She blinked at that. Their actions had inadvertently put Prince Daniel in line for the throne. Merciful existence, she hated everything about Taftlin. Well, mostly everything.
Self-conscious about her silence, Bethany cleared her throat. “I will need to go back soon, so that I’m not missed. What do you need from me?”
Ruth stared at Bethany with stern, determined eyes. “You need to keep that Allric out of our business for a few days.”
“My oath.” Coming from a knight, no other words were needed.
Satisfied, Ruth nodded. She handed Amber a mug. “Drink this and then lay down on my bed. Eve, I’ll need you to hold her down. She’ll be in for a fit once that pennyroyal starts up.”
Bethany opened the door for the ladies to exit into the bedroom but didn’t follow. Midwifery was not her domain.
* * * * *
“No!” Sarissa’s scream pierced the night. “Fucking, fucking whore!”
Robert bolted upright, panting. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
Sarissa flung the blanket off her and crawled out from their make-shift tarp. Stark-naked in the rain, amongst the trees, she shook uncontrollably. “The bitch. I’ll kill her. I’ll kill that murderous daughter of a whore.”
Robert poked his head out of their tent. “For mercy’s sake, what are you talking about woman? Get back in here before you wake up the entire countryside.”
“She killed the baby,” she said through gritted teeth. Sarissa grasped to control herself but the vision from Amber’s unborn child was too fresh in her mind. “They poisoned him.” Sarissa clawed at her body. In the dream, the poison had burned her flesh. She still felt her skin crawling, burning, searing.
Robert stared blankly at her. “Who she? What baby?”
“The baby, you idiot!” Clenching her fists, she said, “Bethany brought Amber to a midwife to kill it. She and that whore-owner, Eve, talked her into getting rid of my only chance to control Amber to find my books at the temple. The mighty Lady Champion, defender of the innocent, champion to those with no voice killed an innocent child. Even I wouldn’t do that.”
Robert sat silently, rubbing his eyes.
Sarissa grabbed her blood-stained dress from the heap on the ground and tugged it on over her head.
“We’re moving. Get everyone up.”
She had been content to wait for the baby to lead Amber to the books. Sarissa had no intentions of attacking the temple if she could avoid it. Martyrdom was well outside her limits. Yet the fury that boiled in the pit of her stomach demanded an outlet. Her bitch of a sister had stood in her way again. This time would be the last.
“We are staggered out for over a mile. I can’t find them in the middle of the night. Let’s go in the morning.”
She grabbed the dagger still attached to her belt and pointed it at him. “Do it or I will use your intestines to unlock the fifth page of my spell book. I’m serious, Robert. I’ll kill you right here.”
Robert held up a hand to signal his acquiescence. “Why do you want this now so bad?”
She flung the knife at him, hitting a tree instead. She screamed, “Because I said so!”
He did not flinch. “Why?”
Sarissa controlled her breaking, but her body still shook. She clenched and unclenched her fists. “If Bethany can kill babies, then she won’t care if I kill hers.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
The Viper will rejoice when the blood of the innocent flows.
—Prophecy of the Diamond, First Tablet
Day threatened to break the horizon. Exhausted, Bethany exited Amber’s room in the Sister’s quarter - her guards none the wiser about her escape through the window. She stumbled through the corridors and stairwells to her study. Her weary, bruised body cried for sleep, but there was too much to do with Sarissa so close, breathing down her neck.
Bethany plopped into her wicker chair and signed documents, failing to ignore the sinking feeling in her gut that her sister was nearby. That war was nearby. Teams of knights searched the area, from Orchard Park to Little Bheakom, but so far, they hadn’t found any trace of the Magi. She scoffed. People who can turn themselves invisible generally can’t be found unless they want to be found.
Her quill paused against a document and she stared off into space. Worry for Amber gnawed at her stomach. Seeing her weak and terrified brought back too many memories, too many feelings she could not afford to have.
