Vetica

Her father had always put her on edge. But this was something else. Her heart beat frantically in her chest and her nerves overwhelmed her. Despite the high-quality bed, she’d been given to lie in for the night, she hadn’t slept for more than a few minutes at a time. Tossing and turning, worrying about Charlie and Merlin.

Worrying about herself.

She sat across the table from her father now. Lilica paced back and forth to the right of the long table that stretched throughout the room. A dining hall and meeting space all rolled up into one. A series of candelabras lit the room alongside meager beams of moonlight that fought their way through thick, rolling clouds and a small stain-glass window near the ceiling.

The servants had brought them dinner, though Vedic was the only one that had an appetite. At a quick glance, it appeared to be a type of bird. But Vetica didn’t have the appetite nor curiosity to inspect it further. Despite the meat filled plate in front of her, she felt more like prey than predator at the moment.

Vedic finished chewing and licked his fingers clean of grease. “We need to discuss the trial tomorrow,” he said.

Lilica stopped pacing. “I was thinking about that, daddy. Will the other advisors have enough time to get here?” she asked.

“I sent a messenger as soon as we set the date. They have plenty of time, so long as they want to be here.” He tore another piece of meat off with his teeth.

Vetica knew her father. He was telling the truth when he said he sent a messenger. What he didn’t say was that he had probably sent an assassin after the messenger. The messenger’s brutalized body would certainly tell the story of a person mauled by a wild animal or beast. Who could blame him for the forces of nature?

Sometimes these things just happened.

It made her skin crawl. It meant her fate was purely in his hands. Though, that might not be the worst scenario with all things considered. Unless Lilica had started showing signs of power since Vetica had last set off, he wouldn’t want to see Vetica die just yet.

Vedic grew annoyed with Lilica’s pacing. He looked up from his meal and glared at her. She quickly took the hint and approached the table. She sat on its edge and crossed one leg over the other. “So, what’s this about? I know you want to catch up with Vetica, daddy. But why am I here?”

She was playing innocent as ever. Vetica rolled her eyes. Her sister knew why he had called both of them. He’d done so for the same reason he sent an assassin after the messenger. He wanted to ensure the outcome before the trial started.

He dropped the remnants of the meat in his hands. It clattered against the plate, bone, and all, and bounced onto the table. Vetica wasn’t sure why Lilica was goading him. Father would certainly have preferred finishing his food before getting into business. Vetica grabbed her wineglass and nervously brought it up to her lips. She pretended to take a sip and returned it to the table. Despite that, the earthy scent lingered. The smell calmed her, even if she couldn’t risk otherwise diluting her senses.

“Hosuyo will push for a harsh consequence. He knows the value that the two of you have, but he will not prioritize it over our laws. With the other advisors away, the decision will fall to me alone. Still, your voice will be a factor in how the others perceive my judgement as well, Lilica. You will side with me.” Vedic’s voice was clear. Disobedience would not be tolerated.

Vetica noticed something unusual in Lilica’s eyes. Was it a flash of fear? No. It almost looked like excitement. Her sister had always been unpredictable. Vetica knew the whimsical, innocent behavior was all an act. She’d seen behind that mask on many occasions. But what was her sister planning? It worried her.

Lilica didn’t miss a beat. “Of course, daddy. I’ll have your back as always,” she said.

***

Vetica was alone in her room when someone knocked on her door. Her hand instinctively went toward the dagger sitting on the bed beside her. Canano had given her several knives when she left Arcadeya, but few compared to the traditional daggers used by the Rawlins. They were perfect. At least, perfect for someone who had been trained on them. In her hands, this dagger was just as powerful as a sword or bow. In her hands, this simple dagger could cut down whole groups of men.

She gripped it tightly as she approached the door. “Who is it?” she called out without opening it. It was too early for the trial. That wouldn’t happen until later that night. Much later.

“I have a message for you, mistress,” a man’s voice said.

She cracked the door open and peeked to see a scrawny assassin waiting in front of her door. She didn’t let her guard down. The Rawlins had assassins of all different shapes and sizes. She’d taken her first life before she’d turned ten years old. You never underestimated a member of the Rawlins. “What is it?” she asked.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

“You’ve been requested in the meeting room. It’s urgent,” he said. He turned to flee. Even after she called out for him to wait, he didn’t stop. That was odd. If her father had called for her, he would’ve said so. There weren’t many people of significance here, so who had sent the messenger?

She didn’t waste any time. Her curiosity got the better of her. She hurried toward the meeting room where she had met with her father and sister the night before. She was surprised when she entered and saw who was waiting for her.

Hosuyo himself.

He stood when she entered and gestured toward the open chair in front of him. He was alone. She stopped and pulled the door shut behind her. She then crossed the room and sat in front of him. “Hosuyo,” she said.

“Vetica, I’m glad you joined me. Your father is…busy at the moment. There were reports of a powerful beast in the forest not far from here. He couldn’t resist the thrill of the hunt. So, for the time being, we can speak candidly,” he said.

