Page 4 of The Blade in the Ashes
There were slight shadows under her eyes, but nothing too abnormal—no cuts or bruises. There wasn’t even a splatter of dirt on her dress.Thank the Gods for that small mercy.
Nessira nodded tentatively, her eyes skirting over my shoulder towards Caldrius. “Our ship docked from Tenebris only a little while ago, and the guards took us into custody immediately.”
I glared at him over my shoulder, but Caldrius only shifted his weight and gave a dismissive shake of the head. “They escorted you directly to her Grace. They did not imprison you.”
Nessira’s eyes found mine. “Grace?”
I shook off her question, turning away from Caldrius and focusing back on my friend. There would be time for explanations. There would be plenty of time to answer every question and provide every detail about all that had happened. For now, I just needed to reassure myself that someone I cared about was here with me and safe. “Samsa, where is she?”
Caldrius cleared his throat. “She and Nessira were both given a choice of serving his holiness or continuing in your employment. Samsa chose to take a position as a cupbearer for Hyrax.”
Oh.
I tried not to bristle at the insult. She and I hadn’t known each other very long, I supposed. We didn’t form the bond that I’d built with Nessira. Still, it was irritating to know she’d chosen to serve a vicious God over me.
Caldrius walked around us, careful not to pull us out of each other’s arms, but I felt his gaze lingering on me as he stepped over the threshold.
“I’ll leave you two for now.” With a wave of his hand, he sent away the guard who had escorted Nessira to me. “Perhaps your lady’s maid can assist you in dressing? Even if you do not wish to join Hyrax for the petitioners, he has called for a dinner tonight, and he expects us both. I’ve done what I can to convince him to give you space, but even my powers of persuasiveness have their limits. It appears your time is up.”
He closed the door behind him, and we both remained frozen as we listened to his retreating footsteps.
Then, Nessira’s hand closed tightly on mine, and she was on her feet, rushing to pull me into my bedroom, where she practically threw me onto my bed. Her eyes narrowed unhappily as she scanned over me.
I knew what she was seeing. Red-rimmed, swollen eyes. Tangled, unkempt blonde hair, darker than normal because it desperately needed to be washed. Collarbones that seemed more obvious than they did a fortnight ago.
“While I’m glad to see you, you don’t look well, my Lady. You’ve lost weight.”
I laughed through my tears, pulling up my skirts so I could fold my legs under myself on the bed before patting the spot next to me, encouraging her to sit. “I think you can call me Thea at this point.”
My entire world had turned upside down. We were far past the point of formalities now.
Nessira lifted her brows at the spot next to me.
“No,” she mused, crossing her arms over her chest “Apparently, I am to call you ‘her Grace.’ What exactly happened while I was on that boat?”
So much. So fucking much.
Far too much to try and explain in such little time.
I exhaled in a laugh. “Well, Hyrax is my father. Caldrius is exactly who you think he is. Pasnia escaped the Underworld, stole my powers to release Hyrax, and died. Clay and the others fled, and now Hyrax is king. Those are the main things you should know.”
She stared at me, mouth opening, then closing, then opening again.
“That is…” Nessira paused, lips pursing while she considered. As she ran her tongue over her teeth, she lifted her hands to smooth down her hair, which was tied neatly at the nape. “An unexpected change in circumstances.”
For the first time in what felt like an eternity, I felt my lips pulling into a smile.
At least, Nessira being here with me meant I wasn’t alone in this. Not anymore.
“Well.” She breathed out a rush of air, resting her hands on her hips and looking speculatively around the room. “What can we do now?”
It was a good question—one I didn’t have a good answer for.
Not yet at least.
I did know one thing, though: I couldn't continue hiding in this room. Caldrius was right. My time was up. Hyrax had demanded my presence, and I wasn’t currently in a position to deny the wishes of a High God.
“Now, you’re going to help me pick a dress worthy of the daughter of death, and I’m going to go to dinner.”
