by Ivy Clyde
“That’s great for the girl and her lover but how does it help us?” asked Leon.
“I am coming to that,” said Lucia calmly. “Vishen has never seen this niece before. He’s only aware of her existence. This is the perfect opportunity for you to infiltrate his manor by pretending to be his niece.”
“I don’t know a thing about this girl,” I said.
“Pretend to shy and dumb,” said Lucia. “You’re supposed to be a country bumpkin. I also doubt whether Vishen would even bother with you. He would probably get his people to find a match for an insignificant girl like this niece of his.”
“Why not find a direct way to get Moira into the palace?” asked Rowan.
“There is something we must steal back from Vishen,” said Lucia. “He has hidden it in his manor and it’s important we find it before he has a chance to use it.”
“What do we need to steal?” I asked in a nervous voice. It was one thing for me to attack people with my powers but quite another to spy and steal from someone like Vishen. I doubted I had the same ability as Lucia when it came to tricking a cunning fae like Vishen.
“The Engorging Bell,” said Lucia.
“The what?”
She reached inside her tunic and brought out a silver item. It was a curious horn-shaped thing made of white metal. A bell in the shape of a blossoming lily hung from its pointed end. The metallic surface of the object was heavily carved with petal-like shapes.
“Is this the legendary bell of Lord Lucas that had the power to draw out the vital energies from inside a living being?” asked Rowan, staring at the object in Lucia’s hand.
“This is a replica,” said Lucia, placing the object on the table before us. “Vishen has the real one. He stole it when he massacred my family.”
Pain lanced through me at the sound of her bitter tone. Rowan and Leon instantly looked uncomfortable.
“I’m sorry,” muttered Rowan. “It is not easy to lose our parents.”
“No,” said Lucia in a quiet tone.
Rowan picked up the strange object and moved it around in his hand. “Are you sure this is not the real thing?” he asked after a while. “The surface is as cold as ice.”
I curiously took the object from him. The horn-shaped part of the object was truly cold to the touch.
“This is a replica I made,” said Lucia. “It only feels cold to the touch. It is not sucking your energies out. The real Engorging Bell would have done that. I plan to replace the original bell with this.”
“I understand this thing is important to you,” said Leon. “But why is this a priority at the moment? Shouldn’t we focus on getting Moira into the palace so she can go into the sacred chambers?”
“This is a priority because Vishen is planning to use it in a ritual that will imbibe his blood with the powers of a royal,” said Lucia. “He plans to use my blood as a sacrifice.”
“Can the Engorging Bell really do that?” asked Leon.
“The Engorging Bell is a dark object with tremendous power,” said Lucia. “I am not really sure about the ritual but would you be willing to risk letting your enemy gain the powers that were bestowed upon you by the goddess herself?”
“What if Coran borrows the bell from Vishen and becomes as powerful as you guys,” I said. “With royal powers, they would no longer need you guys. They will be able to truly rule over the kingdoms themselves.”
“No!” Rowan slammed a hand on the table, making it shake badly.
“You can accompany Moira to the manor as her personal guards,” said Lucia. “Find the location of the bell and tell me. I will do the rest.”
“You will replace the real Engorging Bell with the fake one,” I said slowly. “Why? Why not let Vishen think he lost it?”
“If he thinks that, he will try to search for it again,” said Lucia in a low, quiet tone. “I’d rather he thought it was useless in his quest for power. That way, he will throw it away and never think about it.”
“But Lucia,” I spoke up and grabbed her hand. “That means you will go through with the ritual.”
“Yes.”
I stared at her wide-eyed. “What if you die?”
A soft smile lit up her beautiful face. “Are you worried about me, Moira?”
“Yes!”
Her smile grew brighter. “I will be fine. Trust in me.” She placed a hand on top of mine. “We will win against Vishen.”
