Echoes of the Raven (The Eldrystone #2)

23. CHAPTER 23

23

VALERIA

“They think I’m greedy because I want gold. I want gold because I have none at all.”

Esmeralda Malla - Romani Healer - 21 AV

M y steps are firm and purposeful as I make my way to my bedchamber, the plan that has been brewing inside my head quickly refining itself.

“ At times, our options are limited to the unfavorable, the extremely unfavorable, or the downright dreadful. Nonetheless, the choice remains,” Nana said.

There is no doubt in my mind that Amira’s choice fits the last category, and I can’t let that be the fate she dictates for those less fortunate. She will bend the fae to her twisted vision because their choices are few and all bad, but mine show a glimmer of hope, and I now understand I must act because I’m fortunate to have a better choice than they do.

In my bedchamber, I swiftly gather a rucksack with warm clothes and a few supplies. I hide it under the bed, then go in search of Jago. I find him only moments later, turning the corner down the hall and heading in my direction.

“There you are. Been looking for you,” he says .

“I was with Nana. I need to talk to you.”

He stops in front of me. “Esmeralda and Gaspar are here. I finally tracked them down.”

I had forgotten he was still trying to locate them.

“That was no easy task,” he continues. “They moved their settlement, and the troop was getting ready to leave Castellina. Caught them just in time.”

I hesitate for a moment, thinking I should let Amira talk to them while I handle my own plan, but in the back of my mind, something locks into place.

“Where are they?” I ask urgently.

“In one of the waiting rooms in the central building.”

“Who saw them come in?”

Jago frowns. “Just a few guards.”

“Good.”

He cocks his head. “Um… why?”

“There’s a slight change of plans.” I grab his arm, whirl him around, and start walking back toward my bedchamber.

“And by slight, I take it you mean major.” He gives me a raised eyebrow in question.

I say nothing.

“Vaaal?” He stretches out my name, begging for an answer.

“You know me too well.”

He throws his head back and groans. “Bugger me sideways! I knew the peace couldn’t last. What now? Do we leap off the battlements and hope we finally can shift and fly? Or do we steal the crown?”

I slapped his arm. “Don’t even talk about that.”

He puts his hands up. “So what is it then?”

“I can’t tell you right now.”

“Great.” He slaps both hands to his cheeks and drags them down, looking as if he’s done with life altogether. “Now I’m really afraid. ”

“You have a choice, as always,” I say.

“No, I don’t.”

“Yes, you do. You can craft your own destiny. I’m sorry if I made you a victim of mine.”

“A victim?” He narrows his eyes. “Didn’t you say you were just talking to Nana?”

“I did.”

“Figures. Don’t let that old crone get inside your head,” he warns. “She may look like a sweet do?a, but she has some strange philosophies like that one about fate and destiny. I’ve heard it before. “ Give purpose to your life and shape your destiny, or succumb to fate’s whims ,” he says in a high-pitched tone meant to sound like Nana . “ Pshaw , I’m not a victim of your destiny. If anything… I’m part of it.” He looks around. “Where are we going, anyway?”

“Back to my bedchamber?”

“Why?”

“I need currency.”

He thinks for a moment, then makes a face, indicating he has an idea of what I intend to do with said currency.

After visiting my bedchamber, we hasten back to the waiting room where Jago left Esmeralda and Gaspar. Following a slight knock on the door, we walk in and find Esmeralda standing in front of a large tapestry hanging from the wall. It depicts a battle-ready regiment beneath a graying sky.

Esmeralda and Gaspar look out of place in the austere room, their vibrant traditional garb clashing against the muted backdrop. But despite the contrast, they exude an air of dignity and grace, their presence a reminder of the rich world outside these walls.

Esmeralda’s fierce green eyes scan me up and down. “Glad to see you have recovered, Princess . ”

I thank her despite the antagonizing tone of her voice. Gaspar is more respectful, inclining his head and offering a soft greeting.

