Page 124 of This Dark Descent
“Congratulations again on your win, Miss Rusel,” she said. “That was quite the performance.” As she spoke, her dress shifted around the shoulders. There was a pattern on it, a raised cylindrical outline. Was it enchanted?
“Thank you, Your Highness.” Mikira glanced at Talyana, hoping for an indication of what this was about, but the other girl merely grinned at her. She never would have expected Talyana to look so pleasant in the service of a royal.
“Miss Haraver tells me that you’ve grown quite close with Lord Adair.” Princess Eshlin laced her fingers together and rested her chin upon them. “I must admit I was surprised to hear that, considering your fraught relationship with the noble houses.”
This time the glance Mikira shot Talyana was nothing short of hostile.
“Lord Adair’s sponsorship helped my family out of a recent bind,” Mikira replied tightly. “I’m grateful for his help, and that’s all I have to say on the matter.”
Besides, the princess and her family were no better. What right did she have to speak of the noble houses when her family’s war was responsible for her brother’s death among countless others?
Eshlin’s brow rose, and for a moment, Mikira worried she’d been too blunt. But the princess didn’t look put off, merely curious. “Tell me, are you happy with our current system, Miss Rusel?”
Mikira shifted uneasily. “I’m not sure it’s my place to criticize—”
“Please.” Eshlin cut her off. “Speak freely. Nothing you say will be used against you here.”
Talyana’s hand fell over hers. “We’re not your enemies, Kira.”
Mikira jerked her hand away. “And yet I still can’t trust you. What are you even doing here with her?” She hadn’t missed that Talyana had said “we,” but neither could she process what that meant. This was the same girl who’d practically celebrated the attempt on Prince Darius’s life.
Talyana recoiled, and Mikira looked to the princess, her frustration mounting. “I’ll speak freely if you do, Your Highness. Tell me what you want.”
A smile spread across Eshlin’s full lips. “Ah, that’s the fire Talyana spoke of.” Something about the words drained Mikira’s annoyance, making her cheeks flush. Here was a woman who was everything Mikira longed to be: poised and elegant as a winter flower, yet strong and formidable as Aslir, a princess who commanded the respect and loyalty of soldiers.
It was no secret that where her brother had the ear of the nobility, Princess Eshlin was backed by the military, a support she’d earned through her skill with a sword and years spent training in their ranks. She’d even served briefly in the Eternal War before her father forced her to return home when his mind began to fog.
The princess brushed a hand along her collarbone. As she did, the dress rose. Mikira blinked. No, something rosefromthe dress.
A snake lifted its head, forest green and thicker around than her arm. Its bright marble-like eyes watched her, its black tongue flicking out to taste the air. The dress wasn’t enchanted; the snake was—except there wasn’t a single gold fleck in its eyes.
A golem.
Eshlin ran a finger along the length of the snake. “Very well, Miss Rusel. I’ll speak plainly. There is a certain organization in this city that could use someone of your mettle. An organization that intends to ensure equality among Enderlain’s citizens.”
Mikira almost laughed. Of course. Because her position wasn’t already precarious enough, now the Princess of Goddess-damned Enderlain was requisitioning her, not in support of her family, butagainstthem.
“You’re rebels,” she said in disbelief. This was why the rebels had only gone after Darius. This was why Talyana was here.
“Guilty as charged,” Talyana replied with a smile. “What are you going to do about it?”
Mikira shook her head. “Nothing. I’m going to do nothing because I want nothing to do with this.”
“Because you’re loyal to Damien Adair,” Talyana said with all the bite of acid.
“Because my family is finally safe,” Mikira hissed back. “And I won’t jeopardize them again. I don’t care about your stupid war!”
Talyana leaned across the table. “The Mikira I know would never have turned her back on this.”
“Like you had any idea who she was,” Mikira snarled. “How could you? You left!”
Something pained flashed through Talyana’s gaze, but she pressed on. “I entered the Illinir to use the winnings as funding. I gave that up to save you. But now you’re exactly what we need.”
“What’s that?”
“A face,” Princess Eshlin replied smoothly. “Every movement needs one. Ours cannot be a noble. But someone the people love? A legend among racers with funds no one is tracking?”
Mikira’s hands curled. “You can’t be serious.”
