4. Katya
4
I t’s easy to forget the whole city of Cairn lies beyond the dom’s gates, with fae going about their daily lives. It’s like I’ve entered another world where buildings are made of brick and wood instead of limestone and the familiar scent of baked bread intermingles with the sulfuric smoke from the textile mill, like a rotten egg sandwich. Grocers, apothecaries, booksellers and the like, line the street where boys stand, shouting at passersby to “read all about” some bit of news I don’t really care about. Smartly dressed merchants in frock coats and top hats pass soot-covered factory workers, both pretending not to notice the beggars and passed-out drunks on the walkways. The ladies shine like jewels in the otherwise dreary landscape, and though I envy their colorful dresses and feather hats, I’m grateful I only have this corset to contend with and not the bustle so many wear. How anyone can sit with their backside puffed out like a ruffled-up tabletop is beyond my comprehension .
I’m so engrossed in looking around the city, I don’t even realize we’ve reached the train station until the driver stops the carriage just outside the one-man ticket booth. Leodin must have already secured our seats because he walks right past the booth and the line of travelers waiting to purchase their tickets.
I’d seen a train in books before, but I have to say, photographs didn’t do the behemoths justice. It isn’t just their size, which is considerable, it’s the scraping of the wheels along the track, the power of the engine, the scent of smoke permeating the air and the ear-piercing blare of the horn.
It’s simply overwhelming.
Once inside, with the ruckus of the train station somewhat muted and sitting in our little private compartment, the tension twisting my chest finally begins to ease. Then Duke Berezin arrives, and it seizes right up again. The duke holds the highest position in Elterra province. He is also friends with my stepfather and a disgusting pervert who is as round as he is tall, with breath like he eats corpses for breakfast and a face worthy of a paper bag. If that sounds terribly unkind, that’s because Berezin, for all that he is married, can’t seem to keep his sweaty hands to himself. Every visit from him I’m forced into a game of cat and mouse, which I am generally on the losing end of. To make matters worse, he doesn’t even try to hide it from Leodin. Not that I’d expect Leodin to care. I’m sure he would happily hand me over to Berezin if he thought it would improve his political standing.
Leodin and I jump to our feet, and he bows while I make a wobbly attempt at a curtsy. Berezin bids us to sit, and I consider making a run for the toilet, but Leodin is giving me the be-nice-or-you’ll-regret-it look, so I sit back down. In our compartment, there are two long velveteen benches facing each other with plenty of free space on both, but Berezin, being Berezin, sets his expansive backside down right next to me.
“Hello, Katya.” The way he says my name makes my skin crawl… or perhaps it’s his foul breath heating my cheek.
“Your grace,” I reply.
“How long has it been? Two months?”
Not long enough. “Yes, your grace.” I smile, or at least I attempt a smile. The sides of my mouth turn up, but the way I’m gritting my teeth can’t possibly look natural. I’m terrible at hiding my feelings. Mama says it’s my honest nature, but that’s just her being kind. The truth is, I lack even the tiniest modicum of patience for the games people play.
“Two weeks,” he begins as he drags a plump finger up my arm. He leans in closer, his rank breath painting my ear. “Plenty of time for us to get to know each other better.”
I bolt out of my seat just as the horn sounds and the train begins to move. I throw out a hand to grip the wall before I crash back down on top of the nasty bugger.
Seemingly unperturbed by my reaction, Berezin pulls the watch from his vest pocket and flips it open. “Right on time, excellent. Who would like a drink? It’s on me.” He says the words as though he’s addressing us both, but his slimy gaze is firmly locked on me.
“Very thoughtful of you, your grace,” Leodin says, a tiny smirk tugging at the corner of his lip. At least someone’s finding this situation amusing. “But perhaps the debauchery could wait until after lunch?”
“Pshaw,” Berezin says with a dismissive wave of his hand. “You are no fun, my friend. And how about you, Lady Katya? ”
“Thank you, but I’m going to take a walk and look around a bit. Excuse me.” I start for the door, but Berezin grabs me by the wrist and tries to tug me back into my seat.
“There’s nothing to see,” he says. “Stay and have a drink with me.”
I snatch my hand back. “No. Thank you.” Leodin raises a bushy eyebrow but doesn’t comment. “Excuse me,” I say again and sprint out of the compartment.
Sliding the door shut behind me, I pause long enough to hear Leodin say, “You’re never going to get anywhere with that one, so you might as well let it go.”
“Ah, but it’s the chase that’s so much fun,” Berezin replies.
My hands curl into fists at my sides. It’ll be a lot of fun when I separate his privates from his body. Shaking out my hands before my fingernails slice through my palms, I head down the narrow corridor, stopping at the doorway that leads out into what I’m assuming is the dining car.
It has all the trappings of luxury without any of the style. A rich mahogany veneer covers the walls and tables, while the booths and floors are decorated in clashing patterns of burgundy and gold. Add to that, the miniature chandeliers and gold-plated dishes and it’s a wonder passengers maintain their appetites after entering. Fortunately, I’m not here for the food. I slide into the ridiculously ornate booth and rest my forehead against the cool window. The world whips by at a frightening speed, the lovely fall leaves reduced to streaks of red and orange and yellow against the clear blue sky. Ranook is only a few hours away from Dom Duje by train. Still, it will be the furthest I’ve ever been from home.
I shift in my seat, wishing I’d thought to bring a book or something else to divert my attention for a few hours. Excitement and trepidation plague me in turns, leaving me twisted and frayed like a freshly wrung towel. I can’t even begin to understand what Leodin is up to. I am no spy. There’s a tiny part of me that wonders if this is a bid to get rid of me once and for all—dump me off on some rich noble and be done with me. He probably thought I’d be married by now, but who would want to marry a bastard, with virtually no magic, who spends all her time with her nose in a book?
