“You’ll bring the wrath of the Sun God down on this city!” a young woman shrieked.
“More like the damn Blood Duchess will bring down the wrath of Dark Lord Kaine,” the older woman next to her muttered. “We only just finished repairing our walls. I worked so hard replanting the flowers.”
“Holy Maiden Ysabel saved my life,” another man shouted. Many more chimed in with the same sentiment. My sister had served as a healer in this city for so long, probably almost everyone had a friend or relative whose life she’d saved.
Someone picked up a stone and threw it at a guard. The sound when it struck his helmet cracked in the winter air like thunder. The murmurs of the crowd turned into growls.
The Blood Duchess surveyed the people around her with a cold, assessing look. The lines around her mouth were hard, but her eyes darted around nervously. A scroll granting her legal authority wouldn’t save her from being torn to bits by an angry mob, and she knew it. The great thing about being a peasant? We weren’t important enough to swear life-oaths. No magic forced us to play by the rules of the Conclave of Kings. We could rip to pieces any noble we could get our dirt-stained hands on.
“I have more important business to take care of,” Duchess Hedri said. Pretending not to run away, she got into her carriage. The guards followed her lead. As soon as the coachman stopped looking at me, I could move again. I exhaled sharply.
Donya sagged down, gripping the fountain with one hand. “Sweet Sun God, save us all,” she whispered.
I bent over to offer her a hand up. “Thank you for saving my life, my lady.”
Looking up, she tried and failed to smile. “I finally get to meet the real Bora,” she said cryptically, accepting my hand.
“How did you recognize me?”
“Your older sister wrote to me and said you’d be coming. You look just like her! She asked me to keep an eye on you while you’re in the city. Unfortunately, I think that means getting you out of here as fast as possible. I wouldn’t put it past Duchess Hedri to send assassins after you. She has a reputation for holding grudges for decades.”
“I could turn around and leave right now,” I suggested, more than willing.
“You wouldn’t be safe on the road alone, and you’ll be faster on a horse. Allow me to arrange an escort.” Donya stood up. “Ysabel is a dear friend of mine. I swear I’ll do everything in my power to protect you.”
I nodded, fully aware I could use all the help I could get. “Thank you, my lady.”
Five female guards in armor ran forward, pushing through the crowd. “Donya! You should have waited for us—what happened?”
“The fall of the kingdom of Arahasnor just happened,” Donya said grimly.
Someone laughed nervously. Both Donya and I knew it was no joke.
Chapter Two
Without a single detour, Donya took me straight to the royal stables. She gave her guards some instructions, no doubt to deal with the duchess’s unexpected takeover, then sent them away.
As we approached the brick building, I said, “Surely you have more important business than looking after me. Besides, I need to register at the gifted school before I can leave the city.”
“I’ll offer your excuses to the school.” Donya pushed the door open. “The Blood Duchess has a reputation for never letting anyone who crosses her live. She’s done even more unpleasant things to Falael’s lovers than turning them into blood baths. I could never face Ysabel if I let anything happen to you.”
More unpleasant things? What did that mean? I didn’t want
to think about it, yet numerous ideas flashed through my mind. “Lovers—plural? How many times has he cheated on her, and why does she keep taking him back?”
“Too many to count, and I have no idea. Word from Sherda says that the Blood Duchess has slaughtered her way through dozens of women since taking Falael as her lover. The lives of servants are cheap in Sherda. I used to be surprised that Falael could find women willing to have him—but after what I saw today, I suspect he probably flirts with them in front of his duchess, then blames them for seducing him.” Donya made a face. “He must be doing it on purpose at this point. Like some kind of twisted game. I wonder why a woman as powerful as the duchess puts up with him. He must be amazing in bed.”
“Definitely not, mediocre at best,” I said absent-mindedly, then flushed. “Um, personally my money would be on her enjoying the game, too. She liked watching me squirm.” Sadly, based on my knowledge of Falael, I could absolutely see him getting an ego boost from countless women dying for him. Or rather, because of him. He knowingly tried to cause my death? What, did he think I’d ask him for my stolen money back? The long-cold embers of hatred in my heart reignited. I’d tried to forget about Falael and accept that I couldn’t change the past. But the bad memories came flooding back as I followed Donya into the stable.
Brick pillars separated a series of horse stalls. I wrinkled my nose at the stench of straw and waste. A dark brown horse poked his snout out of the closest stall and snorted at me.
“Stablemaster Vestan?” Donya called.
“My lady! Are you with … Holy Maiden Ysabel? Dark Lord Kaine must be invading the city again.” A handsome blond man with bright blue eyes ran toward us, flapping his arms wildly.
“I’m not—” I started to say.
He tripped and crashed into Donya. She managed to catch him despite half falling down herself. “Whoa, there!” A blush tinted her pale cheeks.
