In the Wake of the Wicked (Veridian Empire #1)

26. Rose

26

Rose

T he next morning hit me like a brick to the head. I woke to a metaphorical pounding in my temple and a literal pounding on my door—far too early after the events of yesterday.

“Go away,” I groaned, turning over and yanking my pillow over my head.

“Rosie! It’s us!”

I grimaced. It was Beau, probably the only person capable of getting me out of bed right now.

With great strain, I lifted myself into a sitting position and carefully pulled my shirt up, checking on my bruised ribs. The skin was a light brown color, almost yellow, with a sickly green indicating its rapid healing. It was truly incredible how well that tonic had worked. I hardly felt any pain when I pushed two fingers onto the tender area.

Another frantic knock sounded at the door. Brushing a hand through my disheveled hair, I padded across the room and opened the door. Beau’s extended fist fell forward and he tripped over the doorway. Instead of stumbling into my room, however, it was as if he hit an invisible barrier. His head and fist bounced off a solid shield of air, causing him to fall back into my aunt .

“Fates, I’m sorry, Beau Beau—that must be the wards.” I’d completely forgotten. Nox had said once I gave permission for someone to enter, the wards would be disabled for them for the rest of my stay. I quickly allowed them inside the room, and they both walked through tentatively, Beau’s face bright red with embarrassment.

Once inside, my aunt gave a sigh of relief. “How are you feeling, Rose? Are you alright?” She gripped my forearm, her concerned eyes searching my body for signs of injury.

“I’m fine, Aunt Morgana, I promise. A little banged up, but nothing I can’t handle.”

“How was the first trial?” Beau asked excitedly. “They wouldn’t tell us anything yesterday, and Ma wouldn’t let us go see the rankings.” He shot his mother an accusatory look.

“That’s probably for the best,” I said, shuddering as I imagined my little cousin and aunt surrounded by people like Callum, who wouldn’t be above using them against me.

“What was it like?” he pressed. “Did you have to fight anyone? Were there dragons ?”

I laughed and tousled the top of his head, making him duck and shove my arm away. “No, Beau Beau .” This earned me a glare. “You know dragons aren’t real. But I did see a lot of the capital.” I continued to tell them a shortened version of the trial and the riddle I had to solve. When I recounted how the mausoleum had been a diversion and that Alaric had followed me to trap me inside, Morgana gasped.

“Alaric Rinehart!” she scolded. “The next time I see that man, I’m going to—to?—”

Beau snickered at his flustered mother. “What, Ma, curse him so his feet are cold forever? Put itching powder in his collar?”

Morgana smacked his neck playfully. “If you’re not careful, I’ll put itching powder in your collar, young man.”

“Oh, I’ll find a way to get him back,” I said with a chuckle, my anger from yesterday slipping ever so slightly as I watched my aunt and cousin bicker. Hearing her reprimand the great Alaric Rinehart like he was some schoolboy, despite the fact that he was older than her, made me smile.

I continued to tell them about Rothy and her tea house in the central sector, and how she helped me find the memorial site. I left out the part about fighting Callum; I still didn’t want to face what I’d almost done. That the idea of killing him had briefly crossed my mind, paired with the murky memories of my father’s death and the blistering wrath that had consumed me. I could already see my aunt’s face if I were to confess how I’d nearly burned him alive. How I’d wanted him to die, if only for a moment.

A moment was all it took.

Beau was infinitely impressed by how I solved the constellations puzzle and the creepy Oracle who’d been summoned by it. At the end, they were both beaming with pride, even after learning I’d come in fifth place.

“I knew you could do it, my dear girl. Your uncle would be proud of you,” she said, cupping my face between her hands.

Another knock came from the door. Morgana turned toward it, startled. “You’re quite popular this morning, aren’t you?”

I crossed the room and opened it to find Horace standing in the frame, wearing his normal gruff expression. I introduced him to my aunt and cousin, and he nodded politely before saying, “Sorry to take you away, but Lark wants to meet with you.” He gave me a pointed look, and I knew this wasn’t about the tournament.

Glancing back at Morgana, I could tell she understood, as well. Her lips moved into a grim line as she swallowed and took Beau’s hand. “We should let Rosie attend her meetings, Beau Beau. Maybe we can catch up with her later.”

“I’ll find you as soon as I can,” I promised, giving Beau a one-armed hug before pulling Morgana in tightly.

“Be safe,” was all she whispered. The two of them left, and Horace shut my door behind them.

“It’s not just Lark,” he said. Straight to business . “There’s several more who will be there. C’mon, get dressed. ”

Disgruntled, I moved to my bags to pull out a fresh set of clothes. “Several more what ? And where are we going?”

“Those Rissa trusts most.” He opened the door and stepped outside to give me privacy. “Hurry up. I’ve gotta take you to the Aris cottage.”

