Page 34 of Pawns of Fate

ROSE

T he following afternoon, Rose and Ava were styling each other’s hair for the dinner with Camillus and his wife when Lyla appeared with more letters in hand.

Ava insisted on reading York’s letter by herself.

Rose knew that her skills hadn’t improved enough to decipher York’s long-winded love letters just yet, but she didn’t stop Ava from trying.

She wanted a few moments alone to read Nicholas’s letter.

My dearest Rose,

I was delighted to receive your kind reply. It warms my heart to hear that your time with the Ojoh is comfortable, if a little dull. All that matters is that you are safe.

I am glad they allow you to explore the city, but please do not go out without Lyla.

If something were to happen to you, I would be devastated.

So, be careful. I am already losing my mind over how much I miss you, and it has only been a month.

I cannot wait till we are reunited. I may never let you out of my sight again.

My apologies, but this letter will have to be short. The duties of a monster-hunting campaign are never-ending. Still, the thought that perhaps I could see you sooner if I work hard enough gives me courage and hope to keep fighting in this miserable wetland.

I must end my letter here.

Affectionately,

Nicholas

Rose clutched the letter to her chest as she lay back on her bed.

A strange feeling, perhaps the child of affection and yearning, erupted inside her as she thought about Nicholas fighting his way through monsters for her.

When their marriage had been arranged, she hardly dared to hope they would get along.

Now, she couldn’t wait to get back to him, to feel his arms around her waist, his lips on hers.

She sighed and worried that the next five months would pass by more slowly than a snail. Rose missed her husband.

Camillus and Kreystallia had a beautiful, warm home. Its clay walls were painted with stunning murals of flowers and animals. Blooming bushes, trees, and plants littered the front yard, creating a homey atmosphere.

“Welcome!” Kreystallia greeted them. The smell of spices and herbs wafted out of the kitchen, making Rose’s mouth water. Camillus stood behind her, holding an infant.

Rose, Ava, and Lyla curtsied and thanked the couple for inviting them into their home. Kreystallia’s eyes widened with surprise and delight.

Rose heard Camillus mutter, “I told you they were real Albionish princesses.”

“We’re not princesses,” Rose hastily corrected him.

Kreystallia tried to return the curtsy. “Please, forgive him. We’re excited to have you here tonight. I hope our house is adequate.”

“Your house is lovely!” Ava gushed as they entered the front door, and Rose had to agree. A thick rug covered much of the floor. In place of a couch, soft cushions encircled an inviting hearth. A few baby toys littered the floor in a charming way that tugged at something in Rose’s heart .

“Please, this way.” Kreystallia led them to a dining room lit by warm lanterns. The table was covered with plates of steaming hot food.

They all sat down to enjoy the traditional Ojoh meal, complete with deer meat, soups, and a few vegetables Rose had never heard of before. Ever the chef, Ava questioned Camillus and Kreystallia about every single ingredient.

“What is this?” Ava held up a spoonful of a soft, golden vegetable that Rose hadn’t recognized but had tasted delicious on her tongue.

“Yellow Pomelo,” Camillus answered as he balanced his baby on one knee and ate dinner. “It only grows in the desert. The crows love it.”

Ava shuddered, then questioned them about the bread.

“The best baker in the city is in our neighborhood,” Kreystallia said proudly.

“I don’t know about that,” Rose chimed in. “Ava is quite the baker herself. She makes us fresh bread almost every morning.”

“I’m not a professional baker,” Ava replied, looking bashful for the first time since Rose had met her.

“She’s being modest. Yesterday she made a cinnamon bread that melted in my mouth. It was delicious!”

“Cinnamon bread?” Kreystallia tilted her head with curiosity. “I would love to know how to make cinnamon bread.”

“I’d be happy to show you. Especially if you would teach me how to make this soup.” Ava blew on a spoonful, then popped it in her mouth.

“I’d be delighted,” Kreystallia proclaimed .

From there, the conversation remained pleasant. Rose enjoyed the meal, even when Camillus and Kreystallia exchanged a few tender looks that reminded her exactly how far away she was from Nicholas.

She’d been especially surprised to watch Camillus dote on his infant son, Monawter. Despite his usual air of haughty indifference, Rose could tell he loved his little family. It made her painfully aware of a hole growing in her heart, a hole shaped like Nicholas.

“Would you like to hold him?” Camillus interrupted her thoughts and held Monawter out toward Rose.

She nodded her head enthusiastically, then clutched the child to her chest.

Monawter looked up at her with adorable brown eyes and the tiniest smile. As she had when she’d seen the baby toys in the house’s sitting room, Rose was charmed in an unexpected way.

“Oh, Rose, you’ll be such a good mother! Look, the baby already likes you!” Ava’s words were filled with warmth.

