I prayed I had the strength to do it.
I’d save Tor, and I’d try to save the princess. If I failed, Rune might lock me in the onyx room until I found a way or died trying.
Chapter Thirteen
The next few days passed in the same manner as my first day did. I dressed in clothes, much like the ones I had before, then made a mental note to talk to someone about where I would clean the ones I’d gotten dirty. I trained with a cranky Rune. Muscles I didn’t even know I had hurt from having not being used before, like the area beneath the back of my arms and my ribs. The pain jolted me every time I mopped and moved a rag.
The lead servant of the palace pitied me and moved me to kitchen duty. There I helped peel at least a hundred potatoes and carrots and shucked corn. There always seemed to be a gathering in the throne room at night. The Fae loved to entertain one another and talk about the local gossip of Crysia.
I was getting changed for bed in a simple tunic when someone banged on my door, loudly enough to make me jump off the bed in fright.
No guesses as to who it was. I already knew it was Rune.
“What?” I opened the door, grouchy and tired.
He wore his cream-colored tunic and black pants with a leather belt he had worn earlier today. No weapons could be seen, though I’d found out in our session Rune didn’t need them. He was faster than anyone, and he was strong.
I wasn’t on his time right now. I could act as I pleased. We both knew I wasn’t going anywhere. Even if I tried, he would drag me back in hopes I would rescue his love.
“Tomorrow you’re going to be in the library,” he said.
“Great. A nice break from my excellent trainer will do me some good,” I retorted, ready to shut the door in his face.
He walked away. Stupid jerk. Stupid stonehearted, icy-eyes jerk. I let out an exasperated groan and closed the door. At least tomorrow would be a change from what I’d experienced so far. Since my new meeting place was in the library, I assumed I would be learning about the Fae’s history.
Quickly, I sat on my bed and blew out the candle on the nightstand. The fire in the fireplace would give me a little light and keep the room from the cool breeze outside. There was a small window by my bed, and I liked to look out to the city and the woods behind it. Even with the darkness, the moonlight was bright enough that I saw the leaves rustling in the wind.
A large black shadow sailed in the sky. As quickly as it came, it was gone.
There were so many mysteries to solve. However, before I solved anything, I needed rest. I needed to heal from today, hoping tomorrow I wouldn’t be doing anything physical beyond picking up a book.
**
I didn’t sleep very long, and I was oddly grateful for the early rise. I’d put the buckets of water closer to the fire last night, hoping they would warm up nicely so I could soak in the tub before starting my day. I was adjusting to this life, both mentally and physically.
There were moments I wanted to bolt and run as fast as my tired feet could carry me, but then I remembered I was not some weakling. I would not give up. I didn’t die in the apocalypse, and I wouldn’t die now.
The bath was every bit as wondrous as I’d been dreaming of during my travels to arrive here. My aches calmed, as well as the stress in my head. Everything melted away.
Then the banging began.
I cursed loudly enough for him to hear me. It was like he knew I was trying to relax, to let my frustration toward him flow out of me into the swirling water going down the drain when I pulled the plug.
With a growl, I grabbed my drying sheet to wrap around my dripping body and opened the door.
“What is your deal?” I leveled Rune with a fiery stare, attempting to incinerate him where he stood for ruining the moment I’d been dreaming of for weeks. Months!
The smirk on his face promised he would attempt to rattle me or piss me off, as I stood with water falling to the ground in little splashes from my body. Pink blush coated my cheeks as I thought about how inappropriate this was, but I wasn’t backing down now. He would only use this as fuel for later if I showed any signs of vulnerability.
“The queen wanted to see you after the library for tea.” His nostrils flared, and his face hardened as he turned to leave, his sharp jaw twitching with anger.
Poor Princess Nyx, the prime focus of his love. I bet he wouldn’t even know what to do with someone he cared about. Grunt and yell at them? No thanks.
Despite thinking him a jerk, I watched as he stomped down the hall. What happened to him that made him so . . . prickly. However, I’d probably be punished if I asked about his personal life so I stepped back into my room to shut the door, leaving those thoughts on the other side.
It wasn’t worth jumping back in the bath anymore. My mind was awake and reeling. I dried myself, careful not to slip on the wet spots I’d created earlier. Hopefully I wouldn’t be doing anything physical today to mess up my appearance so I could look at least halfway decent when having tea with the queen.
The only outfit I had left was an off-the-shoulder, long-sleeved purple tunic held up by a brown vest tied in the front, which showed off the little bit of womanly curve I did have, and some of the softest brown leggings I’d ever worn.
