Page 106 of Devil's Doom

The way up the stairs is grueling. I do my best not to lean on the strzyga, until she snarls at me.

“For fuck’s sake, use my support. You’re slowing us down.”

And even though I expect her to make me lean on her and then trip me up so I tumble down the stairs, Wera does nothing of the sort. She helps me out through her magical doorway and seals the door behind us until all that’s left is Weles’ mark painted on the guard tower in blood.

By the time we make it back to the base, all I can think of is a hot bath and a hotter supper. But as we enter the large cavern where I once fought Wera, it’s filled with people. Rebels big and small welcome us with hoots and clapping. Colorful orbs dance under the ceiling, and someone pours mead, while someone else plays on a fiddle.

Wera turns to me with a sharp grin. “Congratulations, consort. You are finally one of us.”

Chapter thirty-six

Welcome

I’m swept into the chaos of celebrating. Someone pushes a cup of hot wine into my hand, someone else claps my shoulder, and Lech is by my side, beaming and telling everyone how I cut off the prisoner’s foot.

“We thought we’d have to leave him for dead, but she had such an excellent idea! I’m telling you, she’s a superb healer!”

Everywhere I look, people’s eyes are on me, but their expressions are kind and welcoming. No one calls me a traitor or whore, and instead, they crowd around me, asking me questions, calling for me to join their tables, inviting me to dance.

Rada finds me in the crowd, her cheeks flushed from wine, eyes sparkling. “I heard you single-handedly saved a prisoner! And everyone’s saying the master fell in love with you! Oh, Jaga, you must tell me everything.”

I recount our rescue mission, but I have to keep starting from the beginning, because more and more people join the circle around me, asking for details. I try to shift some attention toward the other rebels who took part in the mission, but they are all established and trusted.

“It was a test for you,” Lech screams into my ear over the sounds of a quick song played on fiddles and drums. “And you exceeded expectations!”

It feels strange to be surrounded by so many smiles. I do my best to smile back, and my face starts hurting pretty much at once. I guzzle my wine, and as soon as it’s gone, someone pushes another cup in my hand. The throng is overwhelming—so many warm bodies crowded so close to me, all those faces, those friendly eyes.

When the music gets louder, and the rebels clear an area in the middle of the cavern, Lech grabs my hand and tugs me into the fray. I dance with him, then with a kobold, and then Rada spins me in her arms, laughing and happy. I learn that Lutowa agreed to watch over Dar, since she hates any sort of public celebrations.

“But she told me to congratulate you if you succeeded. She’ll be so proud once she learns what you did!”

When Wera climbs on a bench and raises her cup, I freeze, expecting this temporary relief from scorn and humiliation to come crashing on my head. It was too good to be true, and now, it will be over.

But I’m wrong.

“To Jaga, one of us!” she cries, spilling some of her wine.

The crowd cheers, and I look around with an embarrassed smile, drinking with everyone as the music grows louder and shriller. My heart is overwhelmed, too warm, beating too fast, and I can’t shake the impression that something is wrong.

I didn’t dothatmuch. And not a week ago those people were throwing me suspicious looks and muttering about me, and that was normal. This sudden acceptance feels itchy, like a too small garment, and I don’t know what to do with it.

I’m terrified to trust it.

“How did you make him fall in love with you?” a breathless mamuna asks, throwing her arm around my shoulders. “Everyone keeps talking about how he said he loves you!”

“Did they mention he was inside me at the moment?” I ask drily. “Men say all sorts of things in the throes of passion.”

She shakes her head, her brown braids flying with the movement. “Not him! Oh, tell me your secret! How does one make a powerful god fall in love?”

I shrug with an uncomfortable smile. “To be honest, you just keep telling them no until they grow completely obsessed.”

It’s a joke, because I don’t think I have any advice worth giving, but the mamuna nods earnestly as if I’d just imparted the world’s sagest wisdom. Soon, she vanishes in the crowd, replaced by Lech.

“Will you be coming as a healer to the next attack?” he asks, blue eyes feverish as he grins. “Do you know any details? I only know we’re going before the winter solstice, but he must have told you more.”

I shake my head, because I know even less than he does. Lech shrugs and puts another cup in my hand. I am whirled around from rebel to rebel and clapped on the shoulder countless times until all I want is to disappear.

Being the center of attention is shockingly exhausting.

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