I rifled through my trunk and sat back on my heels. “Other than my green tunic I wore the day of initiation, which I never got the bloodstains out of, I don’t have anything to wear.” I thought about the clothes my family sent me, but those were too plain. This was the first time I was going into the city in the public eye. I wanted to look nice. All my previous days off I’d spent at Drakthar because I was saving all my stipend pay for my family.
“I had it cleaned months ago. It’s not stained.”
“What?” I dug through and caught the green fabric and pulled it free. It was perfect down to the bone buttons. He was always looking out for me. “I haven’t needed to wear it, so I didn’t check. Thank you.”
I changed in the washroom and stood in front of the mirror in my family’s special blouse and my brown pants. I put my bone-carved dragon earrings in, slid on my bangles given to me by my father and left my hair down, flowing loose. I had it pulled back into braids or ponytails so often, I hardly realized how much my hair had grown. It almost reached my hips. For the first time in months, I felt like Aesira again and not Bonecarver.
But the assassin in me strapped my knife-belt to my thigh and stepped out.
Vander turned from his desk, and his quill stopped scratching over the page. Those bright blue eyes gave me a once-over, and he stood, pushing the tail of his onyx coat behind him. I’d never seen him in the finery of a noble, and I couldn’t help but stare. I often thought about how beautiful he was, but today he looked like the masterful work of a sculptor that thousands would flock to bear witness to. He was as regal as a prince with his hair combed back, and the royal blue tunic made his eyes pop. His ankle-length black coat was embroidered with gold threading that spread in elegant flourishes down the lapels.
“You look... nice.” The word didn’t do him justice, but I seemed to lose all rational thought.
He smiled. “So do you, Aesira, I like that color on you. While we’re out, we must use our family given names, not assassin names.”
I blinked several times and finally found my head again. “So you really are like a prince. I feel as if I should bow.” He was straight out of the fairy-tale adventure book I grew up reading.
He chuckled. “Not a prince. But Prince Sigor and Princess Ava are my cousins.”
“The king is your uncle?”
“The king is my mother’s cousin. I’m far removed, Aesira. I’ll never rule Nighthaven.” He cleared his throat. “I’d rather take my enemies’ lives with the stroke of a blade than a quill anyway.”
I felt wholly inadequate standing beside him. We did not match. My blouse was nice for someone in Lothleton, but I looked like the peasant I was next to him. He tilted his head toward the door, and I silently followed him out.
Rather than going through the courtyard, he took a turn down a hallway that led straight to the outer wall. He pushed through the heavy door and just outside were two well-bred, saddled horses. One was regal, pure black with a long mane I was envious of. The other was white with a dapple of gray on the hind quarters. A human ground worker with silver hair tied back and a bulbous nose held the reins and bobbed his head at Vander and me.
“Good morning, Mr. Viper. Miss Bonecarver.” I couldn’t remember ever seeing him, so it surprised me that he knew my name. I didn’t have my uniform with my name tag on for him to read.
“Morning, Lars.” Vander swung up onto the black horse with grace I could only hope for. He tilted his chin down toward me. “The other mount is for you. His name is Stormbreaker.”He patted the shiny neck of his horse. “This is Lady Sora.” He adjusted his leather gloves and looked at me expectantly. “Do you know how to ride? I assumed by the horse you came in on with your father that you’d have some experience.”
I’d ridden my family’s horse enough to be comfortable with the animals, but every horse had its own personality. I slipped my foot into the stirrup and swung my leg over the sleek black saddle. I certainly didn’t have a seat or reins like this at home. Stormbreaker sidestepped until I took up the reins and stopped him. “Probably better than you.”
Vander let out a low laugh. “I’d take that as a challenge but with the ground slick from melting snow, we can’t race.”
The servant grinned at me and bowed to Vander. “Anything else I can get for you, sir?”
“No, thank you. We’ll take it from here.”
“Good day to you both.” His boots squished over the slush, and he made his way back inside Drakthar.
“Good day,” I repeated, although it wasn’t an expression I ever used. I turned to Vander. “Why aren’t we walking like always? Not that I’m complaining.” Melting ice dripped from the beech trees, plopping on the cold ground. Tiny buds of green sprouted from the wiry branches. The pines kept their thickness in the winter to shield Drakthar from the rest of Nighthaven. The smell of their sap drifted on the air. As we approached the thick towering rose bushes, they parted for us, making a clear path out.
“Vander Vierroson doesn’t walk into the city.” He winked. Seeing what he was wearing, I couldn’t imagine him walking anyway.
“I thought we were going with the team?”
“We’ll see them, I’m sure.” He nudged his horse into a trot. “Come on, Aesira. You need some new clothes for days off. And would you like to see some magic?”
I grinned, urging my own mount forward. “Obviously I want to see magic.”
Chapter 21
The horses’ hooves clip-clopped on the cobblestones of the main street. A blacksmith’s hammer pinged against metal. The shops and roadway teemed with folks of all walks of life; purple-robed mages and scholars in sage green, different generations of townsfolk in various styles. Warriors in golden armor patrolled on the sidewalks. Most everyone had a smile, the atmosphere was cheery with the sun out and temperature finally rising. The first hints of spring blooms, pink and white hyacinths and purple crocus, popped through flower boxes below windows.
Vander and I rode side by side, catching the eye of several passersby. There were a handful of others riding but none of their horses were as regal or tall as ours, and Vander was someone to look at in anything he wore, but especially today. The smell of fresh-baked bread wafted out from a place called Nan’s Bakery, making my mouth water. The pink sign with a small chocolate cake swirled with blue frosting caught my eye. I noticed new places every time I came to the heart of the city.
Children chased each other around a four-tiered fountain in front of a jewelry shop. The glittering necklaces and earrings had to cost more than I’d ever make in a lifetime. A few ofthe kids stopped and pointed at us. “Look, it’s a nobleman and lady!” shouted one small boy with too large trousers held up by suspenders.
