“This is the armor of a Blade. Worn by the brothers and sisters of the Ebon Flight.”
I tilt my head to the side. “Yes. I see. But it is not what you wore on the ship. What armor was that?”
He comes to such a sudden stop I almost crash into the back of him. “Why do you want to know?”
I take a deep breath. “Because I am bored beyond belief and with each day that passes, I fear I am losing little pieces of my mind with it. If I don’t have a normal conversation soon, I’ll scream.”
I see the hint of a grin in the corner of Arax’s mouth, but it is a promise he does not fulfill.
“Very well. The armor I wore on the ship is a Reaper’s armor. They are the elite of the Ebon Flight, and serve as lieutenants in battle.”
I think over his words. “And why do you no longer wear that armor? It sounds far more important.”
Arax looks straight ahead, and I watch his shoulders rise and fall with a heavy breath. “It is.”
“So why do you not wear it?”
Arax is silent for what feels like an age, and I feel myself falling in line with his steady strike until at last he speaks. “Because I allowed you to save me.”
My heart thumps hard in my chest, and I swallow a lump in my throat. “You did not allow me to do anything. You were dying. What I did was my decision and mine alone.”
“That’s not how the king sees it,” Arax replies, a hint of bitterness in his voice. “To him, I would have died a warrior’s death. Instead, I escaped my fate like a coward. So now, I’m deemed unworthy of serving my House as a Reaper. I serve only as a Blade.” He glances back at me, his expression hardening. “And a bodyguard to the one I allowed to dishonor me.”
My chest tightens. “I was trying to save you.”
“It makes no difference,” he replies as we approach the doors of the dining hall. He grips the handle and pulls a door open for me. “I will wait here.”
I drop my chin, fidgeting with my fingers to avoid his gaze. In his own way, Arax has shown me moments of unexpected decency in Baev’kalath, reminding me of Keeper Tovar with his steady presence. It’s a stark contrast to the heartlessness I faced on the ship and the contempt of every other member of his House I’ve encountered. If it weren’t for this, I might find some satisfaction in his downfall, as I did with Solena and the maids. But knowing what I do about the Mordorin and the reverence they hold for their warriors, this must be the ultimate punishment—being deemed a lesser warrior in their eyes.
“Arax. I…”
He shakes his head with a firmness that leaves no room for argument, his gaze fixed straight ahead. “There’s nothing more to discuss. Now, please—just eat.”
I glance up at him from beneath my brow, but he stands as still as a statue. Biting my lip, I walk past him, feeling the coldness radiating from him as it pushes me away. I wander slowly intothe dining room, which feels smaller in the daylight, stripped of the flickering candles and shadowy corners that once held sinister royals glaring from the far end of the table.
The breakfast feast sprawled out before me is a vibrant array of fruits, assorted cheeses, and freshly baked bread—such a stark contrast to the meager handful of berries and nuts I’m used to. I start cautiously, picking at the tiny morsels. After all, I’ve practically eaten an entire apple tree. But with each delicious bite, my appetite surges. With no one watching, I soon find myself shoving fist-sized portions into my mouth. I’m unsure of how much time passes, but only when my belly strains against the tightness of my corset do I finally pull back, and as I do, a burp erupts from me like thunder, startling me into silence.
A cough floats in from the doorway, and I spin around to see Arax watching me curiously.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” I ask.
His lips are a straight line. “Nothing, Princess. Have you finished, or are you just coming up for air?”
“I’m finished… for now.” I rub my swelling belly through my corset. “But I think a walk is in order.”
Arax bows. “Very well. The rain has eased. We may be able to venture outside.”
The thought sends a thrill through me. No rain. Could it be possible that the sun might peek through today? The warmth on my skin could be just what I need to start feeling like myself again. Not to mention being outside might offer some safety. After all, all my nightmares have come to life within these stone walls.
“Yes. Let us go,” I say eagerly.
He turns and leads me down the hall, past the stoic line of guards, ducking in and out of the shadows as we walk by the arches that look out across the vast balconies to the Untold Sea. He’s right. I can not hear the rain. Just the crash of the waves asthey hit the rocks and the hollow whistle of the wind rolling over the endless ocean. But as we approach the largest balcony that overlooks the courtyard, I hear something else. Steel striking steel and voices raised in fury.
“What is that?” I ask nervously, recalling the last time I heard something from the courtyard was when I watched a Fae lose his head.
But Arax’s lack of concern is almost comforting. “The Flight is taking advantage of the weather and sparring.”
His response has me even more curious.
