Chapter 22
After that, I tried to pay a visit to Rowan every day. With each day it seemed his spirits improved, and we grew comfortable around each other, but there was still a guarded veil between us. We both had secrets—and I just had to trust that whatever secrets he had would not put me in danger.
Rowan was an interesting guy. He was always positive, despite his circumstances.
And the more I got to know him, the more we became friends.
Maybe I can make him part of the knights after Alaric is gone, I thought contemplatively.
But he was also a free spirit and seemed like he didn't want to be tied down to anything.
Nevertheless, I found myself intrigued by his many stories.
Of traveling through the mountains, fighting foes, and getting kicked out of taverns.
He lived like a free-spirit, and it showed in his personality.
But he also had a soft sense of vulnerability under all that bravado, but it felt impossible to get him to drop his guard.
Word came from my father in the form of a courier that very morning. He rode in on a sweaty horse, and immediately ran to deliver the letter to Julian and I personally, who were having a quiet breakfast.
To my dearest, brightest, most wonderfully gifted children,
It's been too long since I've seen your beautiful faces and heard your laughter. I miss you both more than words can say.
I apologize, but things are taking longer here than I'd hoped.
We are wrapping things up with Baron Weisly's funeral, but the Vassals are restless.
They believe there to be some sort of foul play with the mine collapse.
I think it's rubbish—why would someone do such a thing? Accidents do happen, you know.
A curious little thing: one of the mine workers said he saw a dragon symbol in one of the caves before the collapse.
Crazy, isn't it? I wonder if it's a remnant from ancient days.
Remember those stories your grandpa used to tell?
Regardless, I assure you, I will get to the bottom of this and be home in a week's time.
I am loathe to be away from you for so long, dear children.
Julian, I hope you are not taking yourself too seriously.
I know you're trying to take on more responsibility, but do take breaks every now and again.
Sunlight won't bite, I promise. Rosaria, I can't wait to see what you've planned for your wedding to the Crown Prince—though I pity anyone who underestimates you.
And don't let your brother outsmart you too often—it'll go to his head.
Always with love,
Your Dear Father
It warmed my heart to hear Duke Leeland's words, but one thing made my blood run cold. I knew it. I knew they were involved with this. The dragon symbol only proved it. But why? Why cause the mine collapse?
My mind was flickering through all the events, when Julian spoke. "Well, I'm glad to see Father's doing well. Still an idiot, but at least he's safe," He brought his hands up to his temples. Edith poured him some more tea. "I knew I should have gone with him."
"Julian," I scolded. "That's no way to speak about him. He means the best, after all."
He looked up at me, the bags under his eyes highlighting how incredibly tired he looked. Perhaps Duke Leeland's words of advice for sunlight weren't so misplaced. "Did you read the same letter I read? I think," he glanced over his shoulder, "They're connected to it. The mine collapse."
I nodded grimly. "It looks like it. I'll send a response telling him to be on the lookout for it."
Julian sat back and sighed, "I'm close with the cipher, too. We need a plan after I figure it out."
Besides father's news, there wasn't a lot going on. I had yet to receive word on the warehouse, the mysterious man delivering letters, and the letter Julian was working on was still not deciphered. It seemed we were at a stalemate, and I wasn't gaining any ground.
"What should I do?" I asked Rowan one day, sighing. "They've gone quiet. It's like they know what we're doing."
"You want my honest opinion?" He raised a brow. I nodded.
He sat back, contemplating. "Well, what's stopping you from going in and taking them out in one fell swoop?"
Therein lies the problem. If I tried to do that, Clara would drag me down with her. I already have all the letters in my room indicting the old Rosaria, who's to say there isn't more?
I sighed. "That's what I want to do, but I don't have enough evidence yet. I'd love to round up Clara, Vince, Alaric, and everyone else who I know is connected—but I can't. I want to put them behind bars forever, not just drive them out."
"But you don't need evidence," he reminded me. "You're a noble."
"That may be true, but if I want the King and other nobles on my side, I do.
" I shook my head. He didn't understand—this wasn't just the manor, or the dukedom, it was a kingdom wide issue, and it spread to more than just stealing goods and embezzlement.
"besides. I believe they're somehow connected to the mine collapse, and I need evidence to prove to my Father. He trusts them way too much."
"Well, what's stopping you from just, you know, prying it out of them?" he took a bite of one of the pastries I brought him, which was a daily occurrence now, "Just say the word, and I'd have this Clara woman talking in no time at all." I didn't like the mischievous flash in his eyes.
