Page 38 of Rook of Ruin
Simon strolls back in with a small jug of water and a few soft rolls.
“Where’s Jon?” I take a sip of water but refuse the rolls. The thought of eating while covered in this mess disgusts me.
“I sent him to get supplies. He will keep everything you told us to himself.” Simon picks up my chair from the ground and brings it over to the bed. He sets it down a little too hard, motioning for me to sit. I don’t. He sighs and grabs another chair, putting it down equally as hard and slumping down into it. “If Jon wanted to marry you, he would have asked you directly, but he didn’t; he said it in front of me. If he wanted to marry you, he would have already asked, and if you accepted, you would already be married and not in this mess.” Simon glances at Alec. “You’re also not ineligible for marriage because you had to carry his ass for miles and had to be alone with him in a cottage outside of the court’s eyes and ears.” He runs a hand through his hair.
“I don’t think Jon meant it in any way other than to be kind, and if we had loved each other, maybe I would. It was kind of him to offer; it’s probably the best offer I’ve received. I doubt anyone worth marrying would care if I spent the night here. Besides, I am alone constantly with you two, and the queen allows it.” I huff.
“Some people will care that you were here, alone with him outside of the castle, specifically overnight.” He shakes his head. “And he did mean it that way, O. He fucking did. You’re worth more than an offer of pity marriage.”
I ignore the last bit. “People have sex during the day too, not just at night,” I mutter. We sit silently for a moment before I have the courage to ask, “Doyoucare?” I motion my arms around the cottage. “Wouldyoucare if I wasn’t a virgin?”
He looks at me sharply, anger vibrating through his body. “I care that you survived. You fought for your life and the lives of others. You were willing to sacrifice yourself. I’m sad you even had to consider it, but I don’t give a fuck what you had to do to survive. I couldn’t be more thankful that you are alive, and I’m proud that you showed such courage. Would you care if I’m not a virgin?”
“No.”
“Good, because I’m not, and it doesn’t fucking matter. It doesn’t matter to me as long as it was given freely. I don’t care about any of that. I care about the person you are here, now. I care that you survived those monsters—because I saw the aftermath, the carnage. Everyone was going through piles of bodies looking for you. And him too.” Simon’s chin lifts towards Alec. “When I saw you in that chair, I thought the worst.” He pauses and chuckles. “Then you almost stabbed Jon, and I felt a little better.”
I lower myself into the chair, which earns me some dimples, and we sit in comfortable silence until Jon gets back. I expected a fresh change of clothes, but Jon hands me an ivory blouse ripped in strategic areas and stained with red and black blood. Jon gives me a wink and moves to stand by the door, facing out.
I cock my head. “What is this for?”
“They need to see, even those at the castle, how you hard you both fought for Wesson, how terrible it could have been without the most skilled Rooks fighting side by side. You, O, are one of the bravest women I’ve ever met—I know this, buttheyneed to know.” Simon smiles softly. “While I’m happy to loan you my jacket, this blouse will cover you a bit more and still show theferocity in which you fought. There is a small chance your queen could see your value again as a Rook . . . andhecould get his knighthood.” Simon nods to Alec. “That is, if you want to do it. I can go into Wesson for some clean clothes and we can just go back to the castle.”
It’s an easy decision. I take off his overcoat and put on the blouse. That earns me more dimples. Bringing the jug up to my mouth, I take a large gulp of cool, crisp water.
Simon and Jon pick up Alec, who is clammy and even paler, and we leave the cottage. Two horse-drawn carts greet us, both low beds so people can see into them. A pile of sacks and blankets are set up to secure Alec in the first cart. They gently haul him up, and Jon busies himself trying to make Alec comfortable. The second cart is a pile of white fur and black blood. There is oddly some pink flesh stashed in places too. I walk over and notice a hand poking out.
I reach forward, but Simon stops me. “You don’t want to see this, O.”
“What do you mean? Who is that? Why aren’t the last rites being performed?” I try to peer further into the pile of carcasses.
Simon’s gaze is locked onto mine; he must realize I won’t drop this. He pulls himself up onto the cart and moves a few of the furry creatures, black blood oozing out onto his clothes and the cart. Underneath are men in various stages of torture—body parts looking torn apart, either turning into or from the monsters we slaughtered. I’ve seen and done some pretty messed up things, butthis. . . Simon covers the limbs back up and jumps down, wiping his hands on his old overcoat I’ve been holding. He tosses it down and puts a warm hand on my bloody cheek for only a moment.
“They are not men. These monsters would have killed you, the Rook, Mags, Liam, and the baby, if not most of the village. Youdid what was right, necessary, to keep people safe. But thesethingsare neither human nor pure demon; they are possessed.”
“How did they become possessed?” A trickle of fear runs down my spine. “Is there no way to stop it?”
“I don’t know exactly howit is done other than with a dark power . . . but no, there is no way to stop it and no way to turn them back. Once they are possessed, they crave bloodshed; they are no longer human. This is knowledge, and knowledge like this can get people killed. Yourself included. The villagers believe these creatures are demon wolves, and so do the majority of Acros. But your queen knows, her advisors know, and many in the court will find out. I am hoping it will spur action to prevent future attacks. If she throws in a knighthood for him, then I’ll be happy to share a title with the Rook who saved your life.”
“I think we are just about finished.” Jon pushes one more blanket around Alec. They are making sure people can see him, the bloody mess his body is in. He wouldn’t like this display, but hells, it’s for his own good if it gets him what he has been so desperate to achieve. Simon lifts me up onto the cart with Alec, taking the driver’s seat. Jon follows us with the cart of decaying bodies. I look for Handsome as we travel, but he is nowhere to be found. I didn’t imagine him; he must be real. His welfare remains on my mind until we reach Wesson.
“Hold on here and stand up.” Simon points to a handle behind him as he slows the horse. “They need to see you. They need to see him.”
I stand, feeling a bit self-conscious showing off my skirt rags, blood-stained body, messy hair caked in things I don’t want to think about, and my fake fighting shirt.
Villagers line up on the main street of Wesson, necks craned, softly murmuring as we roll through. They begin clapping and cheering while some throw flowers onto our cart, and others throw rotten food at the carcasses in Jon’s cart. Children runalongside our cart, whooping and blowing kisses before we drive past Tess’s family’s house. Surprisingly, no one is standing outside to greet us. My stomach sinks.
As if knowing what I’m thinking, Simon leans back. “They are meeting us at the castle. You should sit and rest now. When we reach the gates, we’ll draw a crowd, so it will take us a while to get to court.”
Sitting and watching the scenery go by feels much gloomier than before with Alec. I might have been a whole mess of emotions, but I enjoyed being with him. Idon’tenjoy seeing him like this. I curl my feet up underneath my thighs, feeling miserably empty, and continue to try to heal him.
“Ready?” Simon asks, turning his head slightly. “Almost there.”
I pull myself up in answer. I want to think of something other than the blood coating my skin. “Simon, what is Bethal like?”
“Let’s save that for a day at a lake, unless you have found another beautiful lady willing to take your place?” he teases.
“Maybe after I give her some coin.” I watch as he tips his head back and laughs. It’s infectious.
