Chapter 204: What Did It Mean?
When Jacques returned to the highest level of the House of Iron, he was surprised to find the table he shared with Heila was now covered with several portions of uneaten confections and the woman herself was poking at a custard-like dish that smelled heavily of vanilla, though she seemed to have only taken a small bite or two.
"So dat’s what de problem was," he said, putting on an affable smile. "You jus had a bit of a sweet tooth first ting. I shoulda ordered you someting a bit different den, cher."
"It wasn’t just the food," Heila said, shaking her head and giving the arena stage a pointed glance. "But if I’ve seen what you wanted me to see, then I should return to the palace. Lady Ashlynn should be waking soon and I want to be there when she does."
"So long as you’ve seen," Jacques said politely. "You jus’ need to tell your Lady. Dis whole journey to da briar, Jacques be right der by her side. No matter what, ain’t nottin’ going to stop dis witch gettin’ to her. You understand?"
Jacques didn’t care for the crowd’s approval today at all. All that mattered was that Ashlynn got the message - if she needed to escape because the vampires held her hostage, he had the strength to help her escape.
Once they reached the Briar, there wouldn’t be a chance to demonstrate what a witch could do against people like her current guards, or captors if that’s what they were. She might feel that when Nyrielle returned to take her back to the Vale of Mists, she had no choice.
He had to take this time to make sure that she understood - even if she hadn’t gained the strength to stay free of their fangs yet, he and the Mother of Thorns could help her stay free.
The carriage ride back to the palace felt strangely awkward, despite Jacques’s attempts at small talk.
"Dat was quite de assortment of sweets, ma petite," he said while the carriage trundled across the cobblestone streets, weaving its way through the crowds that packed the roads during daylight hours. "You had some friends join you?"