Page 63 of A Vow of Wrath and Ruin

I pictured the corners of his eyes creasing when he was pleased with himself.

Footsteps shuffled down the hallway.

“I have to go. Stay safe, and don’t do anything stupid,” I whispered.

“I love you too, Aelia.”

Baylis entered the parlor dressed in a wool cloak in the color of Robin’s egg and with gray fur trim.

“Ready?”

“Just waiting on?—”

“Me?” Amolie appeared behind Baylis, her curls pinned neatly on the top of her head.

“Yes, let’s go.”

16AELIA

Fishermen and sailorsalike hurried around the docks, unloading cargo and passengers. The wind swept up from the Atruskan River, bringing with it a fishy musk. Massive ships carrying goods from all over the continent lined the docks. Crewmen spilled from their hulls. Some kissed the filthy cobblestone street, thanking their respective Goddess or God for a safe trip. Many seamen paid homage to both Manannán and a goddess of the Trinity.

The Island of Fate loomed large in the distance, dark and ominous. Ruska was built to serve the Fates. Before their fall from grace, the passage between Ruska and the Island was easy, but now a dark ring, filled with monsters, kept the public at a distance and the Fates imprisoned. So much work to go such a short distance.

I dug my fingers into my palms as we neared the inn.

“Here we are—the Rusty Bucket,” I said, stopping in front of a precarious-looking establishment where two men sat slumped over in front.

“Lovely,” Baylis said, stepping over the men.

“Let me do the talking.” I pushed the door open to find more men and women bent over the dark wood bar. The stench ofstale air made my stomach turn. Some hissed at the sensation of the light hitting their pale faces.

I sauntered up to the bar, where a nymph with pearlescent skin and black hair cleaned pints from the night before. She raked her serpent eyes over our pristine skin.

“I don’t want any trouble. If your husband is here, go find him yourself.”

“I’m here for someone else.” I slid a piece of gold onto the bar.

“Go on…” she said, eying the coin.

“Mermaid, white pearlescent skin, blue hair. Sharp teeth.”

The nymph chuckled. “You’ll have to pay me more than one gold piece for me to sell out, Ursula.”

“So, she’s here?”

The nymph didn’t look up from her polishing.

“I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t have to.” I flipped the coin between my fingers. “Now, is she upstairs or in the back?”

“She’s not here. I told you.”

“Tell her Aelia is here to see her.”

The bartender scoffed before whispering into one of the guard’s ears. “He’ll tell her you’re here.”

I gave her a shit-eating grin. “Great, and we’ll take three pints of cider while we wait.”

---