Page 12 of City of Snakes
Long ago, Egresses—magical portals between cities—had been closed in Henosis, but since the Order had fallen, I was determined to pass amendments to re-open them. Fen’s arm wrapped around Asterie’s waist as I turned toward the gates where the carriage awaited.
Elsedora leaned against the cab. Her posture straightened upon seeing me, and her lips quirked up. “You wore...wool? For a trip into the Sahlms?”
“It’s a sturdy fabric,” I defended, and Elsedora laughed and nodded.
I’d tied my curls atop my head with a long Luz-blue silk ribbon—something blue, a royal tradition when traveling. Our crest’s color remained with us, holding a piece of home wherever we ventured.
I didn’t know what Elsedora was so tickled by. My garb was travel ready—a plain wool skirt, thick socks and leather boots. My black long-sleeved velvet bodice was tucked into a leather belt bag. It was all perfectly appropriate.
She chuckled and said, “Very sturdy.”
Amusement roiled from her—it tasted like sugared fruit and felt like bubbles across my skin. She held no resentment toward me despite our first meeting having been less than ideal.
Prior to the attack on Luz, my court had been infiltrated by northern guards in a pathetically ill-planned attempt to assassinate me. Elsedora had found herself in the wrong place. She’d been falsely accused of opening the Egress into Luz’s underground tunnels, which I’d known she had not done—a perk of my abilities. If only I knew whohad.
I tried to glimpse what Elsedora wore beneath the thin rust-colored robe that adorned her, but it was buttoned up to her neck. “Well, what was I supposed to wear?”
“Nothing, if you prefer it.” Elsedora’s smirk deepened. Her playful nature, chestnut waves, and hazel eyes matched her brother’s perfectly. She and Fenris were undoubtedly cut from the same cloth.
“It’s warm in the Sahlms, is all. You may want to borrow something—”
“I’ll be fine.”
Elsedora shrugged, but my sharpness didn’t deter her smile. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had a female friend.”
“We aren’t friends. Your King is detaining me,” I reminded her.
“Detaining, yes, but he has agreed not tokillyou. Deep down, that must mean he likes you. At least enough to allow you to keep breathing.”
I huffed out a laugh. There was no way that this agreement would end well for me. “Yes,that’ssurely it,” I mused sarcastically. The idea of Krait Darvanda liking anyone, or anything, was unfathomable.
“What? You mean to tell me that two royals can’t bury old resentments and get along for the greater good?”
She put the massacre of thousands in Phynx so lightly. Krait Darvanda was a monstrous pig. He had condemned Phynx to death. Four centuries had not been enough to heal that festering wound.
It was meant to be a coup, not a massacre,he’d said.
He’d claimed that when white flags flew, his army had been instructed to retreat—that his Commander had betrayed him. But how much of his story could I trust? It seemed convenient that he should pass the blame onto a Commander who hadn’t survived the attack and could neither confirm nor deny the allegation.
Speak of the insufferable, enigmatic ass.
King Darvanda approached atop a gray horse with a dished nose that flared. Beneath furrowed brows, his steely gaze assessed me.
“You’re wearing that?”
I huffed. “What is wrong with what I’m wearing?”
Elsedora motioned for me to step up into the carriage and offered me a hand. “You’ll see,” she mused with a light laugh.
Once I was seated, Darvanda scowled at me through the cab door. “You’ll stay in there. The doors will be locked for yoursafety—in case we run into any trouble. Elsedora will carry the key.”
Well, that brought megreatcomfort.
I didn’t want to think about the implications of his words. I wasn’t safe while traveling with them.
Or he enjoyed seeing me caged—that made my nostrils flare like his horse’s. Before I could retort, he lifted a foot out of his stirrup and kicked the door closed. I wiggled the handle.
Fucking locked.
