Page 1 of Ties of Deception (Tethered Hearts)

Chapter

One

T he air that flooded my lungs was thick with the choking scent of heavy pollen, causing my back to arch. My ribs ached as they expanded, and the thudding of my pulse sounded loud and overwhelming in my ears where there had only been silence a moment before.

My first consciousness of my surroundings was the sensation of heavy softness cushioning me from all directions. Bird song, bright and cheerful, sharpened into recognition as the ringing in my ears slowly subsided. I waited to recognize more, but my mind stayed blank. I knew…nothing. But I wasn’t afraid. Was that odd?

I forced my heavy eyelids open and blinked in the dazzling flames of a large circular oil lamp dangling from the ceiling. Three heads peered down at me with wide eyes. The closest was an aging lady with her hand to her throat and heavy makeup on her narrow face.

She hit the man beside her in the chest without her eyes leaving mine. “By the gods, Hermon, she’s awake.”

The greying man tried to tug her back from hanging over me. “Give her space, Drusella. Give her space.” He wore a smart dark blue tunic with thick gold patterns around the neckline and hem.

“I am giving her space.” Drusella didn’t move an inch. Her loose dress was the dark purple of ripe grapes. Gold clasps cinched the shoulders, leaving her arms bare. Subtle gold artwork glistened on the slightly sagging skin of her left arm, traveling from her middle finger in a widening pattern up to the elbow. “Should I say something to her? What should I say? Am I meant to do something?”

I frowned, waiting for things to start making sense, but I didn’t recognize any of the people or the ornate white and gold ceiling above us. It was hard to move my head; my whole body was heavy as though encased in lead. The thought returned that I should be afraid in this situation, but my emotions were woolen and sluggish.

A younger girl leaned over me from the other side of the bed. Her gold hair was in ringlets, and a fan of feathers attached to a long wooden handle hid her lower face. “She’s very pretty, Mama. I think she’s going to be a good one.”

The older lady swatted the girl back like a fly. “Don’t lean over her, Pris.”

The man took a step back from the bed. “Maybe I should bring the priest back.”

The older lady shook her head. “To do what? She’s already awake. He’s done his bit.”

I tried to focus on the rest of the room, but the lights were too bright. I dragged my heavy hand to my forehead and pinched the bridge of my nose. A niggling sensation of panic was forming in my belly, still strangely distant. But surely, if I was patient enough, this would all begin to make sense.

“I think the lights are too bright.” It was the girl’s voice.

“Quick, Hermon, quick. Get the maid to blow some of the oil lamps out.” The older lady’s voice was stern, but gentle fingers caressed my shoulder. “It’s all right, my dear. I’ve heard this stage can be confusing, but we’ll make sure you're settled in no time. You’ll be completely happy here. Would you like to sit up?”

I pulled my hand from my face; already, the lights had dimmed. I wet my lips and tried to speak. My throat was parched, so my newfound voice made a rattling sound. “Where am I?” The words caused me to cough.

The older woman, Drusella, smiled with encouragement and helped me sit. “You’re in your new home. In the city of Yienna. Riverside District. It is so beautiful here. You’re going to love it.”

My new home?

The man stepped up and cleared his throat. “And we have the honor of being your patrons.”

The girl grinned. “You’re our family’s goddess.”

I blinked. None of their words registered with anything familiar in my mind. Drusella handed me a cup of water, and I drank it gratefully. The water felt cold and fresh in my throat. I handed back the empty cup and gestured for more.

Drusella hurried to refill it. “The priest brought you to life an hour ago. Our family has finally qualified for your Blessing, you see.”

“My…Blessing?”

Pris sat down beside me and patted my leg. “It’s all very simple, really. You are a Grace—a goddess of prosperity and life. If you are happy, good things happen to those around you. They are Blessed.”

Drusella patted my other knee, bringing my attention back to her. “So you will be happy for us, won’t you my dear? We will be devoted to you and do everything we can to fulfill your every need. Good food and drink, music, art, beautiful gardens. You will have everything, and we will serve you like the goddess you are.”

My mind felt stuck somewhere between calm fuzziness and complete inundation. “Thank you.” It was the only response I could think of.

Hermon cleared his throat, laying a thick-fingered hand on Drusella’s shoulder. “I think we should leave Lady Purity to rest.”

