Chapter Five – Mira
Chapter Five
Mira
The market in the courtyard was thriving.
Priestesses pressed coins into vendors’ hands with warm smiles, while privileged men and women haggled over prices as though there weren’t desperate refugees outside our walls.
I understood the reason for the pretence; we needed to keep up morale, to pretend that we weren’t surrounded by thousands of V?lund’s fighters.
But it reminded me too much of the Ravalian Court; the sickening divide between the rich nobles in the palace and the desperate people in the Lower Districts.
‘You’re scowling, Mira.’
I didn’t flinch at the sound of Odessa’s soft voice.
As a member of the Order of Masks, she had a talent for disappearing into the shadows – and Velanthe had been quick to take advantage of it, asking Odessa to keep an eye on me.
A job that she took very seriously, when she wasn’t kneeling before the Sorceress’s altar with the rest of the priestesses.
‘I haven’t had the best morning,’ I replied. ‘I’ve been fielding constant questions about Nari’s return, which means lying through my teeth – all while worrying that V?lund will accept Roran’s deal.’
‘He won’t.’ This time, Odessa’s voice was like steel. ‘The Temple will never let that happen.’
So certain. So unwavering in her dedication.
But Odessa’s expression softened as she gazed across the market, and as I noticed the direction of her gaze, I also noticed that she looked particularly beautiful today.
Her hair was braided back from her face, but she had left half of it loose, allowing it to cascade down her shoulders in white-blonde waves.
‘Are you going to talk to her?’ I asked, nodding towards where Jadis was speaking with two other female warriors.
Odessa started guiltily. ‘Why would I do that?’
‘You’re friends, aren’t you?’ I said with careful nonchalance. ‘The two of you were practically inseparable when we first arrived.’
‘Jadis distrusts the Temple. She didn’t agree with my decision to become a priestess.’
I thought Jadis had a point, but I didn’t say so. Nothing I said would make a difference – not unless I admitted to using blood magic on Odessa, and even that might not be enough to dissuade her.
As if to reinforce the thought, Odessa said, ‘You should have more faith. Why don’t you join me at the next service? You always keep yourself so separate.’
‘I’m busy,’ I hedged. ‘I have a lot of responsibilities that take up my time.’
Odessa made a soft sound of agreement. ‘Particularly when Cassius is one of those responsibilities.’
I frowned. ‘Did Velanthe tell you that?’
She shrugged, casting a discerning eye over the market. The wooden stalls were stacked with items: clothes, shawls, and jewels caught my eye, but I was drawn to the weapons too. Most were on the daintier side, clearly targeted towards the priestesses.
Odessa picked up a thin, ornamental knife.
I watched her weigh it in her palm, thinking of our time in the Order of Masks.
Back then, she had worn revealing clothes and walked with a swagger that faintly imitated Cassius’s.
It was difficult to reconcile the young woman I’d known with the one in front of me, dressed in the breezy material of a Temple acolyte.
Without makeup or the flashy jewellery she used to favour, she seemed years younger. Almost vulnerable.
‘Cassius will still be under guard,’ I reassured her. ‘I’m not freeing him. I’m just–’
‘Using him.’ Odessa set down the knife with more force than necessary. ‘That’s how it always starts, Mira. Someone goes to Cassius because they need something, and they think they know the price of his help. But they never do.’
A thrill of foreboding darted down my spine, because she could have been referring to the deal I’d made with Cassius in the Ravalian Court. A deal that had cost me my freedom and Odessa’s parents their lives.
Yet another secret I was keeping from her. One I would have to take to my grave.
‘Velanthe mentioned the clan leader’s request for an audience,’ Odessa continued tightly. ‘I presume that’s why you’re here – looking for a gift to make Cassius more malleable?’
‘The thought had occurred to me,’ I replied. ‘But I haven’t seen anything that stands out.’
‘You’re looking in the wrong place.’ Odessa grabbed my arm and drew me away from the weapons. ‘If you want to win Cassius over, there’s no point buying him some trinket. He’ll see through such an obvious tactic in a heartbeat.’
