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

27. Leo

27

Leo

M y morning patrol shift had immediately followed mine and Rissa’s late night excursion, so I hadn’t gotten any sleep. While our conversation put me in a better headspace, that had quickly soured with my exhaustion and the fact that I’d had to borrow Rissa’s mare to complete my rounds. I still didn’t have Nightshade back.

Perhaps that was why I’d been rougher than necessary with the man I’d caught breaking into a supply house for province fugitives in the south sector. He didn’t need those teeth, as far as I was concerned. He had been armed to the brim with explosives, ready to destroy the resources we’d so painstakingly gathered for those in need. Anyone who held such malice for provincers simply seeking refuge in our capital didn’t deserve to walk away with their limbs intact.

Other than him, it was a fairly uneventful rotation. Chaz and I were in charge of assigning willing Sentinel members to patrol duty—a pseudo Royal Guard, in a sense. We kept watch over the five sectors, ensuring the less fortunate and needy, such as those crossing over from their provinces, still received protection they were owed. Protection Gayl didn’t seem to hold in high regard. We changed out the rotations often so that the Royal Guard and those loyal to His Majesty wouldn’t become suspicious. Heavier care was given to the evening and early morning shifts, especially around the Decemvirate. Chaz and I often took on more rotations than the others. Since he was a Strider, he could move more conveniently from place to place. As for me…well, I grew tense when I knew there was work to be done, people to help, and I sat back doing nothing.

I’d put an end to many robberies, attacks, and brawls in the past few months. Had come away with my fair share of bruises and broken bones, as well, but it was worth it to know the people had some semblance of protection in this city.

That resolution did nothing to quell my foul temper this morning, though. After being up all night, now covered in sweat and splatters of blood from the would-be arsonist, and the fact that the woman we were entrusting our mission to had run off with my horse, I was in no mood to meet with her and the others. Even if it was my idea.

I sighed as Goldie, my sister’s pale yellow mare, trotted along the dirt path toward our cottage. When it came into view, I let out a scoff.

There was Nightshade, tied up to our post, grazing on a patch of grass.

“Unbelievable,” I muttered, dismounting and taking care of Goldie before heading into the house.

I was the last one to arrive. Chaz and Lark stood at the counter, conversing with cups of steaming liquid and half eaten plates at their sides. Rissa chatted animatedly with Horace, who sat at the table with his thick legs spread wide, his fingers twisting in his beard as he listened. And there was Rose, sitting across from him with that guarded expression she wore so well. That long, dark hair was pulled into a braid, small tendrils framing her olive features. Her arms were folded across her chest, her fingers playing absently with the edge of her pouch of herbs. Subconsciously or not, she never seemed to be far from her charms.

When those green eyes turned and landed on me, something stirred in my chest. There was a flash of apprehension hidden there, a hint of the wariness I saw during those close moments in the alcove. But then, as quick as it appeared, it was gone. Her eyes narrowed, steely distrust aiming back at me. Distrust that grated on my nerves, for it wasn’t something I had earned.

“Kind of you to return my horse,” I said with a grunt as a way of greeting, shutting the door a bit harder than I intended.

“He was the perfect gentleman,” she responded. She leaned back in her chair with that same taunting air about her as when she put me under the compulsion spell the day before.

“Sounds like Leo could learn a thing or two from him,” Chaz said with a chuckle.

Lark glanced at me. “Do I even want to ask why there’s blood all over you?”

I shrugged off my cloak and hung it on a nail by the door. Rissa clucked her tongue at me and rushed to grab it, muttering about it needing to be washed. “Ran into a problem at one of the supply houses in the south,” I said. “Someone tried to break in and destroy the place, but I took care of him.”

Rissa shot me a look. “And by ‘take care of,’ you mean…”

“Made sure he would think twice before attempting something like that again.” When she raised an eyebrow, I scowled. “I left him in an alley with some broken bones and fewer teeth.”

Horace grunted, which was his version of a laugh. “Better than dead.”

Rose’s eyes caught mine, a curious gleam lighting them. “Does this type of thing happen often?” she asked.

My sister gave a grim nod. “More than we’d like. The Decemvirate makes it worse. People’s emotions are heightened, adrenaline is running, and they think they have a right to take matters into their own hands. Some capital natives are unhappy with how many… guests the city receives during this time. It allows people from the provinces to sneak in and stay without anyone noticing.”

Rose’s brow furrowed. “Are a lot of people moving to the capital? ”

“ Trying to,” Chaz answered. “The majority right now are from Emberfell. Their border with Drakorum has become way too hostile for some of them to keep living over there. But there’s quite a bit from the others, too.”

Rose let out a soft hum. “I had no idea. I mean, I knew things were getting bad in the provinces. We see that even in Feywood. Our border with Iluze has gotten worse these last few years.” A small shiver went through her, but she shook it off. “I didn’t realize people were trying to come here to get away from it all.”

“Unfortunately, our emperor hasn’t been the most welcoming host,” Rissa said, leaning against the counter. “But that’s why we’re here, isn’t it? To hopefully bring some change, to both the provinces and the capital. And we believe that starts with the Somnivae curse. It’s the one thing uniting everyone . We all despise it. We all want it to end. If we can prove Gayl started the curse, it’s the perfect opening to bring everyone together against him. Provincer or capital native, rich or poor, weak or strong. We can force him to end the curse and take him off his throne. And that’s where you come in.” Rissa gave Rose a sly smile.

