Ethan released her hand and straightened. “She’s telling the truth. She had nothing to do with the plot against us, nor with the ambush.”
Alex stepped back and sheathed his sword before offering Oona a hand up. She knocked it away before pushing herself to her feet.
“So,” Mara said, “what happens now?”
“Now, we go to Merrowhaven before Cadmus realizes we’re still alive. If he doesn’t already know.”
18
Merrowhaven was not what Mara had expected. From what her father and Ansel had told her, she knew it would be big. But just calling the city big did not do it justice. It was monstrous. She could stack an exact replica of Order Headquarters inside the impressive stone walls, and it would only take up a fraction of the space. Tens of thousands of Gifted must live within these walls. Cadmus’s reluctance to defy the emperor’s demand suddenly made sense.
“What do you think?” Ethan asked, making a sweeping gesture toward the city.
“It’s incredible,” she said, a little breathless. “Don’t you think so?”
“Imagine biting into an apple and discovering it’s rotten.”
Mara frowned. She didn’t see anything that would give him that impression, but then again, he’d obviously been here before.
Rocky hillsides spanned for miles in each direction. While she couldn’t spot the sea because of the landscape, she could smell the faint smell of seawater and hear the cries of gulls. With no seaside enemies this side of the continent, Esterwyn didn’t maintain a full navy. Instead, the gulf was filled with small fishing vessels and pleasure yachts. Mara danced on her toes. She couldn’t wait to see the city for herself.
Alex and Oona led the way to the wide road that led to the heart of Merrowhaven. Mara eyed the Avem. When asked why she didn’t go back to Order Headquarters, Oona had simply replied that it wasn’t what she’d expected, and she’d like to come along with them to the capital. Since then, she’d been quiet for the past two days, keeping to herself for the most part. Alex and Ella had taken shifts in watching her, prepared to act if they smelled the faintest hint of a trap.
Mara stepped onto the road, gravel crunching beneath her boots. She paused, looking south. This road led all the way to Stonehollow. She wished she could keep going and not stop until she was safe in her mother’s arms again. Tamil reached up and took her hand. She reluctantly tore her gaze from the road and followed after the group. As much as she wanted to run home, meeting with the emperor was her best chance to protect her family. And who knew? Maybe he would even agree to send her home.
Huddled outside the city gates was a cluster of hovels. At first glance, it appeared to be a trash heap or dumping ground, but as they got closer, Mara realized they were homes. Some of the shelters were no more than three pieces of wood stacked precariously, while others were tents. Would that offer any protection against the elements? She couldn’t imagine the people living here were warm or dry. This must be the dreg shelter her father had spoken about on her nineteenth birthday.
The dregs themselves were easy to spot—the stench of desperation clung to them like rancid perfume.
Ethan followed her gaze. “They aren’t allowed to live within the city walls, though they can go inside during daylight hours to purchase supplies from the limited number of vendors who tolerate them.”
“And the rest?”
“They mostly scavenge from the rubbish bins, or steal.”
“What’s stopping them from staying in the city?” Mara asked.
“They have to carry identification cards, per order of the emperor, and there is a Veniet stationed at the gate at all times to verify the authenticity. If they catch a dreg in the city without their card, they are punished,” Ethan said with an edge to his voice.
“Ugh, what’s that smell?” Oona said, waving her hand in front of her face. “Why doesn’t the emperor make them move to the other side of the city?”
“Practicality. It’s a half-day walk around the city, and the dregs can’t be caught within the city after dusk. Not to mention the sheer amount of work it would take to relocate such large numbers of people,” he gestured to the camp as if to illustrate his point.
Mara kept her eyes on the road as she walked, but the sound of a baby crying made her look up in surprise. A baby? Dregs weren’t permitted to have families. She scanned the tents and shelters, catching sight of more children running around. “Where did they all come from?”
“Laws or not, life goes on. Most of the children were adopted most likely by the dregs who wanted children but couldn’t birth their own.”
