Page 17 of The Chains You Defy

The guard named Frida nodded, and it was apparent he’d gotten exactly the answer he’d been waiting for. “Tonight, when the night watch starts patrolling the streets, meet my brother Nancy in the meat-packer district. You’ll find him in a well-known tavern named “The Thirsty Seneschal”. Ask one of the barmaids to lead you into the backroom and inform her about your wish to tempt fate because the cards are lucky tonight. And of course, you’re free to bring your company.”

Nodding, I memorized the instructions. My suspicions didn’t settle down, though. For all I knew, this was a well-executed ploy, but I was intrigued enough to indulge Frida and his brother Nancy.

Huh, now that I dwelled on this, their parents’ naming choices were odd. Not that I’d fared better in that department. But maybe this tiny spark of sympathy, raised by a mutual suffering under weird names, made me decide to humor the man and restrain myself until then. “Do you also have any advice on which inn to stay at?”

“Yes. “The Weary Traveler”, between the Royal and the Merchant’s District, is a decent, central, and safe place. My distant cousin Wilma owns the venue.”

I curtly dipped my chin. “If you cross me, I’ll hunt you down as well as everyone you hold dear.”

“Gods, Nancy didn’t exaggerate,” Frida muttered, and I showed him my teeth for good measure until he waddled away.

Ireas hadn’t been impressed by my attempts to bully him into accepting my refusal to relax, and he sent me to rest after we’d arrived at the inn. As gentle as the young male was most of the time, the moment he donned his medic persona, he was as immovable as Eas, the mountain of life. Still, I was too restless underneath my bone-deep fatigue and fought him tooth and nail until he dragged the others into my room and staged a fucking intervention.

Traitors, all of them.

I woke up a few hours later, trying to pinpoint when I’d fallen asleep in the first place. My brain was fuzzy, and confusion held me in its grip for longer than usual. The last I recalled was that my soldiers had stood between me and the door, insisting I should lie down and nap for a while.

And then—nothing.

I groaned as I sat up, and my eyes darted to the half-empty glass of water on the nightstand. Instantly, I understood what had transpired, and anger exploded in my gut. The fuckers must have given me some kind of sleeping draught.

Immediately, my shitlist expanded by three names—Thain was on that file for the longesttime already—and I scowled.

Getting up, I hurled the glass with the remnants of the tonic against the wall before I spotted a note on the bedside table. My jaw was set tight as I picked up the paper.

Dion,

We will meet in the tavern’s backroom when it is time. Watch your Glamour.

A.

PS. This was necessary, so rein your temper in for once.

That my blood boiled in my veins was no surprise.

Once I’d reclaimed Nayana and my power, they’d learn that pissing me off during a vulnerable time entailed consequences. I’d have my revenge a thousand times over.

However, I changed my clothes and strapped the crappy sword to my belt. Again, I sulked because the weapon was clunky and carrying the blade around was inconvenient, but still, this was better than the alternative of leaving my room unarmed.

At last, I tucked Nayana’s midnight dagger into my boot and left the inn.

“I heard that the cards are lucky in the backroom today. I want to tempt fate.”

“Let me be your talisman, and you won’t regret your choice. Seriously, a man like you could bait me any day of the week.” My jaw tightened as the barmaid winked at me.

“Just show me where to go.” I didn’t care about this human who ogled me with unveiled heat in her eyes. She attempted to direct my attention to her low neckline, but I tapped my foot impatiently in return. Didn’t she realize she wasn’t appealing to me at all? She wasn’t my type—after all, she wasn’t my Nayana.

“Through that door, sir. And if the cards turn out to be unfortunate, you can always ask for Chanarelle for a good time.”

“Not interested.”

“Do you prefer men?”

What I favored was none of her business, and I rolled my eyes. The tiny vibrations under my skin keeping me on edge intensified, telling me I had no time for such a matter of unimportance. So, I left the barmaid standing and stalked to the door.

A certain someone would surely spit into my drink, but I didn’t care.

Still better than being drugged by your own allies, in my opinion.