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This one forced women to service him in exchange for favors from his master, Pramis. Favors he never bothered to take to the sun god at all.
“M-my lord, if I may.”
His voice wobbles, and he swallows hard. But I’m intrigued enough to see what he has to say, so I motion for him to continue.
“My actions are deeply regrettable. But I was murdered. Surely that was punishment enough.”
My lip curls back over my teeth in a snarl, and I raise my hand to banish him.
“Please,” he begs, the steady look on his face faltering for the first time. “I was a loyal and faithful servant to a god for many years. I am sure my lord Pramis would speak for me.”
I bark out a laugh and grip the man by the throat, lifting him off the ground until his eyes are level with mine. “Do you really think Pramis would come to my realm to bargain for your soul?”
The priest nods as much as my hand on his throat will allow, and this time Railan laughs with me.
“Then you’re a fool, priest. Pramis wouldn’t sully himself with shadows for the likes of you. But I’ll enjoy knowing you’ll spend every day of the rest of your miserable existence having your cock and balls carved from your body.”
He whimpers before disappearing from my grip, and Railan claps me on the shoulder.
“Someone’s in a mood.”
I snort. “They always assume someone will bargain for them. When have you ever known Pramis to waste a favor bargaining for a mortal’s soul?”
“Never. He wouldn’t even do it for his own daughter a few decades ago.”
“And she wasn’t nearly as sure as the priest.”
Railan stares into the cavernous valley below the steep mountain of jagged rock. “Something else happened. What is it?”
I sigh. It’s a heavy sound that seems to echo in the air around us. “I found another hole. On the eastern border. A small one, but enough for a guardian to snap its tether. Aeris said one of them nearly killed a man in her territory.”
“Were you able to seal it?”
I stare down at the unblemished skin of my palm. Just a few hours ago, I’d drawn a dagger across my flesh and used it to patch up yet another weak spot in the veil between my realm and Acaria. The veil meant to separate the living from the dead.
“I was. Now we just have to wait and see how long it holds.”
Chapter Four
It’s midday when we reach Rhagana. The village is a flurry of activity, and my suspicions as I traveled closer to it are confirmed. Today is the Goddess of Witchcraft’s feast day. Every door I’ve passed for the last several hours has had sacred herbs twisted into the shape of a five-pointed star hung on it.
To call Rhagana a city is too generous. Southern capitals are much smaller than northern ones. I’m not sure if it’s because southern lands are owned by gods who belong to the dark court or the long winters or the thick forest shrouded in mist, but most of Acaria’s population is packed in the central and northern territories.
With so many people in town for the festivities, finding lodgings for the night may prove to be a challenge, let alone a permanent place to live until it’s safe to head north again. I lead Meera into the heart of the village, a large circle with streets branching off it like spokes on a wheel.
In the center, an enormous bonfire has been laid but not lit, and every so often someone wandering by throws a bundle of herbs onto the wood and whispers something to themselves. A prayer, a wish, I’m not sure.
People wave and call out greetings to one another as if this is the first time they’ve seen each other all year. And it might well be. Feast days are as much a time for the faithful to gather and catch up as they are to celebrate their god or goddess.
Meera stops short when a pair of small children dart in front of us, and I lean over her back to whisper gentle words into her ear. We haven’t been around this many people in at least two days. I’m praying for a warm bed and a nearby stream so I can wash.
There’s a chill in the air, but not enough of one to keep me from washing the stench of travel off me. I desperately need to clean the dirt from my hair and find somewhere out of the elements to sleep. Even if it’s just a room in a tavern for a night or two, I’ll take it.
When the crowd thickens, I dismount and brush soothing fingers down Meera’s side. She’s as uneasy around people as I am. A woman smiles at me and hands me a bundle of dried lavender bound with twine. I take it, twirling it in my fingers before tucking it behind my ear.
“Are you here for the feast?”
“Yes,” I lie. “Do you know if there are any rooms?”
