Chapter 11
ARIAH
“All Foxes must follow three simple, yet integral, rules while carrying out a task assigned by the Queen. You are to remain unseen—cloaked in the shadows—and unidentifiable to all. You must be unheard, those you pursue must never hear you coming. And then you must be untraceable, leaving nothing that can tie you, or the Queen, back to the act. Unseen. Unheard. Untraceable. The moment there is a single rumor about you being a Fox, you’re as good as dead, and my advice would be to disappear before Queen Cayleen can catch you.
” My mother’s instructions have been a constant echo in my head since she began training me.
As expected, she hates that I accepted the Queen’s offer. She even threatened to go herself and pay her own debt. But although she didn’t say it aloud, we both know she has much more to lose than I do if something were to go horribly wrong. Plus, I doubt the Queen would allow it at this point.
At the wedding, Queen Cayleen made it clear she would be sending a carriage in a week’s time to retrieve me and insisted I soak in as much as I could from my parents.
It took some convincing, but once they both got quickly on board, my days soon filled with lessons in apothecary and my nights reserved for all things in espionage, theft, and weapons.
Listening to my parents explain their former roles as assets to the court in great detail, showing clear expertise for the skills they possess, makes me see them in a different light.
The experience has forced me to envision the life they had before all of this.
Before Jaleese and I were ever a thought.
Probably even before they knew each other.
It is undeniable that they were…are, masters in their craft.
The more they show me, the more I understand why the Queen didn’t want to give them up.
Their skills demonstrate why she granted them the freedom to marry as long as they stayed within her kingdom, with the condition that she could ask for a favor at any moment.
The only thing she did not consider was time, and tied to that are the natural changes that come with life and the inevitable increase in age.
While I think my parents can carry out any task the Queen assigns, she decided it best to change the rules, and the deal is now my sole responsibility.
My father started teaching me about healing elixirs right away.
They are most important to know, given they are what I use to assist me with my breathing issues.
For a single bottle of mine he uses twenty-five crushed elderberries, two pinches of mullein, a dash of ginseng, and four leaves from an elmonk flower, boiling it all in heareth liquid.
When I asked what heareth liquid was, he proceeded to tell me it was slime from a particular type of slug.
I stopped him immediately, not wanting to think about spraying that into my mouth.
He said the liquid isn’t necessary, but it helps.
Today, he continues with elixirs. Ones that can help with stomach aches, cramps, different infections, wounds, even some that can rid the mind of nightmares.
“The more healing someone needs, the more magic is required. And plants that hold magical properties are rare and often difficult to find,” he says, adding a drop of a toxic green liquid into the beaker. “It’s best to work with things that are simple.”
“Can any of these elixirs give you immortality?” I study his every movement and watch him drop in three grains of sand and a pinch of moss before stirring.
“No.” He chuckles. “You think I would have that sitting in my office and not tell anyone?” He pushes my head playfully. “Although, I suppose the Ivian Flower could. If it truly exists.”
I’ve heard my father tell many stories about the fabled flower that several people in history have looked for. All of them have been unsuccessful in finding it.
“What about poisons?” I ask, growing bored with the elixirs.
“The Queen mentioned a poison that melted someone’s skin off.
” My father’s body tenses, the only part of him moving is his shaking hand, and I see what the Queen was referring to.
I place my hand on his and stop the contents in the beaker from splashing out.
“She mentioned it was one of your creations.”
“Lord Corrgen,” he whispers, almost like he’s not talking to me at all. His mind giving way to the past. “I had called it Azaethel. My first deadly concoction.”
“Why him? What did he do?”
“I was only asked to create it, the why is not my story to share. You’re going to have to ask Queen Cayleen if you want an answer.
And that’s not something I recommend doing.
” We laugh before he falls back to reality and sets the beaker down.
“I can go on for days about poisons. Unfortunately, your week is up tomorrow.” I force down a hard swallow.
“I’ll send you off with a few books, I know how much you love to read.
