Page 15 of Fate's Sweetest Curse
“Is this what you do in your Orders? Stab first, ask questions later?” Phina’s harsh tone bounced off the walls of the alleyway.
She was gripping the hooded figure’s bicep with one hand and rubbing his back with the other—not soothingly, but roughly, like she was trying to warm him up. He was still leaning forward, hands braced on knees, hooded head bowed. His body shook, but it didn’t look like the persistent shivers of a chill. He looked like he was still coughing—hacking—but he was soundless. Was it pain? Adrenaline? I couldn’t tell with his face obscured.
When the knights did not immediately break their standoff, Phina stomped her foot. “Fucking Fates, stand down, you childish brutes.”
The bowstring groaned as the Mighty Knight lowered the arrow pointed at Mariana. She, in turn, lifted her sword away from Faren’s neck—but not without purposefully nicking his chin. When she lifted her boot from his clavicle, he twisted to the side, leaning on one elbow to wheeze a couple deep breaths.
As the near violence among the knights dissipated, the details of their conversation finally permeated my thoughts enough to stick.
Hylder.
It was a common botanical in medicine. Great for healing, immunity, and purification. Apothecaries often included it in potions for protection,but there were historical records of alchemists also using it to purge evil.
This past autumn, when Idris had arrived at the Pretty Possum with a nasty wound on his hand—the puncture oozing black sludge—he’d requested I treat it with Hylder. Ever since—andespeciallyafter seeing the monstrously diseased bobcat outside the Possum—I’d carried a small vial of the tincture with me at all times.
So, when the newcomer began to shudder and cough for real this time, and Mariana again demanded for Phina to give him Hylder as soon as possible, and Phina apologized for not having any on her person, I didn’t think.
I simply stepped out from behind the crates.
6
Theories
Hattie
Ihave Hylder,” I said, procuring the heart-shaped vial from a pocket in my dress.
“We’ll have to get him to the Collegium,” Phina was telling the others.
“Is there time?” Mariana asked.
“I have Hylder,” I called out, louder this time.
The lot of them turned toward me. Phina’s brow furrowed. Faren’s temple pulsed. Mariana smirked with menacing amusement. The Mighty Knight with the longbow brushed a finger over the fletching of his arrow, which was still nocked—but he didn’t take aim.Yet.
Quivering a little, I lifted the vial higher with one hand and showed them my other palm, too, just to prove I wasn’t a threat. “You said he needs Hylder?” I inquired, jutting my chin in the direction of the newcomer.
His attention was on me—sharp. Underneath the shadow of his hood, I still couldn’t make out his face; but the gaping neckline of his shirt revealed a triangle of bare sternum, dark skin. He’d gone stone-still, fists clenched at his sides.
Mariana was the first to break the tense silence. Her laugh was a single, mirthless breath. “Of course,youcarry Hylder.” She held out a summoning hand, making a grabbing motion. “Don’t be shy. Give it here.”
I walked down the narrow street, keeping my head held high as I approached the group. The Mighty Knights shifted on their feet. Thehooded figure turned fully away, facing the opposite end of the alley with his back to me, coughing again. Phina took a tentative step closer to me, retrieving the vial from my fingers, even as I kept my eyes trained on Mariana.
Her lip curled. “Had a feeling I’d see you again, barkeep.”
Anya’s words echoed in my head:The less you know, the safer you are.
I gave Mariana my most winning smile. “Had I known that you, too, were traveling to Fenrir from Waldron, I would’ve suggested we ride together.” I kept my tone bright and convivial, even as my heart pounded. “Could’ve been fun: telling stories around the campfire, singing merry tunes, frolicking in country meadows.”
All three Knights’ scowls deepened. Phina’s mouth twisted with not-quite amusement.
Maybe revealing myself had been a bad idea.
But then Marianalaughed, the sound both musical and harsh. “You’re funny.”
With the tension mostly broken, I looked to Phina again. As my professor, she was the closest thing to an authority figure in this situation.
Only…she was staring down at the label on my vial. “You made this?” she asked.
