Page 12 of Pawns of Fate

Nicholas thought about his alternatives.

It would have poisoned their relationship if he’d hidden the truth from her.

Honesty, even if it caused distance, felt better to him than affection built on false pretenses.

She would have had to serve as political collateral either way.

He could only imagine how betrayed she would have felt if he’d lied about it, too.

He hurried through his morning tasks and ate a quick lunch before dressing for the outing. As Nicholas checked his reflection in the mirror, Syzman stepped out of the wall behind him. He hated it when the mage surprised him like that.

The Sharps had employed shadow mages for years, but none of them were quite like Syzman.

Truthfully, none of them were as talented as Syzman.

All shadow mages could manipulate darkness to some degree.

Very, very few could manipulate it to the point of being able to move through shadows completely unseen like Syzman could. The ability unnerved Nicholas.

“Going on a date with the new lady?” Syzman asked in a slow, arrogant voice. It was his usual tone. His demeanor often reminded Nicholas of a lazy tiger.

“What business of yours is it, Syzman?”

“I just wanted to know if you needed all three of us to go. Jo?o and Lyla are both eager to get out of the castle, but it seems excessive to send two mages and a competent bodyguard after four nobles, two of whom are perfectly capable of defending themselves.”

Nicholas thought about it for a minute. Syzman was right. Onanish Town was protected well, being so close to the castle. They’d need two guards, maybe only one.

“Jo?o and Lyla should be sufficient. You don’t want to come spy on all of us?”

“You overestimate my voyeuristic streak,” Syzman mused, rust-colored eyes radiating boredom. “I already caught York and Ava engaged in marital activities this morning. I have no need to see it again.”

“That’s disgusting, Syzman.”

“I’m joking, little lord.” A hint of a smile teased his thin lips. “No need to clutch your pearls so tightly.”

The pen Nicholas was holding slipped out of his grip.

York and Ava were infamous among the servants for how frequently and loudly they made love.

Nicholas had accidentally stumbled upon it more times than he cared to recall in the castle rooms and gardens.

They weren’t known for keeping their private matters private as they’d been caught in the act in the library stacks, the kitchen at midnight hours, and even in the main study a time or two.

“Tell Jo?o and Lyla they’ll be accompanying us this afternoon.”

“As you wish, Lord Nicholas,” Syzman replied with a slight bow, then melted back into the shadows.

Ava and York were already holding hands when Nicholas arrived at the gate. He wondered if he should hold Rose’s hand, but she looked nervous.

The four of them began their short walk down the mountainside and into the bustling town. Ava held Rose’s attention most of the time, telling her stories about how she fell in love with York. Nicholas had to admit, it was quite an exciting story.

Ava grew up in the Imperial City, far, far to the north of Onanish. Her father owned a restaurant that had fallen on hard times. He borrowed money from the wrong people and couldn’t repay it quickly enough. So, they had taken Ava to cover his debts.

Forced servitude wasn’t tolerated in Onanish. It wasn’t supposed to be tolerated anywhere in Albion, but the empress hadn’t been using a firm hand to rule her country for a long time now, which left things up to the nobility.

Ava’s kidnappers had taken her to a small town on the edge of Onanish, probably intending to pass through the area quickly.

But they’d timed things wrong. Mountain ogres attacked the village on the night of their stay.

When the knights of House Sharp, York among them, had come to defend the town, they discovered the trafficker’s location.

Ava and all the other women were set free and offered jobs at Castle Sharp to help them recover after the harrowing ordeal.

Ava accepted the job as a kitchen cook, giving York all the excuse he needed to keep seeing her.

Nicholas could still remember how angry their father had been when York told him he intended to marry Ava.

He’d lectured York for hours about duty and how marrying Ava wouldn’t benefit their family.

None of it stuck. York married Ava anyway.

In some ways, Nicholas envied his brother’s ability to disregard the rules and follow his heart.

He and Ava were clearly happy and made for a well-matched couple.

In other ways, Nicholas resented his brother’s selfishness and how often it caused messes for him and Father to clean up.

As Nicholas glanced at the happy couple, he felt a tinge of jealousy.

He wanted to hold Rose’s hand, wanted her to look at him with adoration in her eyes.