As if summoned by my thoughts, Leodin walks into the dining car and takes a seat in the booth across from me. Peering over my shoulder, he raises a hand and a young male in a red vest and cap steps up to the table. “Coffees please,” Leodin says, not bothering to ask me if I even want one—I do, but that’s not the point. The young male scurries off, leaving us alone. Leodin watches me for a moment, and I meet him stare for stare. Every part of me wants to shrink away from that gaze, but I learned long ago that showing even the tiniest sign of weakness only eggs him on.
After what seems like an eternity, but was probably not more than a few minutes, the young male returns with our coffees and Leodin breaks eye contact, accepting his drink without a word of thanks. I do thank the server and he gives me a small smile in return, then Leodin and I quietly turn to the task of adding sugar and cream to our mugs.
“We need to talk,” he says, dropping the miniature spoon back into the sugar dish.
I lift my cup, savoring the bitter-sweet scent before taking a tiny sip. My intent was to make him wait a moment, turn his own tricks back on him. Then the scalding liquid hits my tongue and I sputter. I have a split second to choose between swallowing what I suspect is lava masquerading as coffee or spewing it all over the table. Of course, I choose the former because I’d rather melt my internal organs than allow myself to look like a fool in front of Leodin. I school my expression and swallow. The liquid burns a line of fire down my throat, but I ignore it and ask, “About?”
He lifts the mug and blows across the lip, sending the steam billowing away only to be replaced by more rising in his face. “What to expect when we reach the palace,” he says, finally taking a sip. He makes a pleased humming sound. I guess that means the coffee is good. Too bad my tongue is burnt to a crisp now, and I won’t be able to enjoy it. He sets down the mug and steeples his fingers under his chin. “The principals from each of the nine houses will be there. I’m not concerned about the other doms from Elterra. Nymn gets all their information from us, and Morgana’s magi only care to talk to the dead or dying. But the others are less transparent.” He glances behind himself, then cranes his neck to look over my shoulder into the next car. Eyes still watching over my head, he whispers, “I’m afraid the Feridas doms are under the queen’s thumb.”
I draw back in shock. “Are you sure?”
“Of course, I’m not sure. If I was sure, I wouldn’t need you.”
It’s a fair point, but he doesn’t have to be such an ass about it.
“As I was saying,” he continues, giving me the side-eye. “If they are, that means Queen Diane has control of Bac’s fire wielders, Ratimer’s enchanted weapons and Casmir’s protective spells. If they sought a fight, we’d be sorely outmatched.”
Now, I’m really confused. “What would they possibly want to fight about? They already won the war. We’re all one nation now. ”
He shakes his head. “You misunderstand me. The crown won’t start anything, but with that sort of backing, they could easily put down any resistance. Word has spread about pocket rebellions springing up in the Ajir province. If that’s so, we need to know where and who is supporting them.”
“So, we can choose the winning side.”
Leodin taps the side of his nose and takes a sip of his coffee. I’d completely forgotten about my own coffee, so I follow his lead and take a small sip. It’s already going cold. Typical.
Setting my cup down, I rub my temples. All this political talk is going to give me a headache. “I just don’t get it, I guess. I mean, what reason would they have to rebel? Trade is good, our people are fed.”
“You read too many books, girl,” he says, rolling his eyes. “We fae have long memories. The people of Elterra and Ajir remember what it was like when we were all our own sovereign nations. They remember when the royal families were murdered, and their heads mounted on the palace gates in Ranook.”
Good gods, I did not need that visual.
I must have made a disgusted face because Leodin nods in agreement. “And they weren’t too happy when the crown chased their pet humans off their lands, either.”
“But that was twenty years ago.”
“Twenty years is nothing to an immortal.” He sinks back into his seat and scratches his cleanly shaven chin. “This is important, Katya. You are only to listen and take note of any information you think might be of interest to me. You will eavesdrop where you can, but only when in a public venue. That means no listening at doorways or sneaking into rooms, nothing that might come back around to bite us in the ass. If you get fingered as a spy, we both get hanged. Understand?”
I nod.
He shakes his head, eyes far away as he lifts the mug to his lips and takes another sip of the lukewarm coffee. “This is about more than you or me, girl. It’s about our home and our people. Your mother may not understand that, but she doesn’t get to make the decisions, I do. I need someone I can trust, and for all that you and I aren’t exactly a love match, I know you will do whatever it takes to protect your mother, Maxim and Dom Duje.”
I nod. There’s no use denying it. He’s right.
“You will be playing the part of a daft young girl I’ve brought along hoping to arrange an advantageous marriage for. No one is to know of your ability to speak languages outside of common Ferinees and Elterran.”
“I can play dumb.”
“Good.” He takes my hand and lifts and rotates it to inspect the stones Mama gave me. “And keep these hidden. Preferably in your room. A fae witch wearing jewelry is always seen as a potential threat. You need to be beneath their notice.”
I tug my hand from his. “They aren’t very much use to me if I’m not wearing them,” I say, fingering the humming gems.
“You aren’t very much use to me if you are. Keep them hidden.” He drops a couple of shillings on the table and slides out of his seat. “I have to go tend to Duke Berezin. Keep your mouth shut. No speaking unless spoken to. And do not get off this train without me.”
“Yes, sir,” I say, with not a little sarcasm .
The muscle in his jaw jumps. “That smart mouth will get you in trouble one of these days.”
“Definitely,” I admit. But not today.