“I’m always uneasy when you arrive in your study before me.”
A wide grin stretched across her face before she looked up, though her body clenched. Arrago leaned against her doorframe, his arms crossed against his lean chest. She sucked in a deep breath, finding herself wanting to run her fingers through his messy, brown hair.
A shot of guilt pierced her, remembering how badly she had treated him lately. Apologies were never her strong talent, so she said, “On occasion, we half-breeds are capable of rising before the crack of dawn.”
He walked to her desk and sat on the edge, causing her to move her hand to avoid brushing against his posterior. Arrago put on a good performance, but she knew better. His hands shook and his eyes never landed on hers.
She seized the opportunity. “About the other day…” Her voice trailed off and she made a little shrug with her shoulders.
Arrago raised a hand. “Don’t worry about it.” His voice did not match his words. Fear tightened around her.
“No, I want to apologize.” His mouth curled upwards and the smile reached his eyes this time. Bethany relaxed.
“You weren’t wrong in what you said to me, about elves and humans.”
Bethany fiddled with the letter in front of her. “I could have been more subtle.”
Arrago laughed a nervous throaty sound. “As I could’ve been. Can we continue to be friends? I hate fighting.”
Bethany smiled and she let out the breath she’d been holding. “Always.”
“So, why are you awake so early? Were you drinking all night or out on the mystery patrols in town?”
She narrowed her eyes. There were several patrols sent out since they returned from Little Bheakom to search for Magi. “How did you know about that?”
His eyes were as bright as his smile. “It’s a small temple. People talk.”
“Arrago, it’s a huge temple.”
He shrugged. “Not when you are Lady Bethany’s personal aide and there are at least eight bets running about her. People talk to me and I give them information.”
She shook her head, laughing. “You’re the first aide bold enough to admit that they are feeding the gossip frenzy. I should demand half of your winnings.”
“All my winnings are yours, milady. I still owe you a meal,” he said winking. Then, he straightened and stepped away from the desk. “Have you eaten yet? I usually have breakfast at seven, but we can go early. We might see Kiner and Jovan.”
Bethany cocked her head. Both had been assigned to different in-town searches and probably would not have slept yet. She was scheduled to begin patrolling in two days, assuming she could mount a horse without help. “It’s a bit early for Jovan.”
Arrago’s gleaming smile returned, the one that made her chest constrict. “Jovan should just be getting back from town. I hear that he spent the night searching for Eve, who is so forlorn at losing her brothel that she’s taken up the trade in Orchard Park.”
She sighed, though delight filled her. She hated arguing with him. “You gossip as much as any elf.”
He rubbed the tip of his ear. “Still round. I blame being named after an elf. Come, let’s get some food. We can eat porridge and you can lie about what you did last night.”
* * * * *
The rich smell of garlic baking in bread wafted through the opened office doors straight to Arrago’s nose, driving him to distraction as his mouth watered. His empty stomach growled in anticipation of the dining hall. He hadn’t even eaten his first meal of the day and already looked forward to lunchtime’s garlic br
ead.
“I never lie to you, Arrago. Not on purpose,” Bethany said with a smile.
He tried not to frown and instead motioned for her to join him. They were not equals. He knew it and accepted it. Bethany’s position meant she held more secrets than he could possibly ever know. Of course she lied to him and on purpose. It was her job. He didn’t hate her for that, though he wished she hadn’t lied about lying.
“Hold on.” She raised her hand to stop him. “I’m not quite done reading this one.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “I thought you just signed everything.”
Bethany glared up at him. “Not after you and Jovan tricked me into signing the public nudity petition. Now shut up and let me finish.”
“I remain innocent.” He watched her read, twirling a tendril of red hair between her index finger and thumb. She looked so much nicer now that she wore it loose, instead of all braided and pinned up. He considered telling her just that but worried she’d take offense and sheer off all her hair. He wondered if she’d ever wear her hair short again, now that her face was disfigured.