‘So what would you suggest? Turn up empty-handed?’
‘I’m sure Cassius can be tempted into a deal regardless. But that’s not what I’m suggesting.’ Odessa paused in front of a stall, and I sucked in a startled breath.
Memories of Lillian resurfaced as I stared down at the dresses, which resembled the flowing designs my friend had created in the Elusive Isles. For a moment, it was a pleasant reminder of a simpler time.
But only for a moment.
She died for you . Aric’s parting words echoed in my mind, vicious and cold and filled with heart-wrenching pain. And it is only because of that, Mira, that I’m here right now. That I’m willing to let you leave.
Suddenly, I couldn’t stand to be here. Not for another second.
But the two women were already bowing to me, and leaving too quickly would be seen as an insult. I forced a smile, noting the familial resemblance between them – not enough to make me think of siblings, but perhaps cousins.
Like me and Scarlett, except entirely different. I doubted either of them would impersonate the other and frame them for murder.
‘That’s the dress,’ Odessa said with a grimly satisfied smile.
The gown that had captured her attention wasn’t the same as the ones that reminded me of Lillian.
This dress was black and fitted with a tight bodice, no sleeves, and gold stencilling through the skirt. ‘Cassius won’t be able to look away.’
‘He’s in a cell. He won’t be able to look away regardless.’
‘If you don’t want my advice–’
‘I didn’t say that. Of course I do.’ I sighed as I turned to address the vendors. ‘How much?’
I took a deep breath, revelling in the silence.
Since arriving in Kalure, I was rarely alone: guards dogged my every step, ordinary citizens petitioned me on a daily basis, and then there were my lessons with Velanthe on the Sorceress’s teachings, Kalurian history and magic.
There was never a complete respite from being queen, but entering the dungeons came close.
Taking Odessa’s advice, I’d worn the gown I purchased from the market, and left my hair down and unbraided. I’d ordered the guards to leave half an hour earlier, which should have piqued Cassius’s interest. Two goblets dangled from my hand, along with a bottle of red wine – spiked with my blood.
According to Velanthe, once Cassius ingested enough of my blood, I should be able to sense and influence his emotional ties. Mixing our blood together would be more effective, but unless I was prepared to physically restrain Cassius, this was the most practical course of action.
Not that I felt entirely comfortable with this plan. It felt too calculated. Premeditated.
Like something Cassius would do.
The irony wasn’t lost on me. Here I was, worrying about the morality of using magic on someone who wouldn’t give it a second thought. If Cassius could have used a similar power to compel me to stay in the Ravalian Court and marry him, I had no doubt that he would have.
I straightened my shoulders, refusing to entertain second thoughts. But as I descended into the bowels of the Temple, I was reminded uncomfortably of my time in the Ravalian dungeons. Had I done the right thing, condemning Cassius to two months alone in the dark?
Then his cell came into view, and my sympathy evaporated. If anyone could turn punishment into a reward, it was Cassius.
I stared at the tapestries and rugs with begrudging amusement.
The guards had even dragged a divan down here, which Cassius was currently reclining on, eating dates from a nearby table.
His golden-blond hair was longer, but he was as clean-shaven as I remembered – most likely another request granted by his guards.
Gone were the perfectly tailored dress pants and high-collared tunics, replaced by brown leather breeches and a coarse linen shirt.
Somehow, even that managed to look infuriatingly good on him. Almost princely .
‘Why don’t you join me?’ Cassius motioned carelessly to the plush chairs opposite his divan. ‘Sometimes the guards do. For Kalurians, they seem to like me well enough.’
‘It certainly seems like you’ve settled in,’ I said sweetly.
‘Don’t gloat. It’s unbecoming.’ He shot me a narrow-eyed stare. ‘I never did anything this terrible to you.’
‘No. You just promised the Kalurians freedom, without ever intending to follow through on that promise.’
