Page 67 of Unrivaled
My heart sat lightly in my chest.That was exactly the right order.I wasn’t finding food or beds for those people, after all.“Perfect.How many people?”
“At least twelve, m’lady.Mayhap more.They looked skinny, and some of them looked real young.The Captain said to tell Bern that they’re going to need to be on rest for a seven-day.”
For their sake, I hoped they were young or small, and not truly so sick.“That’s a great place to start.If they need more rest, I’m confident Bernadette and Ettie will ensure it happens.”
“They talked about that too,” he said, nodding.The watch called the hour, and the runner winced.“Sorry it took me so long to get here, m’lady.”
If he’d had time to get the information from Kaelson to both Bernadette and Ettie, I didn’t have too much longer to wait before the Captain arrived.Anticipation coiled through my veins.I seriously considered returning to my room to ring for a bath.
“Not at all.Thanking you for doing such an excellent job.”I waved him off and turned back to the next letter on my pile, a tailor asking if they could attend the market and also dress me for a ball or feast.The thought made my stomach churn.I much preferred it with butterflies, so I flipped to the next one on the list, an order form for stone.It was only coming from outside of Triple Peak, so it could be here by midsummer andshouldgive us the needed resources to complete the modifications to the market before the tourney.It cost more than importing Southern stone from La’Rea, but that stone wouldn’t get here until winter, which would mean the market wouldn’t be done in time for the faire.
I grinned and signed off on paying far too much money to get that stone, refusing to worry about it.The families I’d looted were dead and survivors cowed.The pillaging was an ongoing process, with buildings further out in the city owned by the less wealthy now being searched.
The wheels were turning.
There were always more things to do.But I took a detour on the way from the steward’s wing to my tower, stopping in the library to pick up a few books that would contain information on classic medicinal plants.The garden had been gutted after Barloc took over.While I wasn’t planning on re-planting exactly what had been there, wouldn’t it be nice to have something both sensible and a respectful nod to our elders?
I had considered trying to drag the monolith back to its spot in the garden.I’d opted not to, even though I really,reallywanted it back here.It had saved our lives.All of us.
The reminder of the plague sent a chill through me.I hugged the books tighter as I headed toward my tower.“You’ll have a quiet afternoon, then?”Isolde asked, as if she hadn’t walked beside me as I’d picked up the books.
“Yes?”I replied, momentarily confused.
“I’ve some items I need to source,” she said.“For my latest project, my lady.”
“What—of course.”There was no new project.She didn’t look at me, but I saw Chay, from the corner of my eye, glancing between us.I shrugged off the attention best I could, irritated that I still felt his gaze.How long had it been now?More than two full moons?
It had taken me years to give up on Luca.When I finally,finallyhad…life got easier.And last I’d seen him, he’d grown.I’d never love him the way I had as a child, when he’d been a shining, mythical protector.I’d never love Chay as I had in the grips of the plague, as the one warm person in a sea of cold disdain.
Mayhap I could be friends with them, though.
I glanced over at the knight in question.His dark blue eyes blazed at me in a very familiar fashion that made the skin want to crawl right off my flesh.Not today, then.I turned my eyes forward, holding in a sigh for a single heartbeat, then a second, before letting it out slowly.It didn’t make sense.He was the one who’d told me to go.
I drew in a breath, held the discomfort close for a moment, feeling the way it sat in my body.I breathed it out before I got to my tower.“I’m staying in for the afternoon,” I told everyone.“If you’ve errands to run, or if Kaelson needs assistance, you’ve my blessing.”
The guardsmen left once I was escorted to my tower, and so did Isolde.Chay opted to stay.I wondered if that was his version of training despite the pain.
I left him to it, hoping it would heal him as it had me.
The books I’d grabbed were old friends.The first fell open at the softest touch and fit comfortably in my palm.I remained on my feet, most of my mind on the pages, a small amount of it practicing footwork.I moved from one stance to the next, my muscles sliding satisfyingly in and out of the positions.I was resting, and doing fun things that I enjoyed, like making a short list of the types of plants we might have had in the likely sacred garden before Barloc had come.But I was also keeping some momentum.
When a knock came at the door I glanced up, moving out of the obvious combat stance.“Yes?”
Chay opened it.Of course it’s Chay.No one elsecouldget in.
Behind him was the Captain, complete with that smug half-smile and freshly washed shirt rolled up to expose strong forearms and markings inked against into their skin.
I smiled at the sight of them, a combination of anxiety and excitement tugging at me, but a large roll of fabric on their shoulder puzzled me.“Thanking you, sir.”The book made a satisfyingsnapas I closed it.“I hear you were successful, Captain.”
“You’ll get accustomed to that if we keep up our dealings, princess.”They patted Chay on the shoulder, stepped inside, and closed the door in his face.
I felt a twinge of pity for him.He could’ve stopped it from happening, of course.Probably should’ve, if my father’s advice was anything to go off.
“What have you here?”I asked, as they set the roll of the fabric against the ground.
“A gift.”
Discomfort stirred, low in my belly.“I’ll pay you its value.”