Rose smiled back at Ava despite the strange feelings flooding her chest. She hadn’t thought much about motherhood until the day Nicholas proposed that he’d impregnate her so that she wouldn’t have to come here.

She’d been so focused on letting Nicholas down gently—and then the strange shadow she’d seen—that she hadn’t given it a thought since.

She’d turned Nicholas down that day. When they were reunited, though… She certainly wouldn’t. The thought of a little child with his blue eyes and her pink hair pleasantly melted he r heart.

The baby began to cry, so Rose reluctantly returned him to his father. Camillus took him to the nursery, leaving the four women around the table.

“I wanted to talk with both of you about my jewelry,” Kreystallia declared nervously.

“Camillus mentioned you had a business idea,” Rose replied, trying to rein her thoughts back to the present moment.

Kreystallia wrung her hands. “I would like to set up a shop in Onanish Town. I want my business to grow beyond the Ojoh clan.”

“Why not the Imperial City, then? It is far larger than Onanish Town,” Ava asked.

“It is? I’ve never been.” She shook her head, then smiled.

“This is why I wanted to talk with you. I want to sell my jewelry to other princesses. I mean, noble ladies. But Albionish nobles do things so differently. I’m the head elder’s daughter, but that doesn’t mean a thing north of this desert.

I don’t know where to begin.” Kreystallia threw her hands up.

“I would appreciate any information or guidance you could offer me.”

Rose thought for a moment about how to reply.

Kreystallia’s designs would undoubtedly appeal to other aristocrats, but the jewelry would need to be introduced correctly.

She’d have to be presented as an up-and-coming designer.

If she debuted as an artist from the Ojoh clan, the biased nobles would never give her a chance.

“Rose and I could share some of your pieces with our friends! Once they see us wearing your jewelry, they are sure to want some for themselves,” Ava chimed in.

Rose wondered exactly what friends Ava was talking about.

The Sharps were a powerful family, but that didn’t guarantee Ava and Rose any popularity, especially not when it came to setting fashion trends.

She racked her brain. Ms. Peridot came to mind.

She might not be an aristocrat, but she was a competent businesswoman with influence in the fashion world.

“Ava is right. It only takes a few of the right people to start a trend. We know a dressmaker who might be interested in working with you.”

“Would you talk to her for me?”

“Absolutely!” Ava replied.

“It will have to be after we return to Onanish, though,” Rose added.

Kreystallia thought for a minute. “I already mentioned that my father is the head elder. I’ll talk to him about how soon you two can go home. He wants my sister back anyway.”

“Is your sister the one they sent to Onanish?” Ava asked and sipped a little wine.

“Yes. Her name is Pescinnia. She’s my younger sister. They would have sent me, but I had just given birth.”

“Do you miss her?”

“Yes. I wish I’d been brave enough to go with her. Like you were, Lady Rose. Everyone in the city has heard about how you stood by your sister’s side. You are a great lady!”

Rose felt heat rise to her face. What she’d done wasn’t worth that much praise.

“She is a great lady! I wouldn’t have made it a week here without her.” Ava hugged her sister-in-law.

Rose couldn’t help it. Her aura began to shine, enveloping the four women as embarrassment washed over her.

“Except for healers, I’ve never seen aural magic,” Kreystallia said after Rose untethered her senses from the aural plane.

“It’s nothing special. I have a soothing aura. It isn’t very useful.”

Ava huffed, “Don’t downplay it, Rose! You can calm people’s emotions with it. I think it’s beautiful, too. And it matches your hair.”

Kreystallia nodded in agreement and was about to add her thoughts to the conversation, but Camillus reappeared, having put the baby to sleep.

“Would you like any more wine?” he asked the four women seated around the table.

Lyla had been staring out the window for the past quarter hour. She would be uncomfortable with Rose and Ava being inebriated outside the safety of their warded house.

“I think it is probably time for us to head home,” Rose said.

Ava added, “This has been a lovely evening.”

The women stood and exchanged their goodbyes. Their two guards met them on the street, and the party made their way home in the dwindling sunlight.

About halfway through their walk home, a huge shadow flew over the party, far larger than any giant crow Rose had seen.

“What was that?” Ava yelped.

A reptilian roar sounded in the direction the creature had flown. Fiery breath flickered in the sky. Both guards put their hands on the hilts of their swords.

Rose didn’t think swords would do much good if the creature returned.

“It’s a fire drake,” Lyla replied coldly, then nudged Ava’s back. “Let’s go. Quickly.”

“Do drakes usually fly over the city?” Rose asked their guards.

Both men shook their heads. “Perhaps it was hunting a crow.”

The excuse sounded hollow to Rose. She kept her eyes glued to Lyla for the rest of their journey home.