It didn’t matter. She was still beautiful to his eyes.
He grew impatient waiting for her to finish. Bethany was the slowest reader he had ever met. It wasn’t for lack of education. She simply read slowly. Turtle slowly. He looked back into his own study. The morning sun streamed through his east-facing window and he frowned. One of Bethany’s former assistants had papered it a bright yellow. With the sun beating in, the walls looked more like urine in fresh snow than a cheerful color to brighten one’s mood.
“Would you sign a requisition for new wallpapering?”
She scrunched her eyebrows together, but didn’t look up. “If it’s to have the study repapered, don’t bother. We’re only here until they finish my new study in the north tower. Torius is too much of a skinflint to let you have new paper for a room that’s going to be given over to storage in six months.”
Arrago sighed and went back to waiting for her to finish. As he watched her, a small smile spread across his face. He recalled standing here, with Bethany crushing his dreams. In that moment, he’d been convinced his life and dreams were over, that he’d be nothing more than a farmer or a laborer. Then she’d changed her mind and Fire Tits saved him from poverty.
“What’s so funny?”
He snapped his gaze to her and felt the heat rise in his face. “Just thinking about when you punched Prince Daniel,” he lied.
She smiled and his heart melted a little too much to be considered manly. “That was rather funny.”
She stepped from her desk and motioned at the door. Arrago smiled but remained silent. As they walked through the hallways, Arrago looked over his shoulder long enough to notice the unfamiliar soldiers next to their study. “New guards?”
She nodded, an annoyed look spreading across her face.
“What happened to the old ones?”
“Three of them were asleep when I walked by last night, so the heel of my boot taught their faces a lesson. They need some time to recover.”
“That’s why I’m the clerk and you’re the Lady Champion.”
“I don’t know. Your legs are almost as nice as mine. You qualify, according to Erem.”
He laughed and jogged a few steps to keep pace with her. Years of marching had served to exaggerate her unnaturally long stride. He matched her pace but wondered if life with Bethany meant always arriving at a destination panting and gleaming in sweat.
Life with Bethany. He mentally chastised himself for thinking such a foolish thought. Arrago hadn’t even decided if Bethany was a gift or a curse.
Thankfully, they turned the corner to the communal dining hall and he pulled himself from his useless mental chatter. A ragged Kiner and Jovan were queued in line for their breakfast and they motioned him and Bethany over.
“See? I told you they’d be up,” he whispered.
Bethany offered a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
He noted that Jovan still wore his clothes from the previous day, which was unusual to say the least for the snappiest dresser at the temple. The whites of Kiner’s eyes were red and swollen from lack of sleep. The men just nodded their heads when Arrago and Bethany fell in line with them. Jovan yawned so much that tears welled up in his eyes.
Arrago rarely ate in this meal hall, electing instead to eat with his fellow compatriot, Edmund. Eating amongst the priests, the priestesses, and the highest echelons of the military made Arrago uncomfortable and he preferred the bad table manners of Edmund and the recruits. Bethany chided him repeatedly, reminding him that he wasn’t a recruit any longer. He worked for the elite now. However, she never pushed it and only forced him to eat in the innermost hall whenever she joined him.
He watched the awkward glances between the three soldiers standing next to him and, even though they didn’t speak, he knew something bad was going on. Or, was about to.
The room fell silent when Honored Sister Aneese, second only to Torius, entered. Never in his life did he think he’d come to personally know so many of those touched by Apexia’s hand. He was truly blessed.
“Here we go again,” Jovan mumbled to no one in particular.
Arrago frowned at him. “Shush.”
Jovan winked back.
It was then that Arrago realized he had just chastised the second-in-command of the Elven Service and hadn’t been hacked into tiny pieces. How like Apexia to change the fates of men in amazing and unpredictable ways. He whispered silent thanks.
