I looked her up and down. She seemed so small and harmless. “It was utterly terrifying.”
Asher exited the closet behind me. “We should return to the cellar. I still hear others in the house.”
I imagined the servant and the cook would be hiding for the rest of the night, but he was right. I wanted to regroup with Steifan and Tholdri as soon as they were dismissed by the Archduke.
I led the way down the hall, back through the kitchen, and into the cellar. I avoided Asher’s gaze all the while. For some reason, what he said had bothered me. He really thought I enjoyed executing vampires.
In truth, I rarely regretted the deaths when the vampires were attacking me, but the executions . . . cutting off someone’s head while they begged for mercy tended to stick with you. I did it because it was the right thing to do. That didn’t mean it was easy.
I didn’t know how to explain that to him. I didn’t know how to explain why I would kill a defenseless vampire without blinking, when I would go to such elaborate lengths to scare humans into a confession.
I couldn’t explain it to him, and I couldn’t explain it to myself. But what was done, was done. Justice would always be served, one way or another.
Chapter Nineteen
The Montrants confessed to everything. The other guards and nobles involved were arrested, and every inch of the canals were scoured for the bodies. Bastien and Vannier were never located, which stung, but I couldn’t search forever for a child who might not be found.
Three days after the events in the Montrant’s cellar, Steifan, Tholdri, and I visited Ryllae to say our goodbyes.
Within her small home she embraced me, pulling away with a knowing look. “You be careful, and remember all we discussed.”
I stepped back to stand between Steifan and Tholdri, acknowledging her words with a nod. I hadn’t told either of the men my suspicions about the Potentate. Such thinking could be dangerous, and I didn’t want them involved.
“If you ever find yourself in the North,” I said, “come pay us a visit.”
Her mouth twisted. “I find that unlikely, but if you run across any of my people in your travels, I will come.”
Unfortunately, that was just as unlikely as her coming to visit. “We better be off,” I said. “We have a long ride ahead.”
Ryllae’s mouth twisted further. “A word alone, Lyssandra, if you would.”
Before I could answer, Tholdri patted me on the shoulder. “We’ll wait for you outside.”
Steifan followed him out, leaving me alone with Ryllae. I found myself nervous of what she might have to say. I already knew I had to worry about the Potentate. I wasn’t sure what else she could tell me.
She stepped closer, craning her neck to look up at me. “I think you should ask your vampire about your sword. I believe together you could discover the reason it was created, and why it has found its way to you.”
I furrowed my brow. “The Potentate gave it to me. It didn’t find its way to me.”
Her smile bordered on condescending. “Dear child, such objects go where they please. The sword would never have made it to you if that was not its wish.”
I glanced at my sword hilt over my shoulder, once again thinking it might be more of a burden than a boon. “Whenever I see Asher again, I will ask him.”
“You speak so casually,” she laughed, “as if you will not be seeing him quite soon.”
I narrowed my eyes. “I haven’t seen him since the night we haunted the Montrants. How can I say when I will see him again?”
She hugged me again, muttering against my shoulder, “You will be traveling through dangerous lands. I have little doubt that he’ll be watching over you.”
“I thought you didn’t like him,” I said as she pulled away.
She shrugged. “I don’t like any vampires. They are bloodthirsty monsters, but that does not mean that I cannot see the truth. He will be watching you, and protecting you. Whether that is a good thing or a bad thing is yet to be seen.”
I smirked. “Your advice is confusing, as always.”
“I fear I have no clear advice on this matter, but you are a clever woman. You will figure it out. All of it. Now off with you, the morning wears on.”
I found myself sad to leave her. It was nice having another woman around. Maybe when I got back to Castle Helius, Isolde and I could have some girl talk. But then again, maybe not.
Later, as we exited the city gates, we were approached by two familiar faces.
Bastien grinned when he saw us, and parted from Vannier to run toward us.
I slid down from my horse and met him halfway, scooping him up in a hug. I twirled him once, then set his feet on the ground. “Where in the Light have you been?” I gasped.
Vannier approached as Steifan and Tholdri reached us with our horses. “My old friend found him hiding in the slums. Someone had tried to take him, so he thought it best to lay low.” Vannier patted Bastien’s sandy hair. “He’s a smart lad.”
Bastien grinned. “When my grandfather found me we thought it best to hide until you solved Duchess Auclair’s murder. Then we heard about the duke.” His smile fell.
I looked to Vannier. “Grandfather, eh?”
His wizened cheeks reddened. “When we heard of the duke’s death, I thought I might as well tell him. We will both need to search for new employment.”
“Well I’m glad to see you both alive,” I said. “Truly.”
“Not that this isn’t touching,” Tholdri said to my back, “but we need to get moving.”
“We will let you go,” Vannier replied. “We just wanted to offer you our thanks. We could have ended up just like the duke and duchess, or the countless victims lost in the canals. We heard
