Page 36 of Scourged

"You speak as if you know her," Delaynie murmured.

Beva smiled. "In a way, I suppose I do." Her gray eyes took on a far-away look. "I met her once, before the Choosing. But it’s her parents who I know the best. Wex and Lisabel Salis met in this very bar, when we were all young and terribly naïve."

The barkeep shook her head. "All that is a story from another lifetime. But I know Wex Salis's daughter would never willingly abandon her post or those she cares about."

Ciana was slack-jawed. What were the odds that this woman, the owner of a small, quiet tavern off the main city streets, knew Mariah's parents? "You … knew … what?"

Delaynie rested a hand on Ciana's arm. "We're thankful for your faith in our queen. And perhaps a bit jealous that you know a piece about her life that we don't. Yet." She smiled at the barkeep, who smiled back.

"You know." Beva drained the rest of her ale and turning to the tap. "If information is what you two seek … I may know a thing or two." The tap groaned as amber liquid poured from the silver spout. "After all, there's no one people like to complain to more than a bartender."

Ciana, finally able to unclench her hands, reached for her gin, taking a quick sip. "Please. We'll take anything at this point."

"Well …" Beva leaned against the bar. "There was a particularly interesting rumor going around the day after our dear Queen Apparent vanished. Some people said they spotted a group of seven figures riding away from the city, all lead by a handsome dark-haired man with blue eyes."

Ciana and Delaynie both froze. They shared a glance, and the pain and fear racing through Ciana was reflected in her friend's expression.

"I take it," Beva said, "that this means something to you."

Ciana released her breath, pushing it between her teeth. "Sebastian is going to besopissed." She took another sip of hergin. She was pissed, too, of course. But she still clung to the hope that there was more to this than it appeared.

Mariah had just found love and was so happy. Ciana had to believe that meant something, for her best friend's sake.

Beva eyed them with confused interest. "You know, this rumor has been circling for weeks now. You would have learned it much sooner if this wasn't the first time you were venturing past the palace gates."

"Trust us, if we'd had our way, we would've been down here weeks ago."

"This sounds like a story." Beva grinned. "Come, complain to your bartender. This is what I live for, remember?"

Ciana’s shoulders sagged. "Okay. Fine. We weren't allowed to leave the palace; we're still not, but today, we decided enough was enough and snuck out."

Beva nodded knowingly. "Men forget that us women can take care of ourselves. Especially"— her gray eyes glinted—"when they love us."

Heat rushed to Ciana's face and roared in her ears.

This was ridiculous. Sebastian was a friend. A friend who was the first man she'd ever felt truly safe with, and who made her laugh even when his protectiveness infuriated her …

"Sebastian does not love me. He loves his queen. I'm simply the queen's best friend." Ciana washed down her mumbled words with the burn of gin.

Delaynie and Beva shared a grin. "Bring him here one day, when the chaos has settled. Let me be the judge for what he feels."

"C'mon, Cee." Delaynie bumped her shoulder into Ciana's. "I know you're pissed at him now, but please. We all see those dreamy glances the two of you share?—"

"I don't think you want to talk about dreamy glances, Del. How long have you been secretly pining after a certainredhead?" This was now war. Ciana was determined to pull out all the tricks.

Delaynie flushed a deep, rich red, nearly the color of her hair. "I don't know what you're talking about," she mumbled into her wine glass and then drained the rest of its contents.

Ciana did the same, a smile stretching across her face, feeling something blossom in her chest that she hadn't dared feel in weeks.

Hope.

Chapter 14

In the darkness, Mariah had no way of knowing what day it was, but she estimated at least three days had passed since Andrian’s strange visit.

And she hadn’t been fed once.

After what she’d believed to be the first day, her stomach had settled into its familiar pangs, the discomfort like an old friend. The few sips of tepid water she’d been given calmed her throat but sat heavy in the emptiness of her gut.

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