by Devyn Jayse
Other than the port, the Kingdom of Valona where we lived was surrounded by mountains. Only two ways existed to leave the area--either by port or though the mountain pass and toward the outer territories and eventually Serakastra. The castle was protected, being on a high vantage point.
"You're not wrong," Morris replied, confirming a store in town.
"But why wouldn't you have your own store instead of bringing the merchandise here? Or have Oscar send someone to pick up the items, to cut down on the risk?"
"Ever think I just enjoy spending time with Oscar? And no, he won't make his way over to town just to see me."
"You also like to see what other goods I've managed to gain," Oscar said.
Morris grinned. "That, too. I've got to keep an eye out on the competition and see what they're doing."
I finally asked Oscar the question that had been on my mind since I saw his collections of wares. "Why do you live in the Blights?"
"I like it here."
"But the quality of your goods would do so well in the castle," I pressed.
"She's right. You'd be able to price them much higher as well," Morris said. Clearly, that was something they had discussed before.
"As long as I can afford the coin I pay you, you needn't concern yourself about my prices, Morris," Oscar said. "And anyone from the castle that is interested in what The Fortune holds can come down and visit."
I exchanged glances with Morris and guessed I wasn't going to get the answer to my question that day.
"Or they can put in an order, and I can get a delivery to them," Oscar said pointedly.
"Point taken." I smiled. "Where am I delivering to today?"
Oscar went into his side room and returned with a small package. "This needs to go to the castle."
The smile slid off my face. "I can't deliver to the castle."
"Why not?" Morris looked like a cat that had just found a ball of yarn and was eager to figure it out.
I scowled. "I would rather not."
Oscar studied me. "All right, the client has an alternate residence in town. You can deliver it there. His man will get it to him. That better?"
Many of the court had alternate residences in town or the outer territories. They stayed in the castle because that was where the power was and where business was conducted. Some had their families with them in court while others preferred a quiet life and separated the two. Others yet had residences in town, to enjoy closer access to the port and the parks. I had been always lived in the castle until I'd been kicked out.
"I can do that," I said with a nod.
I stared at a white house with a blue door.
So that was Doctor Rufus Reddington's town residence. It was a large house befitting the doctor's station. After all, the doctor was the king's personal physician.
He was also overseeing my sister's pregnancy.
My sister Gwendolynn was married to the king's son, Prince Jasper. Once the baby was born, that would make me aunt to the heir to the throne.
Prince Jasper was the reason I was exiled from the Kingdom.
My father would probably disagree with me and say I was the reason I was exiled from the Kingdom, firstly to dare to raise a sword against the prince for slapping my sister and for refusing to apologize to him.
I didn't believe I had anything to apologize for.
I didn't know Doctor Reddington very well. I had seen him in court, where he was always surrounded by women fawning over him. That probably had to do with the fact that he was unmarried and not terrible to look at. He was well built and always had a serious expression on his face. His chief interest lay with learning. Women never managed to hold his interest for long unless they had an unexplained medical issue, then they held his interest but not in the manner they sought.
"So this is your town house," I said aloud, making my way to the side door. I learned that regular visitors and service people not did not visit the same door. Being exiled had taught me a lot about how the other half lived.
"Delivery for Master Reddington," I told the man who answered the door, displaying the package.
Oscar had dissuaded me from adding the doctor's title as he said not many in town knew that's what he did up in the castle. All they knew was that he was a great man.
"I'll take that," the man said, reaching for the parcel. "Who's it from?"
"The Fortune."
"I'll let him know."
I waited a beat. Sometimes, the masters of the houses insisted that coin be paid out for deliveries, but nothing was forthcoming. The door was shut in my face.
I shrugged and turned away, heading back toward the Blights.
5
My stomach growled in hunger. I remembered happily that this was the day the tavern usually made lamb stew, and I was craving it.
I was so lost in my thoughts I didn't realize I had reached my regular table until I saw Penny and Blaze seated there. Penny's back was stiff, and Blaze looked up at me, angry. I wondered what had happened to upset him.
"Seat taken?" Without waiting for an answer, I dropped into the chair between them.
"If I could tell her anything--"
"Enough, Penny," Blaze interrupted, an edge to his tone. "I told you I was looking into it."
I looked back and forth between the two of them, reading the nonverbal clues.
Hazel passed by the table, ready to tell me the specials and ask which one I wanted. Her eyes were sympathetic but held a hint of mirth, for I had committed a truly stupid act, seating myself in the middle of an argument between the siblings.
"Is Dare looking into it?" Penny asked without sparing me a glance.
Hazel instantly turned around and walked back toward the kitchens.
I sighed, wondering what surprise dish I would be getting. I really wanted to have the lamb stew. She was probably going to get me chicken. I hated the chicken. It was always stringy at best.
"Dare is not looking into it," Blaze replied.
"Why not?" Penny demanded.
"It's not her job to look into murders." A note of frustration laced Blaze's voice. "Her job is to escort you."
