Page 3

CHAPTER 3

E irik

The crowd sets my nerves on edge as I grit my teeth through another polite greeting. I’m not used to this many bodies pushing around to get a glimpse of me, talk to me. Some even go so far as to touch my arm in conversation.

Especially the women. They laugh and speak louder and louder as the sweet wine flows, their interest obvious as they ogle my chest and arms.

A Huugwor female would never be so blatant in her interest. She would hiss and snarl at a male’s attempt, bare her fangs to force his respect.

Those humans know nothing about us. Nothing about our ways or how the desert shaped us into who we are as a people. To them, I’m a curiosity, some creature to gawk at.

A creature to fear for some, a creature to lust after for others. A friend to none.

I didn’t want to come to Tartarus as ambassador for the Huugwor nation, but it wasn’t my place to question our Elder. So, I’m doing my duty, even if my skin crawls from being away from the open vastness of the desert and my head aches from the chorus of voices, all speaking too loudly, too fast.

I’m not made for this. I’m built for the wind on my face and the sand beneath my feet.

“You can leave now. You already made a great impression on the citizens,” a masculine voice calls from somewhere behind me and I turn to face Chancellor Ry, the human elected as leader of the city under the mountain. His gaze is direct and his posture tense as he stands before me. Although he leans on a cane, his entire being radiates power and strength. “These people will celebrate all night and into next morning. No one will blame you if you retreat to your palace.”

Ha, yes, the palace. How I hate that word, what it implies.

Humans place importance on overt displays of wealth, on the flaunting of one’s power. Huugwors despise such shallow attachment to riches. A warrior’s worth is not measured by the fortune he accumulates like an animal building a nest. The worth of a warrior is measured by the way he honors the souls of his ancestors, deep in the crystal caves where we lay our heads to rest one final time. It’s a worth measured on the battlefield, not with useless chatter.

My short time in the city taught me much about humans and other species, along with their flaws. Weak, most of them. But not this one. Chancellor Ry is an honorable man, if I believe Chief Sayk’s account of his long years working alongside the human warrior.

I still have to make up my own mind about him, though.

“Your kind loves noise,” I comment, not bothering to soothe my tone. “You revel in shallow amusement.”

“We call it music,” Chancellor Ry answers with a side smirk that sets my temper on edge. The human is too confident for his own good. “And we call these shallow amusements celebrations. The people of Tartarus lead harsh lives. They need this.”

As he says so, a group of young women approach and I shoot Chancellor Ry a sideways glance as he smiles and laughs with them, exchanging some meaningless words in a way that seems effortless. As I observe him, I see his smile and warm demeanor don’t reach his eyes. It’s a spectacle, all of it.

“And I suppose the upcoming election has nothing to do with this feast in my honor,” I comment with a softer tone.

Ry’s expression doesn’t falter, but his eyes take on a dark, assessing edge as he lifts his glass to yet another man shouting a joke from across the room. The easy laughter that follows is short-lived and when Ry turns to me again, I see why Sayk left him in charge.

Under the charm and the laughter, this is a man who knows how to win people over. The kind of man I need to complete my mission in Tartarus. But first, I need to know if I can trust him as Sayk did. Or more.

“This is a dangerous time for the city,” Ry says in a voice low enough that only he and I hear his words. “A lot has changed since Sayk left for the desert. Not all the people of Tartarus are happy with the Huugwor alliance. As ambassador, you should do well to try to change that. The people need to see that your kind are more than monsters.”

I open my mouth to counter, to tell him that the people of Tartarus are right to fear my kind, but a female with long gray hair and a pure silver gown walks in our direction from across the dance floor. The woman moves in a straight line, aiming right for me. Her eyes are a dark soft brown and her face is lined with age, but she holds her back straight and her steps are quick and vigorous.

“Ambassador Eirik.” She inclines her head in greeting to me, then to Ry. “Chancellor Ry.”

“Lady Ozura,” Ry greets her, his face still warm and his smile still in place, but I notice the way his shoulders tense and his knuckles whiten as he holds his glass tighter in his grip.

“I must congratulate you on the success of this feast,” the woman continues. “Such a grand celebration for our people. It will be remembered for months to come.”

The woman smiles with a meek expression on her face that doesn’t match the hard edge of her dark brown eyes.

“The Huugwor alliance is vital to Tartarus’s future,” Ry says with a dry tone. “Celebrating Ambassador Eirik is only natural.”

“And this is exactly why I donated enough to pay for all this. Such a shame that the city’s coffers are not managed well enough to provide without help of generous citizens like myself.” The words slip out, soft like velvet and poisonous as a rock snake. She speaks just loud enough to be heard by the small circle of people gathered around us, who cast her a quick glance. “I would never want our dearest allies to be deprived of the honor they deserve.”

