Page 59 of A Rose Among Snakes (Gardens of Ruin and Revival)

Chapter Fifty-Eight

Mihrra

W eak, early morning sunlight streamed through the window, the curtains having been left open the night before. I tried to move, but every muscle in my body screamed in protest and a groan escaped my lips, rattling up my ravaged throat. Beside me, Kezara stirred and rolled over. Taking in my wince, she wiped the sleep from her eyes and croaked,

“Stay still. What hurts?”

“Everything.”

She frowned and pulled the blankets back, swinging her legs over the side and making her way to the cord on the wall. She gave a sharp tug and said,

“I’ll have the maids draw you a bath.”

I wanted to make a quip about how that was my job, but my throat was too sore. Instead, I stayed still and let Kezara deal with the maids. Before I knew it, I was being pulled out of bed and assisted into a luxurious bath. Kezara fed me fresh fruit, giggling about our role reversal and calling it ‘fun.’ I served her an exaggerated eye roll.

After soaking, my aching body felt limber enough to get out and put on the new dress from Leoran. It was cream-colored with a modest neckline and clean lines; simple, practical, and perfect for travel. With it came a note from him, thanking me for all I had done. The king’s blank gaze as he lay dead on the ground flashed before me, and I shook my head to rid the memory.

“Ready?” Kezara asked, hand outstretched.

I nodded and we exited the room where an anxious Velian paced in the hallway. My heart stuttered as our eyes met, his tight expression being replaced by a tired smile as he wrapped me in his arms. From that moment on, he didn’t let me out of his sight. We were fed a hearty breakfast eaten in silence, fatigue laying heavy on our shoulders. Velian had spent the night having Denzen’s body wrapped and prepared for travel, and exhaustion had sunk deep into his strong features. Leoran agreed to provide us with a horse and wagon; Corman insisted on driving to stay close to his deceased friend. The rest of us piled into the wagon we had borrowed the day before.

Back in Clavo, we picked up our horses from the inn we’d left them at. Velian insisted I was not fit to ride Eamis, and I agreed to ride with him on Zavi. Kezara said she didn’t feel confident riding on her own, but Enverro came to her rescue with an offer to let her ride with him. Denzen and Corman’s horses were towed behind the wagon.

We traveled slowly, Velian trying to keep the jostling to a minimum for my benefit, and we stopped in Canderren, much to Kezara’s dismay. But I was too tired and too numb to care.

Sitting around the fire, eating the meat pies provided by the castle cook, I leaned into Velian’s shoulder, grateful for his support. After checking on the grazing horses, Paolef came and sat on the ground beside me. He had a calming presence once you got past his fierce appearance.

“It was a brave thing, what you did,” he said to me, keeping his gaze fixed on the fire where Corman knelt, tending to the flames.

“I couldn’t go down without a fight,” I said baldly, deflecting the compliment.

Paolef nodded, still watching Corman, who swiped at his eyes, brushing away an escaped tear. The action tore through me, ripping at my frayed heart.

“Is he okay?” I asked.

“He will be,” Velian said, his expression grave.

I swallowed, ignoring the stab of pain it caused, and whispered, “I’m so sorry about Denzen. It’s my fault.”

“No, it’s not,” Velian said, as Paolef shook his head.

“He would have been proud of your sacrifice, too,” Paolef said.

Sacrifice. The word struck me, but that’s what it was, for in saving them all I had destroyed a piece of myself. Again, my father was right in that I’d never regret saving a loved one, but he mentioned nothing about the repercussions on my soul.

“Besides,” Paolef continued, “he died doing what he was meant to do.”

Trying for a lighter tone, I said, “Defending damsels in distress?”

“Defending family. ”

I looked up at him as my jaw went slack. It was a strong statement, a claiming one. I knew what it was like to be a part of a close-knit family, but it was an entirely different feeling to be invited into one like this. His intense eyes were warm, with no trace of resentment toward me, no indication he wished his friend hadn’t given his life for mine.

My aching throat constricted. “Thank you.”

Velian placed his hand over mine, and as I shifted my gaze back to him, I saw Corman staring at me, a watery smile on his face.

How? How was it possible for these men to not only find me faultless but consider me family? It was overwhelming, and I did not have the energy to process it.

I didn’t remember falling asleep, but I woke up in Velian’s arms, the first light creeping above the horizon. My body hurt significantly more that morning, and I had to bite my lip to keep from crying out when I sat up. Velian kept our pace slow again, and we made it back to Blaise Manor by mid-afternoon.

As we climbed the hill to the manor, it was apparent that all the staff were coming out to greet us, Mrs. Shulling at the head of the group. Velian dismounted and the elderly housekeeper wrapped her arms around him. He obliged, hugging her back, and after escaping her embrace, reached up to help me down. The second my feet touched the ground, she threw her arms around me, sniffling, and I winced .

“Careful, Mrs. Shulling,” Velian said, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. “She’s injured.”

Mouth agape, Mrs. Shulling pulled back but left her hands on my shoulders, her eyes running over me, and stopping at the bruises on my throat. She gasped.

“My dear, whatever happened?”

I stared up at Velian, unsure of how much to reveal.

“She fought off an attacker, saving my life.”

Mrs. Shulling’s eyes widened, but before she could say more, Kezara walked forward and the old woman let out a whimper and pulled her into an embrace. Kezara startled, raising her brows, but sank into the hug, closing her eyes and squeezing tight.

“I was so worried about you, dear,” Mrs. Shulling said, releasing Kezara. She stepped back and examined us all, frowning when she looked at Enverro, then composing herself with a smile. “Supper will be ready shortly, so why don’t you all get cleaned up and meet in the dining room?” Before turning on her heel to go inside, she looked us all over and said, “It’s good to have you home.”

Kezara forced me upstairs into her room and asked a curious Mausette to pause her kitchen duties and bring up hot water for a bath. I reveled in the scalding water, and then passed out in Kezara’s bed for a couple of hours while she cleaned herself up. She woke me gently and informed me it was time for dinner. Sleep still clung to me, but a gnawing hunger motivated me to get up. We ate in the dining room, including Corman, Paolef, and Enverro. Velian seated me beside himself, and I did not miss the scornful look Narell wore as she watched Velian serve me, but I could not be bothered to care.