Purity?

Drusella straightened but seemed reluctant, her eyes still on mine. “You have two maids in the room, Flavia and Silvia. Just ask them for whatever you need. We’ll come back to show you around your quarters when you are feeling stronger and able to walk. But feel free to call for us whenever you wish.”

She squeezed my hand before standing. Then she hovered, clenching her hands together as though unsure if she should stay after all. Finally, she gave me a forced smile before leaving the room.

Silence returned revealing the faint persistent ringing in my ears.

I stared up at the ceiling and tried to be patient. As the fuzziness slowly retreated from the edges of my mind, my thudding heartbeat became a growing crescendo in my ears.

None of this made sense. How could I not even know who I was?

Something smashed beside me, the sound harsh and sudden. I startled and pulled myself up, glancing to the side of the bed where the noise had come from. But nobody was there.

A young woman in a plain grey dress and dark brown hair tied in a simple bun appeared on the other side of the bed with a ceramic cup. She held it out to me with a bright smile. “My lady, please drink this. The priest said it will help you adjust if objects around you start to break.”

I sat up in bed and narrowed my eyes. “What is it?”

She lowered her eyes and gave me a placating smile. “It’s something to calm your nerves. It will help you process what’s going on.”

I thought of the fuzziness in my mind that was only just retreating and shook my head. I didn’t want to feel drugged again. “No. No, thank you.” I pulled up the bed clothes as if they could form a barrier if she tried to insist on me drinking.

The maid looked uncertain and bit her lip. She couldn’t have been much older than twenty. “Please, my lady, it is important you regulate your emotions.”

I remembered the smashing sound and looked over the far side of the bed. An ornate vase lay fractured on the floor, water seeping into cracks between the tiny mosaic tiles. Lilies, still in bud, lay scattered and bruised. How had it fallen?

I straightened and closed my eyes, concentrating on taking deep, regular breaths. I wanted to ask where I was and who I was, but I’d already heard answers for those questions, and those answers had been meaningless to me. The city of Yienna. Purity. How could I not understand?

I met the maid’s eyes again, smoothing my face so it appeared calm and collected. “Who are you?”

She bowed her head with a bright smile. “Silvia, my lady. One of your maids.”

“And I’m to live here now? In this building?”

The maid’s smile widened to a childish grin, and she bobbed her head. “Yes, my lady. The family has provided a beautiful home for you, and the people of the Riverside District have sent you gifts to show their joy at your presence here.”

I massaged my forehead, still waiting for any of this to click with a reference point in my mind. The ringing in my ears was finally starting to fade. “They said the priest brought me to life. What do they mean by that?”

The maid nodded eagerly, her expression stuck in that bright submissive smile. “Goddesses are born as adults, my lady, to those who are deserving. You have just been born here.”

I thought about this, then frowned and leaned forward toward her. “But that makes no sense. How can I speak? How do I have some degree of knowledge? Opinions?” I looked around and pointed to a bowl heaped full of fruit at the foot of the bed. “I mean, I know I like oranges more than apples. I don’t like over-ripe bananas. I love mangos and pomegranates. But I don’t even know what that spiky yellow fruit is. What has happened to make me like and recognize some things and not others?”

The maid appeared taken aback and stared blankly at the fruit. “I don’t know, my lady. These sound like theological questions for the priest. But I do know goddesses are born with their minds fully mature. Maybe…maybe it’s because you’re a goddess of Atos and bananas are imported from Hassia? And the mangos are rare and come from Vekatna? But no, you said you liked mangos…I’m sorry, I don’t know.”

I pushed her further, even though I could see her growing discomfort in the way she clutched her hands. “And how was I born?”

Her eyes widened. “Again, my lady, I don’t know. Some say you are a gift from Ismara, the original goddess of life and the creator of the world. But these are secrets only known by the priests. We are so grateful you are here. Please, don’t let these thoughts trouble you. Would you like some food?”

I shook my head.

The other maid stepped up behind the first. She looked older, around her mid-thirties, if I had to guess. Her blonde hair was tied back in the same bun as Silvia, and her loose dress was the same grey. But her expression was far more reserved. Something about her confident posture caused me to relax a little. She was in control even if I felt otherwise, and her voice was soft but firm. “Perhaps you might feel more settled if you have a look around so you can see where you are. It’s beautiful here. I can only imagine how disorientated you must be feeling right now.”