Matching his deference, I also incline my head, then walk closer and offer him my hand. He looks at it hesitantly for a moment, but in the end, he takes it. I cover it with my other hand and look him straight in the eyes.

“I want to thank you for your help in the catacombs,” I say.

At the mention of the catacombs, an image of damp walls flashes before my eyes, and a sharp scream echoes in my ears. I take a deep breath, pushing the memories away. It takes effort to keep them at bay, but I won’t allow them to grow and fester. I need to focus. I can’t let anything distract me.

“It was the least I could do for a… friend,” Gaspar, El Gran Místico, says.

“Oh, please,” Esmeralda tosses her black curly hair behind her shoulder, her large array of bracelets tinkling. “We got offered money to find her. She’s not our friend.”

I turn to the Romani woman. “Which you did not take, I’m told.”

She shrugs as if it means nothing.

“I believe it’s only fair that you should be compensated for your efforts,” I say, “and such compensation wouldn’t preclude friendship, I assure you. I have much to thank you for. Twice, you have helped me.”

“Once, I have betrayed you,” Esmeralda replies.

From the way she’s looking at me, I can tell she’s remembering sitting inside that cell, the day I intended to make her pay for said betrayal. She was contrite then, but she is back to her feisty self.

“ Danger lurks. Ready yourself ,” she said to me—a warning from Gaspar that matched Bastien’s… Rífíor’s, and that presaged Orys’s attack.

“All’s well that ends well,” I say.

“Is it?” she asks, eyes flicking toward Gaspar .

“Pardon me, Princess,” the bearded Romani says, “but I sense not all is well.”

Of course, he does. Perhaps his cards told him things are about to change. Perhaps that is why their troop is leaving Castellina.

“Your perception proves right once again, El Gran Místico,” I say.

Jago clears his throat and glares at me, the question what are you doing? stamped all over his face. I give him a slight nod to indicate I know what I’m doing. He frowns and shakes his head in disagreement. Still, I decide to confide in them.

“We need your help,” I say.

Gaspar’s expression hardens.

One of Esmeralda’s dark eyebrows goes up, betraying her interest. “What is it this time?”

Placing a hand around Esmeralda’s elbow, Gaspar starts guiding her out of the room. “Your cousin said something about thanking us for our help. We consider ourselves thanked. Now, we have to be on our way. The troop’s heading north, lots of dirt to kick on our first day. C’mon, Esmeralda.”

“Please, hear me out,” I beseech them.

Gaspar shakes his head, his mind made up. But to my relief, Esmeralda pulls out of his grasp, digging in her heels.

“I want to hear what this is all about,” she says.

“Trust me, chavé , you don’t. Let’s get outta here.” Gaspar attempts to grab her again, but Esmeralda takes a step out of reach.

“No harm done in lending an ear,” she argues.

The man sighs heavily, looking resigned. Esmeralda is stubborn and willful. I learned that much after interacting with her for only a few days. It seems Gaspar has experienced a lifetime of her obstinacy, however, and he knows when fighting is futile.

“Well…” she places a hand on her waist and jots her hip out, “we’re waiting. ”

I offer her a smile, then another one to Gaspar, who I fear will need more convincing. “Jago, me, and a… companion would like to join you in your travels. However, we would like you to head west.”

“Wait, what?!” Jago demands. “What companion? You don’t mean—?”

I cut him off with a glare.

Gaspar and Esmeralda exchange a glance. Jago makes a restrained sound in the back of his throat. His lips are pressed tightly together as if he is fighting very hard not to say anything else, but in the end, he loses the battle.

“Val, would you mind stepping outside for a moment, so we can discuss this in private?” He gestures toward the door.

“No, Jago,” I say. “There’s nothing to discuss. My mind is made up. I’ve thought about it carefully.”

“But—”

“It’s all right. Remember you always have a choice.”

He rolls his eyes but relents.

