Chapter 48
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
MORGANA
M uch like before, the rest of the journey into Avendatis was spent in silence. I sat in the dining cart, nibbling at my food with Erynna settled on the other side of the cabin. The air had grown cold since the morning, some gnawing nerves creeping up my sides like a nasty little rodent. I wasn’t sure if my lack of appetite was due to the corset digging into me, or something else entirely. Eventually the train pulled into the station though, and the prince exited his royal car into the one we occupied.
He first acknowledged his sister, then me. It was like time moved slower than snails as his eyes raked up my gown, to the curves of my shoulders, eventually landing on the center of my face. He approached slowly, Erynna’s head twisting in our direction with haste. Her sudden watch was the only thing making me realize that time was not standing still, in fact. It was moving at a perfectly decent speed.
He handed me three items. A silver dagger, a ring, and a handkerchief. Not any ordinary handkerchief—it was black and sullied with dirt. That was the cloth I’d used to cover my face when I tailed him in the Afterdark. I accepted all the items except the ring slowly, lifting my focus back up to him.
“Lady… Tillington ,” he muttered, already falling into his role with such a grim, straight expression it made me shudder. “Beneath your dress is a pocket to hold the dagger. It will be loose, but let us hope you will not need to use it.” His crimson glare was hardened, and as soon as it was time for one of us to blink, he tore his attention from my face and pointed it at the table next to us. “Inside the ruby gem of that ring is vesper poison. It should only be used in grave situations—even the smallest amount of powder is lethal. They will either need to drink it or breathe it in directly.”
He gestured for my hand, slipping the ring onto my right hand. A spark bounced between us at the mere touch, and if it weren’t for the way he jolted back, I would have thought nothing of it. Aster cleared his throat and twisted away from me. “Right, then. We’re quite ready.”
“Quite.” Erynna nodded and aimed for the exit. She guided us toward the guards who awaited us, escorting us off the shallow train steps into the bustling train station. Even so late, it was a flurry of movement, filled with bustling commuters rushing to catch the last train out. We maneuvered the throngs of bodies with haste, Aster situated behind my person and Erynna at the front. I wanted to turn to him and ask what the matter was, but we had to keep on.
There had to be a moment of calm silence where I could inquire about his cold tone later.
As we broke out into the streets where a carriage awaited us, the hum of music and festive cheers filled the quiet night air. My ears perked at the merriment but kept on until I was situated in the coach. I turned my head, expecting to find Erynna and Aster one step after me, but the door slammed shut. Just as I had time to pull the curtains to the side, the coachman urged the horses forward. I caught one last glimpse at Aster, with his head tilted toward the ground with this terrible frown, and Erynna, who rubbed his back before they got in their own coach.
My heart raced. I stared down at the dagger still firmly placed in my hand, hiking up the endless layers of my gown until I found the damned pocket he’d told me about. The moonlight captured the sheen of my ruby ring, and I pulled my hand closer to view it. Against the luminescence, something shimmered beneath the depths.
Death. Terrible, terrible death, should I choose to use it.
Clutching my hand to my chest, I sighed and bounced my leg. Something wasn’t right about this. I twisted my head to look out the window behind me, their coach tailing behind this one a few paces back.
Perhaps I was being irrational.
This had to be part of the plan.