Page 21 of Mistress of Bones
Every breath they exhaled outside the ossuary holding Isadora’s bones was an opportunity for the emissary’s death to catch up to them and stop their plans.
“Not an inn,” she thought aloud. “Too easy to track if someone comes after us.”
“Where, then?”
“My mother has a friend here. Lina del Valle. She will give us a place to stay and keep our visit secret, I’m sure of it.”
“You were also sure of where your sister’s bones lie.”
The words were cool but not unkind, so Azul decided against planting her fist on Nereida’s face. “That was someone else’s lie. This woman, I know well.”
Nereida thought about this for a moment, then nodded. “We’ll stay with your family friend. But, Del Arroyo,” she added in an icy tone, “no more delays. No more lies.”
Azul nodded. “I am as eager to get this done as you are.”
Not long after, they were ushered into a comfortable receiving room with a view into Del Valle’s patio. Two settees with artfully bowed legs cornered a low, elegant table. Blue and gold drapes covered one of the walls while a framed landscape covered another.
Nereida placed her hat over the white mantel and inspected the room. She fit in here, with her dark hair, green eyes, and elegant blue waistcoat. The days of travel had left little mark on her except for the dust on her boots.
“Are the houses in Cienpuentes much grander?” Azul asked.
“Some are, some aren’t.”
“Yours?” Azul walked up to the drapes. Knowing there were no windows to the outside didn’t stop her from pushing the fabric aside to check the street and make sure no galloping soldiers from Valanje were thundering their way.
“Of no concern to you.”
A servant returned with their hostess in tow. Lina del Valle was a handsome middle-aged woman worthy of the house she owned. Arms covered by embroidered fabric hugged Azul tight against a stiff stomacher, and rose perfume wound around her senses.
“My dearest Azul,” she exclaimed, “what a most welcome surprise!”
“Aunt Lina,” Azul answered—although they shared no blood link,the woman had always insisted on being called so. “We are in need of a respite, and you’ve always been so good to us.”
Del Valle examined Azul’s tired face, the ill-fitting clothes. “What trouble has that wild sister of yours landed you into?” She looked around. “Where is she? Hiding behind the curtain?” The words were meant in jest, Azul reminded herself as she forced another smile.
“Not this time, Aunt. This time it’s of my own doing. Isadora is…” A hard swallow. “Well, she is occupied elsewhere at the moment.” She added a laugh, weak and pitiful.
Del Valle joined her with a much more buoyant sound. “Azana’s two girls away from each other? Something I’d never have thought possible. Who is your companion, then?”
Azul hurried to make introductions. “Aunt Lina, this is my dear friend, Mar de Flor,” she said, giving the false name Nereida insisted on using. Azul couldn’t fault her. If Del Valle hadn’t been her mother’s friend, she would’ve used one herself.
“You must both stay, then,” Lina del Valle was saying. “I insist. Rest from your travel and tell me of your problems. They won’t be so bad once I’m done with them, I assure you. Are your belongings with you or traveling separately?”
“What you see is what we come with, I’m afraid,” Azul told her. “We had to leave in a hurry.”
Del Valle waved toward the settees. “You are safe here, my love. Your mother would never forgive me—I would never forgive myself—if I didn’t help you when you’re in such obvious need. Sit, make yourselves comfortable. I shall order refreshments, and some clothes will be found so you can change out of your traveling garb.”
Azul touched Del Valle’s hand, her eyes pleading. “We must keep our presence a secret. Someone might be following us, and we don’t wish to be found. Nobody can know we’re here, not even Mother.”
“Of course,” Del Valle assured her. “Stay. Gather your strength. I will take care of you and your friend.”
VIIIAZUL
True to her word, Lina del Valle ordered her cook to prepare a fast dinner and instructed one of her maids to bring a selection of clothes that might suit Azul and Nereida.
It was decided that the two of them would travel to the capital in the morning with a couple of Del Valle’s guards as escort—she would not have it any other way.
By the time they were given a guest room to sleep in, the fist gripping Azul’s heart since learning Isadora’s bones weren’t in Monteverde had lessened in strength. Plans had been put in place, so simple they surely couldn’t fail.
