Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
Peylin slides into the seat next to me. “What now?”
“Well, this curse is real. The lines of a riddle appeared on both my skin and his. Two parts that make a whole. Why Peylin? Why is this happening to me? I’ve been through enough.”
She rests a hand on my thigh. “I know. But I don’t want you to die either. You’ve done more for this city and all of Eidrfall than you realize. We need you.”
“You’re just being nice.” I drop my head into my hands, forcing out a breath.
“I can’t lie to you.” Peylin removes her hand, turning to signal Govlik for a drink.
And Peylin wouldn’t say a twisted truth just to appease my feelings. She says what she means—I just have a hard time believing good things about myself. Even after all this time, I don’t feel like I deserve it after my past mistakes.
“Do you want me to come with you?” Peylin asks, full of concern.
“No, I think we have to do it alone. Something about ‘two must find four fragments’. You know curses can be finicky. So, two it will be; even though I’m not happy about it.” I say it loud enough for Mikael, regardless of his heightened senses, to hear in this quiet room.
“Well, in that case, let’s pivot to city business. I’ve sent orders to all the guards. Everyone is aware there will be an inspection within the day. What are you going to do? You should be here when your father arrives.”
As if summoned, a guard barges into the tavern, skidding to a halt when he sees us. His chest heaves, and beads of sweat pebble his forehead even in the cool days of late autumn. “The general and his garrison have been spotted a mile out from the city.”
“Thank you, Colston.” I stand and guide him to the bar, pulling out a seat. “Govlik, do you mind pouring him some water?” I place a few gold coins on the counter, and Govlik nods.
“Catch your breath, then return to your post,” I command.
“Understood,” the guard responds.
My father is already here. This is not good. I really am cursed. How much worse can my day get? It’s not even been a full cycle of the sun since Mikael arrived, and now my father is about to prance around my city looking for anything out of order.
Peylin falls into step beside me as I walk away from the bar and head toward Mikael, who’s chatting with one of the workers by the kitchen entrance.
“Come with me,” I order Mikael without pausing on my way to the stairs.
Our footsteps thud on the wooden stairs like nails being hammered into my coffin. I can’t believe I’m now consistently engaging in conversation with Mikael. That this isn’t some sort of dark magic fever dream, set upon me by someone I’ve pissed off.
“I’ll whistle if anyone comes up,” Peylin says, staying behind at the top of the stairs.
At the end of the hall, I pull open the door to the storage closet.
Supplies and linens fill the shelves, along with other trinkets.
I reach up and grip the corner of the top shelf, and slide two fingers into the narrow slot.
I feel for the latch and press down, leaning my body weight against the shelving.
The wood creaks and swings inward, revealing the hidden bedroom behind it. “Quickly, before anyone sees.”
When I close the door behind us, I finally speak. “You must stay here until I return. My father will be here within minutes, and you cannot be seen.”
“Only if you promise to go with me and break this curse.” The corner of his lip rises in a smirk.
“And what if I don’t?”
“Then I can’t promise to stay hidden.” He shrugs. “If this is as important to you as breaking this curse is to me, then agree.”
Oh, I really do hate him. I shouldn’t have let him stay. Should have had my most trusted guards deliver him to the king. Or stabbed him with a stake myself.
But he knows I can’t refuse. This city is too important to me to risk him making a scene and ruining everything I’ve built.
I let out a frustrated sigh. “Fine.”
“No. Say the exact words.”
I huff, but cave. “I promise to go with you. But, only if you promise to leave Eidrfall when we accomplish that.”
“I promise.” He goes to the bed and lies down, arm behind his head. “I’ll be waiting for your return.”
“I should just lock you in here until you desiccate.”
“Bryn, there is a window.” He waves a hand lazily toward the source of light in the room.
“I could have it barred.” I retort, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Not in time, my love.” Mikael crosses a foot over his knee, bouncing it absentmindedly.
“I hate you,” I grumble.
He presses his lips together, stifling a laugh. I slam the door, rattling some of the supplies on the shelves as I curse under my breath that he can still get under my skin. I walk down the hall to where Peylin is waiting.
“I don’t want to hear it,” I say before she can comment on that interaction, knowing full well she heard everything. “Let’s go.”
“Are we meeting him at the gates?” Peylin questions, then continues, “I need to run to the study and grab the report.”
“If he isn’t already within the city walls, then yes. I’ll see you soon,” I answer.
I storm through the streets of Varithen. The air is heavy and charged with energy, an undercurrent of anticipation flowing through everyone.
The citizens I pass share whispers when they see me. It’s only four lefts and a right turn until I reach the main square. Vendors line the edges of the space, the colorful tents and pennants hanging from the brown wooden poles that hold the weight of the fabric.
It’s market day, and even if I had known of my father’s impending arrival, I wouldn’t have cancelled it. The market helps the city thrive, with travelers from other cities and towns coming to exchange wares.
Before I make it to the gates, I see my father dismounting to stop at a vendor’s cart. Picking up a skewer of meat and vegetables, he drops coins into the merchant’s hand and nods. He turns in my direction and lifts the food. “You always were able to procure the best talent.”