Cassius said nothing for a moment, which was as good as a confession.
‘I was hoping that by the time we were married, you wouldn’t want to give them their independence.
It’s difficult to relinquish power once you have it.
’ His gaze shifted to my head – to the emerald crown that rested there.
It was shaped into a wreath, primal and beautiful, matching the symbol emblazoned on my mother’s locket.
‘It isn’t just Kalure.’ I approached the bars. ‘You lied to me about what would happen to Odessa and her family after we discredited General Tiran. You did all of that just to make me your fiancée instead, because I could give you a country . Then you tried to kill Aric–’
‘That, I didn’t do.’
‘The hunt was your idea!’
‘I don’t deny that.’
‘But you do deny bribing a stableboy to incorrectly saddle Aric’s horse? He nearly died from that fall, which I’m sure would have suited you just fine. You knew how I felt about him.’
Cassius shrugged. ‘I wouldn’t have mourned Aric’s death, but when I try to kill someone, I don’t choose a method that leaves so many things to chance. My sister, on the other hand . . . she can be a little more theatrical .’
Scarlett had tried to kill Aric? No – not kill him, I realised. She had only wanted to scare me away from Cassius and the Ravalian Court. And she had succeeded, because of my desperation to protect Aric.
My chest tightened at the thought, and I was surprised by how much it hurt.
I still didn’t know exactly what had happened the night I fled Ravalia, but I knew that someone had impersonated me and Cassius.
Someone who had gone to great pains to keep us away from the palace, and who had access to powerful illusion magic.
It shouldn’t have surprised me that Scarlett was behind Aric’s accident as well. Whatever had been between the three of us – whatever trust and friendship we had established – no longer mattered. Ambition and power had won out in the end.
Cassius smiled at whatever expression was on my face. ‘Very clever, wasn’t she? Even I didn’t see her betrayal coming.’
I bit back a scathing comment about his duplicitous family. Cassius had made plenty of horrible decisions, but right now, I needed him on my side.
‘Would you like some wine?’ I asked, raising the goblets so he could see them.
‘That depends. Will you come inside, Mira?’
It was disconcerting, hearing my preferred name on his lips. And I didn’t like the edge of amusement in his sensuous voice – or the way he stood and approached the bars, turning his question into a challenge.
‘I notice you have the key.’ His gaze dipped – from my eyes down to my neck. ‘I was surprised to see you wearing it like a trophy. Does it make you feel powerful, having such control over me?’
‘It wasn’t a deliberate choice,’ I said defensively. ‘It was just convenient. I don’t have pockets.’
‘And I suppose that dress is another convenient choice?’ His amused gaze raked over me. ‘What about the bottle of wine and the absence of my guards?’ Before I could respond, he said, ‘Believe me when I say that I appreciate the effort, but if you want my help, all you have to do is ask .’
My face flushed, his words bringing back memories of the first Trial – when I had seduced him in order to steal his crown. If you wanted to meet with me privately , Kasmira , he had murmured, all you had to do was ask .
‘Fine,’ I admitted. ‘I have an agenda. If anyone should understand that, it’s you.’
Cassius drew back from the bars, still smiling. He motioned to the door. ‘The first rule of negotiation – each party has to give something . You can’t have all the control, Mira. No matter how much it suits you.’
Ignoring his backhanded compliment, I reluctantly removed the necklace. Even as I inserted the key in the lock, I suspected that I was making a mistake. But I’d come this far – and I refused to let Cassius believe I was afraid of him. He was in Kalure, and here, I made the rules.
Yet somehow, he had managed to burrow under my skin. Like a parasite .
I locked the door behind me, a decision that made Cassius’s smile widen – and my heart flutter with the knowledge that both of us were now trapped inside. But it was Cassius who should be nervous.
My grip tightened on the wine bottle. I was no longer the desperate girl he had met in the Ravalian Court. I was every bit as dangerous as Cassius and his siblings.
And every bit as willing to play the game.