Page 49 of Vicious Princess (The Trials of Death and Honor #1)

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

W hen we arrive at the location and get out of the merchant carriage into the street, my stomach sinks. The sun hasn’t risen yet, but despite the darkness shrouding the surroundings, I recognize this street.

I’ve been here before.

I know exactly what awaits at the very end of the alley on my right, behind the red door.

Before I can linger on the thought, Ezkai Gavriel rushes all of us into a nearby building through a narrow, barely-hanging-on-the-hinges door.

An abandoned house. Cobwebs, dust, and broken furniture—nothing but shadows of what once was.

We settle in the tight space.

I lean a hip on the dusty windowsill next to Roman. Ezkai Gavriel stands in front of a crumbling mantel that seemingly used to be beautiful once. His jaw is tight, eyes hard.

Ezkai Cassandra is the complete opposite of him. She leans her elbow against the dusty mantel and crosses one ankle over the other. A faint smile dances on her lips.

“The target location is across the street, at the end of the narrow alley,” Ezkai Gavriel says. “There’s a red door that’s the entrance to the illegal gambling parlor. There are two bouncers at the door at all times. Twenty-four-hour operation.”

There’s likely only one bouncer at the door. I don’t correct him. Then I’d have to explain how I know. Explaining I’ve been here, with Daegel, when he’s missing from the mission due to mysterious professional reasons is…not a good idea to say the least.

“What’s our course of action, cadets?” Ezkai Gavriel folds his arms over his chest.

“Find the back door and storm it from both sides,” the giant says. “Kill everyone standing in our way.”

Ezkai Gavriel’s face says it all—he doesn’t bother hiding his disdain.

“Just like this strategy didn’t work in your assignment, it doesn’t work here either, Cadet Vesper. We’re vastly outnumbered. Anyone else have any other brilliant ideas to share?”

“Why can’t we get more Ezkai for a raid here?

” Bloom asks. “We scout the area around to find all the weak spots and put our soldiers there so they can monitor the situation. We get more physical force, and when we have them surrounded, we can then attack. One Decarios can easily take on five regular fae, if not more. Twelve more heads may put us on more equal ground.”

I bet Bloom is aiming for the Executioner Unit. She’s definitely a force to be reckoned with.

I speak before I think. “Caligos have Decarios in their ranks, too.”

Silence.

Every head turns to me.

Ezkai Gavriel watches me, unreadable. Ezkai Cassandra’s eyes glitter, but she remains silent. Ezkai Xander steps forwards.

“Cadet Wildarrow is correct. Bold assumption that there are no Decarios inside. It’s one of the largest gambling parlors in the area.

There’s a lot of fae there and potentially dwarfs and maybe even humans,” Ezkai Xander says.

“Besides, for this mission, only twelve Ezkai plus the cadets were authorized. Getting more Ezkai here is not an option.”

Bloom scoffs.

Roman crosses his arms. “Why’s that? Why only twelve trained Ezkai plus you four and a number of cadets are assigned for this mission? Surely you have better ways to test our abilities.”

Ezkai Gavriel exchanges a loaded glance with Ezkai Xander.

Ezkai August answers flatly: “The fewer the soldiers, the lower the risk of compromise.”

The silence that stretches is heavy.

“And the reason we bring cadets into such an important mission is that we get to kill two birds with one stone—we test your abilities and weed out any weaklings, while minimizing our chances of the mission being compromised,” Ezkai August adds.

Maybe Daegel isn’t here because of me and our relationship.

Maybe he was removed due to his family ties to Caligos.

My pulse spikes, my cheeks heating up. I flex my hands to release some of that tension building inside me.

“We’re outnumbered. We can’t win in a direct fight,” I say. “We need to find out who runs the place and take them out. Cut the head of the snake, and all that.”

Ezkai Gavriel nods. “How do you propose we do that?”

I glance at Xander and the fae flanking his sides.

