26. Esther #3
The woman is partnered with one other man. A fire greer wrapped so tightly in cloth, that his identity is mostly concealed, except his black-eyed stare, which appears bored.
“Two hundred and seventy-five.” The second bidder seethes.
The woman subtly touches a small gold hoop earring pierced atop her ear as if listening in. Is she communicating with another greer? Is she only buying on their behalf?
“Three hundred gold,” the woman replies.
“Is that two hundred and ninety-nine, I hear?” Volmere booms and slams down her hammer. “Sold!”
“What?!” The other man shoots up from his wooden throne. “This is rigged!”
Volmere doesn’t respond, only ushers her men to remove me from the stage and bring out the next item.
The furious greer explodes, creating a riot as he storms the crowd. Magic and weapons unsheathe, creating immediate chaos. Some greers let their beasts off leashes, cackling as they attack their neighbors.
“Revelare!” Volmere booms the final word of her chant echoing through the crowd. A giant red hexagon glows atop the invisible barrier, and I realize then why I couldn’t find an exit, because no one leaves unless as a guest—but it would seem that can easily be revoked.
The crowd pauses, most staring at the hexagon. “Remember that you have stepped onto my grounds,” she threatens. The magic that pulses from the hexagon indicates it would’ve taken days premeditating and casting, waiting for only one final word to activate.
The same wind greer who deflected the stone grabs me by the chains binding my hands. The greer is smart enough not to lay a finger on me, acutely aware that something is protecting me.
I’m pulled back into the tent, walking through items and beasts alike as quickly as I was taken out. My magic tries to trace Regent again, but he’s nowhere to be found, and my stomach sinks, coming to terms with the fact that he really has left me behind.
Trust me. Why had I clung to those words out on the stage, believing myself to be anything other than a tool for him to use?
Instead of being taken back to my cage, another tent door is opened to reveal the beautiful, dark-haired greer wearing deep red, waiting expectantly with her hands on her hips. A carriage waits behind her with no beast to pull it. It’s completely lacquered and dark, unable to see in.
“Took you long enough,” she snaps at the greer, dropping a large bag of gold coins on the ground where some spill out. He’s quick to fall to his knees, scraping them up, most likely too scared of Volmere’s wrath if it’s miscounted. “Tell Volmere that Lainteen Grimuoire sends his regards.”
“She’ll be pleased with your business,” he says, still scooping up the gold.
The greer turns her back, a confidence in which she oozes that even if they did attack, they would never survive.
The fire greer that was with her in the crowd lazily waits beside the carriage, his face hidden by bandages, but his black eyes watch me carefully. The dark magic that swirls around them alludes that they’re more than ordinary greers.
The woman chants, and the carriage door flings open.
She steps inside, impatient as I slowly follow, my chains dragging at my ankles and hands.
I consider linking with the water greer’s magic, but even then, I’m still inside the barrier, and I’m certain that on my own, I won’t be able to pass through.
So, the only way to leave is with them in this carriage.
“I wouldn’t try anything funny,” she warns, peering down at me, arms crossed over her chest. “My master may desire you, but I have no issue with chopping you up into little pieces. I don’t do well with other women.
” She quietly chants. A slice of wind cuts the back of my knee, and I buckle forward, falling beneath my weight as I grit out in pain, but instead I welcome it.
I’m alive.
I’m here.
It only adds fuel to my fire.
“Always so jealous and petty,” the fire greer says with a thick accent as he picks me up from the elbow and drags me into the carriage.
She throws her nose into the air. “Please, an omni greer? Give me a break. It might not be my gold I’m spending, but this girl is worth no more than a few coppers. It infuriates me that I had to bid so highly because of Volmere’s tricks and facade.”
“That’s for Lainteen to decide,” the greer condemns her as he shoves me into the seat and pulls out a white cloth. “I simply wish you weren’t so messy.” He wraps the fabric around my calf tightly, and red quickly seeps through. He then takes a seat across from me.
My invisible chains suddenly rattle as they pick up on Regent’s magic again.
It’s faint, but he’s close. When I look back out at the tent and past the few trees that line it, I can’t see him but know he’s there.
My heart kicks up a beat as a small part of me prays he’s not the man I thought he was.
And even if he is, I’ll still get myself out of this situation—somehow.
“Well, then let’s pray to Felia that she doesn’t bleed out before we get there.” The wind greer uses a one-word chant, and the door closes, the carriage falling into darkness.