“Sorry, Princess Valeria,” Gaspar says, “but our lot never goes west. It isn’t worth the trouble.” He turns to Esmeralda, who makes a face, mouth twisted to one side and nose scrunched up, making it clear that west is definitely not her preferred route.

“Ready to go now?” Gaspar asks her.

“I’ll make it worth your while,” I blurt out, taking a hold of the leather bag attached to my belt. Its contents clink together, leaving no doubt as to their valuable nature.

Gaspar shakes his head. “No disrespect, Princess, but our plans are set in stone. There’s no changing them.”

Esmeralda laughs. “Set in stone? We’re Romani, old man. You think she’s going to believe that?”

“Hush, chavé ! I’m trying to save our hides here,” Gaspar’s voice is several octaves deeper, the perfect timbre for scolding one’s child. Father used a similar tone with me many times. My heart aches a little at the thought.

“Stop calling me child ,” she protests, then asks, “save our hides from what? Traveling on dirt roads? It’s what we do.”

“Don’t be such a fool! Why don’t you ask her why we need to head west? Or, more importantly, who is this companion she’s dragging along, huh?”

Esmeralda turns her fierce gaze on me, expecting an answer to Gaspar’s questions.

I know I can’t expect them to help me and change their plans without an explanation, but that doesn’t mean I want to tell them everything—not to mention that revealing my plan is dangerous. They could go straight to my sister and tell her what I intend to do in exchange for a bigger bag of gold and no risk to their lives, still I have to be clear, make sure they understand the perils involved.

“What I intend to do constitutes treason,” I say.

Both Jago and Gaspar grab their heads in unison and look up at the heavens—the former looks vexed by my straightforwardness, and the latter outright horrified. Their synchronized movements would be funny under other circumstances, but at the moment, I couldn’t muster a laugh if my life depended on it.

“Treason?” Esmeralda echoes. “The kind that sets Castellina’s Guardia on your tail? Is that it? You’re crazy, Princess. In case you haven’t noticed, we’re into surviving. You were right, old man. Let’s get out of here.”

They start toward the door, but I step in front of them. “Please, allow me to explain. After that, you can decide whether or not to help me.” They hesitate long enough for me to entreat them a little further. “Sit down. It’s a lengthy conversation. I can have some tea and pastries brought in.” I rush to the cord hanging in the corner and pull on it, then nod to Jago to help me take care of the refreshments .

Almost immediately, there is a knock at the door, and my cousin takes care of giving instructions to the servant without letting them in. In a matter of minutes, tea and pastries are set on the long, low table in between the sofa and two armchairs where Jago and I sit. Esmeralda and Gaspar have taken their place across from us on the sofa, and despite their reservations about what I’m about to tell them, they’re not being shy about the treats in front of them.

“These are really good,” Esmeralda mumbles through a mouthful of honey and walnut buns.

Jago nods. “Yes! They’re my favorite. I like them with extra honey.”

“Umm, I love honey.” Her lips glisten with the sticky substance, leaving no doubt in anyone’s mind that she actually does.

For his part, Gaspar seems to prefer the savory empanadas, and in no time, he’s on his second cup of tea, a heavy dash of cream mixed with it.

In hopes their nerves will ease, I let them enjoy everything and try to wait until they’ve had their fill to begin talking. However, the day is wearing on, and I intend to get out of Nido today. The more time I wait, the more likely Amira is to discover The Eldrystone is missing.

As I explain everything about the Haderia, Esmeralda and Gaspar listen without interruption. I begin by describing what my sister intends to do with the fae. I tell them I tried to stop her, but that the council voted for her idea almost unanimously. I make it clear that there is no stopping this from becoming a reality.

“That’s absolutely horrifying,” Esmeralda declares, “but what does it have to do with us? We’re Romani, not fae. We’re citizens of Castella, not foreigners.”

