Page 5 of Vicious Princess (The Trials of Death and Honor #1)

CHAPTER THREE

F rom all the stories I’ve been told, Jaakii, the bustling capital of Ekios, is supposed to be deadly. Dangerous fae and other creatures ready to take my life at every turn.

Apart from that group of thugs who decided to try their luck, the city is not as bad as I expected.

As I make my way through the last humble streets of Spuleb, towards the bridge so I can cross the river weaving through the city, all I can see are peaceful folk.

With the small leather bag hanging on my shoulder, I almost blend in with the local crowd. Most fae I pass are in simple—a bit filthy—clothing. Workers, with hands bearing marks from years of hard manual labor. Despite that, they are smiling at each other as they chat lightly in the streets.

The architecture of the low buildings is earthy and minimal. Most are residential, with some small taverns and shops perched in certain first floors.

It’s a very different picture from what I grew up hearing about Jaakii and Ekios back in Wetra.

Ekios is the land of dangerous magic and cruel fae , my father would warn us when we enjoyed a glass of homemade wine after food, our little family gathered around the dinner table.

Mother and Father would drink pure wine, while me and my sisters would have the child-friendly version of it—wine diluted with so much water, it barely tasted like the real thing.

You better hope that war or a mission for the Crown doesn’t take you there, because it’s a savage land, and fae are hostile to humans.

I roll my shoulders, trying to push those painful images as far away from me as possible. Into the deepest corners of my mind, where they can’t disturb me. Three years later, the emotions that come with those memories are still overwhelming.

For some reason, the pleasant echoes of the past are hard to bear.

Especially when I remember that all I have are memories—I will never again get to climb trees with my sisters, inhale my mom’s scent when she hugs me, and feel the security of my father’s embrace.

It would be so much easier if I could forget it all.

Before I even finish crossing the bridge over the Black River, I sense the shift. It’s like I’m in a completely different city all of a sudden.

I glance down at my map, which tells me that I just crossed into a new district of Jaakii called Cesteeg.

The streets I walk are cleaner, the stones of the pavement brighter.

Fae are still dressed modestly, but you can tell the flowing materials are of the highest quality, every inch of their clothes polished and ironed.

While I was in Spuleb, barely anyone paid me any attention; in Cesteeg I’m observed by every pair of passing eyes. With my leathers and lack of pointy ears, I stand out like a sore thumb in this crowd.

V told me plenty about the ways of these folk on the journey to Ekios. He even taught me Ekiosh to make my Ezkai training as easy as possible. Yet he failed to let me know how different each district of Jaakii is.

I miss Vasquez and his voice already so much, it hurts. The thought of never seeing him again, never having his fingertips trace the lines of my body in the dark, takes my breath away.

I push that feeling aside, bury it in my little graveyard as deep as I can manage. Never again will I make the mistake, of allowing someone into my heart.

The pain of losing them isn’t worth it.

I feel very out of place while I make my way through the streets of Cesteeg. Three years ago, I would have felt at home in Cesteeg, but after everything I’ve been through…

Nothing feels like home.

By the time I reach Bussek, my feet are burning. I’m not used to walking so much anymore; my soles are weak. Twelve months at sea can do that to a person.

Bussek’s main street is blooming with life, even at this hour of the night.

I slow my pace as I pass the colorful buildings, trying to read what’s written on the signs.

While I’m able to speak Ekiosh fluently, reading is another matter…

I’m mediocre at best. I hope that won’t impact my training.

How much do soldiers need to read, anyway?

Finally, I reach a building painted in a deep color. It’s too dark outside to tell whether it’s blue, green, or simply black. The sign above the door reads, Kazh’s Inn .

I glance at my moldy map to double-check if it’s the right place. Yes, that’s the inn V marked with red on the map for me.

I take a deep breath to steady my racing heart and enter the establishment. The lobby is modest and dark, lit only with large candles fitted on each of the walls.

My feet make no sound on the earthen floors.

The exposed wood beams on the ceiling are mere inches from the top of my head.

All the walls are covered in colorful painted canvas.

I stop to admire a painting of beautiful plum blossom trees at the base of a huge mountain with icy peaks.

Black dragons are circling the mountain, their wide wings outstretched.

That’s breathtaking.

I was never good at the arts, but Quint was. Her bedroom at our parents’ house was full of her work growing up. She used to love painting nature, and she was so good at it.

Something deep within my chest stings so hard, I struggle to breathe for a moment.

“Evening. What brings you here?” A voice startles me. I turn. An elderly fae with long silver hair stands a few feet away from me. The top of her head almost touches the ceiling, too. “I’m afraid I have no more rooms left for tonight.”

“A friend sent me here. He told me I’d find shelter here when I needed it.”

The fae grunts, her icy-blue eyes stark in the darkness. “And who’s this magical friend of yours, huh?”

“Vasquez. Captain Vasquez.”

She’s silent. The longer the quiet stretches between us, the more my palms sweat. V wouldn’t send me here to trick me—I know that. Yet doubt creeps up on me.

