That I did, but how does that make this acceptable? Before I can argue further, he sets off. I pull my cloak tighter around me, making sure it covers the engagement mark on my neck. It feels more conspicuous in the tarnished section of town. Though without being bald and having an inked face, it matters little. It makes me less jittery though.
We walk in silence for a while. Soon, I grow more comfortable and take in my surroundings. Despite always hearing about tarnished being less than nothing, it's a nice area of town. Nicer than some areas inhabited by warlocks, and not at all like the rumors. The shops are tidy. We peek in a few windows. I'm surprised to see they don't look any different than the regular shops, except for the people running them, of course.
When we move to the housing district, the yards are trim and well-kept. The houses are smaller than Father's, but have more wild flowers growing next to them. The walkways are neat and clean. We come to a park, not a person in sight.
“Would you like to wander through?” Zade asks.
“It looks lovely.”
As I follow him into the park, the space between us lessens. I have the strangest urge to touch him. His arm maybe, or perhaps his hand. A part of me really wants to, but it seems like the wrong thing to do. I let a bit of distance grow between us and try to focus on the scenery. There's green everywhere with lots of winding paths. A small river runs through part of it with a bridge over it. A man appears in the distance. I think nothing of him until Zade slows.
“What is it?”
He shakes his head, but there's something. Everything about his movements becomes stiffer. My nerves heighten in response. A small part of me wishes I had a gun to pull out of my pocket. But it wouldn't help anyway, probably would only get us in more trouble. No matter what Zade thinks, women don't carry guns. A moment later the man is upon us.
“Chancellor Zade, didn't think to see you here. This is—” his gaze roams over me. “Your intended? What are you bringing her here for?”
It's then I realize that this is a warlock. No tattoos and a full head of hair. Do they wander down here often? His words to Zade make me think not, yet he is here. Better than him being the person threatening Zade's life, yet my muscles grow even more taut. What if he sees the dress I'm wearing?
“Just showing her where she'll end up if she misbehaves. Really none of your business though, Councilman Barkley.”
Another councilman. Worse and worse. My chest tightens. I step back and lower my head, watching them interact through my lashes.
The man casts a gray apology spell. “So magnanimous of you to share such a grand idea. I'll have to bring my woman here next time she misbehaves. We have children so I can't really do it, but she doesn't need to know that.”
Memories of Father punishing mother surfaces. A part of me wants to force this man's ideas back on himself. The other part wants to find his wife and comfort her. Maybe even hide her from him. But none of those things can happen. I'd be dead or tarnished and Zade along with me.
“If you think it will help,” Zade says.
“Course it will. The only thing that scares them more than us is the thought of becoming tarnished. Isn't that why you brought her here?”
“Women behave differently to punishments is all.”
“No, no, you've finally stumbled on a good idea. You haven't owned a woman long enough to know, but they need a firm hand. Remember that advice with your new toy.”
I'm not a toy. Anger burns deep in my chest, but I do nothing. There's nothing I can do.
“Course Envadi scare them plenty. Must work well for you, huh?” the Councilman asks.
“As you say.”
“Your woman does seem upset.” His eyes roam over me and I'm extra grateful for the cloak hiding my dress. I try to pull my expression into a neutral one. When did I get so bad at hiding my feelings?
Zade steps in front of me. “She's not yours to worry over.”
“Right you are.” The man chuckles. “About the proposed tarnished law, you're going to support it.”
“I haven't researched it enough to know, yet.”
“Best get to it then. Being nineteen doesn't excuse you from not doing your work.” He's only nineteen? I didn't know he was so young. The man continues, “The Grand Chancellor was working on the council at eighteen. You've no excuse. We expect better.”
“That we can agree on.”
It's silent. The type of silence there used to be before Father punished me. I shift a bit so I can see the Councilman. His eyes are narrowed at Zade as if searching for a deeper meaning. “Good. Best be on my way. Got a lunch appointment waiting for me, if you take my meaning. Before you leave, you should take her by the Red District, too. That will put the fear in her.”
My cheeks flame as he passes by, his gaze lingering. Zade moves in front of me again. The man laughs as he passes out of sight. I can't decide whether I'm more angry about his behavior or my inability do anything about it.
Quietly, Zade says, “Sorry.”
Despite the warmth of my cloak and the mild day, I shiver. “It's not you.”
“But I want to—” He huffs and puts his hands on his hips. “Things shouldn't be like this, for you, for women, for the tarnished.”
“What should they be like?”