My heart pounded with a strange emotion as I gazed into her eyes. She was sacrificing so much for my sake. Her family was already gone. Her sole motivation was to see me rise to power and claim my father’s throne. I wondered if I already considered her a close friend, but my feelings for her were different than what I felt with Isla.
“…I guess there is no choice but to go through with this,” Leon’s voice broke into my thoughts. “We can’t let Vishen succeed and then share his toy with Coran.”
“It will also help us keep an eye on him and his activities,” said Rowan.
“Not just that,” added Lucia with a mischievous grin. “I can get the three of you inside the palace as well. Vishen just needs to think he can throw his niece at me, the future heir to the throne.” She turned her shining gaze on me. “He will ask you to spy on me. Or he might even ask you to poison me. Either way, agree to do whatever he asks like a good, devoted niece.”
I swallowed a sudden lump in my throat. Could I really act so well when my greatest enemy would talk about murdering Lucia?
“This is a golden opportunity,” said Rowan. “Let’s not waste it.” Glancing at Lucia, he said, “Is the abandoned carriage in your sight?”
“Yes,” said Lucia. “My men have it with them. If you agree to this, we can leave right away. You will be able to enter Vishen’s manor by tomorrow morning.”
I watched Rowan and Leon talk with Lucia, discussing about our upcoming mission of infiltrating Vishen’s home. Only a few hours ago, they didn’t trust her.
I smiled, watching my mates become more familiar with Lucia. Warmth spread through my chest despite the risks we were all about to take. Vishen couldn’t know who any of us really were. If he did, we would never escape his manor with our lives.
9
Moira
The long gown of lavender silk flared around my slim waist. Beads of pearls dangled from the jeweled silver hairpins stuck into the bun of my hair. The skirt swished around my legs but got stuck between them every time I moved, forcing me to take smaller measured steps.
I glanced over to the corner where Rowan and Leon were being fitted with armor. Further away, Lucia spoke to two men, looking unusually grim.
Our group was gathered at the edge of the woods. Two horses stood tethered to a humble carriage which would take us to Vishen’s manor today. Stars twinkled in the dusky sky while I waited for everyone to get ready.
“It’s time, Moira,” said Lucia, walking over to me. “Let me help you get inside.”
I gave a nod and walked toward the carriage. Gathering the layers of my skirt, I stepped up the block of wooden steps to climb inside. Lucia came in behind me and arranged the pleats so I appeared neat.
“I will be flying overhead, keeping a watch,” she said. “If there is anything dangerous lying ahead, I will notify you immediately.” She glanced up at me and smiled. “Don’t be worried. There is rarely anything dangerous prowling the streets of Cataria. The capital city is well guarded.”
A small smile lifted the corners of my lips. I felt safe knowing she would be with us all the way to Vishen’s manor.
Lucia went out of the carriage, leaving me to sit with a bunch of boxes. A look into a few showed me piles of silken fabrics. They all belonged to Vishen’s niece who’d eloped with her lover. Over the coming week, I would be using them while pretending to be her.
I heard the soft neighs of horses and men’s voices filtering inside the coach box. Moving the curtain away from the small window at my side, I saw Rowan mounted on one of the black horses. He looked amazingl
y handsome in the silver-plated armor covering the planes of his broad, muscled chest. The long strands of his raven-black hair streamed behind him in the night breeze. His keen gaze was trained to the front.
I let a long breath whoosh out of me as I settled against the cushioned seats. Leon and Rowan would be riding by my side while Lucia would keep a watch from the sky. It was a blessing the lunar fae preferred to be active at night time. The darkness would easily hide Lucia soaring over us.
With a lurch, the carriage started moving.
The carriage bumped along a rough, pot-holed path. I was jostled badly, hitting the constricting walls of the small coach. The roads weren’t smooth and well-maintained like the ones in Aelia. Again, I was shown the stark difference between the two kingdoms. Aelia flourished while Amaris was crumbling away.