“What do you mean?” She tilted her head. Why would he think the children were adopted?
Ethan’s face darkened. “What do you think happens when a couple births a dreg inside the city walls?”
She stopped short, watching the children in a new light. How many were ripped from their birth parents after their Gifting? “This is wrong,” she whispered.
“I know.”
Could she convince the emperor to do something about the dregs’ condition outside the city? She doubted she could make him change his mind and allow them to live within the gates, but if they could build proper shelters and have access to food . . .
They approached the gates, which were made from some sort of solid dark metal with only a small slit, so someone could peer through. A sharp voice barked out at them. “Gates open at dawn for an hour, and at dusk for an hour. Now go away!”
They exchanged baffled looks. Were they just supposed to wait? Ethan stepped forward and called out, “Why are they not open for the entirety of the day as they used to?”
“Can’t have those blasted refugees storming the place, eh? New rule.”
“Refugees?” Ethan asked.
“You been living under a rock or something?” Metal screeched as a window opened on the gate and a squinting eye peered out at them. “Lingate’s smack dab in a civil war. Smart ones’ve high-tailed it to Merrowhaven with one hand stretched out and the other hiding a knife behind their backs. Camp’s around to the west of the city. Half the fools’ve tried to storm the city, and the emperor isn’t keen on letting ‘em stay. You can take the Gifted out of Lingate, but you can’t take Lingate out of the Gifted.”
Mara and Ethan exchanged loaded looks. If they weren’t allowed inside the city, how would they speak to the emperor?
“I think there’s been some sort of misunderstanding. My name is Magi Ethan—”
“A Magi, eh? You’re going to have to try a bit harder if you want to lie your way in. I might be colorblind, but I can sure tell the difference between white and black, and you aren’t wearing the right robes.”
“Move out of my way, nitwit,” came another voice on the other side of the gate. A piercing blue eye appeared in the spyhole, taking in their ragged appearance without blinking. “State your business.”
“As I was saying, my name is Magi Ethan. I’m here to escort an Impriga named Mara to the emperor.” Ethan pulled the scroll from his robes and held it up. “He sent this missive to—”
“Yes, yes. I’m aware. Move back please.”
The gate clanked and shuddered as the guards lowered it to the ground. Mara wrapped her arms around Tamil, pulling him close. On the other side of the gate, a man waited behind a booth. He opened a book and leafed through the pages. He dipped a quill in a pot of ink and motioned for them to approach.
“Please step forward in single file.” The man, a Veniet, eyed them closely, scrawling words on the page as he spoke. “Impriga, Guardian, Magi, Venelo, Avem, Caeli. All clear. Close it up!” he shouted to the guards at the gate before turning back to the group. “Quite an eccentric bunch, aren’t you? If you’ll wait here a moment, I’ll order a carriage to take you safely to the palace.” Without waiting for their reply, the Veniet spun on his heel and marched away.
The gate began to screech shut, much slower than it had opened. Out of the corner of her eye, Mara spotted a young girl step out fr
om an alley. Her movements were slow and calculated, as if she were prey looking for danger. She wore a hooded cloak, perhaps to conceal the flame-red hair that peaked out below the hood.
She strolled out of the alley toward the group, brushing by Ethan, who was too busy watching the Veniet to notice her. As her hand darted into the pocket of his robes, Mara realized that the girl was a predator rather than they prey. She deftly lifted his coin purse from his pocket, then sprinted toward the closing gate.
Mara burst into laughter as Ethan reached toward his pocket with a baffled look on his face.
“Stop, thief!” one of the guards shouted, running after the girl. But it was too late. The gate sealed shut just after she slipped through.
The harried-looking Veniet trotted over. “My apologies, Magi. You will be reimbursed for what she’s stolen.”
“You know her?” Ethan asked, not seeming bothered that he was several gold coins lighter.
“We know of her.” The Veniet smoothed down the front of his uniform before wringing his hands. “One of the dregs who lives outside the city. She’s been nothing but a menace, yet somehow, she continually evades capture.”
