Instead of the anger I expected, Rissa looked at me calmly, her features softening. “Take a deep breath. We can work through this. Tell me everything.”
I recounted how I’d accidentally found a hidden wing of the palace and overheard Gayl speaking with one of his advisors, and how I’d followed them into the secret corridor. When I admitted that Gayl had seen through my invisibility charm and the threat he’d made in response, Rissa’s face tightened. She twisted her lipsback and forth, thoughts spiraling behind those eyes faster than I could keep up.
“First of all, thank you for telling me,” she started. “I know that must’ve been difficult, but we’ve got to be open with each other—that’s the only way any of this will work. And second, I don’t blame you, Rose. If anything, I’m glad Lark found someone as bold as you. Someone willing to take a risk. Perhaps we need to work on subtlety”—she let out a snort—“but if I’m being honest, this is partially my fault.”
My brow furrowed. “How so?”
“Because I should have found a way to meet with you as soon as Lark told me she’d convinced you to volunteer. We left you on your own, with no instructions, no plan, no way forward. Emperor’s tits, I would’ve done the exact same thing you did. And probably gotten myself killed.”
I blinked at her. “So…you’re not upset with me?”
She studied me carefully, and even though she was only a couple of years older than me, I felt like a child beneath her examination. Clarissa Aris seemed wise beyond her years, someone who’d been to hell and back and seen things I’d never imagined in my wildest dreams. I hated how in just these two meetings with her, I’d begun to crave her approval—this woman whose father I despised. It was impossible not to admire her.
Over time, I’d learned how to disregard what others thought of me, to stop caring about seeking favor. When I’d lived my entire life under the scrutiny of a province full of people who’d made their judgments long ago, there wasn’t much left to lose. But Rissa and Lark…they saw potential in me. And that was something I didn’t know I needed until this moment. People who could look past the cold, jagged edges and see the fire that burned within.
“No, I’m not upset with you,” she said, and my trepidation eased. “We’ll need to adjust our approach going forward since you’ve been compromised, but it’s not the end of the world. We’ll find another way. I’ll talk with Lark and the others, make sure we’re all on the same page.”
I let out a breath, a small weight lifting from my chest. Rissa smiled and squeezed my arm, and this time, I let it comfort me. “You don’t have to do this alone, you know,” she said. “Nobody is expecting you to have all the answers or be perfect every step of the way. We’re going to help you as best we can, alright?” When I nodded, she winked. “And maybe next time, run your plan by one of us first. Gives us an excuse to abandon ship and charge the palace if you wind up missing.”
I knew she was exaggerating, but her joke made me wonder… “Why don’t you? Just unite your rebels and make a move on the emperor? If you have as many loyal people as you say, I imagine you’d stand a chance at taking him down.”
Eyeing me, she said, “If by taking him down, you mean assassinating him, that’s not how we work. Expecting people to follow a new regime built on the blood and bones of the one who came before is exactly what got us into this position.” Her eyes flashed, and I knew she was thinking of her father, of how Gayl had betrayed him and cast him aside.
I didn’t believe I’deverfeel sympathy for Branock Aris, but I hadn’t stopped to think about what it might have done to the rest of his family. How such a deep betrayal had affected the two young children I now knew.
Before I could respond, the sound of footsteps and muffled voices came from outside the door. Rissa gave me that mischievous smirk I’d come to recognize and rubbed her hands together.
“Chin up, Rose. We’ve got a mission to plan.”
27
Leo
My morning patrol shift had immediately followed mine and Rissa’s late night excursion, so I hadn’t gotten any sleep. While our conversation put me in a better headspace, that had quickly soured with my exhaustion and the fact that I’d had to borrow Rissa’s mare to complete my rounds. Istilldidn’t have Nightshade back.
Perhaps that was why I’d been rougher than necessary with the man I’d caught breaking into a supply house for province fugitives in the south sector. He didn’t need those teeth, as far as I was concerned. He had been armed to the brim with explosives, ready to destroy the resources we’d so painstakingly gathered for those in need. Anyone who held such malice for provincers simply seeking refuge in our capital didn’t deserve to walk away with their limbs intact.
Other than him, it was a fairly uneventful rotation. Chaz and I were in charge of assigning willing Sentinel members to patrol duty—a pseudo Royal Guard, in a sense. We kept watch over the five sectors, ensuring the less fortunate and needy, such as those crossing over from their provinces, still received protection they were owed. Protection Gayl didn’t seem to hold in high regard. We changed out the rotations often so that the Royal Guardand those loyal to His Majesty wouldn’t become suspicious. Heavier care was given to the evening and early morning shifts, especially around the Decemvirate. Chaz and I often took on more rotations than the others. Since he was a Strider, he could move more conveniently from place to place. As for me…well, I grew tense when I knew there was work to be done, people to help, and I sat back doing nothing.
I’d put an end to many robberies, attacks, and brawls in the past few months. Had come away with my fair share of bruises and broken bones, as well, but it was worth it to know the people had some semblance of protection in this city.
That resolution did nothing to quell my foul temper this morning, though. After being up all night, now covered in sweat and splatters of blood from the would-be arsonist, and the fact that the woman we were entrusting our mission to had run off with my horse, I was in no mood to meet with her and the others. Even if it was my idea.
I sighed as Goldie, my sister’s pale yellow mare, trotted along the dirt path toward our cottage. When it came into view, I let out a scoff.
There was Nightshade, tied up to our post, grazing on a patch of grass.
“Unbelievable,” I muttered, dismounting and taking care of Goldie before heading into the house.
I was the last one to arrive. Chaz and Lark stood at the counter, conversing with cups of steaming liquid and half eaten plates at their sides. Rissa chatted animatedly with Horace, who sat at the table with his thick legs spread wide, his fingers twisting in his beard as he listened. And there was Rose, sitting across from him with that guarded expression she wore so well. That long, dark hair was pulled into a braid, small tendrils framing her olive features. Her arms were folded across her chest, her fingers playing absently with the edge of her pouch of herbs. Subconsciously or not, she never seemed to be far from her charms.
When those green eyes turned and landed on me, somethingstirred in my chest. There was a flash of apprehension hidden there, a hint of the wariness I saw during those close moments in the alcove. But then, as quick as it appeared, it was gone. Her eyes narrowed, steely distrust aiming back at me. Distrust that grated on my nerves, for it wasn’t somethingIhad earned.
“Kind of you to return my horse,” I said with a grunt as a way of greeting, shutting the door a bit harder than I intended.
“He was the perfect gentleman,” she responded. She leaned back in her chair with that same taunting air about her as when she put me under the compulsion spell the day before.
“Sounds like Leo could learn a thing or two from him,” Chaz said with a chuckle.