Instead, because he was bound to do what was best for his family, his fiancée looked at him like a nervous fawn.

If York wouldn’t act like a complete madman at the mere thought of Ava serving as collateral, perhaps Nicholas’s marriage could be off to a better start.

And, of course, if Nicholas were as powerful a lightning mage as his brother, it wouldn’t matter if York lost his mind.

Nicholas could just take his place in battle.

Rose already served her time as a captive. Someone else should have a turn , he thought sourly.

A male faun held the door open for the group as they entered the mysterious Red Dragon Tea House.

Nicholas was used to seeing the forest dwellers in Onanish; they had a few on staff at the castle and one who served as a healer among their soldiers, but he didn’t miss the curiosity that sparkled in Rose’s eyes as another faun led them to the back of the restaurant.

Nicholas didn’t care much about tea but enjoyed visiting this place because of the rich, earthy food. He’d have to order some mushroom pasties to share with Rose.

The server led the group to a private dining room with tiny square windows and silk pillows for seats.

Rose blinked, confusion clouding her face. Nicholas realized that she had probably never been to a teahouse with low tables and cushions for chairs. They were only common in areas with a significant population of fauns.

He gently grasped her hand and whispered in her ear, “We’ll sit on the pillows. That’s why the table is so low.”

She nodded and relaxed her shoulders.

The group sat down, and their server gracefully poured them hot cinnamon tea while they decided what food they’d like to order. Nicholas ordered his favorite pasties, while Ava requested an assortment of cookies and more tea flavors.

“Well, what do you think?” Ava asked Rose.

“I’ve never been to a teahouse before. This tea is so flavorful.” She sipped the cinnamon brew with a soft smile on her face. Her tension seemed to melt away with every sip of the warm liquid. Nicholas hoped it was a sign that she would enjoy her time today.

“You’ve never been to a teahouse before? Are there none in your uncle’s parish?” Nicholas asked.

“I didn’t explore outside of the castle much, except when I was… visiting other families,” Rose said. When she was a hostage, serving as her uncle’s collateral , Nicholas amended in his mind.

Ava swooped in to change the subject. Nicholas thanked the gods. He couldn’t stop sticking his foot in his mouth around Rose.

“Well, I’m glad you get to visit this one. We should also visit one of the silkworm farms before we leave town today. The worms are the size of cows, but so gentle and docile. They are fascinating. Oh, and we should go by one of the houses that dye the silks. It’s an amazing process,” Ava gushed.

“There’s so much to see,” Rose replied with a genuine smile.

“Nicholas, what do you want to show Rose today?” Ava asked, trying to help him carry a conversation.

The servers appeared with trays of food and several large teapots, carefully setting them around the table.

Nicholas helped himself to one of the mushroom pasties, but it was still too hot to eat.

He settled for a few lemon cookies instead, stuffing one in his mouth as he considered his answer to Ava’s question.

Usually, Nicholas saved Ava from awkward social situations.

It was funny to have the roles reversed.

“I’d like to show you the gardens at the castle,” he answered finally. “They aren’t as extravagant as the ones at your uncle’s castle. We don’t have as much flat land, so we have to use terraces.”

“I’m sure they’re still lovely,” Rose replied, then took a bite of a cookie topped with what Nicholas imagined to be blueberry icing from the color. He’d have to try one of those next.

“I like them. I think you will, too. ”

An awkward silence fell on the group for a minute. Ava managed to pick up the conversation by asking York and Nicholas about their training for the day. York, always excited to talk about things related to swordsmanship, carried the conversation from there.

Nicholas was a little disappointed that he didn’t hear more about Rose for the remainder of the meal.

After they finished at the teahouse, Ava announced that she had a headache and requested that York take her back to the castle.

Before she left, though, she demanded that Nicholas show Rose around Onanish Town.

No fun was to be spoiled on account of her.

This, of course, left Rose and Nicholas alone to explore the market and the main square.

He’d have to remember to get something for his sister-in-law to thank her for being a far better wingman than his brother.

“It gets pretty crowded here in the market. May I hold your hand?”

Rose demurely placed her hand in his. Nicholas thought it was soft and dainty, just like the rest of her.