Chapter 26
twenty-six
They had just finished a lunch of venison and spring apples when Vade pulled the stone out of his pocket. He looked up at the sky and let loose a long ‘fuuuuuck.’
Horrified at her behavior on the dark moon, Orelia had spoken to him little since. She’d never been so openly brazen with anyone else. Even when they managed to make it out of the Greywood, she kept her distance and stayed quiet.
Vade acted like the night hadn’t happened, but he had offered her more of the apples and given her first pick of the deer. He walked in a circle and stopped when he was facing northeast. “We’ll have to make a detour. Good news is we can make it there today.”
“Where are we going?”
“Ravere. Figured that son of a bitch would be there,” he grumbled.
“Who?” Orelia popped her last apple slice into her mouth and started packing up her things.
“Egan Rivgarr.” Vade removed the ward, put out the fire, and slung his pack over his shoulders.
She tied her waterskin to her belt, and the two of them set out. “Am I supposed to know who that is?”
“A rich asshole who makes his money selling people his crew captures from the northern islands to the cities in the Triangle.”
“That’s awful.” They stepped over a log, and she felt the ghost of a steadying hand near her back. Her insides warmed at the gesture.
“I had a name about a year ago of the man running Rivgarr’s ships out of Goldbottom. The two were always together, and Rivgarr was constantly surrounded by at least three other men. His personal guards, I assume. He’s going to be a tricky hit.”
She pondered what kind of person could sleep at night selling people into slavery. Orelia pictured a fat, overindulged man with horrible facial hair and the arrogance of someone unworthy of being respected at all, like Beron. Though she was learning evil was multifaceted.
For once, she didn’t abhor Vade killing someone.
The cool weather faded with each passing mark, and soon enough, Ravere came into view. Vade had said the city was almost as wealthy as Ricaboro, but not near as lively.
She looked at the two poorly drawn stick horses he’d created on the map above the word ‘Ravere,’ then folded the parchment and put it in her pocket.
He’d relented his hold on the map since Fink, probably figuring it kept her quiet and out of his way.
Orelia had studied it for hours, memorizing everything she hoped to see one day.
The city was smaller than she imagined for a place where all the horses were trained for King Aradonis’s army.
The lush hills around Ravere made for perfect horse country, but the city itself was homely and calm.
Families meandered in the streets, and music came from a group of bards and fiddlers gathered around a fountain in the middle of the square.
After a lunch of roast and vegetables at one of the taverns, she thought they were going to acquire a room at the inn next door, but Vade said he knew of a better place—a cabin bordering the river.
There were a few other cabins within view, but plenty of space between them all.
She didn’t want to know what it cost, but lying on a bed smelling of fresh linen had her not caring.
Vade needed to do reconnaissance, telling her not to leave the room on his way out.
For once, she obeyed.
The mattress was the perfect firmness, and Orelia was quickly swept into a deep sleep. She didn’t even hear him return. Vade shook her shoulder, and she screamed, not realizing how hard she’d slept.
“Oh, gods, it’s just you,” she said, noticing the sun was only a couple marks from the horizon.
He frowned down at her. “Of course it’s me.”
“I know, I just meant you scared me. I was completely out.”
“Well, get up, because you have some shopping to do.” He pulled a purse out of his pocket and tossed it to her.
“What’s this for?”
Vade took a seat in a leather chair in the corner and rested an ankle on his opposite knee, looking oddly formal. “You’re going to need a dress for tonight.”
She perked up. “What for?”
“Rivgarr secured himself a seat at a table in an underground gambling den. High rollers only.” He rubbed his jaw that had been trimmed to scruff instead of his short beard. He must have gotten a shave while he was out.
Orelia found herself unable to look away, as his sharp jaw was now more defined, making him look even more masculine.
“The entry fee is more than I want to pay, but it’s the only place his three guards won’t be allowed in.
I’ll need a seat at that table if I stand any chance of getting him alone after the game’s finished.
His movements are closely monitored, and I don’t want to risk losing him if I just wait outside the establishment.
There are too many eyes, even some on the roof, so we have to get inside. ”
“What part do I play in this plan of yours?”
He yanked the tie from the knot at the back of his head and shook his hair out. “This is a high stakes game, so there are always playthings being paraded around. From what I’ve seen in the past, most players bring at least one with them, sometimes more.”
Her skin warmed. “Plaything?”
Vade braced his elbows on his knees, locking eyes with her.
“You’re going to have to play another role tonight.
As am I. Players flaunt their men and women for the evening.
