“Are you all right, Jess?”

Soft words, sweet as a caress, Rowan gazing at Jess so tenderly as they soaked in the heated baths below, gently scrubbing Jess's scalp as grime, gore, and dye were sloughed off her body, skin pink and soapy, and Jess had to fight not to sink into an exhausted doze.

“It's not safe to sleep yet, Jess,” Rowan softly chided. “That's why no one's ever allowed to bathe alone... most especially not exhausted Aspirants or Squires who could so easily slip into sweetest slumber, death but a gentle caress away."

Jess shivered, even now fighting back flashes of all she had seen and done. “That won't be a problem, shieldsister. I just... I just want to forget. Everything we've seen, everything we've done.”

Jess flushed and looked away from her friend's arched smile. “I just want to forget.”

Warm soapy arms held her close. “It's been quite a night, has it not?”

Jess chuckled at that. “I never thought it would be like this.”

Rich brown eyes strangely luminous in the muted light captivated Jess, soft lips gently pressing against her own. Sweetest flames of affection and desire coursed through her. Jess shuddered, losing herself in that kiss.

"It was your first time fighting under Eloquin's banner. Believe me, Jess, I know how you must feel." Rowan offered the gentlest of smiles. "I expected slavers, not international intrigue, same as you. Still, it feels good, knowing we saved so many girls, doesn't it? Even if we can't take back everything we did... over a score of lasses have been freed from horror, and every man to fall to our blade was an enemy. There is no shame in that, Jessica."

Jess squeezed her eyes tightly shut, choking back a sob, Rowan's tender embrace all but forgotten. “What about Gaines? He was just a boy, just a damn boy looking at me with the horrified gaze of a young man who wanted to be the hero of the tale, who thought I might be his princess to rescue, only to find that he doesn't get to play the hero at all. Not even the villain. Just a sad little boy who dies by the side of the road. For with our intervention his fiercest passions, the cry of his very existence, came to nothing at all. And who ended his life?”

Rowan held Jess close as sobs she had buried in icy resolve for so many hours burst free at last. "I did, Rowan! I broke that poor boy's neck. I gazed into his desperate stare, the stare of a man... a man who had dreamed of loving me... and his father. A man... only at the damned bitter end did I find had dreamed of an alliance between our Houses." Jess sobbed. "And I had killed his son. And when his eyes begged me for an answer, a reason, a way out of the madness consuming us both... I killed him."

Jess shuddered. "I just... ran him through."

“You ran through a man who we know was contemplating regicide!”

Rowan's voice had turned harsh and cold. "Don't you dare shed a tear for them, Jess! Do you really think Gaines was an innocent? He was the hidden son of a man who sought the throne! He was not sent because his arm was being twisted, he was sent because his father wanted him close, for the gambit at hand!"

Jess grimaced and shook her head, hot tears pouring down her cheeks, for all that she fought back her sobs. “No, Rowan. Gaines didn't know. I didn't feel that about him at all.”

"It's done, Jess. You killed them. You killed them both. And now the Arbingion clan is headless, father and son both claimed by the earth once more." Rowan scowled. "And when the king finds out, finds out how dark the tendrils in play were, I would not be surprised if the entire clan finds itself laid low by vicious mishap, all traces of claim or title burned from the royal records, the duchy itself soon in play."

Jess swallowed. “How many lives will be lost, do you think?”

"Who cares, Jess? Those fools were planning regicide! Good riddance!"

Jess bowed her head, having no more words to say.

Rowan sighed. "This is what it means to be a Squire, Jess. This is not some honey-sweet faerie tale where all the handsome smiling men are noble and true, and the villains ugly and evil."

Jess sobbed, her friend holding her close. “Real life people are a mixture of both, Jess. Even Putrice. In her own sad way, she cared for her students. Even you. But she had dipped her toes in the foulest of waters, and had to be brought down.”

Rowan flashed a dark, approving smile. "I only caught a bit of what Eloquin had flashed to you, but his goading was brilliant, and you, a mere student protecting her master, did just what was needed to be done." She chuckled softly. "Of course, we had to coach a score of very grateful girls who had been but a heartbeat from being sold off as pleasure chattel, and have words with near a dozen terrified noble ladies, desperate not be be associated with a matchmaker who turned out to be a Velheim slave-owner in close confidence with corrupt nobles planning regicide. But in the end, all of them quite agreed that yes, Putrice most definitely had saber in hand still, and was but a heartbeat from running you through, before you righteously cut her down."

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Rowan dipped her head under the water, washing the last of the soap away, hair as lustrous as it had ever been, glossy with rich burnished highlights, like a lush, silken dream. "It's good you killed her, Jess. This way, she can never align her pieces in Court and hope to throw testimony in any way that vindicates herself, or casts unwelcome light on operations that must remain forever in the shadows.”

Jess said nothing, hands rhythmically soaking free the last of the coloring from her hair, plant-based dye all too willing to come free to her slightest touch.