Finally, the old lady clicks her tongue. “That motherfucker.” She shakes her head. “He’s still alive?”

“Ah, yes. Very much so,” I say hesitantly.

She murmurs something under her breath and nods. “I thought his ship drowned in that storm twelve months ago. Fucker couldn’t have sent me a letter or something?”

I’m not sure what to say. But the fae looks at me, as if she’s expecting an answer.

“The ship sank without him on it. It probably slipped his mind to let you know he’s alive. He’s been preoccupied recently.”

Her eyes slide down my body, then up again. “Mm-hmm. I can see that. Very well, any friend of Vasquez is more than welcome at my inn. Let’s get you settled in a room. Have you eaten dinner yet? You look haunted. And starving. Skin and bones.”

Her observation makes me smile. It’s not something I do often anymore. It feels foreign on my lips. “I haven’t had anything to eat since breakfast. The food rations on the ship were modest.”

She grunts again. “Let’s get you something to eat. Then I’ll show you the room.”

I follow the old lady through the door, to the back of the building. We walk a tight, long corridor until we reach what appears to be a kitchen and a modest dining area. The ceiling here is much higher.

Three large fae sit at a round table, drinking and playing cards. All their eyes snap to me, the game forgotten.

“Mind your own business, fuckers,” the old lady says and waves her hand at them.

One by one, they turn their attention back to the cards. She gestures for me to sit on the kitchen counter. The old wood is scratchy against my leather gloves.

Without saying a word to me, she gathers some dark bread, hard cheese, and butter. My mouth waters when she hands me the plate, and my stomach growls loudly.

“That’s all I can give you right now. Warm breakfast is ready at eight in the morning sharp. Don’t be late if you want to eat. These morons have appetites bigger than a pregnant dragon.”

“Thank you.” I butter the bread and stuff it into my mouth.

She crosses her arms over her chest and leans a hip against the counter opposite me. I take small bites and chew properly before swallowing down the food only because she watches me. With no foreign eyes on me, I would devour the food in a few bites.

“What’s your name?”

“Phoenix. What’s yours?”

“Kazh, you brainless child. Haven’t you seen the sign outside the building?”

I bristle at the insult, but bite my tongue.

“You have a very strong accent. Emera or Wetra?”

“Wetra.”

The fae around the table grumble and turn to look at me again. But one sharp-as-a-blade glance from Kazh is enough to make them look away.

She regards me with narrowed eyes. “Decarios?”

I’m not prepared for this question, so I hesitate. That’s all it takes for her to know the answer. She’s not surprised. For a while, no more questions come my way.

Kazh turns away and lights the fire in the cast-iron wood-burning stove. She fills the kettle with some water and places it on the stove. We wait for the water to boil in silence. From time to time, one of the men says something to the others.

When I finish my food, Kazh takes the plate from me and hands me a cup of tea. Through my leather gloves, I can barely feel the heat radiating from it. I sniff the cup. It smells flowery. I hate tea.

“Why are you in Ekios?” Kazh takes a sip of her tea. She has an iron tongue because she doesn’t even flinch at the scalding drink. “Wetrans don’t come here often. Not without a good reason, anyway. Especially not human Decarios.”

I don’t appreciate her noisiness. Yet she took me in and has been a decent hostess. I was raised in a family with strong morals. Even after three years of life underground, it’s hard to resist the urge to be polite.

Also, she might be able to help me.

“I’m here to join the Order of Ezkai,” I say.

The fae around the table howl with laughter before Kazh can say anything. One of her silver eyebrows rises.

“What’s so damn funny about that?” I throw a warning glance towards them. They might be huge, but I’m a Decarios. I can teach them a lesson or two. “I’m a fully trained Decarios soldier.”

Driven by my wounded pride, I open my senses. Instead of being met with intricate waves of emotions, I sense…nothing.

Immediately, I close myself off. I blink at Kazh, my heart beating in my chest like a drum. They’re all fae Decarios. Yet not part of the Order.

“The Order of Ezkai is a group of elite assholes,” Kazh says. “It used to be about honor and protecting the country. Now…it’s overrun with corrupt rats hungry for power. And that Ezkai General is too full of himself to see it.”

That sounds very different from what I grew up hearing about the ancient legendary order of powerful, honorable fae soldiers. But hey, honorable or not, it makes no difference to me.

As long as they’re powerful.

“Well, I would love to see it for myself rather than take your word for it.”

That makes Kazh’s wrinkled lips curl into a mocking grin. “Suit yourself, feral child.”

I shift in my seat, trying very hard to swallow down the rage that bubbles inside me. She’s condescending even though she has no idea why I’m doing what I’m doing. The Order of Ezkai is my only hope to getting revenge for my family.

“I suppose you’re not going to tell me where I can sign up to join the Order,” I say, glaring at the old fae.

She snorts, and a few more laughs go around the table.

“Oh, child, I wouldn’t want to stop you from learning a valuable lesson by yourself,” she says. “You can find the main office inside Ezkai Castle.”

I ignore the mockery in her tone and her glimmering eyes. “Thank you.”

“Good luck. Or maybe break a leg.”