The Aris cottage was only a twenty minute ride south from the palace. Horace rode his own horse while I took Leo’s black stallion, dreading the confrontation that was sure to happen when I brought him back after stealing— borrowing him.

Horace told me there was nothing to worry about, that Lark and Rissa simply wanted to meet with the Sentinels’ inner circle and myself while there was a break between trials, since almost all of them knew about me now anyway. There were six days, including today, before the next one began, and I agreed this would be a good time to discuss my other mission.

Still, I wasn’t necessarily looking forward to seeing Leo again, especially after my abysmal ranking from last night. Just another reason for him not to believe I could accomplish what they needed. Not to mention the idea of being in that house, one Branock Aris himself may have once lived in, made my anxiety rise like the tide.

We arrived at the cottage, and I took it in for the first time. I’d left too abruptly the evening before to give it a backward glance. The white wood stuck out in the middle of the green forest, even though it was stained and faded by the elements. The dark roof was patched with a chimney sticking out the right side where I knew the mantle and fireplace rested. Two windows were positioned by the front door. Several pots of plants rested on the windowsills, their leaves reaching toward the morning sun.

Horace told me to go inside while he tied our horses to a post and did a quick check of the perimeter. When I opened the door, the scents of savory meat and freshly baked bread hit my senses.

Rissa stood in the kitchen, putting slices of a red apple into a bowl next to a plate of thinly sliced ham and a loaf of bread. “Good morning,” she said, looking up at me. Her blonde waves fell down one shoulder as she smiled. “Sleep well?”

I snorted. “Not even a little.” Peering around the kitchen and living room, I hesitantly asked, “Is your brother here?”

“Not yet. He had an early morning patrol shift, but he’ll be back soon. Everyone’s on their way.” She gestured to a seat at the small kitchen table with her knife. “Go ahead and sit down. Are you hungry?”

“Starving,” I said. I wasn’t even sure I’d eaten yesterday, save for an orange Horace had stuffed in my hand after taking me back to my room following the ranking.

She busied herself with setting a glass of water and a plate of apples, bread, and ham in front of me. “How are your ribs?”

I could tell she was trying to keep the atmosphere light, but an awkwardness had settled in the air. She knew I’d been on edge here yesterday, and my feelings toward her and her family hadn’t gone away overnight. I briefly wondered if Leo had told her what I’d confessed about my father and theirs.

But she was attempting nonchalance, so I’d go along with it. “Much better,” I said, taking a bite of bread. “That healing potion worked wonders.”

We sat in silence for a moment, her cleaning the kitchen while I ate. Finally, I said, “I never really thanked you yesterday. For chasing off Callum and bringing me here to heal. I—I don’t think I would’ve completed the trial without your help.”

“Oh, I think you would’ve found a way. But you’re welcome, Rose.”

I couldn’t meet her eyes as she smiled at me, those piercing gems so very similar to Leo’s. A small voice inside wondered…did they get those eyes from their father?

Branock Aris sends his love .

My grip on the glass of water tightened as I took a sip, washing the acrid taste of the memory from my mouth.

Rissa must have seen the shift in my demeanor, for she walked to the table and stretched an arm out as if to rest it on my shoulder. “Rose, listen?—”

I shifted out of her reach and cleared my throat. “So, who all is meeting us here?”

She sighed and dropped her hand. “My brother and Horace, of course. Lark is coming up from the palace. And another Sentinel member named Chaz. While I initially wanted to keep your involvement just between those who absolutely needed to know, Leo helped me realize these are the people I trust the most. I want them here to discuss a plan of action for your time in the palace hunting down Gayl’s Grimoire.”

I swallowed. I knew this conversation was coming, and that I’d eventually have to tell her about the utter disaster with Gayl the previous day. Fidgeting with the hem of my shirt, I nodded tightly, embarrassment seeping in and mixing with my discomfort. As much as the knowledge of her being Branock Aris’ daughter still ate at me, I didn’t want her—or the others—to think I had failed. That I wasn’t up for the challenge.

But part of me wondered if someone else would be better suited for this task—someone like Leo, as loath as I was to admit it. It was obvious he wanted the job in the first place. He’d nearly turned green with envy when he found out I was the one Lark had chosen after Ragnar.

I’d been discovered within minutes of following Gayl. I’d been bested by both Alaric and Callum during the trial, putting me almost in last place. The only reason I’d even completed it was because Rissa had saved me in time. What if I wasn’t a wise choice for this task? What if my skills consisted of sharp remarks and the occasional well-timed enchantment? The future of this empire wavered above my shoulders, and perhaps it was the exhaustion talking, but I feared I wouldn’t be able to bear it.