“She sounds . . . resourceful,” Mara said with a smile.
“She’s a thorn in my side. It’s only a matter of time before the emperor comes to his senses and flushes them all out.”
Mara bristled. Maybe if they were treated like people instead of pests, they wouldn’t need to resort to stealing. She opened her mouth to give him a tongue-lashing, but a sharp look from Ethan made her snap it back shut.
“This way, if you please.” The Veniet motioned to them to follow, leading them to where a white carriage waited, pulled by four horses.
They filed into the spacious carriage and Mara sank into the plush velvet seats. After a week of walking, it felt incredible, like sitting on a pillow. She pulled Tamil into her lap and peered out the window as the carriage began moving to take them to the palace. So far Merrowhaven wasn’t anything like she expected, and she wanted to get a good look at the city.
Rickety houses were stacked precariously on top of each other like towers made of children’s building blocks. Mara could almost imagine a giant-sized child kicking them down. The smell of refuse and unwashed bodies leaked into the carriage, making her gag. She spotted a handful of boarded-up shops interspersed with the homes. It felt… deserted. The handful of people she did see huddled behind their windows and watched the carriage roll past with hollow eyes.
“Where is everyone?” Mara craned her neck as they passed by another empty shop. Her arms tightened around Tamil, pulling him close. Ethan pulled a pack of dried fruit and nuts from his bag and handed it to Tamil. Mara shot him a grateful smile.
“Crime has doubled in recent years, so the emperor has the outer city on lock-down. If the guards catch you outside your home without your identification card and a special permit to work in the middle ring, they’ll arrest you,” Ella said. Unlike the others, she made no move to look out the window at the sights. Instead, she wedged herself into the darkest corner, arms crossed over her chest.
“How do you know this?” Mara asked.
Ella turned her face away.
When it was clear that she wouldn’t answer, Alex jumped in. “Ella and I spent a year here on assignment as acolytes.”
“Never thought I’d have to come back,” Ella whispered, sounding haunted by the memory.
Mara flashed her a concerned look. “How do they eat if they’re not allowed outside their homes?”
Alex shifted in his seat. “The ones with Gifts that can be weaponized join the emperor’s army for a monthly stipend of food. The others who are too sick or weak to work receive a weekly voucher to purchase supplies in the market.”
“Usually the scraps that no one wants anyway. Really nice, right? And forget going to a Healer if you get food poisoning. Oh no, that’s too expensive.” Ella’s hands balled into fists.
“Ugh, stop exaggerating,” Oona huffed. “I’m sure there are free clinics for people who can’t afford a Healer. That’s literally their job. I couldn’t imagine them turning someone away.”
“Oh really?” Mara rounded on her. “Just like the Healer in Stonehollow always treated dreg patients?”
Oona sniffed delicately. “The people living in the outer ring are Gifted,” she said, as if it made a difference.
Ella let out a growl that made her sound like a feral cat. She launched herself at Oona, but Alex locked his arms around her waist and pulled her back to the seat. Unrestrained tears flowed down her cheeks. “Don’t pretend you know what it’s like, Avem. You come strolling in here like you have all the answers, but you’re just a pampered, spoiled little princess who hasn’t struggled a day in your life.”
“Both of you need to calm down!” Ethan chastised them. “Now is not the time to fight, and it certainly doesn’t help our current situation. We don’t know why the emperor has taken an interest in Mara, and the last thing we need is for you two to tear each other apart before we reach the palace.”
Ella and Oona crossed their arms and looked away. The tension was so thick Mara could taste it, but at least they were silent.
They rode further into the city. There was no physical barrier separating the outer from the middle rings, only subtle changes that indicated the shift. More shops were open, and people walked freely in the street, carrying brown-paper bundles or baskets in their arms.