But the constant flow of soapy water cleaning out the last of the ichor her body had been spattered with was a soothing comfort she couldn't bear to let go.

Rowan, glowing pink with good health after the hot bath, no matter her dusky heritage, gave a satisfied nod. “I think we are both clean, sister, and don't worry. As long as we serve under Eloquin's blackened banner, we have liberties and license denied any but the king's own agents. Not that such is ever made public, nor will Eloquin overplay his hand, dealing those cards only when he must.”

She gave Jess a satisfied nod. "Truly you are the sweetest of angels, Jess; fierce and beautiful, with a heart far too kind for the games we now play."

She kissed Jess, slow and soft, and Jess did not resist, more desperate than ever to put all the horrors she had embraced behind her. To forget the coldly smiling creature who had worn her face, so high on righteous fury, reveling in the screams of every soldier she had put down.

She had been a far more innocent girl, just two days ago. She wondered if she could ever be that girl again.

Jess, be ready!

Powerful fingers gently clasped her own.

Jess lurched, suddenly pinned by Mord's hungry gaze, not expecting to find him here at the baths when the revels had already started above.

“Mord.” Rowan's voice, neither excited nor disappointed, merely acknowledging him.

Mord handed a flask to Rowan, his gaze still locked intently on Jess.

Rowan took a deep swig and sighed, a blissful smile caressing her sensual features. "Laudanum. Oh, you naughty boy. But what better night to embrace vice's dark gifts than this night? When we have so very many sins to wash away."

And now Mord did grin, his smile wild and wicked, even as hands oddly gentle stroked Jess's cheeks. “Isn't that the truth, sister of the blade.” He turned to Jess. “I underestimated you. I once thought you insufferably arrogant and cocksure, confident smile mocking the world with your mastery of everything you thought mattered, paying not a single student or class you disdained any mind.”

His eyes grew momentarily hard, before softening once more. “And tonight I saw that it was not merely the fanciful delusion of a girl capable of nothing, but a true warrior. A girl who chooses her own battlefields, who would let no one draw her into fights she did not favor, and when prey had caught her fancy, she dropped sheep's clothing and struck, savage and true, as bold and ruthless as any wolf.”

Mord chuckled softly, fingers caressing her lips.

Her palm cracked against his cheek

"Damn you, Mord! You made my years at Highrock unbearable with your constant sniping and picking at me, mocking me at every turn, and now you think to court me?"

His bonhomie demeanor suddenly cracked, hungry stare reminiscent of the most savage of predators now fastened upon her. "I offer you pleasure, Calenbry. Escape from the dark glories recently savored. You'd do well to accept my offer." Mord chuckled coldly. “Arrogant as a dozen lords, and never have I hungered to master a woman as I hunger to master you. Come, Jess. Sheathe your claws. You have led a merry chase, but you know it's time to submit to he who would be your king."

Jess shivered, even as Mord teased her with the flask once more. "I think, Mord, I will pass. Keep your drink."

Mord's eyes flashed. His clenching fist ruptured the flask. The baths smelled suddenly of poppy, spiced wine, and fear. "You'd do well not to belittle my offer, Calenbry."

A jolt of furious panic tore through Jess. Horrified fury coursing through her, even as she took in every inch of the baths, ready to do what must be done.

Rowan's sultry laughter suddenly filled the chamber, Jess and Mord both favoring her with the strangest of stares. "My, how you two do carry on. If we hadn't just spent an endless night fighting back to back against foes thirsty for our blood, I'd almost think you two were going to kill each other. And wouldn't that be a bloody shame? All those damned treacherous snakes trying to destroy us from within, and you two are happy to do all their hard work for them."

Jess felt her cheeks flushing hotly and lowered her head, suddenly ashamed.

She felt Rowan's soft lips against her cheek, heart suddenly racing for far different reasons than mortal peril. "Come, battlesister. Let's leave our brother-in-arms to bathe in peace, to ready himself for the score of admirers he'll no doubt find at the revels. You and I shall savor quieter diversions, together.

Jess spared one final glance for Mord, chilled by how fast he had changed his demeanor once more, gazing at her with the same cocksure grin he had flashed when he entered, his now naked and powerfully built frame soaking in the steamy bath. He deliberately turned away. "You're dismissed, Calenbry. I have no further use for you tonight."

Jess blinked, gazing at her nemesis in speechless, furious disbelief, even as a grinning Rowan gently led her away.

"That arrogant jackanapes!" Jess said for the dozenth time even as Rowan slammed the door to her private quarters shut, warm fingers gently stroking Jess's mouth, shocking her to silence.

"Shush, Jess. Some things are more important than your battle with Mord." Rowan smiled, stroking Jess's cheek before pressing soft lips against her own, stealing Jess's heart with a kiss.

Jess sighed, sinking to the soft bed suddenly before them, savoring Rowan's laughter as she caressed her lover's tenderest secrets, Rowan mirroring her every movement, waves of sweetest rapture washing so many awful memories away.