Gaspar shakes his head and looks sadly in Esmeralda’s direction. “Oh, chavé, I know you’re smarter than that.” Without offering her further clarification, he shifts his attention to me, narrowing his eyes. “You say your sister and all her people want to do this.”

I nod .

“And going west with your companion will help? You’re not just running off?”

“For me, running away stopped being an option a long time ago,” I answer.

Before Father died, fleeing my life in Nido had seemed like the only way to be happy. Now, the world Amira promises to create doesn’t even seem like the type of place where anyone would be able to find joy. If I’m ever to live the life I want, I have to fix this first.

“I still don’t see how any of this has anything to do with us,” Esmeralda complains. “Your sister wants to fuck with the fae? She can have at it. The veilfallen brought that on themselves. Us?” she turns to Gaspar, “I say we hurry back and get out of this accursed city. We’ve wasted enough time here.”

Gaspar doesn’t move even as Esmeralda stands and glares at him. Instead, he begins to explain what he and I both see very clearly.

“It’ll begin with the fae, but it won’t end there. At first, they’ll check for pointy ears. Long as ya got them, they won’t give a fig if you’re Castellan or some foreigner. But once they’ve rounded them all up, who’s to say they won’t look further. I’m a quarter fae and have a bit of espiritu in me. Most Romani are mixed. No, chavé, this has everything to do with us.”

“So what are you saying? That they’ll come after us next? That’s ridiculous,” Esmeralda protests. “How will they prove any of it?”

“When has proof been needed to find us guilty of anything?” he asks.

A pang of shame travels across my chest. I’ve never done any Romani harm, not directly, but I guess that doesn’t matter when, in my privilege, I would always receive the benefit of the doubt, and they would be condemned without question.

Next to me, Jago also appears chagrined by the implication.

“You can’t be serious?” Esmeralda points a finger directly at me. “She’s a half-fae. Same as the queen. It would be hypocrisy. ”

“It’s often the ones with the dirty hands pointing fingers,” Gaspar says. “The scales of justice tip unevenly for the Plumanegras and their likes. Absence of proof is enough to damn us while evidence sets them free.”

“Hey!” Jago pushes to the edge of the armchair.

I place a hand on his knee to calm him down. “He’s not wrong, cousin. Not in this instance.”

Jago is red in the face, ready to defend our honor. “We’re not criminals.” The words are a hiss between the cage of his teeth.

“Can you attest for every damn royal?” Gaspar asks.

“Of course not! I’m responsible for myself only, so don’t lump me in with everyone else.”

Gaspar shrugs. “Fair enough, but I still doubt you’d spend a day inside that Haderia if it came to it.”

Jago opens his mouth to keep arguing, but I intervene.

“That’s enough. We don’t have time for this. We have to act. Tonight. Please, help us.”

“You’ve got nerve to ask us for help,” Esmeralda says. “You two live right here with her. Stop her.”

I sigh, suddenly feeling exhausted. “Like I said, I tried, but she’s determined.”

“Try again.”

“That path is closed to me now.” I really would like the Romani’s help, but I’m doing this with or without them.

“We best get moving, Gaspar.” Esmeralda tugs on his sleeve. “The further we are when this mess kicks off, the safer we’ll be.”

Gaspar doesn’t budge.

I take the money bag and spill its contents on the table. The coins spread over the surface, clinking and sliding over the smooth wood. A few of them fall to the floor and glitter on the dark rug .

Esmeralda’s eyes grow wide, her pupils shrinking to pinpricks in a sea of green. She sits back heavily, looking defeated, the sight of gold eclipsing all of her concerns as I anticipated. Her mother’s health is poor, and Esmeralda is responsible for taking care of her. Of course, coin can be used to manipulate her. I feel low for doing it, but I’m desperate.

“You’ve told us why you want us to help you, and maybe there’s more than just gold that makes it worth our while,” Gaspar says. “But if we’re to help you, you need to tell us everything.”

