Page 37 of A Rose Among Snakes (Gardens of Ruin and Revival)

Chapter Thirty-Six

Mihrra

“ H ow do you know that name?” Velian frowned, cocking his head to the side.

“Just tell me who he is,” I demanded.

One furrowed brow lifted. “You went through my records?”

I leveled him with a hardened stare.

“I can’t blame you, I guess.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Goranos Novenna… he was our Enforcer back when my father was still in charge.”

“What does that mean? What is an Enforcer?”

“When delivering a shipment, we normally run into bandits that want to steal the Ziffem, like in Canderren. An Enforcer is our most intimidating man, and his job is to protect the shipment at all costs. My father used them for more than protection though. Goranos, or Gory as he was known, was my father’s preferred man to hire. He was the one called to threaten the people who owed money. Sometimes my father used him as an executioner, even. He earned the nickname ‘Gory’ because of his brutal reputation. Often, mentioning his name alone got the results my father was after. ”

Nausea surged through me as the blood drained from my face. I swayed on my feet, feeling faint, and Velian grabbed my elbow to steady me. I jerked my arm away.

Hurt flashed in his eyes, but as I stumbled he grabbed me again, asking, “What’s wrong?”

Stars danced in my vision and I tried to blink them away, blood rushing through my ears. I no longer resisted as Velian guided me to the sand. We sat there in silence as I took deep, calming breaths.

Feeling better, I cleared my throat and asked, “Could he have had another name?”

“Like what?” He sat close to me, our knees touching, his hand still resting on my arm.

“Gorham Nowen.”

Velian looked pensive, and then his lips parted. “Your father?”

“I think so,” I whispered, my throat closing up. More tears fell and I didn’t try to hide them again. I felt broken. The man I had loved and admired my entire life was a reputably violent stranger. A murderer. Was my mother aware of what her husband did to provide for our family?

“Mihrra, how did you figure that out?”

I sniffled and reached inside my dress for the chain around my neck, lifting it over my head. I placed the ring in his hand, and he grimaced as he inspected it.

“My father left that with me the last time I saw him. It’s the same engraving on the trunk that was stowed in the hidden compartment of the carriage. I realized it was the design for the stained-glass window of the manor, too.”

He handed the ring back to me. “It’s the Blaise family crest. I also have one.”

“I know.”

His mouth turned down. “How? I don’t wear it.”

I looked down at the sand. “I saw it in the pocket of your jacket. The last time we were down here.”

“Ah,” he said. “That explains it. I can’t imagine what you were feeling in that moment.”

My heart fluttered, and I scooted back so we were no longer touching.

“It would make sense for Gory to have a ring, though. I think my father loved him like a brother, and Velshan Blaise hated everyone.” Sincerity shone in his eyes as he continued, “I cannot apologize to you enough, Mihrra. I wouldn’t blame you if you never forgave me.”

“Do you know how he died?” I asked with bated breath.

“I honestly don’t. My father, Gory, and a couple of other men took a shipment to Clavo, but Gory never came home. My father was upset and never talked about what happened.”

I nodded, taking in his words. I wanted to know what happened, but my head hurt with all the information I was trying to digest.

“When you found my ring, did you think I had something to do with his death?”

I rolled my lips together before saying, “No. ”

The corner of his mouth twitched. “You’re a terrible liar.”

I blushed, both discomfited and pleased by being so wholly seen by someone.

He grimaced again as he asked, “Do you hate me?”

“Why do you care what I think?”

His face melted into a soft smile. “Because I can’t stop thinking about you, Mihrra.”

My traitorous heart flopped in my chest, and the flush on my cheeks grew. “I thought you were just being nice,” I muttered, avoiding his gaze.

“I’m not that nice.”

“That’s what your sister said, too.”

Velian laughed, the sound warming my insides until I remembered his sister was the reason I sought him out in the first place. I wrung my hands in my lap, readying to share my fears with him.

“Velian, I have something to tell you. You’ll probably think it’s strange, and I’m not even sure what to make of it, but I think you need to know.”

His relaxed posture stiffened, back straightening as he waited for me to continue.

I swallowed. “I went back to Regalla today, and she told me Kezara is in trouble.”

“The fortune teller?”

“Yes. It never sat right with me that Kezara disappeared in the middle of the night, so I figured I would test it out.”

“Why didn’t you say anything sooner?” His tone was gentle, but there was an urgency behind the question .

“I didn’t have any proof, only a gut feeling.”

“What did she say exactly?”

I told him about the fortune Kezara received, and how her trial had supposedly begun. “When I asked her where Kezara was, she told me I needed a royal nudge. I asked her what that meant, but she said she didn’t know.”

Velian licked his lips as if contemplating what to say. “What makes you think you can believe her?”

“I don’t know if I can, honestly, but she told me I was close to finding out the truth about my father’s death. I never mentioned him.” He stared at me and I said, “Look, I understand if you think I’m crazy, but I’ve had a bad feeling about it this whole time and-”

“I don’t think you’re crazy. I just wish you had felt comfortable speaking up sooner.” He leaned back on his hands, stretching his legs out and staring at the ocean. The tide was coming in, the waves getting closer to our feet. “A royal nudge… Do you think she’s at the castle then?”

“Maybe she never left.” Our eyes met and I saw the same fear sizzling in my veins reflected in his eyes.