“You must be Flavia.”

She inclined her head. “Yes, my lady. Another of your maids. Silvia and I will see to it that your every need is met promptly and manage the more junior maids.”

I eased myself to the side of the bed and found I was dressed in layers of pale pink chiffon. They pooled to the floor as I rested my toes on the cold mosaic tiles. Slowly, I stood, my legs weak and foreign. Flavia rushed forward to steady me, and I took her arm until I was confident in walking a few steps by myself. I noticed she had a black tattoo on her left arm; it was similar to Drusella’s gold one, but far less intricate. The other maid’s arm was bare. After a moment, I thought to check my own skin, but there were no marks.

Flavia shifted my weight to see how much I could comfortably hold. “Let’s practice walking a few steps before we go into the main room.” I nodded and used her for support as we stayed near to the wall. Silvia hovered anxiously behind as if preparing to catch me if I fell.

After we’d walked a few times around the room, the door opened and the girl—Pris—entered. She clapped her hands in delight to find me up and walking.

“Oh, Purity, you’re doing so well! Let me show you around your quarters.” She flung the door wide behind her without waiting for me to agree. “This whole villa is for you. You have private gardens too. If there’s anything you don’t like, let us know, and we’ll change it right away.”

Feeling a bit steadier, I let go of Flavia’s arm and followed her through the door. I stopped in amazement at the sight.

I stood at the edge of a huge room, and as I drank it in, sensations of peace and beauty washed over me. My heart rate calmed, and it became easier to breathe.

There were no walls. Instead curtains of pale cream gossamer drifted in the breeze as morning light glinted golden between the fluted pillars. Cushions of every bright color were heaped around a low table laden with fruit. On one side, the floor was lower, and a sunken bath large enough to swim in was filled with red petals. The steam from the bath smelled of lavender and honey. Giant flowerpots held cascades of flowers wherever I looked. On the far side of the room, curtains were tied back around the pillars to show a fountain in front of an endless vibrant garden. Four other maids in plain grey dresses stood as still as statues with their backs against the pillars.

Pris smiled at me. “Don’t you think it’s beautiful? This is the main room of your home. We were approved by the priest for a goddess only last month, but you will see we have tried to go beyond the minimum requirements to make you as comfortable and happy as possible.” She gestured to the door we had just come through. “We gave you a private room in case you needed it, but it might get stuffy at night—especially in summer when the heat can be unbearable. There is another, bigger bed there.” She pointed to a far corner where the curtains were heavy velvet instead of gossamer, partly drawn to reveal a giant bed heaped with more colorful cushions. “If you sleep there, you will feel the sea breeze. The gardens on this side will be deserted at night, and the outer walls are patrolled by guards, so you will be quite safe to sleep without a locked door. If you wish, a maid can stay overnight if it makes you more at ease.”

I blinked, still taking in the enormous scale of this room. I was no longer trapped.

Pris took my amazement as approval and continued her tour. “The villa is shaped like a rectangle around a square courtyard. This is the main room, but there are others down this passage here.” She pulled aside a gossamer curtain to reveal a covered walkway open to a courtyard on one side, and a wall with two doors on the other. “One room is for storing and admiring your gifts, the next is a receiving room for petitioners, and there’s another room on the far side for entertaining more familiar or distinguished guests.” She pulled me through the curtains onto the walkway. The courtyard to our right was full of marble statues and low box hedges. Pris opened the first of the doors on our left, and we peered into a smaller room. It was fully enclosed and contained a low table that appeared to be made of pure gold. Pris entered and gestured for me to follow. “Come and see all the gifts your people have brought you to welcome you.”

I caught Pris’s sleeve, needing her to slow down the pace with which she was giving information. “Who do you mean my people ?”

She flung out her arms. “Why, the Riverside District, of course. Your presence here will send Blessings to everyone around the villa. The District is so grateful that you’ve come to live here.” She gestured to the boxes and jars on the table and those lining the back wall. “Just look at what they’ve sent you. Don’t worry about all the names, we’ve made a record of who sent each item and sent appropriate thanks on your behalf. We also thought you might want to refer to the list later when families come to visit to pay their respects. Some of these gifts are more extravagant than others, so we’ve been careful with our records.”

