Page 68 of A Lie so Pretty and Poisonous

Johneck, an old gruff daemonite, was quenching a blade that sizzled in cold water, steam rising around him. He lifted the blade out, inspecting his work. Gabriel pointed to Johneck to ensure I was watching.

“Your Highness,” he grunted out in acknowledgement, barely looking at Gabriel.

Gabriel was oblivious to Johneck’s indifference to his presence, watching him work in fascination and childlike glee. This was not of interest to me at all, but I could tell Gabriel was content just watching Johneck make his weapons and browsing those he had for sale.

“You see, Aurora?” Gabriel pointed at the unfinished sword in Johneck’s hand. “His next step is to inlay the hilt with gold along the pattern he created.”

He ignored Gabriel and continued to work. Gold pieces of jewelry lay near Johneck’s reach. Gabriel waved his hand toward the table. “He buys the jewelry to melt down for this purpose.”

Johneck hummed in agreement. I feigned interest, and Gabriel guided me forward to the table of gold pieces along with a crucible to melt them.

The heat from the fire was intense. My face became dewy, and the loose hair at the nape of my neck stuck to my skin. I was about to take a step back to cool off when my eyes landed on a thick gold ring. My breath hitched, and I swiped it off the table, holding it up at eye level. The ring was heavy and had a crest on the top of it of a stag with a leaf between its horns.

My family’s crest.

My father’s ring.

The air was pulled from my lungs.

Gabriel’s wide smile disappeared. “Aurora? What’s wrong?”

I thrust the ring in Gabriel’s face. “This,” I turned to Johneck. “Where did you get this ring? Tell me!” I yelled.

Johneck blinked and looked between Gabriel and me. “My lady, I buy jewelry second-hand. I don’t recall the name of who sold it to me, but he said he acquired it and needed money to settle his gambling debt,” Johneck shrugged.

My breathing picked up, and my knees wobbled. The sounds around me became increasingly loud and distorted.

“Aurora? Tell me what’s wrong.” Gabriel wrapped an arm around me, his lapis blue eyes searching mine.

The words flew out of me rapidly. “This was my father’s ring, and now it is in Tironaill! My father was one of the many people who have disappeared in increasing numbers over the years. Humans are being brought into Tironaill!”

Gabriel shook his head. “Aurora, that isn’t possible.”

I gestured to myself angrily. My voice rose. “I’m here, standing in front of you. I am a human who crossed the threshing wall with another human. Please don’t manipulate me into thinking I am crazy.”

Johneck retreated to the darker part of his mercantile, away from bearing witness to me berating the brother of the king.

“Aurora, keep your voice down.” His eyes darted around the crowd, seraphs glancing in our direction.

My voice lowered. “There have been rumors swirling about humans being heard and seen, have there not?”

“Where in the world did you hear that nonsense?” Gabriel’s eyes flashed.

Shit. Don’t let him know.

I blinked, searching for the right lie. “I…heard chatter while walking through the market a few days ago but thought nothing of it. I assumed it was about Cora and me. Until now.”

“I have heard no such thing. Are you sure this is your father’s ring?” he asked.

I withdrew from his hold. “Gabriel, I would know this ring anywhere. My father wore it every single day of my life, never taking it off.”

Gabriel pulled me into a hug. “Alright. I will send my soldiers to investigate. I can’t imagine why humans would be brought here, but if they are, then the militia is surely behind it. I will question the captives we have about it as well.”

I took a deep, cleansing breath. “Thank you. I am sorry for raising my voice, but if humans are being held captive somewhere, we must free them. My father is a lot of things, but he doesn’t deserve imprisonment.”

“Your reaction was a bit hysterical, but I understand.”

I swallowed the little flame that wanted to make a retort and grasped my father’s ring in my hand. “I have to take this.”