Eivreen hit the horizon like a beacon on the otherwise empty terrain. The horses crested the only hill for miles to reveal the sunlit city far below. Kerrigan couldn’t help but crane her neck around the carriage to get a better view.
The buildings were short and white, as if made of crushed seashells. They glistened against the early morning light, casting gold hues across the port city. Ships like Kerrigan had never seen dotted the harbor. Long vessels with hundreds of oars and giant white sails. Dozens of them lined the mouth of the river that emptied into the sea beyond, and even more—hundreds more—smaller vessels, which must have been merchant and shipping boats, took over the remaining space.
“ ’Tis beautiful,” Nella whispered at her side.
Kerrigan had to agree. Even if it appeared to be only a fourth of the size of the city of Kinkadia back home, it was big enough to get lost in. Big enough to find a way out of this mess.
“Very,” she whispered.
She hadn’t been to many of the port cities in Alandria, but she was certain they had nothing like this on her coasts. Alandria was an island run by the twelve—now thirteen—Fae tribes consolidated in power by the Society. She was Bryonican by birth and now by right. Rosemont was the capital of Bryonica, the home to the king and queen—a title she had been in line for until she dismissed Ashby March’s advances for Fordham once he claimed his right as king of the House of Shadows. Though the palace was beautiful, the docks were small and remote in comparison to Eivreen.
No one seemed to pay attention to the fact that two girls were being held in a cage as they trotted down the Eivreen streets and into the early morning bustle. People would be rioting in Kinkadia to see the same thing. Slavery had been outlawed back home a thousand years ago during the Great War. Humans and half-Fae didn’t have the same rights that full-blooded Fae had, but it wasn’t … this.
Kerrigan felt more at home within the city bounds as they went through the streets. She’d grown up in the capital city herself. But she could see that Eivreen was bigger and scarier than a small-town girl like Nella was used to.
She squeezed her hand. “It’ll be okay.”
Nella nodded, her eyes wide and shoulders slumped. “It’s … it’s bigger than I remember.”
Felix pulled over at the back of a large inn that read His Lady’s Ruby. Nella and Kerrigan were immediately ushered out of the back of the cage by a pair of men of the same tan complexion as Felix while Felix helped Flavia out of the carriage. Both girls went straight into the same bath and were scrubbed clean by a pair of women.
“I’ve never been around so many Andines before,” Nella whispered to Kerrigan.
Kerrigan didn’t see much difference between Nella and the workers. Nella was coppery and sunbaked while the Andine appeared a natural burnt tan, though she had no way of knowing. She hadn’t seen many people in the streets with the same complexion as herself, in fact, and didn’t think she’d be able to tell the difference the way apparently people from Domara could.
“You’re done,” the first woman told Nella, wrapping her in a towel. Kerrigan stood to receive one as well, but the woman shook her head. “Not you. You get in the milk bath next.”
Kerrigan wrinkled her nose. “A milk bath?”
“The matron wants you as buttery as any Doma,” she said crisply. “In.”
Nella nodded at her encouragingly before disappearing from the room. Kerrigan moved from one bath to the other. It wasn’t actually milk, but some kind of crisp white balm that made her skin feel as if it was baby smooth. A twenty-minute soak smoothed out the calluses on her hands and feet that she’d rightfully earned from sword work.
The two workers dunked her twice before one took some rose-scented oils to her face and neck while the other worked it through her hair. Most of her curly, long red hair was piled up into an intricate design on the top of her head while loose tendrils appeared at her temples and the nape of her neck.
“Hmm,” the second woman said, grazing a finger across her lightly pointed ears. “What do we have here?”
Kerrigan waited for the prejudice. Waited for them to make fun of her for being half-Fae, half-human. Her entire life, she had lived in a world where she was denigrated for her heritage. Where she was called a leatha in public. A word that was not used in polite conversation, as it meant something like mongrel bitch.
But the two women glanced at each other and then smiled.
“Let’s tuck your hair behind your ears. They’re lovely! Doma with a touch of Fae. Oh, you’ll be absolutely adored.”
Kerrigan faltered. A touch of Fae was a good thing here? Everything was upside down. Completely upside down. She only purposely showed off her ears when she was going for defiance. Never for attention.
