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I left before I made another failed attempt to attack him. I was trying to make the man fall in love with me, giving in to my disdain for him wouldn’t achieve that goal.
On the way out, I picked up Eadaoin on my tail. We passed through the market, picking up cheery hellos and polite conversation as we went. Lumenfell truly was a nice, peaceful village, and despite the harsh everlasting winter and the animals consuming their bodies and soul, the people seemed happy.
Seeing them, I knew Alisdair was right. A woman in my position would have to make a choice. They’d have to draw their allegiances in the ever-shifting sands of morality, and saythis is where I stand.I will free my people and my kind, and I’ll cut down anyone who stands in my way.
But the woman in that position—the one as his wife and queen—could not be me. Of course, I’d take up arms and life for my freedom, Meli’s freedom, Gisela’s freedom, Savia’s freedom, and Mama’s life. But I’d do it as the true me, and I’d do it for all the forgotten in Gutter Galley.
I would not do it for Alisdair’s revenge, or his thirst for power. I’d also never be in the position of having to since I would leave the moment I was free of the curse. Let his true betrothed make that choice. Knowing Emiana as I was beginning to, she’d jump at the chance to dig her slippered heel into the throat of the nation that spurned her.
“Queen Ana, hello.”
I shook myself, pulling out of my musings. Riordan waved from his market stand. His table was loaded down with three times as many goods as people dropped off their produce for coin.
“Riordan.” I ran over, a true smile breaking out on my face. “I’m so happy you’re okay. The last thing I saw was you being thrown from the carriage.”
He winced. “Ah, yes. Our lord wasn’t kind in his ripping apart the cart to find you. I understand now why you told me to have a replacement waiting. All the same, once I made it back to the replacement cart, I left without a problem.”
“And you did well in Lyrica?” I asked, sweeping over his fresh and vibrant haul.
“Very well, my lady. They paid even more than you said they would. I sold everything I brought to market down to the last carrot.”
I looked around. Eadaoin was across the way, speaking to a woman who sold jarred fruit jellies. “What about the other thing I asked you to do?”
“As ordered, I delivered two sack-fulls of jewels and gold to Aya Olene and her children. She was so shocked, she fainted.”
Was she okay? How did she look?The questions refused to leave my mind. “Is that all?” I asked instead.
“What do you mean?”
I strained to find words the curse would let me say. “Just—! Did anything else happen?” I burst out.
He hummed, pushing his lips out. “Not really. They didn’t want to take them at first. Meliora kept asking who they were from, but I wouldn’t say—like you told me. She didn’t like that,” he muttered. “Said I either told her, or I could walk out the damn door with my stolen loot right then.”
I cracked a smile. That sounded like Meli.
“I didn’t want them getting rid of it because they thought it was stolen, so I just said someone important wanted them to have it,” he said. “Wanted to make sure they were taken care of. They seemed to accept that because when I left, they were jumping up and down—crying and laughing about how everything was going to change.”
It was me who was crying and smiling. I nearly jumped over the table and hugged him, if not for remembering at the last second that Alisdair wouldn’t take too kindly to that. “Thank you, Riordan. You have no idea how much I... Just, thank you.” I held my hand out to him, resting it an inch above his heart. “If there’s anything I can do for you, name it.”
He smiled. “My queen, you’ve already done everything for me. I’ve got this great position and... uh...” Riordan glanced past my shoulder. I followed his gaze to a tall, dark-haired bat faeriken. I only knew she was a bat from the spindly wings fluttering on her back. The curse had yet to touch her face, and what a pretty face it was.
I flicked away from her charming smile to her round, pregnant belly. It suddenly made perfect sense why Riordan abandoned Lyrica and took up the charge of uniting the fae and faeriken.
“It’s really going to help our family,” he finished. “We’re even moving into the castle tomorrow. Everyone employed by the royal family has the right.”
“That’s great, Riordan,” I said, and meant it. “I’m really happy for you.”
He beamed at his love.
“I have another sack for you.” Urgency made me return to the point. I had to get back to Alisdair before the runes demanded it. “Would you mind delivering it to Aya Olene again?”
“Not a problem, my lady.” He took the sack of diamonds and tucked it under the table. “Maybe this time I’ll get to see her.”
My ears quirked up. “Who?”
“Just an old friend of mine.” He softened, surprising me. “She was the best. Tough, fierce, but kind too. She saved me from some bullies, and this was after her magic was bound. Imagine the guts that takes. Standing between a scrawny kid and three guys twice your size, with no magic to help you.
“But that’s Volka,” he said, laughing. “Fearless.”
