Page 119 of A Vow of Wrath and Ruin

“Tharan? Tharan!” I frantically twisted the earring, but he was gone.

“Hot cider, miss?” A sailor handed me a warm cup, and I settled in for the ride back to the harbor, gazing at the wreckage ofThe Salty Bitchin the distance. The night concealed most of the carnage, and the waters surrounding the island had turned tumultuous again.

A skeletal hand grasped at my heart. Was that the last time I would ever see my mother? Was my sister really a traitor or were the Fates playing tricks on me? No, I couldn’t think like that. Pushing the thought out of my head, I turned to brighter thoughts. We had the information we needed. All we needed to do was get back to the Woodlands.

One step at a time, Aelia. One step at a time.

28AELIA

“We needto take your sister to the infirmary so we can watch her for the next day. She is resting comfortably, but we did have to amputate her right pinky and ring fingers.

I grimaced.

“Oh, Trinity.”

“There was nothing we could do. The cold got to her. They would have rotted and possibly killed her.”

The whole of me shuddered at the thought of them hacking off pieces of my sister. All I could do was nod.

The witch touched my shoulder gently.

“Why don’t you go home for the night? We put your sister in a deep slumber. She won’t wake until tomorrow.”

“And what of Conrad?”

She shook her head.

“That bargain brand didn’t help him, but he’ll make it.”

“Thank you,” I said, wrapping the blanket tighter around myself.

“Bring that back tomorrow, will you?” she said reassuringly.

“I will.” I headed into the cold night.

The first blush of dawn was just beginning to peek over the horizon when I reached the Alder Townhome. Finneas flinched when he opened the door for me. “Lady Aelia, what happened?”

“So much,” I said, collapsing on the plush couch in the parlor. Finneas pulled off my boots and laid another blanket over me before shutting the blinds and closing the doors.

When I awoke, the room was still dark. I blinked, letting my eyes adjust. My muscles ached from use. I lay there staring at the ceiling for a moment. The memories of last night came flooding in.

Baylis!

I jumped to my feet and hurried to the study, where I found Amolie poring over books on ancient magic and necromancy. Two lamps burned on a large wooden desk, and bookshelves stretched from floor to ceiling. The room smelled of old parchment and pine. Her face brightened when she saw me.

“Aelia! You’re awake.” She sprung from her seat, pulling me in for a hug. “You smell awful,” she said, gripping me tighter. “I love it.”

“Baylis is in the infirmary.”

“What happened? I feared the worst when you returned without her, but I didn’t want to wake you.”

I rubbed the bridge of my nose, deciding where to begin.

“I need some coffee first.”

Amolie rang the servant’s bell, and a halfling woman appeared in the doorway.

“How may I assist you ladies?”

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