His tone is too casual, like this is a friendly visit. My nerves are already on edge from Mikael being here, along with the pounding headache that never subsided.
“Why are you really here?” I ask.
“There have been rumors of vampire activity east of the capital. After the battle and the first century of silence, we no longer kept our minds so heavily focused on their movements. It seems we were wrong to think they wouldn’t come back.”
“Again, why are you here?”
“It was time for your inspection, and there just happened to be a rumor that a vampire was sighted near your city. I don’t need to warn you of the implications if there are any unexpected vampires visiting.”
“The inspection was scheduled for next month,” I say, then add, “and you have lost your mind to the stars if you think I’d entertain any specific vampire’s presence.”
“Your black heart has yet to return red, I see. Show me around your city, and tell me your plans for defense.”
“General.” Peylin nods to my father as she stops beside me, extending a rolled bundle of parchment. “The plans as requested. It’s a copy for you to take back to the capital with you.”
“Always prepared.” He looks at me when he responds.
“I learned from the best, as did Peylin,” I say flatly. I don’t hate my father, and I know he still cares for me, but there’s a tension between us that has never resolved itself. Things changed after Mikael’s betrayal, and my downfall.
He knows I’m the only one who was close enough with a vampire to reveal such a deadly secret. Maybe our tension’s simply due to my shame; the fact that being around him reminded me of what I had caused.
“You have your orders.” My father barks at the other guards in his company. He’s sending them to the taverns and inns to inspect them for compliance.
When they all depart, Peylin and I escort my father around the city, stopping at each guard post, discussing tactics and the supplies we keep stocked.
The further the sun treks across the sky, a persistent unease sits within my stomach that Mikael will break his word—or that they’ll find him. No one has ever found the hidden room, though, so I shouldn’t be worrying about it.
The only reason I trust Mikael a sliver right now is because he wasn’t lying about the curse. He seems persistent enough about saving me. I frown, struggling to reconcile that with the man who tore us apart two centuries ago.
“Bryn.” My father’s voice cuts through my thoughts.
I blink, his face coming back into focus. “What?”
While lost in my thoughts, we made it to the docks. Both Peylin and my father look at me expectantly, the general with his brow raised and Peylin with an expression that says, Come on.
“Are you that hungover? You run this city well enough, but you need to focus on yourself.” My father shakes his head. “It’s been long enough.”
“General Salinthor was asking how often we receive trade with the human lands.” Peylin pulls her arms behind her and stands up straighter when she relays what my father just asked.
“Three to four shipments a month, from two different vendors,” I answer, grateful she was paying attention.
“You have all the records available?” my father asks.
“I don’t run a criminal empire. This is a reputable city.” I scowl at him. “Are you satisfied enough to leave?”
“Watch how you speak to me. I may be your father, but I’m still the general—and you are technically still part of the royal guard.” General Salinthor’s brows turn down as his voice deepens with the unspoken threat. He walks away from the docks, entering the bustle of the port.
The only thing I can do is follow. I don’t have anything else to say.
Peylin squeezes my arm, and I let the general guide us through my city’s streets back to the main square, where the rest of his company is waiting with their horses.
He holds up a hand, signaling me to halt behind him. Dutifully, we stop and wait while he calls two of his royal guards to him. I watch as he speaks in a low voice, inaudible to even my hearing, and nods as the guard responds.
General Salinthor turns to face us, closing the gap with a few strides and asks, “Will you send a report if any vampires are seen in or near Varithen?”
“Yes.” I keep my answer short. I will send a missive, eventually—when the curse is broken and Mikael leaves Eidrfall for good.
“Then my time here has come to an end,” my father says as he mounts his horse. “We’ll return for the next inspection. In the meantime, you should visit me in the capital for tea.”
“If I get a free moment, I’ll consider it.”
My father shakes his head as he turns his horse and gallops out of the city with the rest of his company following behind. I let out a long breath when the last one passes under the gate’s threshold.
Thank goodness. I waste no time pivoting and returning to Govlik’s, not even stopping at the bar.
When I open the door to the hidden room, I find Mikael sitting in a chair with crossed legs kicked up and resting on the desk. His head is leaned back as he holds the paper up in front of him.
“Pixies,” he says when I close the door behind me.
“What?” I grab the paper and sit on the bed. Reading over the lines, I find no connection to pixies.
“Isn’t there a pixie glen at the southern end of Brokenridge Mountains?”
“Yes. Explain.”
“I was just considering how much it seems I was annoying you with my comments. ‘Vexing’ you, even. After that, it was easy. I went through a list of things that more generally fit this description. Pixies love to cause mischief and mayhem. And, their glens often have flowers and waterfalls.”
“You are annoying me,” I correct him, and groan at the thought of traveling with him.
“No reason to linger. When the moon rises, meet me at the stables across town. Wear one of the black cloaks in the closet with the hood up. Don’t let anyone see you.
Your presence has been questioned already,” I tell Mikael.
“Do you have those magically imbued steeds available?” He cocks an eyebrow and chuckles.
I genuinely laugh at his stupid joke; at how awful this all is.
I hate curses and hate him. I leave and head down to the bar.
The one bright star in this mess is that the pixie glen is the opposite way my father is headed.