Page 23 of Queen of the Crimson Throne

12

LUKA

Once again I found myself waiting anxiously outside Lennox’s door. I prayed to the Goddess she wouldn’t reject me again. The sting from two days ago was still fresh, even if she did let me train alongside her since.

But today, I had something better to offer than a walk.

“Hi,” she said when she finally answered the door.

“Hi.” I braced my arm on the door frame. “Are you busy right now?”

She looked behind her, toying with the end of her braid. “I?—”

“I wanted to invite you with me to find the witch Scribe, I don’t know if anyone mentioned her to you, but I’m hoping she will have a lead on finding Astria’s spellbook. Luciana helped me discover her.” I wasn’t going to give her an opportunity to make an excuse. “According to my source, she should be arriving this week or the next. I figured you might want to come with me to talk to her.”

She let out a breath and her shoulders relaxed. “Sure. Let me grab my cloak.” I tried my best to tamp down on my surprise, I didn’t expect she’d agree, let alone so easily. I didn’t even have to convince her. Ihad a whole speech planned. I guess I’d save it for the next time I’d inevitably need to convince her of something.

She returned a minute later, fastening her cloak over her leathers, she had yet to change since our training session this morning.

“So where are we supposed to find this so-called witch scribe?” Lennox asked as we made our way down the hallway.

“There is a market that runs several days a week at the far edge of the city. It’s a forbidden market of sorts.” I questioned how to best describe the Stygian market.

“The market sells many unorthodox and illegal items,” I continued.

“Such as?”

“Drugs. And other things.”

She looked at me out of the corner of her eye and raised an eyebrow. “Other things?”

“You’ll see.”

“Hmmm.”

“Although the market is technically illegal, my grandfather is well aware of it. As long as no one is killed and they’re not trading flesh it can continue.”

“I suppose for some it’s how they make their income?”

“Yes, when it first started a century ago, the king and queen tried to shut it down, but no matter what they did it reappeared in a different place and by a different name. Finally, the crown gave in, allowing the market to exist under loose guidelines. Those who want illegal items are going to find a way to get them, we might as well provide a channel they can get it without putting their lives and the lives of others in danger and allowing whoever is selling it to make a living.”

“Is there much crime?”

“We rarely hear of any if there is. The patrons tend to stick to the rules, they know if they don’t it will result in the market being shut down. There are deaths on occasion. Typically whoever decided to break the rules paid the price.”

“You’re starting to make a lot more sense to me.”

I gave her a quizzical look. “What do you mean?”

“Hearing about this market and meeting your grandfather, learning more about your home—you make more sense to me.” She tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear. “You operate by a code of conduct. It’s not black and white but more in the gray. You don’t believe in killing for sport, but if it’s deserved you will delight in taking blood. That appears to be a Blood Court quality.”

I pondered her words. I had never thought of it that way, but she had a point.

“I never asked, how did meeting my grandfather go?”

“I was pleasantly surprised. He was actually—nice?” I laughed.

“And that surprised you, him being nice?”

---