Page 15 of Barbi and the Villain

“Lady Jocelyn and I are the best of friends. Even our dogs are the same.” I bat my lashes as I slowly get up, doing my best to assume a regal bearing. I can’t very well look like a wet rat while I pretend to be pals with the queen.

“She might be telling the truth,” the young soldier tells the leader in a not-so-low voice.

“She might also be infected.” The leader grinds his teeth.

“But if Queen Jocelyn finds out we’ve killed her friend? She’ll kill us too!” the young man exclaims, his face one of horror.

My brows go up in surprise at his vehemence and the pure expression of fear he’s sporting. Lady Jocelyn isn’t a killer. Even during her battles, she’s never killed anyone, always offering them a way out. Why, she’d once declared that she would sooner kill herself than take another life. But this could all be part of some royal propaganda. After all, the continent is in a crisis if that newspaper clipping is to be believed—more than half the population has perished!

The leader studies me and PomPom, undecided.

“Sir!” the young one continues in a cajoling tone. “I have a feeling about this, sir. We’re going to get in trouble with the Queen if we hurt her. Look, she’s wearing the same colors as the Queen.”

After another moment of deliberation, the leader finally speaks.

“Fine. We will take you to Kiya where the Queen will acknowledge you herself. But if I find that you’ve lied…” he trails off.

“And if you find that I didn’t?” I retort with a huff. “Don’t you worry. I’ll make sure to tell Lady Jocelyn everything about your abysmal behavior,” I tell him pointedly.

He stares at me. I stare back.

Okay, so maybe this small lie could technically get me in trouble. But it might also help me get back home. The Five, with their unparalleled magical knowledge, should be able to find a way to send me back home. After I get a tour of Akkaya, of course (the non-plague sites).

“Willy. Make sure she doesn’t get away and she doesn’t scratch anyone.”

“I’m not infected,” I interject.

“We will see,” he adds skeptically, “if you make it alive to the capital.”

With that, he turns and leaves me behind. The other soldiers follow the leader and go back to the inn.

Willy remains behind. He takes a step forward, wiping his clammy hands on his leather pants before offering me his hand.

I move past him. “I might be infected, remember? I should get my own horse.”

“But…” Willy blinks.

“I am sure Lady Jocelyn will appreciate your contribution to my comfort, Willy.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he mumbles, confused. Poor lad.

“Call me Lady Barbi.”

His mouth drops open in shock.

I hide a triumphant smile. Finally, I get to be my true self—Lady Barbi.

“Forgive me, your ladyship.” He bends his head low. “Forgive all of us. We’ve been working all day and we couldn’t recognize that you were a lady.”

“It is fine. When are we leaving? I would like to bathe and change my clothes first. I also require some food for myself and for my dog.”

He glances at PomPom in my arms. She barks at him.

“But… What is a lady like you doing here all alone? In a plague land, too?” he asks as he trails behind me.

I watch him from the corner of my eye. He’s perhaps fifteen or sixteen, lanky and lean. He’s also innocent enough to believe my lies. That should prove to be an advantage if I play my cards right.

“I was on my way to Kiya,” I start in a dramatic tone. “But my entourage caught the plague and died. I was the only one who survived. Oh, Willy. It was horrible. They bled everywhere,” I say, dabbing at my eyes for nonexistent tears. “PomPom and I were the only ones to survive.”

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