Page 116 of Crown of the Courtesan

The girls accept his gratitude with a wave of curtsies. “Thank you for teaching us to fight and train,” Elodie says as the girls burst into giggles and immediately run away.

I faintly hear, “That wasn’t too bad! Was it?”

“Did you see him smile?” comes an adoring voice. “He’s kinda cute!”

Rett approaches as Beatrix and I depart toward the manor, our steps slow and deliberate. “Since we’re already giving out gratitude, I want to thank you for allowing my men to stay and perform our ritual.” He bows his head to Beatrix.

“Think nothing of it. Hospitality is what brings people together in trying times.” Beatrix’s voice grows low. “Besides, it’s the least we could do after you filled our larder with game. Verity’s been very busy in the kitchen since you arrived.”

“Hunting helps us. It gives us focus in our time of pain. We—orcs—have difficulty handling loss because we hate to let go,” he says, wrapping an arm around my shivering shoulders. “Rituals are important, almost vital, so that we’re able to work through our emotions—otherwise, it comes out in violent old patterns that we’ve moved on from as beastfolk.”

* * *

I stalk the manor’s perimeter despite the late hour. Sleep would not come, so I find it more helpful to keep an eye out for any sign of danger. An orc’s rumbling snore echoes from the stables.

The cold yet humid weather makes me nostalgic—like I’m missing something. Stopping under the oak tree in the front, I wonder how my mother and grandmother felt when they stood under the same branches. Did they know that someday I’d be standing here too? Would they judge the decisions I’ve made? Or would they understand choices made in desperation?

I sit on the bench nearby, now one of my favorite spots in the garden. The flowers surrounding it are decaying, but I pick one anyway and crush the crunchy petals between my fingertips while I ponder.

Splitting the air, Rett suddenly appears. He wastes no time in asking, “You okay?”

Too much threatens to come out.

But I won’t say what’s begging to be said. Instead, I just murmur, “Worried, is all.”

He nods, and we lapse into a comfortable silence as we begin to walk together through the yard, resuming our unspoken checks. I pull my cloak tight against the night wind. “I’m sorry that things have been awkward between us.”

“It’s complicated. I get it.”

“It’s more than complicated. It’s damn near impossible, ever since I was in Ashland⁠—”

“Is this because of him?” Rett snarls, cracking his knuckles together.

My breath catches. I’m surprised at his intensity. “No. Yes. It’s about everything.”

“You should stop worrying about him. The Witch-King is a villain through and through and deserves as much punishment as your uncle.”

My face tingles with a prickly burning sensation. The way he speaks of Ashland bothers me, not because he’s wrong, but because of how he says it.

“We’ll start our journey tomorrow and head south to the Beast Realm. Mobility will help.”

“From captive to exiled,” I mutter from under my hood, looking up at the overcast moon. All the while, praying for the missing womenfolk and Klara’s safety. My exterior breaks, and I whimper, “How can I help Alexandria when I have nothing in this world but a name?” A strange name to go with strange eyes, neither belonging truly to me.

“I told you, we’ll muster support from Empress Erah and the Lords of Beasts. Stop worrying. We will win your throne back. I’ll make sure of it.”

I cross my arms. “You make it sound so simple⁠—”

“I never said it would be simple or easy.” He nudges my elbow, trying to entice me to look at him.

In an instant, everything changes.

An attack explodes from nowhere in a crashing disturbance of noise and movement as soldiers, too many to count, come from every direction, both on foot and on horseback.

I turn around as an excruciating grip yanks my arm. An Alexandrian soldier wearing General Metalla’s KM symbol watches with hateful eyes through a silver helmet. He releases me with a high-pitched shriek as he holds his burning palm—his metal glove melting onto his skin.

Before I can react, more chaos erupts in the yard as the orc warriors burst from the stables, swinging their axes and swords, attacking anyone in their path.

Three soldiers try to bring Rett down, but he keeps them at bay, popping in and out with his disappearing power.