I was hoping the why and the gold would be enough. I fear that if I say more, they’ll run out the door. But I suppose I have no other choice.

Swallowing my doubts, I nod. “You must promise me not to tell anyone what I’m about to say.”

“Promise,” they both say in unison.

Jago looks at me sideways, his expression asking, Can you really trust their word?

The answer is no . The truth is I wouldn’t trust anyone with this information. If I’m being honest, I’m only ready to tell them because if they don’t agree to help us, my only choice will be to leave them locked up in a cell with orders to release them only after we have left Nido without their help.

“I have a way to open the veil,” I say without further preamble.

They both blink and comically cock their heads to one side.

“Truly?” Gaspar asks.

I nod.

“And what is that?”

“I’m afraid I cannot share that information,” I say.

He’s quiet for a moment, considering. At last, he says, “You talked about a companion, one other person besides yourself, who is it?” he demands in a tone that lets me know our conversation is over if I don’t reveal the identity of the third person.

I come clean. “The leader of the veilfallen, Rífíor.”

“Saints and feathers, no!” Esmeralda exclaims. “You really are crazy.”

Gaspar leans back on the sofa, his eyelids opening and closing at a fast rate.

“What’s wrong with him?” Jago asks.

Esmeralda presses a finger to her lips and mouths something unintelligible. The fit passes so quickly that I almost dismiss it.

She places a hand on his shoulder. “What is it? What did you see?”

The man shakes his head, his face draining of color.

“What is it?” Esmeralda insists.

“That male is dangerous,” Gaspar says at last. “But…” He trails off, looking confused.

Esmeralda peers at me as if I’m the stupidest person she’s ever met. “Didn’t we just get you out of that mess? And now you want to get tangled up with him again? You must have a death wish.” She turns back to her friend. “Gaspar, we better steer clear of this. Even with the gold, this smells bad.”

“There are many forces at play, chavé,” he says. “I can’t see straight, but I got a feeling if we don’t help, this won’t turn out well for no one.”

“ Danger lurks. Ready yourself,” those words, that message that he once delivered through Esmeralda, ring inside my head, and for some reason, his expression right now seems to carry the same dire warning. Whatever his skills told him just now was grim enough to scare him. I don’t like it, even if this might turn out to be the reason they decide to help us.

“What are you saying?” Esmeralda asks. “That we’re getting involved in this mad business?”

They exchange a loaded glance, then he nods slowly.

Esmeralda stands up abruptly. “Not even for another bag of gold!” she exclaims. “No, count me out.”

Gaspar looks down and rubs at his temples.

“How about two more?” I ask .

“Two more?” Esmeralda looks down at the gold on the table. “Same as that one?”

“Same as that one,” I answer.

“We’ll do it,” Gaspar says. “Lay out what you need us to do, clear as crystal.”

So I do, and after I finish explaining everything, Jago and I walk them out of Nido through seldom-traveled passages to evade detection.

As we watch them walk away, Jago ruffles his hair. “I don’t know about you, Val, but I think we just got majorly fucked. Three bags of gold?” He whistles. “They played us just right.”

“I know, but I don’t care.”

“Gaspar is good at what he does, but I’m sure they’re used to conning smarter people than us.”

Gold doesn’t matter to me. The amount I promised them will keep their troop for a number of years, and I can’t regret the immense difference it will make for them. Yet, I don’t believe it was all a show meant to con us.

“I believe Gaspar saw something that truly made him afraid,” I say.

“Nah, don’t be so na?ve, Val. He’s just that good.”

“I’ve been around him more than you have. I’ve seen him do things. He warned me once before, and he was right.”

He shrugs. “I suppose he’s bound to be right half the time. Don’t you think so?”

“For all our sakes, I hope, this time, he’s wrong.”

That afternoon, I spend hours in one of the libraries, reading all I can about Tirnanog and its king. A meeting with Korben Theric may lie in my future, and the more I know about him, the better.