Page 12 of Vicious Princess
She regards me with narrowed eyes. “Decarios?”
I’m not prepared for this question, so I hesitate. That’s all it takes for her to know the answer. She’s not surprised. For a while, no more questions come my way.
Kazh turns away and lights the fire in the cast-iron wood-burning stove. She fills the kettle with some water and places it on the stove. We wait for the water to boil in silence. From time to time, one of the men says something to the others.
When I finish my food, Kazh takes the plate from me and hands me a cup of tea. Through my leather gloves, I can barely feel the heat radiating from it. I sniff the cup. It smells flowery. I hate tea.
“Why are you in Ekios?” Kazh takes a sip of her tea. She has an iron tongue because she doesn’t even flinch at the scalding drink. “Wetrans don’t come here often. Not without a good reason, anyway. Especially not human Decarios.”
I don’t appreciate her noisiness. Yet she took me in and has been a decent hostess. I was raised in a family with strong morals. Even after three years of life underground, it’s hard to resist the urge to be polite.
Also, she might be able to help me.
“I’m here to join the Order of Ezkai,” I say.
The fae around the table howl with laughter before Kazh can say anything. One of her silver eyebrows rises.
“What’s so damn funny about that?” I throw a warning glance towards them. They might be huge, but I’m a Decarios. I can teach them a lesson or two. “I’m a fully trained Decarios soldier.”
Driven by my wounded pride, I open my senses. Instead of being met with intricate waves of emotions, I sense…nothing.
Immediately, I close myself off. I blink at Kazh, my heart beating in my chest like a drum. They’re all fae Decarios. Yet not part of the Order.
“The Order of Ezkai is a group of elite assholes,” Kazh says. “It used to be about honor and protecting the country. Now…it’s overrun with corrupt rats hungry for power. And that Ezkai General is too full of himself to see it.”
That sounds very different from what I grew up hearing about the ancient legendary order of powerful, honorable fae soldiers. But hey, honorable or not, it makes no difference to me.
As long as they’re powerful.
“Well, I would love to see it for myself rather than take your word for it.”
That makes Kazh’s wrinkled lips curl into a mocking grin. “Suit yourself, feral child.”
I shift in my seat, trying very hard to swallow down the rage that bubbles inside me. She’s condescending even though she has no idea why I’m doing what I’m doing. The Order of Ezkai is my only hope to getting revenge for my family.
“I suppose you’re not going to tell me where I can sign up to join the Order,” I say, glaring at the old fae.
She snorts, and a few more laughs go around the table.
“Oh, child, I wouldn’t want to stop you from learning a valuable lesson by yourself,” she says. “You can find the main office inside Ezkai Castle.”
I ignore the mockery in her tone and her glimmering eyes. “Thank you.”
“Good luck. Or maybe break a leg.”
CHAPTER FOUR
The scent of smoke tickles my nose.
Then there’s the heat—the flames lick at my face, burn my lungs from the inside out.
“Fane?” I choke out.
No answer.
The house is a skeleton of flame and ash, screaming as it collapses.
I run, desperate.