He pinched the bridge of his nose. “If I hadn’t been so prideful, maybe…” He jumped up, brushing the sand off his clothes. “I need to go find her.”

I scrambled to my feet and blocked his path with my hands on my hips. “I’m coming, too.”

“No, Mihrra, I’ve caused you enough pain. I have no idea what I could be walking into, and I’m not putting you at risk. ”

“You’re not going alone, and I refuse to sit around here cleaning and waiting for you to return.”

“Mihrra-”

“I’m coming.” I stared him down, lifting my chin to meet his gaze. A lock of my hair was loosened by a whipping wind and fell across my face.

Velian smirked and brushed it behind my ear. “I understand why you and my sister get along so well.” He shrugged. “Fine, but I want to leave as soon as possible. Meet me in the stable in fifteen minutes. I’ll leave a note for Mrs. Shulling.”

My shoulders sagged. “Thank you.”

He nodded and we climbed the steep path back to the manor, going our separate ways once indoors. Storming into my room, I threw together some clothes, stuffing them into a satchel. I was still processing everything Velian had revealed to me, and while I was not ready to forgive him, I did believe he spoke the truth. That very well could have been my heart simply rejoicing to be alone with him again. However, Kezara’s safety was at the forefront of my mind, filling me with an urgency to find her.

Narell was sitting on her bed with a book, watching me with a scornful expression. “What’s your hurry?”

“I think something bad happened to Kezara. Velian and I are going to look for her.”

Narell scoffed. “What could possibly make you think that?”

“A gut feeling.”

“That’s it?”

“And a fortune teller. ”

She let out a bark of laughter. “What? And he believed you?”

“Yes.”

“And you’re going off alone to search for her?”

“Yes.” I finished grabbing what I needed and turned to face her.

Narell’s disbelief turned to disgust and she went back to her book. “You’re mad, and he must be too if he’s willing to go gallivanting off into the night based on a gut feeling and the word of a fortune teller.”

I heaved the satchel over my shoulder and made my way back to the door when I heard her mumble, “Madness would explain why he’s so interested in you. ”

I clenched my jaw, tired of silently weathering her vitriol. Two could play at that game. Over my shoulder, I threw her a condescending smile and cheerfully said, “Narell, you’re too pretty to be so bitter. Move on.”

Her mouth hung open, and I walked out the door, closing it with more force than I meant to. I found Velian waiting for me in the stables, Zavi saddled, chewing on his bit with his eyes half closed. Velian glanced up as I entered and placed his hand on a pile of black fabric sitting on a shelf beside him.

“Mihrra, I was thinking—I’m still concerned for your safety, but you might stick out less if you dressed as one of my men. I brought these clothes, and if you want to wear them you can change in the empty stall over there.” I held my hands out in acceptance, and he dropped the pile in my arms. As I started walking toward the stall his hand thrust out and placed a bandage on top of the clothes. “You might want to use this to bind your chest. We don’t want to take any chances.”

I flushed, taking the bandage from him. I undressed in the stall, listening for his footsteps, but they never came close. Stepping into the black pants was a strange sensation as I’d never worn them before. They were loose around my waist, but Velian was wise enough to provide a belt. Next, I used the bandage to bind my chest, ensuring it was secure before I slipped into the black shirt that was also too big. I tucked it into the pants and tightened the belt before donning the leather vest, lacing it closed at the front. Lastly, I wrapped myself in the black cloak secured with a clasp at my throat; a clasp made of two snakes curled around a rose.

I tucked my braid into the back of my shirt and stepped out of the stall still wearing my usual boots. As I walked over to where Velian stood with both horses, he chuckled.

“You need different boots. Wait here.” While he disappeared into another room, I approached the tall bay gelding tied next to Zavi. I stroked his face, and the horse lowered his head for me to scratch the star hidden under his wavy forelock.

“That’s Eamis,” Velian said, walking up behind me with a pair of black, knee-high riding boots. I stepped back to put them on while he stroked the horse’s face. “I should have asked earlier,” he said, “but do you know how to ride?”

I scoffed. “I grew up on a farm. Of course, I do.”

“Good, I’ll give you a leg up when you’re ready.” He motioned for me to come stand by the stirrups. I wriggled the boots into place and walked over to Velian, careful to keep some distance between us. I stretched my arms up and grappled for the pommel, but Velian grabbed me by the ankle and lifted me high enough to swing my leg over.

As I secured my feet in the stirrups, I noticed a sword tucked under the stirrup leather and looked over to see the one on Velian’s saddle as well. The memory of the attack in Canderren had not left me, bringing on a fresh wave of anxiety, but I remembered my vow to never be a victim again. I was confident in the skills my father had taught me, even if I’d barely had any opportunity to practice over the past nine years. I stroked a finger along the sword’s pommel, the familiarity of the cold steel bringing both comfort and a disturbing realization. As a child, I’d never thought to ask why my father was so skilled with a blade, or what he was worried about happening to us. Now that I knew the truth, a dull ache crept through my finger as I balled my hand into a fist.

A booming bark echoed through the stable, pulling me from my heavy thoughts. Wolf bounded into the building as Velian untied both horses and pulled himself up into the saddle.

“Wolf, stay,” Velian commanded. The dog sat down and whimpered as Velian looked over at me and asked, “Ready?”

“Ready,” I said before I could second-guess my decision.

Together, we kicked our horses’ sides and propelled into the darkness.