29. Tiana

Chapter twenty-nine

Tiana

I had barely slept when morning arrived.

After dragging myself over to the table, I sat numbly as Bet served me a breakfast of biscuits with sausage gravy, poached eggs, roasted potatoes with peppers, and mixed fruit. Anywhere else, this would have been a breakfast to savor, but the rich food bore little flavor.

I sipped my tea and lost myself, staring at a stray bit of leaf swirling in my cup.

"Mistress, I made you a bag of biscuits and fruit for the road." Bet placed a hand on my shoulder.

I tried to smile. "Thanks."

"Time to go, Mistress." The wildcat strode over with another vial of the syrupy liquid. "Drink this. "

I took the vial, perplexed at the dose that would make me drowsy but not put me to sleep. Something in that made currents of alarm streak up my arms.

This was different.

Something was happening.

"I . . . I need to get my other clothes. They're on the cot." I started to stand.

"Leave them. We need to leave."

My trickle of fear became a raging torrent, and I wobbled as I stood. The wildcat had to steady me.

When we walked outside, I braced myself to be stowed like baggage in the cart, but this time, an ornate carriage waited. The wildcat offered a gentlemanly hand to help me into the main passenger section of the coach. The bull was already settled on the cushioned bench opposite. The wildcat joined us, sitting beside the bull, both staring at me, unblinking.

I was surprised when they left the curtains to the carriage's windows pulled back but was thankful for the distraction. The strange, masked pair made my skin crawl simply by their presence. Their empty stares were unbearable.

A short time later, the drug kicked in, and my head began to swim. I was aware of the passing landscape but felt drunk enough not to care.

Around midday, a few houses and picketed farms appeared in the carriage's window. One, then two, then a smattering of homes. We entered a village and stopped in front of a stone building that stretched as far as I could see. Other than a lone set of double doors, the face of the building was a blank wall of ash-colored granite. It reminded me of a massive tomb.

The wildcat opened the door, stepped out, and motioned for me to take his hand so he could help me down. My head was clear enough for a small act of defiance, so I brushed off the proffered hand and stepped down on my own. As soon as I was visible, masked figures walking nearby stopped and stared. A pair walking nearby bowed and uttered, "Mistress," in awed tones.

The wildcat walked me toward the building's entrance as the bull followed behind. Onlookers stepped back and bowed as we passed.

We entered the double doors, then strode down wide, sloping hallways before stopping in front of a gilded door. The wildcat opened the door, scanned inside, then motioned for me to enter.