I crossed my arms and tapped my fingers on my arms. I could, but I wanted it to be a last resort.
Violence only led to more violence, and then the Shadow Walkers would know I was on to them and have time to retaliate.
"We might have to, if something doesn't turn up soon," I admitted, then paused, wondering if I should continue.
"I... think this goes much larger than the estate, or even Averine. "
I didn't want to give him too much information, but I could keep him in the dark. I'd already told him how Clara and some of the other staff were related to the gang in Averine, the Black Dragon, but not how the Black Dragon was part of a larger, nation-wide organization.
"They're outsourcing materials, that's for sure. Now, whether it's to trade and resell or for some other reason, that remains to be determined." Rowan crossed his arms. "I could get you that information in no time at all." He smirked.
I waved a hand, "That won't do. You're still recovering. I want you to stay at the manor, and be another set of ears inside. At least until this whole thing blows over and that stab wound of yours heals."
He sat up a little straighter. "You don't need another set of ears inside the estate. Do you think I'm someone you can place under your thumb like that?"
I let a slow smile curl my lips, then produced a small leather pouch and let it fall open on my palm, gold coins spilling over. "For the right price, maybe."
He blinked at the coins, then shot me a look of mock offense. "You really think I'm that shallow?"
"There's a reason they call people like you 'sell?swords,'" I teased, tapping the coins with my finger. Money had secured me the loyalty of many servants so far, and Rowan was no different. I watched the way his eyes watched the pouch of gold hungrily.
He considered for a long moment, then gave a slow nod. "Fair enough. How much are we talking about?"
I brushed the pouch toward him. "A year's pay, up front. If you can play your part as a new servant while secretly protecting me, there's more where that comes from. I already cleared your little bounty from earlier. And I can even make you a knight, if you so choose."
He closed his eyes, jaw working as he fought with himself. The silence stretched until my heart pounded in my ears. Finally, he opened his eyes, and I saw the war within them—yearning for freedom, fear of chains, and the lure of the gold.
At last, he sighed. "I don't like being tied down."
"I know," I said briefly. "But neither do I want you dead in some dark alley." It was a compromise he'd have to be willing to make, if he wanted safety.
He exhaled, slow and reluctant. "A year's pay," he muttered, nodding toward the pouch. "And you expect me to stay hidden? For how long?"
I sighed. "I don't know yet. Could be two weeks. Could be two months. Just until we put the Black Dragons away for good, and find out who they're connected to."
"You'll need eyes in Averine for that." He said cautiously.
"I know, but I can't afford to let you go back there." I sighed. I knew he would prove to be difficult.
"I can take care of myself."
"I know, but they're more vicious than you think," I warned. "And they will kill you. I don't care how strong you think you are. You're someone I can't afford to lose that easily."
He huffed, as if finding my little comment amusing. He looked back at the gold, then me, then finally scooped up the pouch. As the coins clinked in his hand, he offered a crooked half?smile. "Fine. But don't expect me to polish your chamber pots," he said wryly.
I couldn't help but laugh, the tension in my chest loosening at his jest. "You won't—don't worry. After you heal more, I'll have you with Edith. She'll teach you everything you need to know."
He laughed wryly, "great, just what I've always wanted to do in life."
———
The very next day, I received urgent word from Julian that he had uncovered the cipher.
My pulse hammered as I took the parchment, nearly copied in Julian's handwriting.
It was written brokenly, but enough could be made out to understand and unlocked the names of everyone implicated—Alaric and half a dozen of the guards, Vince the butler, even some of the lower servants like Yorin.
But it offered no clue to their endgame, no hint of where the goods were headed or for whose benefit.
This is strange. What could the Shadow Walkers be doing? Selling it all?
I raised my eyes to Julian. "So it's her report on everything stolen... but we still don't know who's receiving it."
He exhaled, shoulders tense. "It's vague—almost cowardly in its omissions. But at least we know who's involved. Father will be disappointed."
A thousand thoughts raced through me, but one stood above the rest: I now had the evidence I'd craved—all because Clara had been foolish enough to catalog her treason in her own handwriting.
"Good work," I whispered, smoothing the edges of the cipher. "This changes everything."
Julian nodded. "We just need a plan, and fathers authority. When he gets back in a week—"
I heard the clack of footsteps down the corridor as someone burst into the room.
It was Edith, and her face was red, out of breath. "Lady Rosaria!" She panted, stopping just a few feet from the bench. "The mercenary, he—he's gone!" She gasped.