Plague and Ash by Sita Bethel

Author:Sita Bethel
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: LGBTQIA+, Magic, magic users, interspecies, mythical creatures, zombies, undead, plague, farming, hurt/comfort, illness, disease
Publisher: NineStar Press, LLC
Published: 2021-12-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

The next morning, we ate breakfast inside the hotel, and afterward, we rendezvoused with a small convoy of three horseless carriages. All the soldiers wore the royal military seal embroidered into their sack coats. All, except the drivers who were warming the cars for use, stood in a line to greet us. An older woman, dark-skinned and with her white hair braided around her head, bowed low, then offered her hand.

“Dame Adrienne, at your service, Lady Rosenburg and Saint Gideon.”

I didn’t approve of “Saint Gideon” one damn bit, but Brighid smiled, bowed, and kissed Adrienne’s hand, so I mimicked her and held my tongue for the time being. Adrienne wore a chain shirt and green surcoat instead of a sack coat, and both a sword and a pistol were strapped to her thighs. Her surcoat bore the emblem of an eagle carrying a sword with the word justice written on the blade. She stepped aside and gestured to another orc.

“May I introduce to you Professor Klein.”

His hair was the color of iron. The strands were slicked back and tied into a bun. His horn-rimmed glasses magnified his dandelion-yellow eyes, and instead of rubies, he had a simple barbell drilled into each tusk. His suit was brown but perfectly creased as it hung from his scrawny frame, and he wore a silver tie clip.

“Professor.” Brighid shook his hand.

“Lady Rosenburg.” He bowed his head before turning to me. “Madame Saint.”

Aw hell, naw. That was worse than Saint Gideon. I returned the handshake but shook my head no.

“Could you call me Sarah, please?”

“If you wish. My name is William, but everyone calls me Klein or Professor. I’m the Master of Fire at the University, and I’m going to be your tutor.”

“Good, because I’ve never so much as lit a match with magic before, and I’m not sure how I’m supposed to assassinate the Saint of Decay.”

“We’ll brief you as we go. Shall we?” Adrienne walked toward the nearest horseless carriage.

“I’m driving!” Brighid jumped into the driver’s seat. She smoothed her gloved hands over the steering wheel, purring in delight. “Hello, my darling, I’m sure we’re going to be good friends.”

“My lady…” Heath cleared his throat.

“Adrienne.” Brighid glanced at the dame.

They had to have known each other. There was too much familiarity in the way Brighid spoke, but I suppose Brighid would know all the knights and viscounts of the region. She’d probably attended feasts at Duke Bernard’s estate. She wouldn’t have sat at the high table with her grandmother, but she would have mingled with the knights and feasted on food grown in Eaxley and Halloway and Lord’s Creek.

“It’s all right. Heath, drive the point vehicle,” Adrienne said.

“Ma’am.” Heath saluted and headed to the front car.

I moved to sit beside Brighid, but Adrienne sat in the passenger’s seat before I reached the door, so I was forced to the back with Professor Klein. I twisted my lips, glancing at Brighid’s hair as it tumbled around the seat. This wasn’t helping my opinion of knights much.

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