Page 45 of Pawns of Fate
Camillus huffed. Rose decided she was too tired to elaborate.
The party stopped in front of a house with a high wall around the courtyard. Rose, Ava, Lyla, and their luggage were unceremoniously dumped inside.
Just when Rose was beginning to wonder if they’d deposited with no explanation—which was a very Ojoh thing to do—Depaerth entered the house.
“This is where you will stay for the next six months,” he said. “The guards will remain posted at the gate. Do not leave without the guards.”
“What if we try to run away?” Ava asked.
Rose’s eyebrow twitched.
“If you were scared of one crow,”—Depaerth shook his head, brow furrowed— “then I do not think you would do well in the desert where there are more than just birds scavenging.”
Ava’s shoulders slumped. Rose wondered if her sister-in-lawhad been seriously considering running away. What a disaster it might have been if Ava had been sent alone!
“She’s joking!” Rose cut in before things could get out of hand.
Depaerth’s eyes narrowed, though Rose couldn’t tell if it was from confusion or suspicion. Probably both.
“I will come by tomorrow to check up on you and show you around the city, if you wish.” He motioned to the house. “There is food in the kitchen. Are you able to prepare meals for yourselves?” He was doing a poor job of disguising his disdain.
“Of course we can!” Ava snapped. “We’re not idiots.”
Rose didn’t miss Lyla’s smirk.
“I think my sister-in-law is a little tired from the journey,” Rose said pleasantly. “We are capable of preparing food. Thank you for your concern, though.” She gave her best smile. “We look forward to meeting with you tomorrow.” She curtseyed politely in Depaerth’s direction, hoping the gesture was enough to smooth things over.
Luckily, Depaerth seemed fascinated with the curtsey. Ojoh society was much less formal than the rest of Albion. Rose had found that using the polite gestures of high society was a bit of a flattering novelty for them. It was a great boon when she needed to be diplomatic.
“Good night, then.” Depaerth returned her curtsey with a short nod, then walked out the door, leaving the three women alone.
A few sconces on the wall lit the room dimly. It was a decent-sized house, with a small sitting room, kitchen, and a space for dining on the first floor. A set of stairs led to what Rose imagined to be the bedrooms. Lyla went straight to the sitting room’s hearth, tossed a few logs in it, and started a fire. The girls were finally able to get a good look at their surroundings.
“I didn’t think it would be this nice,” Ava murmured. Sheran over to the kitchen, opening every cabinet and peering into its contents with unbridled curiosity.
“We’re captives, not criminal prisoners,” Rose replied. The house was cozy and decorated in a traditional Ojoh manner with smooth wooden pieces and rustic colors. But she missed Castle Sharp’s familiarity. A tiny part of her even missed Nicholas.
“Still,” Ava said as she held up fruits Rose didn’t recognize. “I’m going to have fun cooking with all of this.”
Rose had forgotten that her sister-in-law had worked in her parents’ restaurant before she met York.
She glanced around the ground floor of the house. The layout was very open, with almost no walls dividing the space. The sitting room had several comfortable-looking couches, plenty of colorful blankets and pillows, and now a roaring fire. Beside it was a wooden table with benches that could easily seat the three women for meals. Then there was the kitchen. Long, tiled counters, a deep sink, large pantry, and a hearth with a heavy cauldron that would give Ava plenty of space to prepare meals.
It wasn’t the worst place to spend six months.
Rose grabbed her bags and turned to find her room upstairs when she noticed Lyla crouched by the front door, chanting a spell.
A circle on the floor lit up like a green firefly, then faded as Lyla finished.
“What are you doing?” Rose almost yelled but didn’t want to attract the guards’ attention. “You’re supposed to be a maid!”
“Who said maids can’t do magic?” Lyla fished a small star crystal out of her cloak. “We’re not going to sleep until I’vewarded this house.”
“It will insult the Ojoh if they find wards.” Rose pointed to the glowing green circle. “And you put that one right on the front door! Wewillbe treated like prisoners if they find this!”
“Lady Rose, I’m not finished with the spells just yet. When I’m done, there will be no traces.”
Rose rolled her eyes and opened her mouth to tell Lyla off, but the shadow mage was already actuating her magic. The star crystal shone intensely momentarily, then the warding spell faded completely. A small circle of ancient text appeared on Lyla’s palm, shone for a moment as the crystal had, then faded to a matte black tattoo on her skin.