” He gives me a teasing wink and suddenly his eyes fill with tears.
I don’t even have time to ask if he’s okay before he pulls me in and wraps me up.
“Ariah, promise me that you will do what she asks and then you get the hell out. If any pursuit is too great to bear, you come straight back, and we will figure it out as a family.”
“I promise,” I whisper into the crook of his shoulder. “I do this, and she will get rid of that stupid tradition, and you and Mom will never have to deal with her again. It’s what we all want.”
He squeezes me tighter and his silence is stabbing, filling me with fear and guilt.
They spent years being the Queen’s aides.
Years of learning who to cheat, steal, kill, and do all kinds of unspeakable things to, on her behalf.
A week is nothing. Enough time to hear stories and be shown a few things, but not enough for me to stew on what it all means.
With my luck, I’ll forget it all by the time I arrive at court.
It was just before sunset when my mother told me to meet her at the council building, in the center of town, within an hour’s time.
All she said was, “Don’t be late and remember, you must be unseen, unheard, and untraceable.”
Our nightly lessons are usually conducted at home and this is to be the first time out in the open.
Keeping the rules in mind, I dress in all black to make it easier to remain unseen.
Ditching my dress, I pull on fitted pants and a flowing black top that I tuck into the waistband of my pants.
She told me to always stay armed, so I insert a dagger in each boot where I created a place to conceal them.
The only other items I take with me are my medicinal bottle and canister of needles.
My mother had gone over several weapon choices, showing me a box she kept hidden under floorboards of our sitting room. It was another surprise at the time, but the shock from their past lives has begun wearing away and I’m becoming more and more numb to the details they share.
Out of her weapon stock, I had been most drawn to the ring swords. She had two, both with a wooden grip and a glistening, silver blade that wrapped into a circular shape. The only difference between the two was that one had metal spikes, while the other did not.
I end up taking the one without. The spiked one felt more advanced—for people far more skilled than I am or would ever like to be.
I want to keep it simple and pray that I will never have to use it in the first place.
I think of it more as an accessory to go with my new ensemble, and a great accessory is something I can get behind.
As I cross the bridge that connects our home to the larger part of the village, I spot a few people still wandering the streets. Unsure of how unseen I am to remain, I decide to take the backways to circle all the buildings.
It is dark and there are very few patches of light, making it easy for me to go unnoticed, also making it harder to see things.
The scent of roasting chicken and herbs smacks me in the face and my stomach instantly grumbles. Moving along I pick up traces of stew followed by quail and potatoes.
Ignoring the tempting scents, I move along to the council building. I ease out of hiding, cautiously, but the sound of giggling, followed by low moans, sends me back into the shadows.
The area appears empty. I can’t spot anyone or anything other than darkness and patches of moonlight, but voices are getting closer.
“Over here,” a low, hungry voice beckons.
At first, I think my mother is signaling to me but then there are more light moans and…kissing? Oh, no.
The noises are of lips interlocking and mouths trying to smother moans as a couple explores one another.
“Why can’t we go back to my home? My father is away in Verrum to attend to his dying sister. He’ll never know who has been in my bed.” A soft voice pleads before they suck in a quick breath of air.
Yes, why can’t you go home? Why do this here, and now of all places? I think to myself.
“Too dangerous,” the deep voice grunts, before the kissing picks up again.
Ugh! I’m not about to hear anymore from these two. I don’t have anything on me, but my hands search the ground for a rock or pebble, anything small enough to throw.
My hands land on a small pile of rocks. The noises come from somewhere to my left, so I dash one of the rocks off to the right.
“What was that?” All seductive noises stop and all is still.
Carefully, I toss another rock. Without a word or an investigation to see where the noise is coming from, the couple runs out of the darkness into a patch of light blue moonlight.
Tristen Marden perhaps? I’m not certain who the young woman with him is, she has beautiful, dark flowing hair that ends about mid-back, but I’ve seen her around before.