It’s all a power move—but the types of people, the amount of money, and the secrecy of the group means all kinds of things could happen there. ”
Orelia sat on the edge of the bed, squeezing her legs together. “So, you want me to be your plaything?” She couldn’t hide the intrigue in her voice.
“You’ll sit on my lap during the game, nothing more. But I will have to play a role, too. A rich, boastful asshole like the rest of them.”
“So, yourself?”
His eyes narrowed. “Such a comedian.” Vade ran a hand through his hair, and she tried to ignore the way his arm bulged against his sleeve. Had he gotten even more muscular since they’d set out?
“I won’t ask you to do anything you’re uncomfortable with, but know that everyone gets handsy in these kinds of places.
We’ll have to play along to fit in.” Vade seemed to hate every word coming out of his mouth, his face looking like he’d swallowed something sour, but it didn’t stop the thrill running through her.
Orelia knew she was blushing. “What kind of dress do I need to buy?”
“One that says, ‘I look like the most expensive girl money can buy.’”
She nodded, already forming a vision in her mind.
“Remember the wizard I told you about that gave me that knife?” He pointed to his seidr dagger on her belt draped across an armchair.
“His shop is here. Turn right out of the cabin and follow the path into town. Then go down Landon Street. All the way at the end on the left you’ll see his shop. Blu’s Bespoke Wear & Tailor.”
“You’re letting me go alone?”
“I need to go do more reconnaissance, and Ravere has more Watchers than any other city, being that Aradonis visits so often. It’s quite safe, just don’t go anywhere else but that shop and come right back here.”
Orelia shot up from the bed and pocketed the purse, excitement bubbling over.
She spent every coin Vade had given her on a pair of strappy sandals with a small heel and a satin chartreuse dress.
Back at the cabin, Orelia admired herself in the mirror for the hundredth time.
The dress hugged every inch of her body, the satin rippling down her front.
The cowl neckline showcased her ample breasts, and the hem hit the floor with a slit so high up the right side that it almost revealed her underwear.
Thin straps went over her shoulders and straight down her back, stopping just above her buttocks.
Her entire back was exposed, and the sun-kissed color of her skin stood out against the yellow-green dress, making her auburn hair and green eyes pop.
She’d never felt more beautiful. More feminine. More powerful.
After she’d returned from the clothing shop, she’d bathed and twisted the ends of her hair in tight ringlets. Once it dried, she combed through the locks, smiling at the beautiful loose curls stopping just past her shoulders.
Blu had been an excellent help. Attentive, sweet, with a sharp eye for fashion as he picked out everything for her and tailored it to fit. The wizard had given her a pink rouge and a dark eye kohl on the house, and the same kind of bone and black cream pot Evie had used on her eyelashes.
Orelia had just finished painting her lashes when she heard Vade enter the room. She checked herself in the mirror again and fluffed her hair. Her heeled sandals clicked across the wood floors as she came to stand in front of him. “Will this dress work?” She twirled in a slow circle.
“Fuck me . . .” Vade said in a barely audible volume. He seemed to realize he said the words out loud and abruptly cleared his throat. “Uhh . . .you look nice.” Color crept into his bronze cheeks as he looked her over.
His reaction had her chin lifting proudly. “Thank you. Blu was a fantastic help and an absolute sweetheart. Why in the Three Hells is he friends with you?”
Vade rubbed the back of his neck, eyes dipping to her breasts. “What?”
She smirked. “I said, why is Blu friends with you? You have completely opposite personalities.”
He averted his eyes. “Long story.” Vade smoothed his hair and pushed his shoulders back, composing himself. “Well, uhh, we better get going.”
He’d never fumbled over his words before.
“If something happens in there and you need to get out of a situation just play with the emerald on your necklace as a sign, and I’ll understand.”
She clasped the gem around her neck. “What’s going to happen?”
“I just mean if someone does something you don’t want them to do, or says something you don’t like, mess with your necklace, and I’ll handle it.”
The protectiveness in the gesture tugged at her heart. “Okay. Are you wearing your leathers?”
“Yes.”
“I thought we were supposed to look rich, not like we’re here on a murder mission.” She quirked a brow, and he actually smiled.
“Always on a murder mission, little lamb.”
Orelia rolled her eyes and flipped her hair over one shoulder. They met at the door, and Vade paused with a hand on the knob. “Remember, we both have roles, just like in Ricaboro. You’re my whore, and I’m a rich asshole.”
“My role will be harder to pull off than yours, but I’ll give it my best shot.” She winked, and his tawny cheeks turned a deep red.
Orelia readied her mind for the night. She relaxed her body, pictured Teegan and Rae and the other girls from Beron’s and slipped into the role of pleasure girl as she stepped out of the cabin with Vade on her heels.