"She could help."
"A man is walking around murdering women, and you want Dare to search for him?" Blaze leaned back in his chair.
"Don't make it sound like I wish her harm," Penny said, furious. "You trust her with my life. She's proven that she's more than capable of taking care of herself and others she's tasked with. She would be a help to you."
"If I required her help, I would tell her to look into it. As it stands, I don't need her help."
"That's funny. It looks like you need all the help you can get. The man is still walking around, murdering women."
"Penny..." He turned her name into a warning.
She chose to ignore the warning and pushed ahead. "I still don't understand why you won't talk to me about the murders."
"The details are too gruesome to share with you. You don't need to know these things." Blaze raised a hand and pinched the bridge of his nose as he closed his eyes.
"My friend's mother was one of the victims. Kay's mother." Penny's voice rose.
"Penny, I said we're looking into it."
"How many women have to die?"
"Enough!" Blaze thundered.
The tavern hushed, and he realized his voice was louder than he'd wanted.
He moderated his voice. "I said we were looking into it. That should be enough."
"But you could do more," Penny insisted, refusing to be silenced.
"This will have to be enough." Blaze pushed back his chair and got up. "Kay will find out who did that to her mother. I'll make sure of it." He left, his eyes still furious.
Hazel appeared at the table with my meal. I sighed. It was the chicken. I looked after Blaze's retreating back, wishing I could leave with him. I picked up my fork and raised the first forkful to my mouth.
Before I could bite into it, Penny asked, "Dare, will you look into it?"
&nb
sp; "You heard your brother. He's doing everything he can to find out who's doing this." I took a bite and chewed the stringy chicken.
"He's been looking into it since the first woman was killed. Half a dozen women have died and they still haven't found anything. I know he doesn't want to hear it, but he needs help. If he doesn't get some assistance, more women are going to lose their lives. Would you be all right with that?"
I put my fork down and sighed. "No, I wouldn't be all right with that."
"Then please help."
"And when he finds out that I'm looking into it? What should I do then? You know the work I do for your brother pays for my food and lodging. I can't afford to get on his bad side."
"Then try to make sure he doesn't find out until he has to. He won't do anything to you. He knows he needs help, but he won't ask for it."
I reflected on her words. Six women had been killed, and Blaze and his people were no closer to knowing who was responsible for the murders. I didn't know if I would be of any use but I had to try. Do more women have to be killed before Blaze acknowledges he needs help?
"I don't want more women to die but I don't know if I would be of any use," I confessed.
"You're new to the Blights. You have a different outlook. Maybe you can see what Blaze and the others are missing. Any help would be better than none at all. You don't have to figure out who the killer is. You just need to find out enough to stop the killings from taking place," Penny said, as though those two were not the same. "Please tell me you'll try."
"I will," I promised.
I pushed away my plate. Suddenly, I had no appetite.
6
By the time I left the tavern, the sun was setting.
Penny had left long ago. She had stayed with me through my meal as I forced myself to eat the dry chicken. After she left, I sat alone for some time, thinking about all I knew of the killings so far, and I realized the first place I had to go to in order to search for answers.
Miss Ruby's.
As I made my way through the streets of the Blights to Miss Ruby's, I felt some apprehension. I had never been to a brothel before and wasn't sure what to expect. Before I left the tavern, I'd asked Hazel for directions on how to get there, slipping her an extra coin for her discretion. Coin was effective in the Blights, whether it was to get people to talk or to stop them from talking. The only thing that seemed to matter was how much of it people could get for either.
The establishment was much closer than I had thought. It was about the same distance away from the inn I called home, though I had to cross through some unknown alleys to get there. I stood outside the building, staring at the drab exterior. As it went, it looked like any other building in the Blights, gray and worn. A small sign hung on top of the door, a simple triangle painted red.
A ruby.
Funny.
I pulled open the door, and light and noise spilled outside. I stepped into a riot of bright colors and music. A man stood by the door. He looked me over and then seemed to dismiss me despite the sword I carried, ignoring me completely. He was clearly a guard. Three women stood gathered around a high table, near an open doorway. One was fair, one had dark hair, and one had red hair the color of flames.
The blonde stepped up to me, tossing her long, fair hair over one shoulder. She had a low-cut dress, her heavy breasts almost spilling out. She batted her eyelashes at me. "Hello, handsome. Looking for a body to warm you up? You look like just my type. But if I'm not yours, well, we've got all types in here. Just name your preference and your pleasure."
I flushed. She had mistaken me for a youth. I ran my fingers through my short hair.
The two women behind her let out peals of laughter, and the redhead called out, "Seena, it may be time for you to get some spectacles if you think that scrawny girl is a man."
Seena squinted at me and then let out a loud bark of a laugh. "Oh dear, it seems like I took you for a boy. That's all right, we still have girls for you. I'm afraid I'm not interested, but several of the girls are. What kind are you after?"
"No, no," I stuttered. "None."
