The woman hummed and Vi got the distinct feeling that she saw the response for the politically approved statement that it was. “Well, perhaps when you are in the West enjoying our cuisine, you will enjoy other aspects of our culture.”
“I am sure I will.” Vi made a motion to leave.
“Perhaps a curiosity shop.”
“A what?” It was Ellene who paused now, clearly intrigued.
“A curiosity shop,” the woman repeated, answering Ellene but continuing to stare directly at Vi. Her eyes felt like they would never leave her for the rest of her days. “In the West, the Firebearers among us with the power to peer among the Mother’s lines of fate and look into the future will sell this ability to those who seek them out. The places they use their future sight for profit are called curiosity shops.”
“Can you see the future?” Ellene asked eagerly.
“We should go. Darrus is waiting.” Vi stopped the conversation there. She’d had enough talk about future sight. She still hadn’t told her friends, or Uncle Jax, about her visions. Vi was juggling too many things—too many secrets—for her taste, and didn’t want to stand here and be reminded of them.
“Right, right.” Ellene gave a small wave to the elderly woman, clearly not as unnerved as Vi was. “Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome.” Her black eyes stayed stuck on Vi. “Should you ever decide to go West, seek me out at my curiosity shop in the Crossroads. It has been passed down in my caravan for generations, the key to it said to have been gifted from Lady Fiera herself. You may find it enlightening, princess. The lines of fate are wound so tightly around you that they could strangle you if you’re not careful.” Her voice had dropped to a whisper, but Vi heard perfectly. The day suddenly felt far, far colder.
“What is it, Vi?”
“Nothing.” If she insisted it firmly enough to Ellene, perhaps she’d believe it as well. Vi plastered a smile on her face. “Nothing at all. Let’s get to the noru races. We don’t want to keep them waiting, and there’s only so much talking up Jayme can do.”
Just as they were leaving the stall, so too was Andru leaving his. He also had a small satchel in his hands, though it was canvas, not leather. Whatever he had purchased was concealed within.
“What did you buy?” he asked.
“Some spices for Jax. What about you?”
“A little gift as well, for when I return home.”A gift for whom?Vi wondered, but didn’t get the chance to ask. “Shall we continue to these races?”
Without another word on fate, future seers, or gifts, they did.
Chapter Twenty
Expectedly,they were the last to arrive at the noru races, and Ellene seemed to relish in it because it meant all eyes were on her for her grand entrance.
“I wasn’t sure if you were really going to come.” Darrus wasted no time in crossing over to them.
“I would never abandon you,” Ellene said smoothly.
His emerald eyes drifted over to Vi. She braced herself, remembering him in his mask from the night before. Would he out her now? A tiny, knowing smile crossed his lips, and then he carried on as though nothing was out of the ordinary. “I heard you were racing?”
“Well, I’d fully planned on it.” Vi rested a hand on her stomach, hunching slightly. “But I think I ate something in the market that didn’t agree with me. It’s coming on quickly.”
“What, no!” Ellene gasped, bringing her hands to Vi’s cheeks.
Jayme rushed over to Vi’s side, resting a hand on her back. “The same thing happened to me last night. Was it something from the cheese stall? The wheel with all the bright colors marbled underneath the wax?”
“Yes, that one!” Vi leaned into her friend.
“I do not remember you stopping at a cheese stall,” Andru murmured.
“We must have gone when you were distracted,” Ellene said with a glare.
“I only remember the spice stall.” He shrugged.
Vi gave a loud groan of mock pain, trying to bring the attention back to her. “And after I’ve saddled my noru and everything.”
Did this sound as fake to everyone else?Vi couldn’t help but wonder. It was a good thing they were all born nobility or in service to nobility, for none of them were about to win any acting awards. Even still, Darrus seemed to be believing it, and that was all that mattered. Then again, he hadn’t taken his eyes off Ellene for more than a minute and the two gravitated closer together with every second.