Ry tenses as the woman lifts her glass and takes a small, dainty sip.

“But tell me, Ambassador Eirik, are the Huugwor truly allies of Tartarus?” The woman smiles at me with a serene expression on her beautiful face, but there’s an undercurrent of hostility to her words.

“An alliance is sacred to my people,” I answer with measured words, holding the woman’s gaze as I struggle to remember who she is. Then I do remember. Ry told me about the Gemstone Queen, the woman who owns the extensive mines around the city where various precious stones are extracted. The riches coming from the mines are the lifeblood of the city, its main trade with the Empire, even with the diminished value of the black market.

“Then I expect we can receive your people’s permission to extend our mining operation beyond the borders of Tartarus very soon. The poor people in the city need the work.”

She smiles again, then turns around with a joyful exclamation as a willowy woman dressed in an extravagant green gown moves forward. I watch as Lady Ozura leaves us and mingles with the rich people encircling her, her laughter clear, her voice musical, and her manners polished. As I do, a somber feeling rises in my gut.

This woman is not who she wants others to believe she is. She’s a snake in disguise, hiding her poison from its prey until it’s too late.

“That one is a born politician,” I tell Ry, who still stands beside me, silent for once. “What is she seeking with this expansion? Her mines bring plenty of money as they are. She surely knows the Huugwor nation will never agree to this.”

“She promised the people more jobs, more money.” Ry shakes his head and finishes his drink in one clean gulp. “If she has ulterior motives beyond winning the upcoming election, she didn’t tell them to me.”

I frown. This is new information. Ry casts a long sideways glance my way before returning his attention to the assembly.

“She wants to become chancellor?” I ask, not liking the prospect of this soft-spoken, vicious woman in charge of the city of Tartarus. No good could come of it.

“She’s by far the biggest challenger,” he informs me with a deaf tone that lets nothing transpire about his true feelings. “She may very well become the next chancellor of Tartarus when the time comes.”

I scoff and purse my lips, exposing my fangs. In front of us, a woman who dances with an old man shoots me an alarmed glare and moves away, dragging her aging lover behind her. I curse under my breath, knowing I’m projecting the exact opposite image of a peace ambassador.

I compose myself fast, setting my face in careful, neutral tones.

“How much of a threat is she to your chances at reelection?” I ask the human.

“She has a real shot,” Ry answers simply. “She hires so many people in this city, most think of her as a blessing, instead of a curse. She and her family have exploited the poorest of this city for so long, they don’t even see that she’s giving them nothing but breadcrumbs. She has a lot to lose once the Huugwor nation distributes free water to the city. Food and water are the way rich people like her keep control of the rest of the population. It doesn’t sit well with her that the alliance will threaten it. She will lose her power over her workers and she knows it. With the alliance, I can make this city what it was always meant to be. A haven from the Empire.”

I lift my brows, but refrain from a growl. The exploitation of the poorest citizens is a rot at the heart of the Empire, and even this city of outlaws and escaped slaves isn’t immune to greed. Still, it’s not my place to interfere.

“I am ambassador to the Huugwor nation. I cannot partake in the city’s politics,” I tell the human male. “But if you need my help in any other way, you know where to find me.”

In this ridiculous palace I call home. But I don’t say that. I am a guest in this city and I’m determined to play my role.

Ry looks at me, and I glimpse just a flicker of disapproval.

“All I ask is that you keep your word and help me bring water and life to this city. For free, this time,” Ry says. “As for the people, I will make sure they know who has their best interests at heart.”

We stare at each other for a while, the human and I, then I incline my head in agreement. If anything, he is honest. I can do with honest.

“Very well,” I answer. “I will see you next week for our meeting on the location of the first aqueduct.”

Then I turn on my heels and leave the room. As I walk, men move out of the way, their eyes wary and their shoulders tense. Women mostly do the same, except for a few daring ones who stare openly at my body, lust plain on their features.

I only feel calm flood down my veins when I step onto the cobblestones of the empty street. Finally alone, I shake off the stress like an animal and then walk toward my home.

I wait for no one. I don’t need bodyguards. I don’t want anyone following me around like a pet. No one would risk attacking me, anyway. I’m the deadliest person in this city.

This is only for a few years, I remind myself. The Elder will replace me soon enough.

Even so, I know sleep won’t come to me tonight. The comfort of the palace feels like a strangling snake around my throat. I need the open sky, the wind, the infinite stars.

I need the freedom of the desert. Without it, I’m a caged animal.

As I make my way back to the palace, my foul temper stews in my veins and my hands tighten into fists until my knuckles cry out in pain.