“You wear the dagger of a Fastrada noble.” She eyed Theo, then turned back to Esaias. “And your physique is far too impressive to have come from anywhere near here with our starving bellies.” She rubbed her flat stomach and gave them a mocking smile. “Duncaster is struggling, and soon we’ll be set to ruin while you fancy nobles live your life of luxury.”
Esaias gripped her arm and began dragging her back to the street.
“What are you doing?”
“You don’t plan on helping us, so I’m only doing my duty as afancy nobleand escorting you to your new quarters.” His own mockery of a smirk rivaled Isabel’s.
Theo followed closely behind, in case she had any ideas and tried to break free. They reached the town center, and Theo and Esaias dragged Isabel, kicking, into the jail housing five cells, all but two occupied. A fellow soldier came to their side. He shackled her wrists as she fought against their hold.
“You’ll regret this,” Isabel spat.
Esaias wiped her spit from his cheek and shoved her into the first cell. “It would seem there are a few obstacles in your way now.”
“Aslorn per de eclahard!” Isabel screamed, grasping the bars in her desperate attempt to hurtle herself at Esaias.
“Careful which tongue you throw around. Wouldn’t want you to further incriminate yourself.” Esaias turned to the soldier filling out her forms. “What is the punishment for treason? Still hanging? Sorry, I’ve been away fighting in the war. We didn’t have time for trials.”
Isabel’s face paled and her hands slid from the bars.
Aslorn per de eclahard.The phrase sounded familiar to Theo, but it wasn’t Tendasy. Was she fluent in multiple languages? It could’ve been Gorrin, the old language of Godwin spoken mostly in song or in private dwellings, but it also could’ve been one of the dozens of languages scattering the Black Sea. Theo had studied many, but there were always phrases or words that were ancient and hardly used in everyday vocabulary.
Esaias set to signing the forms of Isabel’s arrest while she sat in the corner of her cell and hugged her knees to her chest. Theo couldn’t help but see Adelaide in her. She was probably a few years older than his sister, maybe someone else’s sister. He wished she would pick her head up so he could catch another glimpse of her eyes, but she remained with her forehead pressed to her knees as she mumbled in prayer.
They left with a nod to the soldier and in the direction of the inn, but Theo knew he wouldn’t sleep the rest of the night. An uneasiness settled over him at leaving her in that cell, but she’d stolen from him. As a soldier of Luana, it was his duty to enforce the laws.
She wouldn’t be tried for treason for stealing, but her use of Tendasy when she’d called him a bastard was dangerous after the circumstances of the morning. Then again, it was likely no one knew the reason for the fight. Whoever knew the language could still speak it without having committed any crime.
Still, she’d taken one of the few possessions he truly cared for, and he didn’t know what would’ve come over him if he’d never seen it again.
Chapter 5
Amaris
Amaris slammed hershoulder into the stuck lock of their stupid front door. After Viv had finally stopped pestering her, they’d gone shopping at the mall and spent the evening at their favorite hangout. The Boiling Pantry was a tarot shop and lounge Viv loved dragging Amaris to.
Now, with her body reeking of incense and her keys stuck, she winced and gazed up at the porch light flickering beside her. Grunting, she kicked at the door, but it refused to budge.
She leaned her head against the cool metal. She hated this door. She hated this house.Fuck, she swore,I hate today.
She stepped back, braced for impact, and charged for the door. It swung open, and her feet slipped against the hall rug as she fell into Derek’s arms.Intoxicatedwasn’t a strong enough word to describe the smell smacking her in the face. His breath, his body, everything reeked of his cheap scotch.
“You know the door likes to swell in the humidity,” he grumbled, shouldering it to get it to shut.
“I know,” Amaris said, wiping her tennis shoes on the rug as shepushed further into the house.
She kicked off her shoes and stepped onto the cold floorboards. She veered toward the kitchen to assess the level of the scotch bottle on the counter. A thud and curse erupted behind her. The hairs along her neck spiked. With her heart caught in her throat, she turned to see Derek collapsed on the floor. Her shoes flew into the living room.
“What the hell, Amaris?” he thundered. “You leave your shit anywhere.”
Her eyes threatened to mist with the familiar burning sensation. “I’m sorry,” she whimpered.
No, not again.She took cautious steps toward him and offered a hand. He pushed her gesture aside, pressing against the wall instead. His staggering gait swayed as he took his first step. Her instincts made her reach to steady him.
“I’m fine,” he spat, brushing past her toward the kitchen.
She followed him but paused at the swinging kitchen door. She needed to hold it together. For one night, she wanted to make it through without shouting or breaking down and crying.
Her hand trembled against the white wood, but she forced it to surrender. Derek poured another glass of scotch. She grabbed a beer from the fridge and hopped onto the counter beside him.