“We have Ezkai spies here with us. We get them to change out of their leathers into civilian clothes and find a way inside the gabling parlor to identify the potential targets. I’m surprised you haven’t done that yet.

I’d have had the spies stationed inside the gambling parlor weeks prior to today. ”

Ezkai Xander’s mouth curves up. “We did have the spies infiltrate earlier, posing as the staff in the gambling parlor. Unfortunately, we were compromised, and the Caligos running the show eliminated our spies before we could get the full report from them.”

“Still, you must have learned something,” I insist.

Ezkai Xander nods. “We have, yes. There are a number of gambling tables that use trained Caligos to ensure whoever plays never wins. Pretty standard practice amongst gambling establishments. What makes this particular establishment problematic are the more dangerous activities they dabble in—they run a number of games , for lack of better word, that encourage placing high bets on dangerous acts. There’s a weaponless brawl until death.

There’s a dagger-throwing competition, archery show, and other similar skill-related bets that are entertaining for the crowd and make up a significant portion of the revenue. ”

The image strikes hard. Fae chained to the walls. Arrows between their eyes.

“How’s this information useful for you, cadets?” Ezkai Gavriel asks.

“We don’t try to infiltrate the staff this time around. We become the show,” Roman says. Ezkai Xander’s eyebrows rise. “I bet they won’t see that one coming.”

I blink at him. It’s a damn dangerous, reckless idea.

Roman shrugs. “They want blood. Give them blood. Standout champions get attention—this is our ticket to the leadership.”

“It’s risky. But it might work,” I say.

“Or we die fast and ugly,” Fern says, scrunching her nose.

Those shady figures in the lodge above the floor, watching over their domain, I bet they’re the ones we need.

“Maybe,” I say. “But if we do it right, we become valuable. Dangerous. They’ll want to meet us, and that’s when we strike.”

Silence. Then:

“Ruthless,” Ezkai August says with a smirk.

“Strategic,” Ezkai Xander says. “But high stakes.”

“Fine. Let’s see what you can accomplish,” Ezkai Gavriel says. “Split your teams. Who goes in and who stays out?”

“Spy and Executioner Units go inside. Protector and Mender Units scout the outside,” says an Ezkai with a buzz cut and haunted eyes—Ezkai Aelfric—who’s been silent up until now.

His square jaw is set tight, eyes determined. Clearly, he earned his rank in the field. Ezkai Gavriel nods.

Roman turns to me. Waits.

Right. I’m leading the cadet squad.

“Roman, Fern, Bloom, Julian, and Catalina with me,” I say. “We go in. The rest assist the Protector and Mender Units outside—scout escape routes and stand as backup if it goes to shit.”

Ezkai Gavriel doesn’t react. But Ezkai Cassandra’s gaze lingers on me with something like approval.

I turn to Ezkai Xander. “What kind of event is scheduled tonight?”

He shakes his head. “We won’t know until we’re inside. It rotates weekly.”

“Then we stay flexible. Assign roles based on skills,” I say.

Ezkai Xander jerks his chin at Ezkai Gavriel. “Any thoughts on that, friend?”

Roman steps forwards. “Weaponless brawls are mine.”

I nod. “Agreed.”

He can take anyone out with his reflexology skills.

Ezkai Gavriel surveys the room. “Ezkai Bella takes blade competitions. Cadet Wildarrow, you’re assigned to archery.”

My stomach flips. I meet his gaze, steady.

“Ezkai Will here is a Phantom Ranger,” Ezkai Cassandra says. “Could send him.”

“Losing a cadet is better than losing a captain,” Ezkai Gavriel says flatly.

I ignore the sting in my chest. “Also, a human Decarios amongst the fae will draw attention.” His eyes glitter with something dark.

“Besides, Wildarrow supported this path. Let her see it through. Let her learn what consequences leadership brings.”

I lift my chin. “Yes, sir.”

