Page 100 of Rook of Ruin
As I move around the carriage, Red kneels on the dark stone before me and shouts, “Her Royal Highness Princess Orlaith Caddel, Ruin of Bethal.” I try not to cringe at my Warrior’s Name and how she said I was the “Ruin of Bethal.” Every person bows or curtsies as I help Paul up the stairs, and I nod my acknowledgement.
We reach the top, and a man with thick dark hair dressed in black warrior leathers steps forward, kneeling. “Ma’am, an honor to meet the princess who defeated death and slayed Roggenwolf monsters.”
I try not to roll my eyes. “Thank you. Everyone fought well.”
Red comes up behind me and whispers in my ear, “Bow, his name is Bow. Like bow and arrow, because he is one of the best archers.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Bow.” A crooked smile forms on his mouth, and it makes me smile.
“Your rooms are ready.” He gets up, and I notice an immediate resemblance to Viper, only a much younger, hairier version. I smother a laugh as he smiles, seeing that he has a missing tooth in the same place as Viper’s, and I raise my eyebrow at Red. She just tilts her head at Dove, who hides a smile.
“Related to Viper?” I ask Bow.
“I’m the younger, smarter, better-looking one, ma’am. You can actually understand me when I speak.” Bow gives Dove a wink, Red snorts, and Paul and I grin.
Bow takes Paul into the tavern part of the inn, and Red and Dove follow me upstairs to the adjoining rooms. We inspect the large, beautifully decorated bedrooms.
Deep yellow and silver adorn the largest of the two rooms, and the wooden canopy bed with soft white bedding is big enough to fit five large warriors. If I wasn’t covered in gore, I would run and jump on it. The bathroom is similar to the one Simon and I shared at the castle, complete with a deep-yellow-tiled shower to match the bedroom curtains.
Red and Dove leave me to myself in the bathroom. I relieve myself, and as I wash my hands clean of the black blood, I peer into the mirror. The woman who looks back at me is not the same person who left the Locker only months ago. The sadness pouring out from my tired hazel eyes is enough to prove it. I walk out of my bathroom and into our bedroom. Red and Dove stand by our doors, taking their role as my protectors seriously.
“There is fresh clothing for you.” Red points to the bed where a dress is laid out.
“Until everyone else has had a chance to clean up, I will wait.” Red and Dove look at each other and grin. I bite back a smile. “What?”
“This is exactly why we turned around for you.” Dove’s chest puffs out. “Fucking fierce.”
Red raises her chin. “It’s why you are our ferocious princess. The Ruin of monsters. You fight for us, with us, and for our prince.” She laughs. “You do not put yourself first.” She lowers her brown eyes then chokes out, “I know our fallen were proud to fight by your side today.”
Thunderous mercy. Before I can speak, we hear the noise of many warriors coming into the inn down below. We walk down the wooden stairs into the inn’s large tavern, filled with warriors, all of whom are quiet.
When one of our warriors notices us, he kneels, followed by the scraping of chairs as the rest of the tavern kneels before me. The barmaids give a short bow of their heads, and so does the barman as he pours small glasses of spice.
My prince stalks down a path, his brown eyes full of sorrow. Simon stands before me for only a moment before dropping to his knee in front of me and holding out a hand. A sage green stone sits in his large calloused palm. He solemnly says, “The first memory Thunder gave is for you.”
The sacrifice is not lost to me nor the gravity of being given such an honor. I reach out and touch the sage green stone. As soon as I do, I’m transported back into the fields. I’m in another body, a man’s large body, watching myself on Salann. I’m hearing my own voice screaming for us to get to the prince. I feel the anxiety coming from this large man—he worries for his new princess and the prince he loves. Through his eyes, I watch myself battle through white-furred monsters to Simon and Paul.
Thunder’s feelings of respect and honor pour off his body. “Fucking fierce,” his deep Bethalian voice rasps out. He throwshis spear to cut through white fur and hears Simon scream my name over and over. He watches as my body is tossed into the air, and his heart drops as the Roggenwolf goes for the kill. Simon slams his sword down onto the monster’s neck, cutting off its head. Relief fills his chest just as a monster jumps out, claws slashing down the face I’m looking through.
I’m pulled back, the stone turns clear, and everyone is still kneeling. I gulp down tears. Thunder wanted me,us, to know how hard he fought. Simon stands, and everyone else follows.
“Aeternus fidelis!” Simon yells, putting his fist to his heart and looking in my eyes. We repeat our promise of loyalty back, and Dove hands me a shot of spice. We all hold our glasses up, and together, we drink.
Music begins to play, and another round of spice and milk is poured. We all hold our glasses up and drink again. A few of the warriors begin singing and dancing, celebrating the lives of the warriors we lost. A lone Rook sits, singing with warriors and smiling as Bow hands him another drink.
Red hands me a shot of spice. “To our princess!” she yells out and everyone drinks.
Viper holds his hand out to Red for a dance, and she accepts. Simon pours spice into my empty glass, and we look each other in the eyes and drink. I feel a good buzz coming on as Isle saunters up, refilling our glasses.
Wide eyed, my words don’t form, and she laughs. “It’s for holding or sipping. If they see you with an empty glass, they will fill it. It’s how we survive the night.” She winks at us and begins walking around, checking on our warriors.
Simon glances at the glasses in our hands. He grabs mine and sets them down on the bar, then pulls me into a dark alcove. “I fucked up. I don’t want to lose you over this.” His dark eyes plead for me to understand. “I told you the queen asked me not to reveal my title. I wanted to be Simon. IamSimon. You are theonly woman I have ever given my Warrior’s Name to, other than to another warrior.” He gestures out to all our warriors. “I am the same man you met in the carriage, the same man who took vows with you, and the same man who is completely in love with you.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I ask quietly. “You could have told me so many times.”
“I honestly don’t care about my given name, I haven’t in a long time. This is where I belong, these are my people. I’m Sly Man, Simon, to them. You are now Ruin to them.” I’m trying very hard to believe him. “I didn’t fucking think. Just to hear my Warrior’s Name on your lips . . .” He drops his voice. “To hear you scream it out. Hells, O.”
I search his eyes. I remember the panic on his face and how he fought for me. How he has proved himself over and over to me. I shake my head, and bitterness laces my voice. “What do you want me to call you? Cian or Simon?”