The women either didn’t register her shock or didn’t care. They continued their work, dusting her in a pale powder flecked with gold, lining her eyes with dark kohl, and painting her lips a soft blush. Then, a pure white gown was draped across her body, held up with gold latches at her shoulders and wrapped tightly around her waist. She slipped her feet into gold heeled shoes, dangled gold hoops from her ears, and then the women nodded, facing her toward a silver mirror.
She’d had impressive handmaids in her time, but even Kerrigan could admit that she looked beautiful and important under their skilled hands. But somehow also like a porcelain doll, prepared to break at the slightest provocation. She had always dressed for strength. This was the opposite of her in every way.
“There,” the first woman said. “Matron Flavia will see you now.”
Kerrigan stepped out of the bathhouse and into the main room of His Lady’s Ruby. A hush went over the room at her entrance. Kerrigan stilled. She’d brought audiences to a hush, but not usually for her … appearance.
“This way, ma’am.”
The two women had trailed her into the room and directed her across the quiet tavern up a set of curved stairs. The conversations didn’t start again until she was gone.
“What … what was that about?” she gasped.
“Not used to seeing a Doma appearing in Eivreen.”
“You look just like them,” the second woman said. She knocked twice on the first door.
“Come in,” Flavia called out.
The door was pulled open, and Kerrigan stepped inside. Even Flavia stilled for a minute before relaxing at the sight of her.
“Well, you will do nicely, won’t you?”
Kerrigan said nothing.
“Come along,” Flavia said, jumping to her feet. “Why don’t we go enjoy the city?”
“What is your plan here, Flavia?”
“Don’t look at me like that. I’m doing you a favor.”
“A favor!” Kerrigan said with a snort. “Right. That’s exactly what this is.”
“Before you had me, you were in some black rags with nothing in your stomach. Now, I have you dressed in priceless metals with a full belly. We can make this work between us.”
“You kidnapped me and had me in a cage for the last three days.”
Flavia waved her hand. “I thought you might try to escape. You’ve proven to be very intelligent. That’s good for us. What are your skills, darling? Music? Dancing? Singing?”
“No,” Kerrigan said icily.
“Ah, we’ll figure it out in time. Now, I was going to say we should walk, but I think more people will get a good look at you from the carriage.” She waved at Felix, who immediately disappeared.
Kerrigan wanted to reach out and strangle Flavia right then and there. She was acting like she was Kerrigan’s savior instead of her captor. The only reason Kerrigan hadn’t yet fled was because there had been no means of escape. If Flavia wanted to show her around the city to help her with her own plan, then by all means.
“You want to show me off?” Kerrigan asked.
“Well, yes, of course. I need word to spread. And anyway, I have a place for the other girl. I’ll even let you say good-bye if you come along.”
Then, Flavia pushed her way out of the room with her head held high.
Nella. She was going to sell Nella. And Kerrigan would never see her again if she didn’t go along. She ground her teeth together and hurried after Flavia. She’d give her credit; she was a master manipulator.
Nella was seated in the rear of a wagon when Kerrigan and Flavia appeared at the back entrance of the inn. The wagon was a much nicer quality compared to the cage they’d been escorted in. Felix had the horses hitched up, and there was one prominent seat for him at the front and then a two-seater behind that connected to the wagon, which usually held goods. Though, apparently, Flavia’s goods were … people.
Kerrigan went to get in the back, but Flavia cleared her throat.
“Up here with me, darling.”
Kerrigan looked from Flavia to Nella and back. “I’ll sit with her.”
“No. You’ll sit at my side with your chin up and do as you’re told. I don’t want to have to make you, but I can,” she threatened. A flicker of light appeared at her hands.
Under normal circumstances, Kerrigan would have laughed. Flavia’s magic was so slight, not even a threat. But it wasn’t a laughing matter when she had no magic of her own anymore. That gnawing, gaping hole opened in the pit of her stomach, and she thought for a second she might be sick. No magic. There was no magic.
She closed her eyes and counted backward from ten. She wasn’t going to lose her mind. She had to get through this. Even if Flavia could control her with so little magic, she would come out on top. Finally, she opened her eyes and nodded, climbing into the front of the wagon. Flavia took the seat next to her, and Felix set off at a sedate pace through the streets of Eivreen.
