Page 4 of Veil of Web and Ruin

‘Right. She’s pretty. Very pretty.’ Her lips curl, and I know what she’s thinking.

‘Not that,’ I say firmly, refusing to sell my sister to fill my stomach. ‘Look, she’s at the age where she needs to have something to do. And I know you’re the person who can sort something like that. Something suitable for a former lady. You have power, connections.’

A little flattery never hurts.

She tries to shrug indifferently, but I see the glimmer of satisfaction in her eyes.

‘How about we keep the price the same, and you charge whatever you like, but you find Kay something to do for work?’

‘And if I don’t?’ she says, eyes calculating.

I shrug casually, even though my heart rate is spiking. ‘I’ve had offers from other people. Other people who can provide …’ Ichoose my next word carefully. Enough to concern but not anger her, I hope. ‘… protection.’

‘Is that right?’ she says, her jaw clenching. ‘And you’d do that, would you? Work with one of my competitors? After I’ve so graciously taken you under my wing?’

‘No,’ I say honestly. ‘I don’t want to do that. Of course I don’t,’ I tell her. ‘You’ve been good to me. I know that, Rula. I do. But I have to think of Kay. She’s my sister.’

She presses her lips together, and my body tenses. I’m not sure what magic Rula has, but even weak magic is better than the nothing I’ve got.

As I wait for her to reply, a dark gleam sparks in Rula’s eyes, and I know whatever deal she’s about to suggest is going to sting. A lesson for challenging her, even a little. ‘Okay, Rose, how about a little proposal? I need something. A plant.’

Hope flickers within me. That is my area of expertise, and there was a time I likely could’ve got her anything she wanted or even magically provided it myself. Mother’s orangery back in the High Hold was almost as well-stocked as the Goddess’s Garden. Now I grow what I can, but it’s not easy in these temperatures.

‘What is it you need?’ I ask. ‘And what job will you get for Kay?’

‘I’ve heard of a job in the fifth ring. A nanny. A teacher. Whatever. They want someone who is nicely spoken. Gentle-like. Your Acacia would be perfect for it.’

My body tenses as I wait for the catch, because therewillbe one.

‘So what’s the plant?’

Her lips corkscrew into a smile, and it’s twisted, threatening, and altogether creepy. ‘Well, that’s the fun part.’

Chapter 2

Istare dumbly at Rula. ‘Hemlock?’ I repeat aloud. She wants me to steal hemlock?

Rula nods. ‘Or another poison that works the same. Quick. Untraceable. No chance of recovery. I don’t want a well-meaning healer interceding.’

I baulk, shaking my head in disbelief. ‘That’s not the type of plant I just have on hand,’ I reply. Sure, I have plants growing at home that could cause harm – knock someone out or cause tummy aches and fevers – but nothing deadly. ‘Surely you have connections you could trade with?’

Rula sniffs at my remark. ‘Time is of the essence. I’m sure they grow it in the Goddess’s Garden. You’ll just have to take a trip there tonight. Of course, if you’re not the right person for the job …’

She lets the unspoken threat linger. If I’m not the right person for the job, then she’s not going to help Kay. Instead, my sister will be forced to take to the streets, selling her body for coin.

I’ve been in the Goddess’s Garden before, and I certainly know herbs well. The garden isn’t even that heavily guarded. After all, who would dare steal from the priestesses?

Apparently me, that’s who. And if it were any other herb, I wouldn’t hesitate. But hemlock? Poison?

And I don’t need to ask how Rula intends to use it. She’s a nefarious person asking for a nefarious plant. If I give it to her, someone will die.

I swallow.

But Kay won’t.

Kay will get a job, an income, a livelihood. Sanity. Would I damn my soul for her? In a heartbeat.

So stealing a couple of herbs from the Goddess’s Garden? I can do that. Of course I can. Even hemlock.