Chapter 17 #2
‘Pah,’ Glesni said, grumbling as she sat opposite, her gnarled hands wrapped around her own steaming mug. ‘Helps me sleep,’ she added as I raised my brow. ‘I told you about the nightmares, didn’t I? The ones where I see emerging Anomalies tear themselves to pieces?’
‘You may have mentioned it once or twice.’
‘Stubborn child,’ she murmured under her breath.
A small voice pleaded with me to unburden myself, admit the truth.
Perhaps the crone held the key to avoiding the blight.
I scrunched my eyes tight, an icy stab slicing into my lungs as the memories unfurled.
The blood. Those damned screams. No. How could I admit what had happened when the merest spark of memory brought me to my knees?
Keya may hold answers. Answers I’d been searching for.
All the greatest minds came to the same conclusion.
Pestilence was spread by rogue fogs. But what if they were caused by unlocated mines?
I grabbed a torn piece of parchment and Glesni’s pencil and pushed it across the table to where Keya sat, an amused grin on her face.
‘Could you write down the locations you suspect have been affected? It’ll really help with my research.’
I glanced up hopefully, letting out a sigh of relief as Keya took the pencil and began writing.
‘Anything to help my new queen,’ she said, tucking her hair behind her ear and focusing on the paper.
‘I said it earlier, she’s not an actual queen till she fu—’
‘Do you need me to write bigger? Would that help?’ Keya asked, a smile playing on the corner of her mouth.
‘Please,’ I said, raising the cup and then taking a tentative sip. I groaned as the thumping within my head receded. ‘Are you sure tea making isn’t your gift?’
They chuckled, and I sat back, listening to the crackle of the fire and the scratching of the pencil.
It was strange to sit in Glesni’s company and not fight the urge to wrap my hands around her throat.
She continued to make the odd dig about my lack of control and painful comments about my marriage – apparently the lack of any bedroom activity between the new king and queen were all the servants discussed – but her sharp edges softened around Keya.
Time slipped by seamlessly as I sat entranced by their stories.
As the lamps flickered, Pablo sat and yawned.
Across the table, Glesni and Keya held hands, wrinkled fingers entwined.
I was about to tell them I needed to go when there was a rapid knock at the door.
My heart stuttered as Matthias entered, his head low.
He still wore his travelling cloak, which he tore off and placed on the hook by the door as though he were a frequent visitor.
My chair scraped as I stood, my stomach leaping. His gaze locked onto mine, eyes widening.
‘Matthias? I didn’t think you’d be back yet.’
He flashed me that smile of his and kissed both of the women on their cheeks. Glesni grumbled, wiping her face with her sleeve. For a frantic heartbeat, my skin prickled as I waited my turn, but Matthias rifled through his pockets, avoiding my gaze.
‘Neither did I,’ he said, placing a bundle wrapped in cream cloth before Keya. ‘I managed to get some ginger on my travels. Any chance you could whip up a batch for Sorrow, to help with her headaches?’
‘I know the best way to sort out this new wife of yours, boy,’ Glesni said, a wicked grin on her face.
‘Really?’
‘Hmm. All you’ve got to do is get her in bed and—’
‘I’ll brew a batch now, Matthias. Thanks for getting this. My ginger stores are non-existent at the moment. And what about your headaches?’
He grimaced. ‘Comes with the job, I’m afraid, but please, if you could make some for me too, I’d be eternally grateful.’
I took him in, trying to ignore the swirls. As he closed his eyes, his long lashes brushed the dark shadows beneath them. I tilted my head, blinking away the spots, my heart sinking at the man breaking under the pressures of his office. I was still his friend. His wife. Perhaps we should talk?
Matthias locked his gaze with mine. I looked away, praying he failed to notice how my cheeks burned.
‘Asher sent a note. Told me how the duke glued himself to your side. I felt guilty and thought I’d come rescue you.’
I smoothed down my dress, scowling at the still damp patch where I’d spilt the mead.
‘I don’t need rescuing, thank you, but I’d appreciate someone else to distract me before my fist accidentally collides with his face.
I think he plans to seduce me himself in order to demonstrate the cracks in our marriage. ’
‘Cracks,’ Glesni muttered under her breath, chuckling away to herself.
I needed to get Matthias out of this room before the damned woman said something.
Matthias grimaced. I stepped back, my chair scraping on the tiles.
‘Perhaps we should go and get ready,’ I said. ‘There’s to be another dinner tonight and I don’t think I can afford to drink another three bottles of wine.’
He barked out a laugh, then offered his arm.
I stared at it for a moment; my fingers twitched, ready to reach out, hold him.
I shook my head, pretending I didn’t see the disappointment dance in his eyes.
Pablo took his usual place by my side. Thanking Keya, Matthias grabbed his coat and laid it over the arm he’d offered as we left.
‘Don’t forget my advice,’ Glesni called, the sound of her laughter following me down the hall.
‘What advice would that be?’ Matthias asked.
I swallowed, refusing to look his way. ‘Get plenty of sleep.’
Another bark of muted laughter came from Glesni’s rooms. Damned woman.