So many. Thousands of people, all conjurors, all under the Sidhe King’s command.
As we weaved through the streets, we eventually made it to where the roads and buildings ended and trees began. A forest took up a chunk of the valley surrounded by mountains. Dark, green, and lush, it breathed a sense of freedom into the city perimeter. Offering an escape, even while within the mountain-made walls.
Shay released a soft whine, looking from the forest at me. Her tail rhythmically swayed side to side.
“Is it safe in there?” I asked.
Soren glanced at Shay before turning to me. “Your wolf will be fine.”
I looked at Shay’s wide, awaiting eyes. “Would you be able to find your way back to me?”
She released a soft snort and dipped her head.
“Then you may go.”
The wolf shot forward, rushing into the woods.
“I take it I can also explore if I ever felt the desire?” I asked, shifting my attention to Soren.
He folded his arms across his chest, skin marred by intricate cuts from blades. His gaze held mine, though I could not read him. “You too can explore whenever you would like. But I would advise you not to go alone or risk getting lost. The forestis quite extensive. And if you wish to go on your own hoping to find a secret way into this city, then allow me to save you the trouble and tell you that you will not find one.”
My gaze narrowed. “What makes you think I would want to find a way into the city and not out of it?”
Soren’s dark eyes scanned my face. “The Sidhe King is many things, one of them being a man of his word. If you wished to leave, he would let you.”
A low laugh slipped through my lips, tinged with anything but happiness. “Yeah, with the promise of war if I was to do so.”
“Still, the choice is yours.”
“And what kind of choice did you make that led you to stand at his side?”
Soren’s jaw clenched. He offered no answer. Instead, he tilted his head to the side. “We should continue. So that we get you back in time for dinner with the King.”
I turned and began walking in the direction he gestured towards, dropping the subject for now. He clearly harbored no fondness for me, and that was something I needed to work on if I ever wanted to get answers from him.
We were nearly back to the main castle when a long rectangular-looking compound grabbed my attention. The building itself was nothing interesting, but the surrounding people caught my eye. There were several of them, spanning from old to young age, made up of all the various races. An elderly Lysian looking man hopped on one foot, supported by a younger Sidhe under one arm and a Bavadrin under the other. None of them noted me while I stood in the street, watching as they helped the injured man. They disappeared into the building, leaving the front door wide open.
“What’s in there?” I asked.
“It is a building that houses some servants.”
I turned to him. “May I have a look?”
Soren shrugged. “Yes, though I doubt there will be much to look at,” he mumbled, following me as I crossed the street.
I passed over the threshold and paused, taking everything in. The compound was essentially a single room with a couple dozen beds throughout the space. My eye drew to the two boys lowering the older man onto one bed.
Someone sitting in one of the other beds, leaning against the wall, coughed, gaze settled on me. Suddenly, the entire room froze. Noticing my presence, all eyes turned to me.
“Sorry, I don’t mean to interrupt,” I said, uncertain of the best way to introduce myself.
“You lost, highborn?” The one leaning against the wall asked. Piercing green eyes cut into me with thick judgment behind them. His ears came to slight points, and his mouth was void of elongated canines. Mixed blood likely ran through his veins, part Sidhe and part Bavadrin.
“Watch your mouth.” Soren stepped up beside me. “She is a guest of your King. You will show her your respect.”
The man looked to the Dunes Clan leader, completely unbothered as he whistled lowly. “A guest with Soren as her guide?” His gaze cut to me. “Interesting.”
I glanced around the room. It was filthy. Tracked in dirt left a film on the wooden floors, cobwebs dusted the corners and ceilings, and the beds looked like no one ever washed the sheets.