That single thought drove away the doubts and fear gathering in my mind. No matter what happened, I would find that Engorging Bell and snatch it away from Vishen before he could fulfill his evil plans. It was hard to believe he massacred an entire clan of women, children, and elderly people to grab the artifact. Innocent lives meant nothing to him in the path to gain power.
My hands balled into tight fists as I thought of the pain Lucia buried in her heart. Her entire clan was murdered by Vishen. She didn’t speak much of the incident but I could feel the bitterness in her voice. Even Rowan felt sorry for her. Perhaps, that story softened him toward her.
My fingers gripped the seat to stay steady as the carriage trundled forward. For an hour, we kept a steady pace. Everything was quiet other than the sound of horse hooves and the sighing of the night breeze.
Sometime later, the carriage slowed down. Peeking through the window at my side, I noticed we’d joined a line of people entering through a vast archway. Most people were in simple woolen clothes but a few boasted embroidered tunics of silk and velvet, richly embroidered with silver and gold. It wasn’t hard to guess they were from well-to-do noble families.
Rowan and Leon flanked the carriage as we rode ahead. The servant driving the carriage did most of the talking with the guards at the city’s entrance gates. The mere mention of Lord Vishen was enough to make them let us pass through without any fuss.
My face stuck through the small square window as I took in the sights and sounds around me. Cataria was more crowded than the small village square Lucia showed me before. The place was busier with lots of shops and vendors selling fruits, spices, pastries, and other delicacies. Strings of lanterns dangled on ropes hung between tall pillars fencing the main street. The scene reminded me of a night market.
Even though the place was packed and well-lit with glowing red and silver lanterns, they couldn’t hide the obvious signs of poverty. Beggars and emaciated children dotted the streets, most people walked with bent shoulders, looking haggard and exhausted. Only a few ladies and men in bright silks and jewels walked around, smiling and buying from the vendors.
After a while, I sat back in my seat. My excitement at seeing the capital of my father’s kingdom had already disappeared. Taking deep breaths, I calmed my nerves as we headed toward Vishen’s manor.
I sat still in the carriage when it came to a stop. Lucia already instructed me on how to behave like a young lady from a prominent family. I was expected to wait for directions from the household’s caretaker and the maids he assigned to me.
A few minutes later, the door to the carriage was opened. Light from a lantern lit up the dark interiors of the coach.
“This way, My Lady,” said a young maid. Her dark hair was fashioned into two cute buns on the sides of her head. She extended her hand toward me.
I grabbed her hand and allowed her to help me down the steps of the carriage. She arranged the pleats of the skirt around me and straightened up.
“Welcome to my lords’ home,” said another man in neat robes of white. “We were expecting your arrival yesterday. Was everything all right on the way here?”
The man’s voice was kind and gentle.
“I fell sick on the way and had to rest at an inn,” I said, the lie easily coming to my lips. “But don’t worry about me. I am fine.” I spoke the lines Lucia taught me.
“I am sorry to hear that, My Lady,” said the man with a tilt of his head. “I am glad to hear you’re doing better. Your lodgings have already been arranged. Let Poppy show you the way.” He motioned toward the woman who helped me down the carriage.
As Lucia taught me, I didn’t glace toward Rowan, Leon, and the man who drove the carriage. According to her, they would all be brought to my quarters later. All my things would also be delivered to my lodgings.
Straightening my back, I picked the front of my skirt and followed the maid through the gates of the manor. A large, palatial building rose before me but the maid guided me along a side path, taking me further away from Vishen’s quarters. My gaze took in the armed guards stationed in every corner of the expansive, landscaped grounds.
“How far is my place?” I asked when we’d already walked for ten minutes.
“Just a little further, My Lady,” said the maid, taking me further away from the main manor.
Soon, we emerged before three single-storied houses fenced in by tall walls of bamboo rods. There was nothing around it. The edges of a thick forest could be seen in the distance.
The maid walked toward the largest house in the center. Pushing open the door, she gestured at me. “Please, come in, My Lady.”
