Page 100 of The Blade in the Ashes
“I only mean,” I swallowed, trying to paint a bashful grin on my face. “We won’t be staying long.”
Nessira met my frantic gaze and nodded, falling easily into a lie. “Yes, you see, my sister-in-law and I were separated from my husband during the storm, but we must get back home urgently.”
Eloise frowned, her eyes flashing first to my wrist and then to the fine fabric of my gown. Even covered in mud, with the bottom of my skirt sliced apart, I looked too nice for a young married woman simply passing from one town to the next. After a moment, she inclined her head in a nod. If she doubted our story, she didn’t seem inclined to make an issue of it.
“There are some fresh clothes set out by the hearth,” she told me, patting my knee. “Why don’t you change and I can warm some hot tea for you? That’ll get your blood flowing again!”
She stood slowly, groaning as she did before laughing and joking about the burdens of old age. A cane waited for her pressed against the wall, and she grasped hold of it, using it to support her weight as she hobbled out of the bedroom and closed the door tightly behind her.
The second she was gone, I was on my feet, pushing towards the bundle of plain clothes.
“What happened?” I asked as Nessira began working to help me undo my corset.
She spoke softly. “You fainted from the cold the second we reached the town. Eloise’s son was the first to find us and insisted that his mother would know how to help. He carried you here. Everyone was so concerned with getting you warm; no one asked too many questions.”
“Yet,” I finished the thought for her, pulling the cotton long-sleeved shirt over my shoulders. “And we have no way of knowing if their loyalties lie with Clay or Hyrax.”
She held out the skirt, allowing me to rest an arm on her shoulder as I stepped into it and pulled it to my navel, tucking the ends of the shirt inside.
“Who would be loyal to Hyrax?” She scoffed, hatred burning on her face.
I sighed, reaching for the woolen socks next. “I imagine a great many people if only because he is a God.”
The fabric was rougher against my skin than the fine silks that I was used to, but it was also heavier and thicker. It was far better suited to the winter climate. That awful cold still felt embedded in my bones, but the shivering had thankfully slowed.
“Has anyone said anything about…” I paused, unsure how to phrase the millions of questions in my head. “Well, about anything?”
Nessira’s brows rose as she considered. “No. Not yet, at least.”
Eloise’s voice rang out, calling to us that the tea was ready in the kitchen. I met Nessira’s burning eyes, and she seemed to have sensed my thoughts, resolve settling on her face as she stood up straight and nodded in agreement.
“Well, let’s go find out if we are in the home of a friend or foe.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Iris
“Imust admit that I am less than pleased with this plan.”
I grinned at Nikolai’s reflection in the mirror, yanking the neckline of my gown further down. My magically enhanced cleavage was already threatening to burst out of the too-tight corset, but I fidgeted with it until I had it at exactly the right angle.
“If you have a better idea, I’m all ears.” I spun in the vanity chair to face him, frowning at the serious expression on his face. “In fact, I’m surprised youdon’thave a better plan. Isn’t this supposed to be your profession?”
His eyes narrowed as he continued buttoning the black shirt he had donned for our evening. Gone was his typical finery. He’d even removed the many golden rings that constantly adorned his fingers, and the sight of bare skin there seemed unnatural. He’d pulled his hair back tightly, tied it at the nape of his neck, and chosen clothes constructed from simple fabrics.
It was strange. He was still Nikolai, of course. A change of clothing couldn’t shrink that larger-than-life aura he had, but he seemed almost like a different person without his usual adornments. I hadn’t realized how much his appearance was part of who he was.
Still, even dressed so differently, he was painfully gorgeous. Not that I’d ever admit that to him.
“I do have alternative methods that I would typically employ in situations like this,” he reminded me, folding up the cuffs of his sleeves. “You deemed they would take too long.”
I jumped to my feet, patting him on the chest as I squeezed past him. I had to ignore the way his eyes flickered to my chest as I pressed against him for the briefest moment.
“Yes, I did. You’ll find that my methods are both efficient and effective.”
We’d rented a small room in a local tavern in Rhanport to serve as our base of operations while we figured out how to secure the Blades of Arto. It was a tiny space, just large enough for the two of us to move in, but it would do.
Seating myself on the edge of the modest bed, I began to slip on the delicate heels I’d stolen from where another woman had discarded them in the streets. They were half a size too big and I frowned as I lengthened my toes to better fit them.
