Page 8 of Bride of Ash & Dust

“I’m her fucking brother,” Elrick growls.

“And she is asleep!” the man replies, as if that was the answer to everything. “Whatever you have to say, it can wait until sunrise.”

“No!” I cry. I let my feet drop to the cold ground beneath my cot. “Elrick, come in!” I call.

The tent flap pulls back, and torchlight spills across the ground. One of the Vsenrog royal guards sent to escort me to my wedding stands behind my brother, an expression of disgust on his face.

I ignore him completely and throw my arms around Elrick. My brother gives me a crushing hug, then pulls back and brings a lantern into the tent. Anura, my handmaiden, sits up in the cot next to mine. Elrick smiles at her, and her cheeks turn so dark they’re almost the same shade as her blanket.

“You found me,” I announce, but something about the look on Elrick’s face makes me drop my voice to a whisper. “What is it?” I ask.

Elrick shakes his head. “I don’t like it,” he replies in a low voice.

Anura comes to her feet and pulls the tent flaps closed, tying the laces and making a tremendous amount of rustling to cover the sound of our conversation. Gods bless that woman. Elrick leans closer.

“This doesn’t feel right,” he whispers.

“Because I’m supposed to marry Prince Laurance and go to Ethiria?” I ask.

And now I’m marrying a murderer, I think, but can’t quite bring myself to say.

“Yes.” Elrick frowns. “But not just because we broke the contract with Ethiria. The timing is wrong. Why are they in such a damn rush? If this is about the mine, why not wait until the damn thing is functional? And⁠—”

He pauses, then glances at the door. Anura catches his eye and begins to cough loudly enough to hide our words from any outside listeners.

“I’ve heard from the Council of Mayors,” Elrick whispers. “They’re seeing a lot of visitors. Armed visitors. From Vsenrog. They’re nervous, and this marriage between you and Vsenrog’s damned assassin isn’t going to reassure them.”

He leans back and nods at Anura. Her coughing fit is miraculously cured; Elrick gives her another smile that makes her cheeks light up like a feast day bonfire.

I think about what Blayne said, that Vsenrog once controlled Marion. That marrying into Vsenrog will be like coming home.

Was he trying to prepare me for something? To warn me? Blayne isn’t a fighter, and sometimes he talks in circles. Maybe he was trying to warn me that King Malrik wants something more than access to the new mine. I catch Elrick’s eyes.

“What can I do?” I whisper.

“Be careful,” he says. He reaches forward, then tips my chin up. “Keep your eyes open. I don’t have a clue what Vsenrog wants from us, but you’ll be there⁠—”

His voice fades, and he gives me a sad little smile. My chest feels tight.

“I’ll find out,” I whisper.

He nods. “If anyone can do it, it’s you.”

I smile, even though I feel like I’m about to cry. Elrick hugs me again.

“When you find something,” Elrick whispers, “tell Anura. She’ll get a message to me.”

I ignore the little pang in my chest. Of course my brother has worked out a secret way to communicate with Anura once we’re in Vsenrog. They’ve always been close, ever since the three of us were children.

“And, for the love of the gods,” he whispers, “stay safe.”

I nod.

“The snake shouldn’t hurt you,” Elrick continues. “You’ll be his wife, not one of his targets. But⁠—”

His voice fades as he meets my gaze, and for a heartbeat, I have the terrible feeling that he’s about to cry. Whatever he thinks Vsenrog is after, whatever reason they might have for taking me, it must be terrible.

I look away before I start crying, then clear my throat.