The blacksmith’s apprentice looks around. Trying to see if he can spot anything in the dark. My head goes back to resting against the stone wall that’s hiding me. My chest tightens and my shoulders rise ever so slightly.
As I concentrate on regulating my breathing, I hear movement.
“I thought I saw something,” Tristen says, and I hear him take a step closer to my hiding place.
“It’s probably one of the mill owner’s pesky cats. Let’s go before someone sees.” The girl with him pulls at his arm.
Footsteps scurry over the stone path, and I wait a few minutes until it all falls silent around me again. When I don’t hear or see another soul, I cautiously make my way to the steps of the council building.
I am too visible, even in the cover of night, so I move to the other side where the council garden is located.
Suddenly, a figure dashes across my vision running from one bush to another. “Mom?” I whisper and move closer. “Is that you?”
There is no answer, no movement, no sound, and it’s like my eyes saw nothing at all.
“Mom?” I whisper again.
“Why don’t you just scream my name through the streets.” I jump at the sound of someone’s voice behind me.
Turning around, I jump again. With the light of the moon, I make out a figure wearing what looks to be a fox mask and think the divinity Panntra has reincarnated before me.
“Mom?”
She whips off the mask. “Yes, It’s me Ariah. What happened to the rules?”
“I just saw you run across the bushes, that’s not exactly remaining unseen.”
“I wanted you to see me so you knew I was here.”
“Yeah, well, that message didn’t come through,” I loudly whisper back. “And why are you dressed as Panntra?”
“Panntra is the divinity of the night and someone I modeled myself after when I was recruited into the Foxes. Now, no more questions. Follow me.”
I do as I’m told and follow her to the outskirts of the village until we approach a familiar house. It holds the same gardens Luna was married in. It’s the Beetlerum Estate.
The windows are illuminated with a yellow light and together my mother and I watch figures dash in and out of various rooms in the house.
“There is a study on the third floor in the right wing.” I follow my mother’s finger.
“It belongs to Sabbien Beetlerum, Morren’s father.
There are whispers that he plans to reconstruct Foxhead, build more industrialized buildings for advancement.
Uproot houses that have been here for hundreds of years, meaning dozens may lose their homes and will be forced to relocate to neighboring areas.
I want copies of these papers, and you are going to be the one to get them. ”
“What!?” I whisper too loudly, and feel her palm against my lips. Only when she removes her hand, do I continue. “How do you even know that?”
“I’ve been watching him for a while. The entire family actually.
” She places a hand to my cheek. “I knew who the council had selected for you months ago. I learned everything I could about the Beetlerums after that. I also know you, and knew you were never going to go through with a forced betrothal, but I still had to make sure you would be safe regardless. It scared me at first because I know what men like Sabbien are capable of. But you’re a bright woman.
If Cayleen wants you in her circle, it means you’re much more capable of things not even you know yet.
” My mother doesn’t refer to her as a queen and says her name like an old friend, or possibly foe.
“This is the final task I have for you. The last thing I can teach in our limited time. You must sneak in and find those papers. The rules remain. If you can’t do this simple task Ariah, you will be useless to the Queen and that won’t fare well for you. ”
Suddenly, several figures collect in one room of the house. Silhouettes dance past the curtains.
“Okay,” I whisper. My chest tightens and I make sure my spray is tucked away in one of my many pockets.
My mother hands me her mask. “They have just begun supper. Now is the perfect time. They have three guards who roam the grounds. Four servants, who I suspect will be in the dining room with the family or in the kitchen, and two maids with undisclosed locations. You’ll find the papers within an office and know exactly what I speak of when you see them.
” She nudges me and I put on the mask. “Foxes are to remain…”
“Wait,” I hold up my hand connecting all pieces. “You know exactly where the papers are and won’t tell me?”
“You think the Queen is going to spoon feed you while you’re in court? I’ve given you the assignment. It’s your job to figure it out. Now, Foxes are to remain…”
Taking in a deep inhale before releasing it with a bit of uneasiness, I reply, “Unseen. Unheard. Untraceable.”