Rissa continued, unaware of my internal struggle. “Having someone like you in the palace for an entire month is the biggest break we’ve had in years. Just be sure you’re staying safe and out of sight.” Nerves coiled inside me at her words. “As a challenger, you’ll have more freedom and leniency than any of us could ever dream of. A protection that allows you to get away with more, as the empire has a very compelling reason to keep you and the other five challengers alive. But Rose”—she reached out to grip my arm, and I fought the urge to flinch—“you still need to be careful. Your position and our power can only go so far. That’s what we’re going to talk about today. How to keep you safe and?—”

I pulled my arm away, the little food I’d eaten now climbing up my throat. “Rissa, I don’t know if I can do this.” The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them, but the moment I spoke, fear and uncertainty spilled from me like water.

I’d been foolish and arrogant to think I could do this— any of this. The Decemvirate, the mission, the spying. Who was I to walk into this city and think I could change things with a little bit of quick spellcasting and a chip on my shoulder? That I could take on not only five challengers with far more experience and preparation than myself, but the great and powerful emperor of the Veridian Empire?

My breaths came fast and sharp. I wasn’t used to not being able to squash these intense feelings away. I raked shaking fingers through my hair as I tried to shove at the rising panic. This was a mistake. There was still time for them to find someone else.

“Rose—Rose, hold on. What are you talking about?” Rissa asked, crouching and grasping my shoulders, forcing me to face her. “Did something happen?”

I bit down on my tongue, tasting blood, and swallowed hard. “I messed up,” I said in a flat voice.

Instead of the anger I expected, Rissa looked at me calmly, her features softening. “Take a deep breath. We can work through this. Tell me everything.”

I recounted how I’d accidentally found a hidden wing of the palace and overheard Gayl speaking with one of his advisors, and how I’d followed them into the secret corridor. When I admitted that Gayl had seen through my invisibility charm and the threat he’d made in response, Rissa’s face tightened. She twisted her lips back and forth, thoughts spiraling behind those eyes faster than I could keep up.

“First of all, thank you for telling me,” she started. “I know that must’ve been difficult, but we’ve got to be open with each other—that’s the only way any of this will work. And second, I don’t blame you, Rose. If anything, I’m glad Lark found someone as bold as you. Someone willing to take a risk. Perhaps we need to work on subtlety”—she let out a snort—“but if I’m being honest, this is partially my fault.”

My brow furrowed. “How so?”

“Because I should have found a way to meet with you as soon as Lark told me she’d convinced you to volunteer. We left you on your own, with no instructions, no plan, no way forward. Emperor’s tits, I would’ve done the exact same thing you did. And probably gotten myself killed.”

I blinked at her. “So…you’re not upset with me?”

She studied me carefully, and even though she was only a couple of years older than me, I felt like a child beneath her examination. Clarissa Aris seemed wise beyond her years, someone who’d been to hell and back and seen things I’d never imagined in my wildest dreams. I hated how in just these two meetings with her, I’d begun to crave her approval—this woman whose father I despised. It was impossible not to admire her.

Over time, I’d learned how to disregard what others thought of me, to stop caring about seeking favor. When I’d lived my entire life under the scrutiny of a province full of people who’d made their judgments long ago, there wasn’t much left to lose. But Rissa and Lark…they saw potential in me. And that was something I didn’t know I needed until this moment. People who could look past the cold, jagged edges and see the fire that burned within.

“No, I’m not upset with you,” she said, and my trepidation eased. “We’ll need to adjust our approach going forward since you’ve been compromised, but it’s not the end of the world. We’ll find another way. I’ll talk with Lark and the others, make sure we’re all on the same page. ”

I let out a breath, a small weight lifting from my chest. Rissa smiled and squeezed my arm, and this time, I let it comfort me. “You don’t have to do this alone, you know,” she said. “Nobody is expecting you to have all the answers or be perfect every step of the way. We’re going to help you as best we can, alright?” When I nodded, she winked. “And maybe next time, run your plan by one of us first. Gives us an excuse to abandon ship and charge the palace if you wind up missing.”

I knew she was exaggerating, but her joke made me wonder… “Why don’t you? Just unite your rebels and make a move on the emperor? If you have as many loyal people as you say, I imagine you’d stand a chance at taking him down.”

Eyeing me, she said, “If by taking him down, you mean assassinating him, that’s not how we work. Expecting people to follow a new regime built on the blood and bones of the one who came before is exactly what got us into this position.” Her eyes flashed, and I knew she was thinking of her father, of how Gayl had betrayed him and cast him aside.

I didn’t believe I’d ever feel sympathy for Branock Aris, but I hadn’t stopped to think about what it might have done to the rest of his family. How such a deep betrayal had affected the two young children I now knew.

Before I could respond, the sound of footsteps and muffled voices came from outside the door. Rissa gave me that mischievous smirk I’d come to recognize and rubbed her hands together.

“Chin up, Rose. We’ve got a mission to plan.”