Page 60 of Rook of Ruin
Nora puts her hand over her mouth to cover her smile. It’s still hard not to like her.
Three days ago, I was taking a bath in my own room. Now, I’m on my third infirmary in Enthe, and my cream dress is now unrecognizable, covered in blood, vomit, dirt, and who knows what else. I need a bath.
Heaving my body up onto the cart, I’m both tired and nervous. We will arrive at Vetter’s this afternoon. The salty smell of the sea wafts in the air, mingling with the smell of the fish market as we roll through Enthe. The city is grimy, and children who look like they haven’t had a good meal or a bath in months dodge in and out of crowds, begging or stealing. Men and women, worn from their lives, trudge through the sludgy streets. Enthe is not like Marrith, Enthe is seedy. Where Marrith hides its dangers, Enthe seems to embrace them.
Finn points to the fish and chip shops he’s been to, which just happens to be every single one. It’s hard not to like Finn too, until we turn down a road and he says, “I’m sorry, love.” Asshole puts a sack over my head, but luckily, he leaves my hands and feet unbound.
“Next time, just ask. I’ll put the thing on myself,” I growl out, and Finn chuckles.
When the cart stops, someone takes my hand, and Finn—I assume—grabs a hold of my waist to set me down onto cobbled stone. Gently, I’m pushed from behind. We probably look crazy—the two of them guiding me with a sack on my head—or maybe no one really cares in Enthe.
“Love, hold on.” Finn scoops me up, carrying me around. The hustle of the city fades behind us, and I hear a door shut. A soft, floral scent wafts through what I assume is the building where we will meet this Vetter. Nora pulls off my mask, and Finn sets me down.
It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust to the color of blood. Red walls, red rugs, red curtains . . .red. The bed is large and wooden with a red comforter and pillows. A small nightstand, no armoire, nothing else in the large room.
“There is a bathroom in there. Use it.” Nora leaves, locking me in.
I take a long bath, scrubbing every inch of my body until I hear an annoyed sigh through the door. “You need to hurry up,” Nora yells.
“You never would have yelled at me before,” I yell back.
“You didn’t really know me before,” she yells again.
“Whose fault is that, Nora?”
She grumbles something in return. I dry off, wrap a towel around my body, and storm through the door. My mouth drops. Nora is wearing a high-necked silver gown, her hair combed back into a low bun, and her face is flawless.
“Damn, Nora. You look good.” The words escape my mouth before I can stop them.
She flashes a smile, then shows me what I’m going to wear. Deep burgundy silk flows down her hands. “I chose this for you. I thought you might like it.”
I don’t acknowledge that I do or add it is one of the most beautiful gowns I’ve ever seen. The silk gown has a low-scoop neck and no back, and it fits perfectly. Nora pulls my hair into a loosely plaited crown and applies powder, a small swipe of kohl forming wings on the ends of my eyes, and black goop. She pulls out a rouge, matching my dress. Finally, she sets a crown of burgundy-and-blush-colored flowers on top of my head.
I look for new shoes or my boots, but Nora gives me a nervous smile. “You will go barefoot to meet Vetter.”
“Well that’s just great. I hope the floors are clean.”
This will be a really weird meeting.
She opens the door to Finn, who looks handsome in his all-black suit. “Aw, strike me through the heart.” He sighs and puts his hand to his chest. “I’m ready to take vows right now.” I give him a look, but he is completely undeterred. “You look scrumptious, love. Fucking love the flowers.” He makes a circular motion above his head and winks at me. “I should’ve worn red so we could match.” Then he smirks as if he knows a secret. “Nora, looking nice, mate.”
Nora rolls her eyes. “I know.”
Finn holds his elbow out for me to take. I wrap my arm through his, and we walk together down a short hallway until we get to a dark wooden door. Finn, apparently ever the gentleman, opens the door for Nora and me, then trails behind us.
Gold is spun throughout the giant hall with bits of crimson bursting from the large balconies above. Unlike the castle, where lords and ladies mingle, in this large hall, men and women stand side by side, unmoving. They seem to be under a trance. There is something at play here, something very dangerous.
“Ah, the Ruby of Acros.” A smoky voice pulls my attention, and a man well over my height with broad shoulders and a muscular physique stalks down the middle. Black eyes sweep over me, and a grim expression adorns a face that has clearly seen its shareof horror. Scars run from the left side of his temple, stop only slightly at his nose, and continue to his right cheek and down his neck. They are gruesome and deep. His lips are thin, but white teeth peek through, showing slightly elongated canines. Thick braids run on either side of his head, showing off tiny skulls and black diamonds woven throughout. His skin is the color of warm sunrays, setting off his almost white blond-hair. This man reeks of potential violence.
This must be Vetter. Unsure if I should curtsy or stand, I offer him my hand as a compromise. He lifts a surprised brow and bows to kiss it. His lips are softer than I assumed, and he lingers, holding my hand. Before I can pull it away, he jerks me into his chest, holding me tight. The smells of apple and star anise float into my nose, and screams fill my ears.
The bodies of the unmoving men and women begin dropping around us. I struggle to turn in his arms, watching the carnage unfold. Blood seeps closer to my feet, and I move slightly, only to see Finn stab one of the men standing still in the throat. He catches my eye, smiles, and waves. Arrows rain down from the balconies, striking flesh, and more bodies fall. A few groans and death sighs later, Vetter releases me.
“Your power is blocked. I can tell by your aura. There’s only a slight trickle instead of luminescence.” He leans forward slightly and inhales. I step back into the lake of blood, shocked, and still-warm sticky blood coats my feet.Disgusting. “There’s nothing that will harm you here.” He pauses before glancing at the bodies around us. “Not any more, at least.”
My power is blocked?My brace lights up. He’s insane.Thisis insane. Nora and Finn walk among the dead, checking for survivors.
“What did I tell you?” Finn sounds annoyed, stabbing another man and frowning at Nora. “Mate, if you’re going to dress up, at least wear black or red so the blood doesn’t show.”
