Let’s hope it stays that way. We’ve dealt with enough for one journey already.
Agreed.
The silence pressed into my skin. No birds. No wind. Just the weight of unseen eyes.
Somewhere in the growing dusk, I felt Prager’s presence like poison seeping through my veins. She was out there, waiting. Planning.
She'd tasted our power during the witherroot attack, and she’d learned our weaknesses.
We wouldn't fall easily, but there were too many opportunities for another attack.
And we were still too far from Irridain’s gates.
Chapter 16
Reyla
Asecond attack never came.
Somehow, that felt worse. I still sensed her watching from beyond the tree line, patient and predatory, wanting us to feel her presence. Her signature malice hung in the air like the scent of a rotting carcass.
We kept our weapons in hand and dismissed our guards.
Lore and I left their carriage to wait.
A short time later, Dorion arrived in disguise, which was jarring at first. He wore “his” long blond hair in a queue, which did nothing for his pinched features and portly belly. He was about my height, and I wasn’t tall for a woman. He handed us the small pouch with my ladies’ rings and followed us over to their carriage.
While I gave them to Moira and Calista, he poked his head inside, grinning. His smile faded, and he tilted his head, studying them both.
Back outside, he mounted his horse to ride beside us, his hair gleaming in the sunlight. Many would call the real Doriondevastatingly handsome, and his sly charm only made him more appealing. Now, masked as Lord Vikire, he was rather plain, with a sallow complexion and a foppish manner. But how we looked didn’t matter. Getting the talisman did.
My ladies slipped their rings on their fingers. Fearing the curse would make them forget, we hadn’t named Prager, just told them to be wary of everyone, that someone at Irridain might harm us. It was the simplest explanation, and they accepted it with ease. They were well-versed in court politics and knew Evergorne and Irridain were anything but allies.
Climbing back into our vehicle, we continued traveling, reaching the gates of Irridain Court at dusk. The pale blue stone walls of the castle perched on a steep hillside in the distance made the structure look like it was coated in frost.
Our zephyl came to a stop at the gate, though the portcullis had already been lifted. Dorion dismounted and came over to stand near our carriage door, a bland expression on his borrowed face.
A lone guard opened the door to our vehicle and peered inside. Tall, his armor gleamed, without a smudge or scratch on it.
My ladies left their carriage and joined us in ours, Calista fluffing my skirt while Moira plucked at random strands of my hair, tucking them back into place.
Lore identified me, Dorion, and himself, using our fake names. I gave the man a curt nod but said nothing. Dorion grunted. Lore didn’t introduce my ladies, since that wasn’t done—not here, that is.
The man’s gaze skimmed over us, and with a twist of his thin lips, he inclined his head. “Lord Rutherford, Lady Rutherford, Lord Vikire. You’relate.”
Lore stared down his nose at the man. I took the cue from himand sniffed to give the impression that he was too beneath us even to notice.
“We were accosted on our way here, sir,” Calista said in that sharp tone that made almost everyone around her jump. It made me glad she was with us. There was something to be said for letting servants handle things like this when we needed to make a certain impression. “Perhaps you should be patrolling the surrounding countryside rather than questioning those above your station.”
His attention shifted to Farris, his lips curling with distaste. “Why is there a wild animal in your vehicle?”
“My pet.” I stroked the nyxin's head. “Touch him and die.”
“Wouldn't dream of touching something so filthy.” His sneer deepened. “Everyone walks from here. Servants and belongings will be taken through a different entrance.”
“Oh, we…” Moira nudged her mother.
“Lady Rutherford needs us to travel with her,” Calista said stiffly.