The carriage slowed as they approached another gate. The inner wall wasn’t as large or impressive as the outer wall, but its purpose was just the same. As they passed through, Mara could feel the difference in the air like a fog being lifted. Music and laughter carried on the breeze, filling the space with life. People frolicked in the streets in the most ridiculous outfits. The men wore tight breeches, puffy shirts, and capes that fell to their backsides. The women had painted faces and impossibly tiny waists that looked like they were being squeezed. Their gowns billowed out at the hips, making them appear comically disproportionate. Many carried frilly umbrellas, despite the clear sky.
Brightly-colored shops lined the street. She spotted confectionaries, dress shops, jewelry shops, restaurants, markets, and more. The immaculately-maintained homes stood tall and straight like soldiers standing at attention.
Mara frowned at the startling contrast between the inner and outer rings. In Stonehollow, there wasn’t a significant difference between the homes. Any resources were shared equally so everyone had enough.
“If we’re going to be staying here a while, we’ll have to explore the inner city after dusk,” Ethan said. “Few cities can boast of the same cultural nightlife as Merrowhaven. Anything you could possibly want to do, from romantic dinners to dancing away the evening. You might be interested in seeing a play at the theater.”
“If you like it here so much, why didn’t you request a transfer?” Mara twisted in her seat so she could look at him. “Surely Merrowhaven has as much need for a talented young Magi as any other town.”
“Who says I like it here?” Ethan asked with a wry grin.
“Who wouldn’t like this place?” Oona said, gesturing out the window as they passed a florist shop. “It’s gorgeous!”
“It feels . . .”
“Artificial?” Ethan prompted.
“Yes, exactly!” Mara nodded, relieved that someone could put into words how she felt. “It’s like they’re trying to be something they’re not. What are they hiding?”
“Who says they’re trying to hide anything?” Oona rolled her eyes. “Honestly, Mara, not everything is part of some giant conspiracy. Maybe these people just enjoy the finer things in life?”
“Are you suggesting that the emperor doesn’t know about this, or that he just doesn’t care?”
“Oh, he knows.” Ethan said darkly.
The carriage took them through one final gate before coming to an abrupt halt. Boots thumped on the roof as the driver made his way to the side and opened the door. As they c
limbed out of the carriage, Mara’s eyes immediately went to the road, which was so smooth it could have been poured. The smell of tar tickled her nose, making her sneeze. She bent down and ran a hand over the surface, marveling that it was warm to the touch despite the chill in the air. “How is this possible?”
“Saxums crush rock into tiny pieces, and an Ignis heats it into a pourable liquid. Then they press it down until it’s smooth.”
“It’s amazing.”
“Only you would marvel over a road when there’s a palace at your back.” Ethan chuckled.
Mara turned around and her eyes bulged. She’d thought that Dumont castle was huge, but this was borderline obscene. Light gray stones had been smoothed, polished, and stacked, to form an impressive structure that reached hundreds of feet into the sky. Tall spires reached like fingers into the sky. A blue banner depicting a white raven flew from the turrets. Armed guards waiting outside a pair of doors that stretched twice as tall as them.
Ethan offered her the crook of his arm, which she took willingly. She was so excited to leave Order Headquarters that she didn’t bother wondering about the emperor. Now that she was here, the weight pushed down on her. What did he want with her? Had she merely traded one prison for another? On her other side, Tamil wrapped his arm around her waist. She took a deep breath as they walked up the stairs.
The guards, wearing white and blue uniforms, stepped aside to allow them entrance. Another guard offered a shallow bow before leading their procession into the palace. He bypassed the labyrinth of hallways and headed straight for a second pair of massive doors. After whispering to the man standing by the doors, they followed inside to what Mara could only imagine was the throne room. Except for a few servants bustling around, it was empty.
Chandeliers dangled from the ceiling, each holding hundreds of flickering candles. Stained-glass windows sat at even intervals along the walls, allowing colorful light to bathe the otherwise drab interior. A blue velvet carpet stretched from the doors to the raised dais where a pair of figures sat on golden thrones.
The Dreg Trilogy Omnibus Page 47