I swallowed. I was overwhelmed and felt like a fraud. How could one person deserve all this? And how could all these people know more about who I was than I did? Surely being a goddess should feel more innately familiar if it were true?

I walked to the table laden with gifts from people I’d never met. “What are they expecting me to do in return for all this? What are my duties? Are you sure I’m even a goddess?”

She laughed with genuine delight, clasping her hands to her chin. “Of course you are, Purity. Don’t worry. And you have very few duties. You don’t even have to receive visitors if you don’t want to, although at some point you’ll need to go to the capital when requested by the empress.” She gave me a wide, bright smile. “You simply have to enjoy yourself and be happy. Be the happiest you can be.” She spread her hands on either side of her hips. “That is your only true duty.”

I frowned, automatically searching for the hidden meanings behind her words. “That’s it?”

She nodded, her bright smile not dropping. Her hands trembled with her excitement. “The happier you are, the more the people and places around you will be Blessed. A goddess’s power is tied to her emotions. If you are happy, businesses will flourish, children won’t get sick, and the crops will be bountiful. If you are sad or angry, things will break and shatter around you.” She dropped her voice to an excited whisper. “Sometimes, with stronger goddesses, they say earthquakes and terrible storms can break loose if they don’t control themselves when they’re really angry. But I’ve never actually seen that happen.” She finished with a little shrug.

I blinked, processing her words and remembering the broken vase by my bed. The idea that I could break things without touching them was disconcerting. “So you’re saying that the people who live around me will aim to make me happy? And in return, they’ll be Blessed?”

She beamed. “Exactly. Anything you want or need, just ask. You will live a life of luxury, and in return we will live off your happiness.”

I looked out at the table piled high with gifts, then back at the grand courtyard behind me, my heart pounding. “Oh. Am I allowed to leave the villa?”

She nodded. “We’ll give you a tour of Yienna tomorrow afternoon, if you’d like. We would recommend always leaving with a proper escort, however. Sometimes people can be a little…eager to get close to you. We have employed extra guards to ensure you always feel safe.”

I nodded. It made sense for me to not travel alone, especially when I knew next to nothing about this place or what dangers there might be on the streets. I knelt on one of the cushions beside the table, curiosity leading me to open box after box of beautiful jewelry and various items of exquisite craftsmanship, from books to small statues, all accompanied by letters asking that I see them favorably and Bless their families once I was receiving petitions. Every single gift only made my sense of disconnect grow.

“Who’s this?” I asked, holding up a small oil painting of a pale woman with golden hair who appeared to be floating in the air. Her only clothes were strategically placed flowers.

Pris leaned in and squinted. “Oh, that’s Ismara. The original goddess of life. She and Ienear, the original god of death, created the world. Neither of them do anything any more, though. Not like you Graces who dwell among us. I’m not sure why people bother to paint them.” She shrugged and examined one of the broaches instead.

I placed the painting back in the box and asked Pris if we could return to the main room and if I could have some time alone. To my surprise, she embraced me as we reached the pillars.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Purity. Please rest and ask the maids for anything you need.” She leaned in and whispered. “And the stricter one, Flavia, she is very experienced, but if she’s a little too…stern and downcast, we’ll switch her for another. Just tell me or my parents. Everyone should make you happy.”

I nodded, taken aback. Flavia had been the most calming presence so far.

After Pris had gone, I reclined on the cushions in the main room, needing the calm open space, and listened to the birds singing all around, their song underlined with the fainter chirrups of grasshoppers. The gossamer curtains wafted in the breeze, showing glimpses of the gardens behind. The maids kept their distance, staying quietly near the pillars and barely moving.

After a while, I found myself drawn to the scents wafting from the bath. I walked toward it, and Silvia hurried to help me undress. She backed away as I lowered myself into the hot water, smelling the floral perfume, and disturbing the curtain of rose petals. Slowly, the tension melted from my body.

The information from Pris was a lot to process, but could my life really be this simple—I had only to be happy?

The steam and scent of lavender pressed down on my eyelids. Flavia silently appeared with a thick fluffy towel. I dried myself before collapsing on the huge bed behind the velvet drapes.

Tomorrow I would try harder to understand who I really was. There must be something familiar in this world that I could hold on to.