Vetica scanned the room. “My father has eyes everywhere. You can’t possibly think that—”

He held a hand up to cut her off. “I assure you; one does not reach the heights that I have without learning when I’m being watched. Your father and I traveled here together. I am his chief advisor. I know who his eyes are, and I have eyes of my own. I’ve taken great care to ensure we can speak freely. We shouldn’t waste time purchased with blood,” he said.

She tilted her head at that. Blood? Whose blood? What had Hosuyo done to lure her father away? Truthfully, it didn’t matter. If she could turn Hosuyo into an ally before the trial, there wouldn’t be anyone to speak against her. That was invaluable. In fact, it was a small glimmer of hope that she might leave this place with her life intact. “What is it you wish to speak about?”

Hosuyo sighed. He lowered his hood with fingertips covered in black paint. Though he certainly wasn’t her type, as Vetica didn’t concern herself with such things, she knew he was considered an attractive man by those who saw him. He had beige skin, and his eyebrows were carefully maintained. His brown eyes carefully scanned her face, studying her. “I do not believe your father should remain in charge of the Rawlins.”

Vetica’s throat suddenly felt dry. The blood drained from her face. What Hosuyo had just said made her skin crawl. This man was her father’s top advisor. By all accounts, he was one of the most clever and strategic thinking people amongst all the Rawlins. If not amongst all of Aysela itself. He was a plotter, but never had he dared turn the sharp end of his plots toward her father. Even hearing these words put her in danger. She knew then that this wasn’t some elaborate scheme to test her.

She knew because her father would never tolerate one of his own uttering such words.

“Hosuyo, you will doom yourself.” Her eyes flickered across the room. She eyed the crack of the doorway, the stain-glass window, and every nook and cranny that could hide a spy.

Hosuyo chuckled. “I will do no such thing. As I’ve said, Vetica, I’ve taken precautions. Listen, my proposal is simple. Your father is not a man I can overwhelm alone. But if the three of us work together, I believe it is possible to defeat him. It would require careful planning and expert execution. But we are Rawlins, after all. It can certainly be—”

“Three of us?” Vetica asked. Of course, she knew who he meant. He could only mean one person. In that moment, she wondered if that was what she saw hiding in Lilica’s eyes the previous night. Was her sister already aware of the plan? Was she already plotting to overthrow their father? “So, Lilica is involved,” she added before he could answer.

Hosuyo chuckled once again. If he understood the gravity of what he was proposing, he wouldn’t find all of this so amusing. It made sense the two of them would conspire to come up with something like this. After all, Hosuyo was Lilica’s teacher growing up. It was only natural the two of them would become such steadfast allies. She would certainly have the same relationship with her own teacher if only—

She shook the thought from her mind. It wasn’t good to dwell. “This is foolish. I want nothing to do with this,” Vetica said. She knew all too well what her father did to those who betrayed or disobeyed him. The scar across her stomach was proof of that. Her chair squeaked against the floor as she pushed it back and rose to her feet.

“Wait a moment, Vetica. This is an opportunity for you. For all of us. I know you don’t get along with your sister, but I also know you still love her. I can’t say whether or not that feeling is mutual, but we both know what the future holds for you two if nothing changes. Only one of you will inherit the power, and with it, the head of the Rawlin family.” Hosuyo stood so their eyes were level again. “I don’t believe this power is as important to our survival as your father does. Your ancestor, the one who first built our laws, did not have the power. He was born during the off generation. If he could orchestrate the Rawlins rise to power without this secret hex, then it is certainly not necessary to for us to continue thriving. Your father’s own strength is proof of that.”

Hosuyo paused for a moment. He was studying Vetica’s face for any indicator of her thoughts. But she was a Rawlin. Her emotions weren’t so easily pried from her. He sighed. “You and your sister could rule together in peace. You could share the throne.”

Vetica scoffed. “She would never agree to that.”

“It was her idea.”

Vetica squinted. That couldn’t be true. Lilica would never agree to something like that…would she? Vetica had to admit, being free of her father was appealing. However, despite her father’s flaws, he kept the Rawlins in check. He understood how to balance their work while maintaining a mutual understanding with the crown and nobility. Lilica was unstable. Unpredictable. Even with shared authority, could Vetica really reign in her baby sister? Could she stop her from unleashing a wave of chaos throughout Aysela?

Would any target truly be off limits to a woman like Lilica?

And though it was illogical, Vetica found herself dwelling on one simple fact above all others. If she took charge of the Rawlins, she wouldn’t be able to travel with Charlie and Merlin any longer.

Hosuyo stared at her. “I need to know now, Vetica. Will you side with us? In the event you refuse, as long as you swear yourself to secrecy, your blood doesn’t need to be spilt. Even without you, killing Vedic is not an impossible task. Though it would be easier with you by our side. Either way, I need to know now.”

Vetica swallowed. She thought of the dagger sheathed on her waist. Where did she point it to get the future she wanted? What decision led to the path she wished to walk?

She looked up at Hosuyo and felt conviction in her heart. “I’ll—”