Page 45 of A Lie so Pretty and Poisonous

Darragh nodded, pulled a clothed bundle out of his saddle bag, and sat in front of the small fire he made. He rested his elbows on his knees and leaned against one of the rocks. I sat across from him, fanning out my wool dress and pulling my cloak tighter around me. Inside the bundle were bread and cheese, and he passed me half of each.

I took a small bite of the cheese, the salty, rich flavor satisfying my hunger. “What happened back there?” I asked hesitantly.

His eyes went downcast, and he slumped his shoulders. An odd sight for such a fearsome-looking man. “I followed the voices, and it led me to that trio of morons. I only saw two at the time, and as I positioned myself to listen to their conversation, a third was able to get the jump on me and hit me in the head with the end of a dagger. I went to use my enchants but found them suppressed. They swam beneath the surface, but it was like a weight held them down. I realized then that he was a subduer.”

“I’m not sure what that is.”

“Someone capable of suppressing another seraph’s enchants and divine powers. The other two joined the third and were able to overtake me. They had the upper hand because they disarmed me so quickly. I am fairly pissed at myself for letting someone approach me from behind without detecting him.”

I searched his eyes. “That’s why you weren’t healing while tied to that tree. Why you couldn’t use enchants to break out.”

He palmed the back of his neck. “Yes.”

“Darragh, don’t be hard on yourself. I know you have a reputation as this fearsome warrior or whatever, but nobody is perfect. Mistakes happen. I am just glad I got there in time to help. However small that may have been.”

“I have a reputation?” He grinned.

I huffed out a small laugh. “I might have heard a thing or two.”

“I’m sure you did.” His amusement dropped. “Seriously, my lady, you didn’t just help a little. When you stabbed that seraph in the leg, it broke his enchant’s hold on me. He was the subduer, and the silver of the dagger rendered him unable to hold his enchant.” He tipped a corner of his mouth. “Nice blade work, by the way.”

“Please call me Rory.” I helped save his life, and he still couldn’t stop with the propriety. “Silver does that?”

“Yes. If a seraph is bound, cut, or stabbed in silver, they can lose or dampen their enchants. A cut with silver will make a seraph heal at the same rate as a human. That’s why I carry them.” He pointed to the daggers resting at his hips. “Anyone not of the guard or army is not allowed to carry silver weapons. Though, like anything else, civilians will carry them as contraband.”

My thoughts turned to the youngling I saved. The dagger sticking out of him was silver. I wondered if Gabriel would let me carry a silver dagger for my own protection. Not that I knew how to truly wield one.

“Do you think those men have anything to do with the human someone saw this morning?” I questioned.

“I wish I knew. Before I was blindsided, they were talking about a shipment coming in two days’ time. I couldn’t make out all the details, but they mentioned a village that is east of the city.”

I scanned the darkened trees for lurking danger. Dread washed over me. “Are you not worried about those three showing up here tonight?”

Darragh shook his head, relaxed. “No. You won’t ever see them again. I sent them somewhere they won’t be a bother.”

“Where?”

“The underworld,” he said nonchalantly and bit into his bread.

I raised my eyebrows and sat in stunned silence, unsure if he was joking or not.

“So,” he continued, wiping the crumbs from his legs. “I will make sure to check out the village for this supposed shipment they mentioned coming in. I have a contact there that I can speak with.”

“How long will it take for us to get to this village from the castle?”

“Us?” He raised one eyebrow at me, pausing another bite of bread.

“Yes. I am going, too.”

Darragh pinched the bridge of his nose. “My lady, I am already going to have to wield some kind of tall tale about why we were all the way out here and had to stay overnight in the forest if the royals or Gabriel find out about this. Taking you out of the city again is out of the question.”

I shrugged. “So, we don’t tell them. You said your lieutenant would cover for us, right?”

“Yes, but⁠—”

“Unless he talks, there shouldn’t be an issue, correct?” I raised my eyebrows and tipped my head, knowing my argument was sound.

“My lady, it isn’t safe,” Darragh pleaded.