I entered through the doorway and looked around the modest room. The entrance hall was sparsely furnished with a few wooden chairs and a single table. Lanterns illuminated the space.
“Please rest here, My Lady,” said the maid, gesturing toward the small round table in the corner. “I will bring you some refreshments.”
“Thank you.”
Poppy, the maid, left me looking around the small room. It looked like Vishen didn’t care much for this distantly-related niece of his. He’d practically flung her in an accommodation that was furthest from his manor.
Taking a deep breath, I stretched my arms over my head and twisted my waist to get rid of the soreness in my body. With no one else in sight, I could afford to relax a little.
Silence wrapped around the house and its surroundings. Being far removed from the main manor wasn’t so bad after all. Lucia would be able to sneak in here quite easily without worrying about the guards swarming the main manor area.
Poppy returned with a tray of food. A group of servants came in behind her. The men carried heavy chests between themselves. Looking closely, I noticed they’d all come with me.
“Don’t mind them,” said Poppy, placing the tray on the table before me. She poured me a cup of lavender tea in an ornately-painted porcelain cup and offered me a plate of delicate pastries.
“What about my guards? Have they come here?”
“Yes, Lady Violet,” said Poppy. “They have been shown to their lodgings.”
I gave a nod, feeling relief spreading through me. Leaning forward, I picked the cup and sipped the hot, floral tea.
“Would you like to rest early?” asked Poppy when the servants left the house.
“Yeah, that would be great.”
“I will arrange your things for you, My Lady,” said Poppy. “Until then, have some more tea.” She left me sitting at the table and walked away further inside the house.
I let her get on with her chores, using the opportunity to stuff my face with the delicious pastries she brought me. So far, things went the way we planned. The first part of our mission was complete. We got into Vishen’s manor without anyone suspecting us one bit. The next thing we were up against was to find the Engorging Bell.
“Your things are set up, My Lady,” said Poppy half an hour later. “Please allow me to help you get ready for bed.”
“Thank you,” I said, getting to my feet.
Poppy led into a vast room, much bigger than the entrance hall. This had to be my personal bedroom. It was nothing compared to my chambers in t
he Sun Palace but it wasn’t too shabby either.
Poppy started by helping me take off the heavy, silken dress.
Standing in nothing but a thin linen shift, I swallowed. Thankfully, Poppy didn’t linger to stare at me and moved away to bring me a light robe. Draping it over my shoulders, she made me sit before a table set up with a bronze basin, tubs of cosmetics, and an oval-shaped ornate mirror.
She began by taking out my hairpins one by one. With deft hands, she loosened the braids and knots holding the length of my hair in an ornate bun. Within minutes, my tresses flowed down my back. I stayed still while she combed my locks.
Part of me felt weird. As usual, I couldn’t stand the touch of a stranger. Thankfully, Poppy was quick and didn’t linger too long on my hair. She proceeded to dab a towel in the water basin and started wiping my face and hands for me. I endured it because refusing this treatment would make the maid notice something different about me.
I opened my mouth wide and pretended to yawn.
“You seem exhausted, My Lady,” said the maid.
“I wish to sleep. You can go back now.”
The relief spreading through her face didn’t go unnoticed by me. She was happy for her work to be cut short.
“Is there anything else you need?” she asked. “My quarters are far from here. I won’t be back until tomorrow evening, My Lady.”
“That is fine,” I said. “I will probably sleep beyond dusk tomorrow.”
Poppy grinned. “I will see you, then, My Lady.” She made a short bow and left the room.
A long breath whooshed out of me. It seemed like I played the character of Lady Violet well enough to not draw any suspicion from Poppy.
I went over to the bed and lay down.
The lunar fae drew their powers from the moon. As such, it was common for them to stay active from dusk to dawn and then proceeded to sleep through the day. To avoid catching the attention of some stray guard or servant, I decided to stay in my quarters. Once the sun rose, I would go to see Rowan and Leon and we would start with the next phase in our mission.