Page 29 of The Pactbound Angel (The Soul Mirror Duet #1)

I continued, “It’s why, when we swear to our charge, we say the phrase my life for yours . Because we mean that. Better one life is lost than two. It is our sacred duty to ensure the safety and survival of our charges.”

“Then, you are right to be particular, Lady Nathalia. For that decision will dictate the rest of your life. And, perhaps, your death,” Ramiren said quietly.

Pride straightened my spine. “Yes. It is not an oath to take lightly. It is a life of the ultimate service to another person.”

“So, those that take this oath to the Church of Horyn itself. No one to protect, just an idea.” Georgina frowned. “They’ll live a long life?”

It was a point of contention within the church.

Some feared factions were beginning to form, and gods knew what would happen then.

Dogma against duty. I tried to answer her honestly, “Most assuredly, unless the church sends them to defend something. A person. A town. A nation. But their oath is still to the church itself, and they need not follow if who or what they’re sent to protect dies. ”

Ramiren looked back at me and asked, “How often does that happen? How often are they sent out to defend something?”

I felt ashamed for some reason. “Rarely, I am sorry to say.”

Raewyn spat out, “They’re cowards. Dad thinks so, too. They want respect, but not the responsibility that goes with it.”

It was difficult to disagree with my father and sister. I thought of counterpoints. Of reasons, but came up empty. So, I gave a warning, “Call a protector a coward, and you’ll likely not enjoy their response.”

We arrived a few rough days later in Elancia, the capital city of Tanta, with the buildings dressed in royal blue mourning shrouds.

They were everywhere. Blue cloth was tied on the light poles lining the streets, feylight flickering inside the glass.

Blue sheets decked the front of stores and inns.

It was also extremely quiet, as though the entire city had been swallowed in a blanket of silence.

Those who passed us averted their eyes. They, too, wore blue.

“Blue everywhere. Someone important must have died,” Ramiren said pensively, a thought I had also considered.

“I wonder who?” Raewyn replied. “Let’s ask.”

With one last look at the blue cloth, I followed her into a nearby inn I didn’t catch the name of.

The common room was also quiet, disturbingly so.

Though many were inside, drinking or eating, no one talked.

A few turned their heads our way when we walked in, though their attention quickly went back to their food and drink.

A fey barkeep, an old man who looked older from acute exhaustion, stood behind the bar absently cleaning mugs in a small bucket.

I couldn’t determine what type of fey he was, and it seemed impolite to ask.

Aside from the very pointed ears, he looked human.

“Good afternoon, sir. If I might ask, what has happened here? The entire place is-”

“Death, young lady. Death happened. Our king’s beloved general, Milon Tarq, died two days ago in his sleep.” He shook his head. “He was only three hundred and fifty years old.” His rich, deep timbre was gentle and soothing. No doubt his singing is beau- Oh. A lusc fey. Nightingale.

He shook out the water from the now-clean mug and set it down with the others. I wondered how long fey lived, but it was Raewyn who asked.

“Well, that’s the thing. The general was an elf.”

After drying his hands on a cloth hanging at his waist, he poured himself a glass of what looked to be strong spirits, lifted it in a salute, and downed it.

Ramiren frowned deeply, stepping forward. “An elf, you say? Strange. I’ve never heard of one dying in his sleep.”

“Well, he did, according to the king’s announcement.

” He poured another drink and raised it again.

“To General Tarq. May his soul find its way to the Tarindar’s Aerie.

” A few in the common room raised their mugs and glasses in kind, though the toast was a weary one.

The barkeep downed the shot and eyed us. “You travelers from Laeth?”

He must have been well loved. “Yes, seeking rooms and information.”

“Information about what, my lady?”

“Mischief hags. We believe one lives east of here, in the mountain pass.”

The barkeep straightened. “Yes, one does. What would you want with the likes of them? Nothing but trouble.”

His tone contained a warning, though I did not heed it. “They stole things from us we intend on getting back. ”

The barkeep raised his eyebrows. “Well, best of luck to you, then. Nasty creatures, they are.”

Perhaps we came to the right place. “Have you encountered any?”

“Can’t say I have, but I’ve heard plenty of stories. They steal your… essence. Your purpose. They don’t use them, mind. They just like to cause misery.”

I agreed with a nod. “Anything else you can tell us about them?”

He let out a sigh and refilled his glass a third time.

“Aye, the one in Tanta likes to steal people , too. Some smaller, remote towns offer up their more unfortunate folk in exchange for being left alone. It’s not known what she does with them.

They’re just never seen or heard from again.

If you come across her, expect to see prisoners or… bones, I’d wager.”

