“What is beyond that threshold?” I asked no one in particular.
The boy turned, looking at what drew my eye. “Oh, it’s just a small room with some supplies.”
Soren did not oppose as I walked over, grabbing the knob. Figuring it safe, I twisted, and the door opened with a creak. It was a small room with a window and even a sink, though broken parts of beds and who knows what else filled most of the space.
“Does any of this stuff get used?” I asked, looking around, and taking a mental inventory of the clutter.
Gorm released a gravelly laugh. “It’s used to store stuff. I have been here a good long while and have only seen more things added to the collection, never to be removed.”
I closed the door, turning back to the elder. “After mydinner, I will be back, and we will have your foot healing in no time.”
His brows drew together. “Thank you.” There was a sincerity to his voice that warmed me just as it saddened me. Had no one shown kindness or compassion to the servants if they injured themselves? If so, then I wanted to help them in the moments when I couldn’t collect information to destroy their King. Perhaps I could protect them when the Sidhe kingdom came crumbling down, or perhaps they could even help me bring it down. I would free them of the shadow Clause cast over them.
With a small smile and nod, I left them to go share a meal with their King, hoping that just maybe he would allow for my time within his prison of a city to be meaningful. That with my help, he would place a noose around his own neck without even realizing it. I just needed to find a rope strong enough to withstand him to do it with.
12
ARIANA
Isat at the table in front of the Sidhe King. While his gaze often drifted towards me, mine diligently avoided him. I looked at the intricate detail of the walls, the mosaic patterns decorating them. I observed the food on my plate; the steam rising from the heat of it. When I picked up my fork, I took painstaking interest in observing the cutlery before putting it to use. My attention shifted amongst all things except for the person seated directly in front of me.
“How did you like the walk around the city?” Clause asked, leaning back in his seat after taking a bite of pheasant.
I turned to him, finally giving him the pleasure of my attention. “It is quite the city.”
“Do the people look... tortured or abused?” He quirked an eyebrow, a smirk fighting to curl at his lips.
“Just because I didn’t find any tortured souls yet, does not mean they are not out there,” I replied, reaching for a glass of water, and taking a sip.
A slow smile warmed the King’s sharp features. “You are so determined to paint me a monster.”
Because you are one.I forced my jaw to unclench. “There is a building where some servants stay outside the main castle. I would like to offer them my aid in helping with injuries and ailments.” We would see howkindhe was willing to be.
Clause viewed me for a moment before responding. “Are they injured?”
“Not in a way that would prevent them from continuing to be of use,” I answered carefully.
A smile pulled at the side once more. “Not even here a day, and you already are trying to protect my people from me?”
I licked my lips, drawing his eyes to them, which caused me to shift uncomfortably in my seat. “Listen. You got what you wanted. For me to be here, to learn from this experience. But, while I am here, I would like to help the people if I can. I’d like to get to know some of them.”
His head tilted in thought while his gaze continued to hold mine. “You would not prefer to teach children or find a more pleasurable environment to spend your time in?”
“I prefer to work with the people I found.”
His brows drew closer together. “How is this helpful?”
“What?”
“How is this helpful to you or to me? As leaders, what would serving a fewservantsdo?” Those cold gray eyes held my stare, yet judgment and disdain did not color them. Instead, there was an air of wonder. As though he were truly curious about my motivations.
“You said we are to learn from one another?” I asked.
Clause nodded.
“Well, they may be just servants in your eyes. But we built ourcivilizations on the work of people in various positions. You remove the servants, and how many of your highborn will even know how to draw themselves a hot bath, let alone build a home? Showing the servants grace and appreciation will help inspire them to work harder and better. Ruling through fear may keep them working, but if they harbor love and respect, then you will feel it in their quality of work. They may even push themselves to do better.”
“So, you think you can improve their performance?”
