Page 65 of Unrivaled
Except that would be a lie.
“The time I met her—properly mether,not the camouflage she wears—she was about to be thrashed by her father.”A few older women moved past, talking amongst themselves.Their skirts were kilted up, and mud was caked over their boots.Despite their argument, they were walking swiftly together, intent on their goal.“She was eleven.We were in Raa’shi.Luca had just asked to postpone the betrothal.”
He nodded, as if this event was one he knew of.That made it simpler.
“She heard him coming.”I should’ve.“She knew what was happening.”I should’ve.“And she protectedme,Chay.An eleven-year-old who didn’t even know my name protected me from her father.”
His eyes cut away from me.His jaw was so tight it’d need barely a tap to shatter like a goblet.
“I can still hear her words, if I listen,” I murmured, letting the wind have the memory, breathing out slowly.“It was neverhow can I protect her.It was alwayshow can I give her the tools to thrive.” I glanced over my shoulder at where she was listening to Yasmine’s story.Her smaller friend was speaking rapidly, her hands waving in the air.The weed she held flopped helplessly.“The Butcher will always find a reason to punish her.I can’t control him, and I can’t make sense of him.Trying to predict his decisions would be torture.All I can do is help her hold onto what’s important.”I considered him, all big and sad and brooding, from the tips of his boots to the top of his head.I waved a hand at the city in front of us.“She’ll fight for what’s important, Chay.And only what’s important.But she knows not to fight a losing battle.”
His lids flickered, the only sign of that barb sliding home.
At leastmyattacks were clean.
CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR
AUDREY
Have you ever worn a Cursed necklace, Victor?An interesting experience.Whatever that magic is, it feels like power.Thanking you for such a lovely box of silver.In other news, your boys turned back a group that was more than the usual rabble.Their shield walls are something to behold.How go my trackers?—in a letter from General Dieudonné, Count of Black Borough to General Victor, Duke of La'Angi
21stDay of Spring’s One Moon,
Age of the Locways, Year 272
La’Angi City
The air of the still had an unusual scent, somewhere between rotten eggs and bread dough that had been left in a cellar.“We’re a bit behind on the production, I think,” the anxious young woman said, her hands buried in her thick apron.“It didn’t work the way it did for my pa, exactly.I’m sorry, my lady.”
Her voice shook when she’d told me she’d ruined three batches of the knappchs base spirit a few days ago.But it had been my last time with Yasmine, and I’d been selfish.
“It wouldn’t have worked any faster for me,” I assured her, grateful I hadn’t had to sink hours of my time into the research.“Are you okay?”
“Of course.”Her smile was too bright, but she turned me toward the vats with pipes coming out of them.Some coiled high up into the air; others vanished from view into the ground or behind more vats.“What did you want to see?”
“Nothing in particular,” I admitted.“I just wanted to check in, make sure you felt confident and supported.”She’d already given me the tour and apologized so many times I’d almost cried for her.I had no idea how it actually worked because I’d been focused on whether she was safe in the oft dangerous conditions of the clockwork still.While the details of the process had escaped me, I knew the broad strokes of it.
There were a few left alive who knew the process, but she was the one who’d put her hand up.One of the older women had been there to assist her with the initial hauling and setting up, but there was a lot to do, and so many gaps in knowledge.
“Well, it’s all going well so far.”She looked up at the still, as if she expected it to explode at any moment.“I think?My lady.”
“I trust you, Aleja,” I promised.“I wanted to know if there’s any support I can give, not to make sure you’re on schedule.Given where we were half a moon ago, I’m overjoyed with our progress, regardless of mistakes and delays.”
She swallowed and squared her shoulders.“I’m trying,” she said.“It’s good that you’ve got the kitchen staff making the fruit mash.That’ll speed it up a lot.I’m just one person.I’d do what I could, but keeping these running…”
“My records show there were more than eight people doing what you’re doing by yourself now,” I reminded her.
“They did it better,” she said with a bit of a laugh.
“They had a lot more practice, more time, more rest, and more help.Of course they’d do it better.”I resisted the desire to give her a hug.“I don’t expect you to do the job of eight experienced, resourced people.”
The breath that she let out shook.“There’s a lot riding on this.”
The strain around her eyes worried me.She’d rejected all offers of trainees I’d given her.I’d need to nudge Bernadette and see if she could spare whoever had been in here supporting Aleja when she’d first got it all up and running so she didn’t need to train them.I couldn’t afford for her to break.
But I didn’t say any of that.Instead, I flicked my fingers dismissively.“There are a lot of people who have liquor cabinets full of our knappchs,” I said, turning away.“Do they want more?Yes.Do theyneedit?”I snorted, and from the corner of my eye I saw surprise flicker over her face.“It will help us, but we’ll survive without it.Don’t lose sleep over this, please.”
“You said the economy needed the knappchs,” she said, hesitantly.
