Page 20 of City of Snakes
My throat constricted. Darvanda had punished those who’d invaded my ancestors’ city. He’d said the first day we’d met that the attack had only been meant to be a siege of power, that once white flags had flown, it hadn’t been his command to continue the attack. This supported his claim, yet I still held doubts.
I didn’t get time to ponder that more before a towering building with arched dormers, a large bell tower and many arcaded windows came into view. Colored tile encrusted every arch and numerous balconies that looked out over the main canal.
“That’s Umber House. You’ll be staying with us there.”
I gripped the reins tight. It was by no means as large as the Palace of Luz, but Umber House seemed too enchanting of a place for such a surly, brooding King to reside.
“Do many live there?”
“Krait only has two officers, me included. The few lords here in the city hold their own residences and a few from rural regionsvisit every so often. The political structure is much flatter than in Henosis. Fewer laws and regulations—really the only laws surround stealing, violence and Death-wielding.”
“So Death-wielding is outlawed?”
Remembering that awful smell of the amber smoke that the attackers had used against my city knotted my throat and made the hairs of my arms rise.
“Mhm, it is the worst offense someone can commit. Death only aids Death—it’s thought when enough is harvested, it can bring forth the Death Origin for a reckoning. At least, that is the belief in Sahlmkar.”
I sucked in my cheeks as I let that sink in. In Henosis, the Source Origins were thought to be non-sentient ideals rooted in superstition. Yet I knew what I’d seen that night in the bailey challenged that belief. Amara had summoned an Origin, right there within my palace walls.
The sun was beginning to set behind the mountains, casting a bronze glow over the city that mingled beautifully with the hues of the tiles and painted stucco. Around Umber House there were no parapets, no protection walls, no guards at the gates—no gates at all. The large front entrance featured an enormous arched wooden door that opened right into a large courtyard, where a market was setting up for the evening. High above the courtyard was a bell tower, which sat as a focal point at the center of the house.
The soldiers continued around the estate, and Krait peeled off and dismounted by the front door. He handed his reins to a groom, who then followed the soldiers—I assumed to a stable somewhere beyond the estate.
We approached the door, and Elsedora did the same; she handed off her reins with a polite thank you to a second groom. I dismounted, and a boy, no more than nine, approached with an outstretched hand to take the mule. “Thank you...your name?”
The boy turned a shade of crimson. “My...I’m sorry, miss?”
“Your name?”
“Oh, um...Hurley,” he lisped through a missing front tooth.
I could feel the heat of the boy’s embarrassment creep up my neck. His thoughts were scattered and nervous.“She must be the Queen from Henosis.”
I supposed, like in any kingdom, news traveled fast here.
“Thank you, Hurley.”
Krait stepped beside us. “Carry on, boy,” he barked. “Get some help to get her things up to her bedchamber.”
“Please,” I added too brightly before I shot Krait a glare. The boy took the reins, nodded and walked away with my mule. “Iron fist over pleasantries, I see. He was, what, barely ten years old?”
“How far did pleasantries get you in Luz? And all children go to school here. Can you say the same? How their parents choose to let them spend their excess time is not mine to dictate.”
I rolled my eyes. “You don’t know any of their names though, do you?” I retorted.
He shrugged. “I pay well. That boy will have a small fund for his future after he’s done with school.”
Prick.
“Plus, you should be careful not to get too close to anyone here. I can’t be around at all hours to keep you from harm’s way.”
“Am I at risk of being harmed?” I asked.
He shrugged again. “Probably.”
I felt the tickle of Elsedora’s amusement.
“Let me show my new friend the city.” Elsedora rested an elbow on my shoulder. “Please, please, please—”