It was immediately apparent why Flavia had wanted Kerrigan to be visible. People gaped at her on the street. Now that the days of muck was off her skin and she was clothed in this much fancier garment, everyone wanted to get a look at her. Many went running, whispers following in their wake. Flavia smiled triumphantly.
But Kerrigan was using the opportunity to learn the streets they moved down. The way from Her Lady’s Ruby, past the market, and toward the docks. She was used to cities, and this one behaved as she’d expected. She could get lost very easily if she managed to get the slip on Flavia. Not worth trying this minute, but eventually.
Finally, they stopped in front of an enormous manor home near the docks. It had large white columns on the porch, and immediately, several servants bustled out of the house to help Flavia and Kerrigan out of the cart and attend to the horses. Felix opened the back of the wagon for Nella, and they followed behind as they walked into the home.
A lady dressed in a similar fashion to Kerrigan greeted them in a sitting area. Her eyes flicked from Flavia to Kerrigan.
“I don’t believe we’re acquainted,” she said, standing to her full height. She was nearly six feet tall with a beautifully lined face and graying hair. She looked refined and dignified. She extended a hand to Kerrigan. “I am Vesra Octallia. My husband, Quintus Octallia, is at the Senate or else, I assure you, he would be here to greet you.”
Kerrigan glanced at Flavia, who had a twinkle in her eyes.
“She’s one of mine, Vesra.”
Vesra blinked in confusion. “One of … one of yours? But surely, she’s … a Doma. At least a demi.”
“I thought as much. I’m glad to see the nobility confirming my suspicions.”
“You’re not saying that she’s … available?” Vesra looked utterly confounded by the statement.
“She is. Though perhaps out of your range.”
“I would never—” Vesra said, stopping abruptly. “Quintus might, but he’s past his prime for such things.”
“No. I didn’t consider Quintus either. But it is good to know. Thank you, Vesra. This has been most illuminating.” She gestured for Nella to come forward. “This is the girl we discussed. She can cook, clean, and take care of children. She has several younger siblings. So, she would do well with your daughter’s newest babe.”
Vesra was still staring at Kerrigan in confusion. Her light eyes uncomprehending. “You’re not a Doma?”
“If she were, would she be standing here?” Flavia asked, irritation leaking into her voice. “She’d have the magic to blow over a mountain or the like. She’s one of mine, I assure you. Now, the exchange.”
“Yes, yes,” Vesra said.
She waved to one of her servants, who came forward with a fancy wooden box. Flavia flipped the lid and nodded at the approved amount. A lot more than the few coppers she’d paid for Nella—that was for sure—then gestured Nella forward.
“Good doing business with you,” Flavia said. “Come, Felicity.”
Kerrigan rushed forward, wrapping her arms around Nella. “I’ll come back for you,” she whispered into Nella’s ear.
Nella looked at her in confusion before Flavia grasped Kerrigan’s wrist and yanked her away from the girl. Tears came to her eyes. There was nothing she could do for Nella. Not now. Nothing at all. There was little she could do for herself at this point.
“That was satisfying,” Flavia said once they were out of the house. “Oh, wipe your tears. That girl will be well taken care of, and she’ll be useful instead of starving in her pathetic hovel.”
“You just sold her,” Kerrigan growled, wiping her tears away. “It’s barbaric.”
“It’s life,” Flavia said dismissively. “That’s how the world works.”
“And that’s what you’re going to do with me?”
“Oh no.” Flavia took her seat comfortably and waited for Kerrigan to sit next to her. “We’re going to find the perfect spot for you. You won’t be some cleaning girl. Didn’t you see how Vesra looked at you? You could go as a senator’s mistress. Maybe even a wife. People would pay for your bridal price or to have you on their arm.” Her eyes took on that greedy glint again. “I’ll put out feelers for anyone who can afford that sort of thing. There aren’t as many men like that in Eivreen compared to Carithian, but if I don’t get my asking price, we can go to the capital. Even though I’d prefer not to.”
“So … you’re going to sell me as a whore?” she snarled.
Flavia laughed. “We’re all selling something. A gilded cage is better than most people could ask for.”
“But it’s still a cage.”
“Yes, well, you’re not a real Doma. So, you’re not building the cages, darling. Just think of the palace you could end up in and the beautiful music and expensive food. It will be worth it. Just wait and see.”