Page 38 of A Lie so Pretty and Poisonous

She grabbed both of my hands. “Uh, yes. I am sorry. I can feel your grief, and with my own heightened state, it got the better of me.” A tear trickled down her round cheek. “I am sure he loved you and Cora.”

I wished that were true. People who love you don’t leave you with a baby without explanation.

“Did you ever find out why he left?” She wiped away her tears.

I shook my head. “No. He left one morning and never returned home. All that was left was a note that stated he loved me. It took me a long time to come to terms with his absence. There had been many disappearances in Edenalee, and at first, I thought him one of them. But none of the others had left notes as Micah did. I can only assume he decided he didn’t want to be a father anymore or a husband someday.” I shrugged. “I’m sorry for killing the lighthearted mood. Do you have any more card games you can teach me?”

She tightly smiled and nodded. “One more game.”

I tightened the wool cloak around my shoulders to warm myself against the autumnal damp and crisp air. Grey clouds covered the sky beyond, but the rain had finally stopped, and the day-to-day life of the castle and city resumed as normal. My new leather boots squished the damp ground beneath my wool dress as I shifted my weight from leg to leg, trying to stay warm while we waited for Celeste and Astorath to be readied to leave for Lord and Lady Toolock’s farm.

After dropping off Cora with the governess and enduring a breakfast with a few nobles and the queen, Darragh informed me quietly in the stables that he had secured a meeting with a couple of staff members of the farm who could speak to us about Psilas, but we were going there in secret. Lord Toolock refused me a meeting, so Darragh decided to circumvent him entirely and reached out to a staff member he knew who used to be in the guard.

Lord and Lady Toolock were rarely seen at the farm, as nobles didn't dirty their hands or lower themselves to such peasantry. They just profited off it.

“There ye be, miss,” Ketlus said as his knotted fingers finished tying off the last of the saddle straps. “She’s all ready for yer ride ‘round the city.”

“You’re an absolute gem, Ketlus. Thank you,” I beamed.

His gummy smile widened.

“And yer horse, Cap’m,” he gestured to Astorath. Darragh gave the old daemonite an appreciative nod and mounted his horse with ease. I watched him settle in the saddle. He would look terrifying in battle atop his ebony horse. His large form was dressed mostly in black leather and a woolen cloak, a sword strapped to his back, and two silver daggers at each hip. A sliver of his arm tattoo peeked out of the sleeve. He would certainly scare the shit out of me if I had to go up against him.

Darragh turned to me and cocked his one eyebrow up. “Ready, my lady?”

I looked around and realized I was still standing in the middle of the stable, staring at him.

My word, Rory. Stop being awkward!

“Yes. Sorry.” I mounted Celeste and positioned my skirts over the saddle.

We rode side by side at a canter out of the castle gates, into the city, and across the cobblestone streets. Lingering puddles splashed as we rode through. The city grew smaller in the distance as we rode over a dirt road into the countryside dotted with thatched-roof homes, pastures of cattle, empty fields of long-since-harvested crops, and patches of forest. The distant snowcapped mountains towered over the landscape.

As we approached the edge of a forest, Darragh slowed Astorath to a walk, and Celeste followed suit. I pulled my wool cloak tighter around my shoulders and turned toward him. “Thank you for putting this together. I know it's at great risk to you and everyone else at this farm.”

“You’re welcome, my lady,” his trebled voice replied, and he kept his eyes forward, scanning the horizon.

“Rory,” I pushed. “Any leads on who destroyed part of the city yesterday? That must have been terrifying for everyone.”

“They are currently being hunted, but nothing yet.”

Even with reins in my hand, I fidgeted with my fingers. “Should I be worried?”

“No. You are safe. The castle is protected with enchants and you are always with an escort.

An easy silence extended between us as our horses found a rhythm in their gait. An hour of quiet contemplation ended as we entered the property of a large farm estate. Countless pastures of horses, cattle, and fluffy sheep stretched into the countryside, leading to a barn and large stables.

Darragh turned to me in the saddle. “We are to meet with Lyrik, a fifth-generation blacksmith to the estate. He said he knows someone we can talk to who has been around for a long time and knows of Psilas.”

I raised my eyebrows. “I wonder how many generations removed he is from when Psilas lived here.”

“From what I understand, he was born not long after Psilas died.”

I tilted my head and stared at him. “That would mean this seraph is…”

“One hundred and thirty-six years old,” he stated.

I blinked repeatedly, not comprehending. Surely, he jested. The corner of his mouth turned up as he looked at me out of the corner of his eye.