45. FORTY-FIVE
FORTY-FIVE
Mina
After a hard morning of drills and sparring, my muscles ache in that sweet way that promises growth. I finish washing up, studying the bruise forming over my left ribs. My smile is more of a grimace, but pride blossoms with the discoloration.
Urselya landed a nasty hit with the precision of a veteran soldier. She’s come so far since joining us in Brastrova, earning a regular spot on my guard rotation. She still has a few weapons to master, but she’s skilled enough to help Hamlin lead the new recruits in my absence.
I’d love to participate in the afternoon drills as well, but Jaime just left to fetch me another surprise from my husband. The past two days I've received beautiful bouquets, woken to Darius’s tongue between my legs, and this afternoon the girls and I are headed to an undisclosed location to relax.
My stomach warms at the memory of his wicked tongue, but I force myself to focus. He will not be able to distract me with orgasms for much longer. He’s been holding something back from me, the words lost or interrupted more times than I can count. My patience is waning, but his gifts do help.
“Why won’t you tell me what he did wrong?” I ask the air.
The window opens and Alexi sits on the ledge with his back to me, his white shirt whipping in the breeze. “Why do you assume he did something wrong? Elena is a jealous pile of horse shit that needs to be cleaned out of the stable.”
I laugh at his spite. Alexi’s not a fan of Lady Elena and her constant attention-seeking behavior.
He overheard her not-so-sage advice earlier.
I normally ignore her petty comments, but this one stayed with me and festered.
Alexi may be a master of many skills, but understanding the hearts of women does not appear to be one of them.
“The others confirmed her theory too. Men here tend to overcompensate with gifts when they do something wrong. Darius might be a great warrior, but he’s also human. We all make mistakes.”
Alexi hits his head against the window frame with a sigh. “Darius is a man of action. If you really think he fucked up, ask him. Stop playing guessing games just because he’s suddenly a romantic. You broke him.”
Alexi is more irritable than usual. Something’s definitely going on.
“I hardly broke him,” I say. More like he broke down my walls. The thought I might have the same effect on him makes me a little giddy.
Maybe he really is just learning to show affection more openly. Maybe this is how he shows his love. I’ve been patiently waiting for him to open up to me, but I need answers to fully quash the feeling that something is off.
“Fine. I’ll ask him tonight and then the three of us can go back to normal.”
“I’m perfectly norm—” Alexi jumps down as the door opens, and I wince at the drop. We are on the third floor, but Alexi can handle himself.
Jaime carries in a sealed card and a simple white dress. Her eyebrow arches at the open window, ever the observant one. Jaime is loyal and would keep Alexi a secret if she knew about him. I have a feeling they would hit it off, but Alexi always disappears before I can even attempt an introduction.
Jaime helps me dry off, and then I cut open the letter with my new white-gold knife—another gift from Darius and a way to keep a weapon nearby without raising suspicion. A letter opener can be quite dangerous in the right hands.
I expect a letter from the man himself, but instead find five tickets to the Reef of Relief. What a perfectly horrible name.
I pass the tickets to Jaime, and she laughs at the title.
“Any idea what fresh torture awaits us?”
Her braid swings to the side as she shakes her head. “Us?”
Five tickets. One for me and four guests. Jaime flips through the tickets as I go over the guest list. “Victoria, Kailani, you, me, and Lady Elena.”
“Are you sure? I’m sure many of the merchants’ wives would covet an afternoon with you.”
Despite the opportunity to make connections, Darius insisted this surprise be about relaxing. We have plenty of appearances coming up and could all use a break. “If you don’t want to go, you need only say so.”
“I didn’t say that.” She snatches up a ticket. “Though perhaps it would be wise to learn what it is before committing.”
“Excellent self-preservation skills.”
We make our way to the carriages and a small group of guards. A few of my more advanced students are lined up with Darius’s men. Seeing them side by side without any dirty looks or resentment feels like a major milestone.
Kailani and the others stand around chatting, having received their summons. I pass out the tickets, earning several laughs from all but Victoria, who bounces in place.
“This is the best spa in Coryntha! It’s been booked solid since it opened six years ago.”
“A spa?” I am not familiar with the term, and the name of the establishment only concerns me further.
Lady Elena holds the ticket to her chest and sighs. “A place of relaxation and pampering fit for royalty.”
Victoria cuts in with an eye roll. “Anyone can book an appointment, but it’s a bit pricey. I’ve only been twice, and it’s heavenly. What a marvelous gift!”
“Sounds perfect after the ride here,” a voice adds from behind.
We turn to find a short, curvy woman with hair as pale as her skin walking toward us. Her blue eyes are warm with humor. “Queen Mina. It’s nice to have a face to the name. I’m Tayla.”
I’ve heard so much about Staefan’s wife, but my imagination failed to do her justice. His ball-busting, no-nonsense better half is gorgeous, nearly thirty despite her white hair, and as confident as he painted her.
Tayla sweeps me into a hug like we are long-lost sisters. I return her embrace, ignoring the glare burning into us from Lady Elena’s direction. I’m in no mood for a lecture on decorum today.
“Please call me Mina. I’m so glad you could join us for the tour, though I’m a little surprised Staefan isn’t glued to your side,” I tease.
Her smile turns devious. “I’ll make it up to him later. Besides, our husbands are buried in their work as usual, so I thought I’d get to know the infamous Mina.”
“Infamous?”
Victoria snorts, covering the sound with a sheepish grin. “Don’t pretend you haven’t earned the title.”
Even Lady Elena fails to fully mask her amusement.
I have a feeling Tayla will fit into our little group perfectly. I make quick introductions, and we eagerly climb into the waiting carriages.
Half an hour later, we arrive at a seaside mansion built into the western cliffs.