Honored Sister Aneese limped her way to the middle of the packed cafeteria. After clearing her throat, she spoke in a calm voice. “Give ear to my prayers, O Apexia, and consider my entreaty. You are our fortress, deliverance and strength. May our works bring glory to Your name. When the wind blows upon our faces today, we will remember that it is Your spirit that envelops us. Bring grace and goodness to our lives. Help deliver us from the hand of Magic that grips our town…”
“Oh Apexia, she did not just say that,” Kiner whispered.
Bethany shrugged. “It’s not like we’ve kept Joseph a secret.”
“I don’t care either way.” Jovan leaned in closer. “At this rate, I’ll die of old age waiting for her to finish.”
“Be quiet,” Kiner snapped.
“I wouldn’t mind the prayers if they kept serving us. I’m starving. I’m an elf. I need food. And we’re two steps away from it!”
Kiner sucked in a deep breath and pointed at his own ears. “Elorian. I’m starving, too.”
“Shut up!” Bethany muttered.
Arrago chuckled. “For three friends with your reputations, you bicker worse than crows.”
Three sets of wide eyes fell on him. Again, not cut into tiny pieces. He decided that he loved his new life.
“Thank you for the sumptuous offerings before us today. And say we all,” Aneese paused for the congregation to join her in words. “Gracious Apexia bless my food so that I may bring glory to your name.” She bowed and joined the back of the food line.
“Blessing isn’t usually said in the main dining hall,” Arrago said as he grabbed a small trout with olives and cheese, and roasted potatoes.
“My stomach wishes it wasn’t said here,” Jovan said as he stacked his bowl high with assorted fish and grains before pouring a creamy mushroom soup over the top of it.
Arrago thought about adding a second fish, but recalled Apexia did not approve of gluttony. He added an odd leafy thing instead.
Bethany leaned close to him and whispered, “It’s called fig’s kale. You eat it.”
He tipped his head close enough that he could smell her orange-scented perfume. She had taken up wearing the scent in the last month or so. He inhaled, wondering if it had anything to do with him liking oranges. “It looks like something I’d feed a goat.”
She laughed and filled her own bowl. Hers was trout, a large scoop of vegetables, rice and lentils, and a cheese soup poured over the top. It always amazed Arrago that sh
e could eat so much and still be as lean as she was.
Kiner looked up from his full plate and said, “Aneese has said blessing in whatever dining hall she has eaten in for six hundred years. She’s not going to change just because you don’t like it, Jovan. I like luncheon blessing. It’s an opportunity for us to reflect on the Goddess during the day.” Kiner gave Bethany a sly grin. She rolled her eyes.
Jovan shook his head. “You celibates. You’re all the same, crawling up Apexia’s ass.”
Arrago bristled at Jovan’s disrespect but remained silent. On some topics, he still felt the need to avoid discussion. Faith was one of those.
Jovan sniffed the teapots. “Let me guess. Peppermint and Anise?”
Kiner frowned. “It’s been peppermint and anise for as long as we’ve been here.”
“And long after we’re all gone,” Bethany said with a laugh.
“The peppermint tea aids digestion,” Arrago said, hoping to be helpful. The other three stopped walking and stared at him. “I—um—studied herbal medicine under Father Sard in Taftlin.”
Bethany’s smile was sweet but she didn’t say anything. Arrago followed them to their usual table in the far corner away from the busy entrance. “What does the anise tea do?” she asked.
Kiner answered before Arrago had a chance. “It’s for the nut eaters’ flatulence.”
A loud roar of laughter came from their table.
“Look, there’s Allric,” Kiner pointed to the door and waved.
The stern look on Allric’s face made Arrago uneasy. Allric was naturally a serious man who never smiled but today he seemed angry. Seething, almost. He marched to their table, his massive frame casting a shadow across their table.
“Good morning, Arrago. Will you excuse us?” Though polite, his voice lacked emotion.
“Of course, Lord Allric.” Arrago grabbed his food and glanced at Bethany. He sensed trouble. He moved to an adjacent table and squeezed in next to several priests.
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