up, and after fussing with her dress for a few minutes, managed to pull off the ruined ball gown and slipped into the cotton shift.

  She walked over to the bed and ran her fingers along the sheets.

  “You should get some rest while you can.”

  Lian jumped and whirled around to find Vishka standing in the doorway, fully clothed in her armor, which also looked cleaner. Her hair was wet and knotted at the nape of her neck. “That seemed awfully fast,” Lian said, sitting down on the bedside with her heart hammering in her chest.

  Vishka ignored her and crossed the room to the window. She folded her arms, the shadows hiding her face. “You never know when you may find peace,” she said. “Enjoy it while you can.”

  Lian eyed her strangely. Did she never tire? Maybe she doesn’t sleep. Perhaps it’s part of being an Immortal.

  “Right,” Lian said, lying back on the sheets. They had small holes, and though the nightgown made her skin itch, they felt luxurious after sleeping on the ground in her grimy dress.

  “Enjoy it while you can.”

  A chill ran through her, and she pulled the sheets to her chin. Then she rolled over onto her side, and the last thing she remembered was the sadness in Vishka’s eyes as she stared off into memories too dark for Lian to fathom.

  CHAPTER 26Plan

  THE NEXT MORNING OVER a breakfast of eggs, bread, and berries, Lian relayed the events after the fire, leading up to them finding Lady Mardon’s cottage. She decided to omit the fact the Dracor was actually Rowan’s father and the Gold Knight of Accalia.

  Lady Mardon sat in awed silence as she let it all sink in. At last, she shook her head. “Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever thought…” She massaged her temples and sighed. “If this Lord Winter you speak of tells the truth, then we are all in grave danger.”

  “It must be stopped at any cost,” Vishka said curtly, leaning toward Lady Mardon. “Until we know exactly what we’re dealing with and who we can trust, you must not speak a word of this. Do you understand?”

  Lady Mardon nodded, a grim look on her face. “Do you know where this great evil is? If it’s even a person?”

  Lian
groaned. “No, we don’t. Or at least, I don’t.” She jerked her finger at Vishka. “She does, or so I believe.”

  Vishka regarded her with cold eyes. “In case you didn’t hear me the first time, I cannot tell you.”

  Lian slammed her fist down on the table. “Quit playing games with us! How are we supposed to trust you if you won’t tell us what we’re up against! Maybe you’re the great darkness.”

  “That’s impossible.”

  Every head turned to Rowan. “How do you know?” Lian demanded.

  “Because if she was, she would not have been able to set foot inside the Garden of Light,” he said calmly. “It is sacred.”

  When Lian merely blinked, he went on irritably. “The Dracor’s poisonous talons had tainted me with Darkness, and because of that, I couldn’t enter. Or at least, I couldn’t stay there as you two did.”

  Lian stared at him. “That still doesn’t help.”

  “Sit down before you hurt yourself,” Rowan said with a wry smile, tugging her back down to her seat.

  “I’m fine.” Lian swatted away his hand. She crossed her arms and scowled at the table.

  After a moment of tense silence, Lady Mardon said quietly, “We should find your people.”

  Lian shook her head. She already had enough to think about. “Where would we start looking? It was complete and utter chaos that night. Accalians could be scattered across all of Asilee by now.”

  “Then quit,” Vishka said.

  Lian stared at her incredulously. “Are you mad? I can’t do that!”

  “Then stop feeling sorry for yourself and start thinking like a regent. Anything less is unworthy of the title.”

  Lian bristled, on the brink of arguing with her when Vishka stood and started to walk away.

  “Wait. Where are you going?” Lian rose halfway from her chair.

  Vishka didn’t even bother to glance back. “Away.” She disappeared up the stairs.