38. Mare #3
The white coat, the black-feathered hat. Everyone knew to fear the sight of them. I stumbled forward, but strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me back.
"Don't," Reese hissed.
The woman's screams grew louder. I looked away, unable to bear the sight.
Inquisitors had swarmed Aenir during my childhood. Searching for people who clung to the worship of the saints, who still prayed at their pagan altars.
There had been so many fires. Father had kept me away from them, back then.
I closed my eyes until the screams finally stopped. Until only the sound of crackling flames and the murmur of the crowd remained.
The Inquisitor recited the same words they always did. "May the sun burn away your sins, so that you might find forgiveness in the Light Beyond."
Peeling my eyes open, I saw the Inquisitor sweeping the crowd. His downturned hat shadowed his eyes, but I could tell his gaze had landed on me.
Pushing through the crowd, he strode toward us. Reese stepped in front of me, fingers curled around his sword's hilt.
"Lord Tiernan,” the Inquisitor said. "I did not expect to see you, this far south."
"Surely news of the attacks has reached Forlaith," Reese replied warily.
"Of course it has. But as I recall, your orders were in the north."
"Killian called me here."
"Did he? Since when did a Stormborn's authority outstrip the queen's?"
The bad blood between these two filled the air with thick, palpable tension. They glowered at each other with conviction—both thought they were in the right.
About what, though?
My teeth ground into my tongue. I knew I should keep silent. But a question rose in my throat and erupted from my lips.
"What was her crime?"
The Inquisitor gestured lazily to the burning corpse. "That foul blood was caught lying with another woman."
His sharp gaze studied me, as though waiting for me to condemn her. Or perhaps to defend her. Before I could think of a response, his eyes lifted off me to regard something behind us.
A horse and an elk rode to our side. Bláth and Liam.
"There you are!" Bláth said cheerily, throwing me a smile. She nodded at the Inquisitor. "My lord."
The Inquisitor hardly noticed her, gaze settling instead on Liam.
He stared for far too long—with barely concealed distaste.
Then, the gleam in his yellow eyes shifted. Disgust turned to recognition. He lifted his chin, studying Liam's features more intently.
No, no, no. There was nothing—nothing—any of us could do if the Inquisitors decided to take my brother.
Reese's voice cut through the air like a blade. "What the queen wants can wait. I'm needed down here until the border is secure."
The Inquisitor ripped his gaze from Liam. "True enough. It's hardly my place to encroach on a Paragon." Bowing his head, he shot one last glance at Liam before striding away.
My shoulders sagged in relief.
"Reesey," Bláth said quietly. "Are you in trouble?"
Reese spun on his heel. "It's not important right now."
She raised her eyebrows. "See? You're always head-butting politicians."
Exhaling, I looked up at my brother.
But everyone was gone. The street lay empty. Silence cut through the crowd's chatter, muting the world.
Startled, I stumbled back.
A man approached me from behind, purple cloak billowing in the breeze. Fire touched his fingertips, and he pressed them to a pipe before setting it in his mouth.
It was the fae. Vaf. Dark hair hung around his bronzed face. A mask concealed one half; the other was set with a beautiful golden eye.
"So many secrets.” He puffed out a ring of smoke. "How did you put it? 'like a group of foes, who did not yet know they should strike?'"
I stared at him in horror. How did he know my thoughts?
"You never knew the Inquisitors were after your brother.” The fae peered down at me. "Did you?"
"What?" I blurted out.
"It must sting to know you can't even trust Liam."
Staggering back, I spun around. Only an empty town greeted me.
Why would Inquisitors hunt Liam? This one had stared out of more than mere hatred for foul-bloods.
Summoning my courage, I stood tall. "The last show you put on was entertaining at least. Are you trying to frighten me, this time?"
"Yes," Vaf said plainly. "History that is better left forgotten lies to the south. Death and ruin hide in its every crevice. Should fate call upon you to seek it—leap."
"Oh, riddles. I love those."
The fae smirked. "You and Brighid will get along famously, I think." He crossed the gap I'd created. "I'm not your foe, Mare Rohan. I'm trying to give you a warning." He leaned in, basking me in warmth so like Reese's. "Fear not the darkness, Lady Rohan. Stride into its embrace."
The last word echoed in my mind. I squeezed my eyes shut.
Sound erupted around me. Chatter, footsteps, horse hooves. I opened my eyes to see everything as it had been, before Vaf had stolen me to his quiet, empty realm.
Reese turned back when he noticed I wasn't following him. He took my arm. "Come on. You need to get some rest.”
I let him lead me, mind whirling. Glancing up, I tried to meet my brother's eye.
But he avoided my gaze.