She smiled at my reaction. The two women behind her nudged each other giggling. "Having second thoughts, are you? Don't worry, we're all friends here. Let's show you how friendly we can be."
I pulled myself together. This was getting out of hand. "I'm here to talk to Miss Ruby."
Her flirty demeanor disappeared, and a calculating look came to her eyes. "Oh, after a job, are you?" She sniffed. "Not much demand for girls as slight as you. Most men like a handful." She shook her shoulders, setting her top half jiggling, in case I'd missed her meaning.
I almost groaned. Now she thought I was going to be competition. "I just wanted to discuss something with her. Could you tell me where I can find her?"
Seena sniffed again. "She's in her office. Two doors to the left."
"Thank you."
I strode off quickly in that direction, wondering what a madam would look like. I had heard stories while growing up, of course, but I had never met a woman who had that profession. I had to admit I was intrigued about what kind of woman would go into that work by choice.
I didn't have to wait long to find out.
I knocked on the door, and a musical voice replied, "Come in."
I pushed open the door and entered a room painted in shades of red. A woman sat behind a beautifully carved wooden desk. Her hair was arranged artfully above her head with tendrils falling in a careless fashion, framing her beautiful heart-shaped face. A dark beauty mark stood out on one honey-toned cheek.
She raised a thin painted eyebrow as she studied me from head to toe. "Can I help you?"
"Miss Ruby?"
"Yes?"
"I'm Dare."
A look of recognition crossed her face, and I wondered briefly who had told her about me.
"Come in. Have a seat." She waved me in, her hand movements so elegant I felt like an oaf in comparison.
I made my way over to the plush seat across from the desk and sank into it. I was close enough to see her kohl-rimmed gray eyes, made all the more striking by a sprinkle of gold applied over her eyelids.
"Would you like anything to drink?" She got up and walked toward a side table. Her body was all curves that swayed when she moved.
I shook my head. "No, thank you."
"Then I'll pour myself one if you don't mind." Miss Ruby took a bottle and made herself a drink.
I waited until she returned to her chair and sat down.
"So I finally meet the mighty Dare." She took a sip of her drink, her gray eyes watching me with no small measure of calculation. "You've got quite the reputation, you know."
"I could say the same of you."
Her eyes glittered daggers at my retort. Then she blinked and gave a half shrug, as if shaking it off, as if it had never happened. "I thought you'd make an effort to meet me earlier."
"Why's that?" I asked. My face heated. Did Ragum mention to her that I should get a job with her? I'll kill him.
She gave me another half shrug. "Everyone knows how close you are to Blaze."
What? What has Blaze got to do with this?
Confusion must have shown on my face because she clarified, "We have a purely business relationship. Of course, he's Blaze and he indulges in my company from time to time, but not like that."
Oh. My face burned as I realized what she was referring to. "What you two do together is none of my affair."
"I assure you it's just business. I know you're concerned. I would be too if I were in your place. He's powerful and a looker--rare combination in this place. But there's nothing between us other than a business arrangement. He comes 'round, and I pay him." She took another sip of her drink.
My jaw dropped. "You pay him?"
After a pause while she took in my reaction, Miss Ruby sputtered, choking on her drink as laughter overtook her. She cleared her throat, laughing until her eyes teared. She was still laughing as she removed a handkerchief from
her pocket and wiped at the corners of her eyes.
"Not like that!" She gasped when she could finally draw breath.
I leaned back in my seat, sinking into the plush cushions. Oh.
"Not that I would mind," she added with an edged smile. "I have to say he would be worth the price. But we have a different kind of business arrangement. Are you happy about that?"
"Why would I be happy?" My brows knitted together.
"Like I said, everyone knows how close you are to him." She peered at me with a knowing smirk.
"We have a different kind of business arrangement," I said, repeating her words.
Her mouth twisted in a half smile. "Fair enough."
"I'm here because I want information. I want to find out who murdered Kay's mother."
"Really?" She leaned forward, studying me.
"Yes."
"Why?"
I frowned. "Isn't it enough that a woman died?"
"No," she replied bluntly.
"Didn't she work for you?" I was confused by her attitude.
"Yes, she did. She worked for me." Miss Ruby tapped her fingernails on the desk. "That's why I can see why I would care to find out who murdered her. But what's it to you? You didn't know her. You probably only heard her name after her body was stiff and cold."
"Haven't other women been murdered recently? Many of them?"
"Yes, but this is the Blights," she said carelessly. "People die. Here's some free advice: don't get too attached to people. It will save you some heartache in the end."
I clenched my jaw. Tobin's death was the reason I was in the Blights.
"So why do you want to find out who murdered poor Jessie?" Miss Ruby asked.
"I told you, I want to find out who's killing the women. I want to stop it from happening again."
"You made a promise, didn't you?" Her eyes studied me shrewdly.
"What?"
"A promise. You made one, didn't you? Now, who would you promise? Not Blaze. He wouldn't want you to get involved. You promised her daughter? Kay?"