Page 67 of A Vow of Wrath and Ruin

“He sent one better… his Hand.”

His fishlike eyes widened. “He’s in the back.”

Two sailors watched us with guarded gazes as we made our way through a dust-covered velvet curtain into the back room. Three sylph men sat with courtesans on their laps, breasts bare and cheeks rosy. Piles of gold sat on the table between them, and each man held a hand of cards. Cigarettes rested in brass ashtrays. Smoke billowed into the air, filling the room with the distinct scent of clove and tobacco.

“Who rang for more women?” one of the men said, tossing his hand down. “These ones look expensive.” He tossed the woman on his lap to the side and sauntered up to Baylis.

His dirty fingers reached for her pristine hair. I stepped between them, holding my dagger to his throat.

“I will not hesitate to slit your throat if you come any closer.”

The mercenary I’d once been rattled the bars of the cage I trapped her in. Maybe it was seeing the dust, maybe it was seeing Ursula living the life I’d come accustomed to, but I couldn’t help but slip back into the mask I’d worn for so long. Was this who I really was? The thought sent a chill down my spine. I pushed it away and focused on the task at hand.

The man’s eyes widened—red from lack of sleep. Ale hung heavy on his breath. I could take him if I needed to. He was inno state to fight me. A bar brawler would be no match for Little Death.

“And who do you think you are, little missy?”

The men at the table laughed as though I was some trollop on the street who’d never held a knife before.

“I am Aelia Springborn, Hand of the Alder King, but in these circles, they call me the Traitorous Queen.”

The man’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. “Mind Breaker.”

I pushed the dagger into his skin, drawing blood. I’d played this part for years, and I’d be lying if there wasn’t a part of me who missed it.

“Yes, that is what I am. Would you like me to show you what I can do?”

He raised his hands and took a step backward.

“What do you want?”

“I’m looking for Conrad Teeling.”

He pointed to a curved door at the back of the room.

“Thank you.” I sheathed my dagger before knocking on the door.

“No!” a voice sounded from the other side.

“Conrad! Tharan Greenblade sent me to find you.”

“Oh, in that case, come in!” The tone lightened.

The rusty hinges creaked as I pushed open the door to find a sylph man, shirtless, hanging upside down from his ankles. Tattoos of sea creatures covered his muscled body. Long black hair pooled on the floor.

“I can come back if this isn’t a good time.” I couldn’t hide the shock on my face.

“Nonsense,” Conrad said.

He untied his ankles and swung to his feet. It was then I noticed his missing eye.

“Conrad, I presume?”

“The one and only.” He took a drink of some green concoction.

I grimaced, watching him down the potion.

“Helps with the sea sickness,” he said, wiping the excess from his mouth.

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