I made a disgruntled noise in my throat and decided to change the topic to a more immediate need. “Do you have four rooms available for us?”

The barkeep shook his head. “Sorry, but I don’t. Many from all over have come for the funeral. I have one room available. Honestly, I doubt you’ll find a place that has four, and the one I do have is tiny with a single bed only.”

Great.

“Then, we will try another establishment.”

The barkeep’s lovely, tired voice followed in my wake. “Again, good luck.”

As we walked outside to quiet streets, Raewyn laughed. It echoed oddly in the empty street, and she abruptly stopped. “Shame. I was looking forward to sharing a room with Georgina.”

Georgina scoffed indignantly. “Well, I wasn’t looking forward to sharing one with you , Raewyn.”

Beep. “I WASN’T EITHER.”

Georgina raised a hand towards M.A.L.C.O.L.M. “See? Even my automaton doesn’t like you.”

Beep. “IT’S BECAUSE YOU BECOME MEAN AROUND HER, GEORGINA. YOU USED TO BE NICE. TALK SOFTLY TO ME. NOW IT’S JUST RAEWYN THIS AND RAEWYN THAT. RAEWYN RAEWYN RAEWYN.”

I rubbed my temples as a headache, that had nothing to do with the sun or my exhaustion, was starting to develop.

Georgina waved her arms in the air, as though making a point. “I mean… c’mon ! How did you grow up with her, Nathalia?”

Don’t answer that.

Beep. “SEE?”

Georgina huffed, her fists on her hips, and shook her head. “So, what now? Another inn?”

“If we can find one, yes,” I said, though the barkeep’s response made me think it was a hopeless task.

We spent the rest of the day scouting inns throughout the city.

There were five others. Most had no vacancy.

Some had one room, or even two, open. But none had four.

My concern was we’d have to split up, which I did not want to do with a mischief hag so close.

Perhaps this one could scry as well and take the opportunity when we were vulnerable and alone.

No. We have to stay together.

Raewyn groused as the sun was getting lower in the sky, and we were still without shelter for the evening.

A thought came to me. “Perhaps, as a visiting noble, we might petition the royalty for shelter.”

Everyone stopped to look at me, but it was Georgina who started laughing. “Again, I ask you. Are you the Queen of Evraka?”

I raised an eyebrow at her. “No, I am not.”

“Then, how do you expect to get us rooms at the fancy royal castle, hm? Smile and push your way in? Maybe sing for your supper? Fat lot of good that did us at the carnival.”

Staring at Georgina, I pushed my annoyance down with a deep breath. “I was going to present myself as a noble of the Kingdom of Camlynn and simply ask.”

Georgina started giggling. “Oh, you were just going to ask, eh? Just ask, simple as that?”

Beep. “AM I A NOBLE, GEORGINA?”

“No, M.A.L., you’re not, and I’m starting to doubt that she is, too. Nobles are supposed to be smart, and that might be the dumbest idea I’ve ever heard.”

Raewyn snorted. “Wanna bet on it, Georgina? My sister gets us rooms at the palace, and you gotta do something.”

Georgina peered at Raewyn. “Oh yeah, like what?”

Raewyn pondered, hand tucked under her chin. “Oh, I don’t know. Put a bowtie on M.A.L.C.O.L.M. here.”

Beep. “WHY ARE YOU INVOLVING ME IN THIS?”

Raewyn’s eyes took on an excited glint. “And I don’t mean a standard-sized one. I mean a big bow. Maybe with pink dots on it.”

Beep. “THAT SOUNDS PRETTY. I AGREE.”

Georgina held up a hand to her automaton. “Hold on, it’s for me to say if I agree to the terms, not you M.A.L.”

Beep. “BUT I WANT A BOWTIE.”

Georgina sighed, then frowned. “And what happens if I win?”

Raewyn smiled. “I won’t complain a single syllable until we reach the hag here. Deal?”

Georgina narrowed her eyes, considering, and extended her hand to shake. “Deal. Now, do we just spit and shake on it or do we need to involve the pactmaker?”

Ramiren held up his hands, indicating he wanted nothing to do with it.

While Raewyn and Georgina were discussing terms, I looked at Ramiren and spoke quietly. “I might need the luck stone back for this endeavor.”

Ramiren shook his head, replying under his breath, “I cannot, I’m afraid. It was given in payment for a pact. Returning it, even temporarily, would dissolve the pact. Unless you want that, of course?” He raised an eyebrow at me.

I didn’t even consider it for a moment. “Nevermind. I’ll do it the old fashioned way, then. ”

Ramiren smiled. “You do not need luck, Nathalia. You need only a kind word and a kind king.”