Lark picked it up from there, a seamless transition between the two women. “Over the next few weeks, we need you to gain access to Emperor Gayl’s Grimoire. We have maps of the palace, places we know he frequents and wings that are typically closed off to the outside, things like that. But nobody has gotten close enough to him or his private chambers to locate his Grimoire. That’s the first challenge.

“The second is to learn as much about the curse as you can. Once you have found his Grimoire, we assume information regarding how he cast it will be inside. We will then have proof that he was the original caster and, with the support of the entire empire, can force his hand in reversing it.”

We all sat in silence for a moment until Rose scratched her nose and said, “Right. So, nothing too difficult.”

Horace, to my surprise, chuckled.

“We’ll take it one step at a time,” Rissa said encouragingly. “Let’s start with the maps. Horace?”

At her summons, Horace stood and pulled several folded pieces of parchment from his back pocket. Laying them out on the table, he leaned over and began pointing at the various floors.

“These are the guest wings. The servants’ quarters, the ballrooms, the dining hall. These areas in the center will be the busiest during your stay.” His finger moved north. “The northern wings are quieter. You’ll need to be more careful here. The armory and treasury are kept there, so they’re more heavily guarded than others.”

“I highly doubt he’s hiding anything there, anyway,” Lark offered. “It’s far too high profile.”

Horace swept his hand to the west side of the map, but Rose held up a finger. “What about here?” She pointed to a small corridor in the northern wing that dead-ended into the edge of the palace. “Is anything there?”

Bending to look closer, Horace said, “Not that I know of. Just storage rooms.”

Rose pursed her lips together, her eyes roaming across the area. “And you’re sure these maps are accurate?” When Horace quirked an eyebrow at her, she waved a hand in the air apologetically. “Sorry, I just…I thought I saw another hall connected to this one yesterday.”

“What were you doing over there?” I blurted.

Giving me a sharp look, she said, “I might have seen Gayl on my way to the first trial and…followed him.” She and my sister exchanged a passing glance.

Surprise swept through me. The girl was fearless. I’m not sure even I would be brave enough to track him so quickly.

Chaz laughed. “You sure do have a pair on you.”

“Did you find anything?” Lark asked eagerly.

Suddenly more reserved, Rose fell back into her seat. “No. I mean, he walked down another corridor, and then I left. I could have sworn there was a hall right there, though. ”

“You must be wrong about the wing,” I said, which earned me another glare.

Lark’s shoulders sagged slightly. “Well, perhaps you can find the correct one and see where he may have been heading.”

Rose nodded in agreement, her fingers once again playing with the edge of her pouch.

“Good. Keep going, Horace. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover,” Rissa instructed, gesturing to the map.

We spent the next couple of hours reviewing the wings, theorizing what sections would be most likely to contain anything of importance, and charting a plan for Rose to follow that would keep her safe and away from prying eyes.

As time went on, Rose became a bit more relaxed in our presence, even grinning once at a ridiculous joke Chaz tossed out. But there was still an apprehension around her. The constant picking at her shirt or pouch, the tight features, the withdrawn eyes. Something that seemed…reserved. She was a puzzle I couldn’t quite figure out. First, the blazing, powerful, brutal Alchemist from the forest. One who wasn’t afraid to use her magic to its full extent. Then the frightened, timid woman who needed shielding from some unseen threat. A woman bold enough to follow the most powerful man in the empire on a whim down an unknown corridor, unafraid to curse me in my own home and attack me with broken ribs. She was capable, there was no denying that. But I couldn’t reconcile that with the woman who looked as if she felt uncomfortable in her own skin.

The task that faced her was daunting. I couldn’t blame her for any hesitations or fear. But part of me knew there was more to it than that. After what she’d said to me yesterday, about blaming my father for what happened in her past, I understood her distrust. I knew my father would never order an innocent man’s death, but hers was still killed. She was still fatherless. And my claiming her ignorance on the matter wouldn’t change that.

I scrubbed a hand over the rough stubble on my chin, replaying that conversation from when I’d healed her ribs. I grudgingly realized my sister had been right about the way I treated her, and my defensive words had been a mistake.

No wonder she stole my horse.

The clock on our mantle struck eleven, and Rissa decided we had enough of a plan going forward to get us through the second trial and hopefully yield results from Rose’s search. When Rissa asked if Rose would stay for lunch, she shook her head and said she wanted to spend time with her family.

“Well then,” my sister said, turning to give me a look that spoke of trouble. “I’m sure my brother would be happy to take you home.”

Rose grimaced, that crease at her forehead deepening with dislike. “I think I can manage.”

I gritted my teeth. How did this girl manage to get so under my skin with a single look? My guilt and understanding from a moment ago seemed so fragile in the face of her disdain. “Horace can give her a ride to the palace just fine,” I countered.

“Can’t,” Horace said. “Rissa asked me to stay behind for something.”

“Of course she did,” I said under my breath.

“It’s not safe for you to travel alone, Rose,” Rissa pointed out. “Plus, if I recall correctly, you don’t have a horse here.”

“ Fates ,” Rose grumbled, cursing. “Fine. Let’s go, monkey boy.”

Chaz spat out his water, spraying Lark across the face. “ Monkey boy ?”

Whirling to the door, I pulled it open, muttering, “I hate all of you,” as I walked outside.

As she strode past me and to Nightshade, Rose flicked her braid over her shoulder and said, “Better stay on my good side, or I’m tossing you off his back.”