Roman nudges my arm and quietly says, “Don’t screw it up, princess.”

I smirk. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

“You need disguises,” Ezkai Gavriel says.

“We’ll handle it,” I say.

This time when Ezkai Gavriel looks at me, something flickers in his gaze. Not approval. But maybe, just maybe, a hint of respect.

We split into pairs to shop at the nearby tailor’s for something to help us all blend in.

Last time I went inside that underground establishment, we wore our Ezkai leathers.

But I was with Daegel, and even if back then I didn’t understand why, the rules of the game are different without him next to me.

Again and again, my thoughts return to Daegel.

It’s frustrating, and the last thing I want. But also, the worry within me is hard to ignore. I can only hope he’s okay and the General didn’t punish him.

Roman’s with me. Uncharacteristically silent.

I bump my shoulder into his arm because he’s taller than me. “Did you swallow your tongue?”

He eyes me sideways. “Maybe.”

“Seriously. What’s up?” We round the corner of the street and enter a narrow alley full of small shops. “Are you nervous about the mission?”

“I’m curious why it looks like my human friend knows more about this underground gambling parlor than the rest of us.”

My steps halt.

Roman stops and turns to face me, an eyebrow arched. Our gazes lock. We stand there in silence for a while. I’m not sure what to say, because I don’t want to lie. But I can’t tell him the truth either.

At least not the full truth.

“Keeping secrets?”

“You can’t blame me for it,” I say, pushing at his chest. “It’s not like the fae have been welcoming me with open arms. Excuse me if I had to keep to myself until Kata disappeared and you all decided I can be part of the group.”

Roman’s gaze softens a little. “I’m sorry Nightingale tortured you. I feel terrible about not helping you or at least telling you what was to come.”

I cross my arms. “As you should.”

“I deserve that,” Roman says with a sigh. “However, I thought we were friends. Or, at least, we’re on the way to being friends. So I think, as your only friend, or soon-to-be friend, I have a right to be curious about where on earth you know about things others don’t.”

I can’t tell him everything, but I can tell him something.

“You know that Ezkai Daegel was my mentor, right?” Roman’s eyes sparkle.

I jab my finger in the middle of his chest. “Don’t fucking start with me.

” He lifts his palms in defense and nods.

“Well, we trained almost every night, because I struggled to connect with my bow. One training session he brought me to a weird place to watch other archers master their bows. I didn’t know it then, but some of the…

contestants were Caligos. They even had one Decarios who was a Phantom Ranger.

Later as I was reading about Caligos, I realized that this place was run by them. ”

Roman’s eyes widen. “No way.”

I nod. “Yes, way.”

There.

Not quite a lie, but not quite the truth either.

“That’s extremely unsettling, Phoenix,” Roman says, serious as ever. “Decarios are only supposed to be in the Order.”

“Well, where do you think Decarios who are rejected by the Order go?” I say, spreading my arms. “It’s not like the Order accepts everyone like the Royal Guard does in Wetra, because Decarios are so rare there.

Decarios are plenty amongst the fae. Where would you go, if you were rejected after everything they put you through, huh? ”

Roman stares at me, silent.

If the Order of Ezkai doesn’t accept me… I may have to pivot and find a way to join Caligos.

I shake my head and push those thoughts aside.

“Anyway,” I say to Roman, “are you happy now?”

“Well, I definitely won’t sleep as well during the night now that I know the most dangerous criminal organization in our country has Decarios in their ranks. But I’ll live.”

“Better later than never, I guess. Roman, have you studied any of the history books that mention how Caligos was born?”

He shrugs. “There’s isn’t enough time to read all the books on every subject. I have to be selective with my time and attention.”

I snort. “Can’t argue with that. Can we continue now? We need to find outfits, and we don’t have much time.”

“Lead the way, princess,” Roman says, bowing at the waist.

With a sigh, I march forwards through the first door that has a tailor’s sign hanging above it.