Splendid white stone pillars are carved with detailed nautical creatures worthy of being in a gallery. Despite the cheesy name, the building is breathtaking. Potted plants and delicate roses adorn the entry. I feel like we’ve been spirited away to a palace beneath the sea.
An elderly man with sculpted, light brown cheekbones and elaborate eye makeup greets us with a flourished bow. Sweet incense clings to his fine blue silk dress-robes. When he straightens, piercing green eyes find mine.
It can’t be.
“Queen Mina and her esteemed guests. We are honored to serve you this afternoon. I am Aziza, the owner of this modest establishment.”
Modest is certainly not a word I would use to describe any aspect of this place. In each elegant detail, I can see little traces of home, from the jasmines carved into the stone pillars to the woven tapestries on the wall.
He flashes me a secretive smile, his pearl bracelets clacking together as he waves forward the attendants. “Atol.”
Later. Jaime stiffens, wide eyes darting to me. I nod.
Aziza is from Kalisham. If he’s been running this spa for six years, he probably has no idea what happened back home.
Or he’s a spy for Zala.
I’m dying to ask him a thousand questions, but I can’t do so without raising suspicion from the others. I force myself to relax and return his smile.
Attendants hand a card to each member of our group. I scan the list: sea salt scrubs; mud baths; face, hair, and skin treatments of every kind. I’m dying to try them all.
I note a lack of other guests. They might be hiding in private rooms, but knowing Darius, we will be the only ones in attendance. He wouldn’t risk the opening, and my female soldiers can guard us from the inside as well.
“Thank you for making the time to fit us in,” I say, arching my brow in question as the others study their menus.
“Think nothing of it! Schedules are easily rearranged.” We will find time to talk.
Aziza continues, “You each have six hours of services available to you in the group room or private rooms upon request. Refreshments are available at any time, and we encourage hydration. The apricot water is wonderful.”
Lady Elena hands her card back to the attendant. “What’s the grotto?”
He beams at us. “A natural hot spring with mineral water that will leave your skin silky for days. We recommend saving a dip for the end of your experience here. Each of you has been assigned an attendant. Please tell them which treatments you desire, and they’ll make the arrangements or offer suggestions. ”
Not even the notion of sharing a relaxing day with Jaime could wipe the smile from Lady Elena’s face. For the next few hours, we have no classifications or titles, our only job to relax.
While debating which services to get, Victoria suggests the lava rock massage. The procedure sounds quite dangerous, but since she stands before me alive, I decide to start with that. Jaime does as well.
Aziza smiles at us both. “I’ll escort you to your first treatment then. Please allow me to recommend which products will be best for you personally.”
Male guards patrol the grounds and halls, leaving the actual spa rooms to the female soldiers. Jaime and I are ushered into a small room with two long cushioned tables. Urselya’s gaze sweeps over Aziza’s robe, checking for weapons.
“Guard the door and see that no one disturbs us. When Aziza exits, you may continue your post in here.”
Urselya tenses, studying the three of us for a moment. I smile, reassuring her Jaime and I will be fine. She salutes and heads into the hallway, closing the door behind her.
Aziza’s joyous host demeanor falls away, tears filling his eyes. “You are a welcome sight,” he says in Kalish. “It is an honor to serve an Ardeshir.”
His affection seems genuine, but shadows are well versed in lying. I echo his welcome, switching to Velorian. Jaime has learned a decent amount of Kalish, but not so much that she can follow an entire conversation.
“I do not mean to sound rude, but what purpose do you serve in Veloria?”
He gestures to the building around us. “My own. Your mother allowed me to retire as a shadow. I dreamed of sharing Kalisham with the world, but our closed borders made that impossible.”
“So you brought a piece of Kalisham here.”
He nods. “Do you truly intend to open Kalisham to Veloria and the rest of the world?”
I bristle. He may be retired, but surely an ex-shadow has heard rumors even here.
“I do. After I avenge my family.”
Aziza’s tears fall uninhibited. “Then it is true.”
“What have you heard?” Jaime asks, braving a step between us.
“Horrible whispers.” Aziza wipes at his cheeks, a rage that mirrors my own lining his wrinkled eyes.
“You may not remember me, daughter of Estere, but we have met before. I could not bring myself to believe the warm, wild child who broke into her mother’s office for a hug would commit such an evil act. ”
Zala’s messenger was telling the truth then. People think I killed them.
“I could never,” my voice chokes on a sob. “It was the current Zala.”
Aziza nods, less surprised than I would have hoped. “He wields charm like a blade. He rose through our ranks quickly. If anyone could pass off such a lie, it would be him.”
“I can only hope others see through it.” I put my hand on Jaime’s shoulder and she steps back to my side.
Aziza wipes his tears and straightens. “I may be retired, but I have amassed many friends over the years. Ones outside of this false king’s reach. Tell me what you need, and it will be done.”
My trust doesn’t come easily. Not after so many in the palace betrayed my family. Still, I can’t crush the seed of hope taking root at his promise. I cautiously take his hands, studying the old shadow.
“I’ll send word to you soon. Thank you, Aziza.”
He squeezes my hands and smiles. “Remember, Mina Ardeshir, jasmines are resilient.”
The blooms down my spine tingle with a sense of power and promise. Resilience is the Ardeshir way. I let a few more tears escape before steeling myself. Jaime touches up my face, while Aziza slips back into the role of a spa owner. When he leaves, Urselya steps back in without a word.
I manage to relax a bit with her watching over us. She’s got a keen sense of who to be wary of.
Jaime and I change into our robes, and I try to focus on relaxing. It’s difficult with all the new plans racing through my mind. I cannot wait to fill Darius in on this development. We may have an edge up over Zala now.
We will win.