Chapter 15
It's both a relief and a disappointment when I hear the arrival of the Damsels.
Though it was definitely a disappointment to have to pull myself out of Fen's bed to go and meet them.
After three days of having time to ourselves, and without much to do until everyone arrives, we've had time to do what we need to, deepening our budding relationship with conversations and long nights in bed.
It's been a break from the world, and there's a part of me which is reluctant to give it up, even though I know we're not going to end things just because we go back to our normal lives.
A carriage rolls into the courtyard, summoning Lady Eyre with the noise. I watch her closely, not missing the sigh of relief when she realises that it isn't her father's carriage. I'd feel the same in her place.
A part of me wants to reach out and take Fen's hand, and from the way his is twitching, I have to assume that he wants the same. But neither of us move. While I have no intention of our relationship being a secret, I also don't want to rush us out into the open, especially before I've told Vasia.
I make my way forward just as the door to the carriage opens and Lady Cassandra steps out with Vasia in tow.
I'm surprised they're both here, normally, Lady Cassandra doesn't come into Drakaron herself.
I'm not supposed to know that, but there's been enough gossip about it amongst the Damsels that I do.
Vasia helps some of the others with unloading the carts that have arrived in the tower's courtyard along with the carriage, many of them including the items we need in order to burn the tower to the ground.
Lady Cassandra doesn't help, instead she comes over to us. "Has everything gone as planned?"
I nod. "This is Lady Eyre," I say, gesturing to the noblewoman.
Lady Eyre lifts her chin. "Who are you?"
"Lady Cassandra," she responds.
Lady Eyre raises an eyebrow. "A lady involved with the Damsels?"
"There are all kinds of Damsels, My Lady. Perhaps you will understand that once you've spent some time at our castle. Now, might I suggest that you return to your chambers and pack the belongings you do not wish to leave behind? I intend for us to be gone by nightfall."
For a moment, I think Lady Eyre is going to argue back, but she doesn't. Instead, she nods her head and returns into the tower.
"Do you know which servants are staying, which are fleeing, and which are coming with us?" she asks Fen.
"Yes."
"Once we're done here, get the message spread. Then the two of you need to prepare the tower for burning."
"Got it," Fen says.
"The ship to return us home departs at dawn. If you're not on it, you'll have to fly." She doesn't say anything else and heads off to see to other parts of the mission.
"Did she just imply that I should ride you home?" I ask, staring after Lady Cassandra.
Fen chuckles. "You surprise me."
"Why?" I turn to face him, seeing amusement written all over his face.
"I'd have thought you'd want to ride a dragon, Ingrid."
"I already did."
His lips quirk up into a smile. "This dragon would be more than willing to be your ride again."
"I'm glad to hear it." I check around us to make sure no one is watching, and lean in to kiss him.
He puts an arm around my back and pulls me closer, deepening the kiss even though there's a risk that we shouldn't be doing this here.
"Ahem."
I pull back and wince at the sight of Vasia standing there.
"Something the two of you need to tell me?" she asks, looking between us.
"It's new," I blurt out.
She shrugs. "I assumed as much. You've been looking at each other like you want to tear one another's clothes off for months."
"I have not," I murmur.
Fen chuckles. "Haven't you?"
"Whose side are you on?"
"Yours," he teases.
Vasia rolls her eyes. "Can you at least wait until everything's set up for us to leave? We've still got a job to do."
"Right, yes." I clear my throat and smooth down my dress. "Where's the body?"
"In the cart still. We need to put one of Lady Eyre's dresses on her, but she's all ready to burn."
"Who is she?" Fen asks.
"A former Damsel," Vasia answers. "Someone Mother rescued five years ago. Her last testament said that she wished to donate her body to the Damsels for something like this, so that she could save one last person." A sad smile crosses over my best friend's face, one that I'm sure I share.
"That's beautiful," I say.
"It is. But sad that it needs doing," Vasia responds. "We should go do that while Fen starts getting set for the fire."
"I'm on it," he says, lingering a moment longer than is strictly necessary, like he wants to say goodbye to me properly.
"I'll see you later." I reach out to touch his hand.
He smiles at me and nods before disappearing.
"I'm happy for you," Vasia says after he's gone.
"You are?" I turn back to my best friend.
"Of course. You've clearly been wanting to bed him for a while."
"I thought you didn't understand that."
"I don't want to bed anyone, that doesn't mean I don't understand when other people want to, and it's been clear that both of you want that for a while. To me, anyway."
I sigh and look in the direction Fen's disappeared in. "It's more than that."
"I'm not surprised. You're good for each other."
"You don't know that."
"I've been friends with both of you for over twenty years, I think I'm qualified to say," she responds. "Now come on, the dead body isn't going to dress itself."
"Unfortunately," I mutter. "I wish we had someone who knew death magic in the Damsels, it would make things so much easier."
"I don't think they'd waste their magic on dressing a dead body," Vasia responds as we head over to the cart.
"Maybe not, but there's probably something they could do."
"Well, that's not one of the powers any of the Damsels have," Vasia responds. "We've got four dragons, and that's it."
"Three, baby Yun hasn't found her dragon yet."
"I don't know how that works," Vasia says.
"I don't know either," I respond, deciding that it's probably best not to tell her that Fen found his dragon after she beat him at a sparring match.
"So, other than finally making a move on Fen, how did the mission go?" she asks, grabbing one handle of the cart while I take the other.
"Well, I think. Lady Eyre was...a challenge. One that I'm glad your mother has to deal with now."
Vasia laughs. "I heard one of the others muttering about that."
"But it's still good to know that we can help her."
"I wish I could have done more," Vasia responds, a hint of frustration seeping into her voice.
"You brought the body," I say as we pull the cart over to the door of the tower. It's hard work over the cobbles, but we manage between the two of us.
"And that's all I've done," she says. "I want to do more.
I want to actually make a difference. We're the same age, and yet Mother is happy to send you out on a mission, but she won't send me.
She barely let me come on this part." Her frustration rises along with her words, and for a moment, it almost looks as if her eyes change colour, darkening from light blue to purple, but the flash is gone so quickly, I'm not entirely convinced it happened.
I grimace. "I'm sorry."
"No, I'm sorry. It's not your fault my mother is being overprotective. I just wish I understood why."
"I don't think we'll ever understand our mothers," I respond.
Vasia laughs. "No, probably not."
"She'll let you do a mission eventually," I promise Vasia.
"I hope you're right."
I smile at my friend, hoping that I am too. I know it bothers her that Lady Cassandra doesn't let her go on missions, but there's got to be a good reason for that. Maybe one day, we'll even learn what that is.