Amaskan's Blood, Raven Oak [read me a book .TXT] 📗

know the man of which you speak, though he is no man, but a monster. A horrible creature that spreads fear and death wherever he walks,” said Lady Millicent.

“Then… then these things I see, they’re true?”

“They may be, child. I’ve heard of other girls such as you, found wandering with their minds and bodies broken after meeting The Monster.”

Ah-ha. So they did know something. Adelei stuck her bottom lip out and blinked rapidly.

“If you saw this man again, do you think you would recognize him?” asked Lady Angelina.

“I’m not sure, my lady. So much in my brain is fuzzy, so confusing. I just want to go home to my father, but I don’t know where home is.” This time a few of the tears that fled down Adelei’s face were genuine. She used this momentary weakness to her advantage. “Can you help me, my lady? I hate to ask it of such an important person. I’m sure you’re busy, but I don’t know who else to ask.”

This time, when Lady Millicent glanced at Lady Angelina, Adelei watched from underneath wet lashes. She wants to use me to go after Prince Gamun, but she’s not sure if I’m genuine. She’s still thinking of who she thinks I am. Damn. Does she think me the Princess or Amaskan? I’m not sure which is worse.

“Please, my lady, help me. Help me find who did this to me.” Adelei cried, and she raised more sleeve to expose healing lashes left by tree branches. Several days old, they could pass for whip welts. When her hands moved to raise the hem of her dress, Lady Millicent’s hands covered hers. “I believe you child—you don’t need to expose your injuries.”

“Maybe you should fetch your husband,” Lady Angelina suggested, and Adelei cringed.

Her reaction cemented something in Lady Millicent’s mind. “My husband’s brother serves on the Boahim Senate. My lord won’t harm you, but should he agree with me on your story, this may be the evidence needed to stop the Monster from harming anyone else.”

By the Thirteen, the Boahim Senate. She was highly connected. Adelei clenched her fists in an effort to remain calm. She needed information, not the Senate. Not yet anyway. I must tread carefully. The last thing she needed was for them to discover her identity and bring her up on perjury charges, much less murder. Only unjust and unholy beings defile their tongues with untruths against those that protect them.

This time, Adelei’s shiver was real. She couldn’t let Lady Millicent summon the Senate. Most of Sadai ignored the Order’s use of murder to seek out justice, but that was because the Order took great pains to hide themselves from the long sight of the Senate. A few faces popped into Adelei’s mind. She couldn’t think of the number—wouldn’t. Didn’t matter how many she’d killed as long as justice was served.

Lady Millicent stepped outside her rooms. Alone with Lady Angelina, the woman stared at Adelei as if she could see straight through the makeup that disguised her face: full cheekbones embellished by rouge, shadows across the eyelids to narrow them, and a powder to give the appearance of being younger than her twenty years. All of it subtle, and yet not enough.

The wig itched, and Adelei tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as they waited. Her hands returned to her lap as the door opened a few minutes later, and a man in a thick overcoat squeezed through the doorway, gut first. Sweat lined his face and upper lip.

He might fall over and roll across the room rather than walk the distance. She bit her tongue on the laughter and changed it into a slight hiccup as she feigned more tears. Adelei retreated as far back into her chair as possible, wrapping her arms around her thin legs as she stared at the floor.

“Is this the girl?” He moved across the room with more finesse than she thought possible for one as grotesquely large as he was, and when his stubby fingers touched her chin to tilt it up, she screamed.

“I’m sorry, good sir. I’m sorry—I don’t know why I did that.”

“You say you don’t recall who you are?”

When Adelei shook her head, the lord turned to his wife. “What would you have me do? For all I know, she’s an escaped servant or a runaway.”

“But she described Prince—”

“You don’t know that. There are many men out of Shad who fit that description,” he interrupted. “Besides, you said yourself that her memory’s fuzzy. I can’t go to my brother with something as weak as that.” The fat on his arms jiggled when he shook his fist in the air, and he returned his narrowed gaze to Adelei.

Every curve of her shape, every scratch and scar noted, and she squirmed in her chair, an action only half-feigned. “If you saw this man, would you know him?” he asked.

She took her time answering, brows furrowed in concentration. “Maybe, my Lord.”

This is getting me nowhere. Certainly not information.

“As you said,” Adelei whispered, “There are many men of that description.”

“See? Even the girl seems unsure.” She couldn’t keep her eyes from his jiggling arm, which escaped his sleeves with several rolls. “I’m needed elsewhere.”

Whatever this prince may or may not be guilty of, it may not be related at all to the assassination attempts. With hope Lady Millicent can piece some of this together.

“I’m sorry for his curtness, child,” Lady Millicent said as the door shut behind her husband. She seated herself in the chair beside Adelei, and patted Adelei’s hands. “The Boahim Senate has to be very sure before they seek justice for a crime against the Thirteen. Is there anything else you can remember about this man? Anything that can help?”

Adelei faked a yawn. “Not at the moment, my lady. Maybe I will remember more on the ’morrow.”

“Of course. Forgive me, my child. My manners have escaped me in all of this. Have you somewhere to rest?”

Adelei nodded. “The Captain made arrangements with someone