She whirled on him, preparing to bite his head off, but he was gesturing at the writing desk and unused parchment there.
“I can write to him?” There was no way it was that simple.Witch. Killer. It will mean the death of me if I forget that.
“I don’t see why not. Bear in mind it will be read by multiple people to check for code words or encryptions. You can’t talk about anything you’ve seen or heard here, plan an escape, request a rescue… you get the idea.”
Hazel considered it. She did want to ask him about the rumor she’d overheard, but perhaps it would have to wait. She sighed and slid herself from the bed, stifling a groan when her feet touched the floor.
“What would I even say? I have nothing to hide, and I’ve learned nothing about this place other than everything is a secret. I am just a daughter who misses her father. We are all each other has in the world.” And… Agnes. Holy gods. The thought struck her harder than the guardsman the night she was arrested.
“Agnes,” she blurted. “My… she… the other woman I was brought in with. What became of her?” Her heart was in her throat. She hadn’t even had a moment to think about her beloved Agnes.
Slaide considered her for a moment. And then he looked as though a thought had hit him. “Ah. Was that her name?”
Was? Please, please let her be ok.
“She’s been returned home, to the best of my knowledge. She took a hard hit to the head that night. Didn’t remember a thing. Though, if what they say is true, you probably prevented it from being much worse for her.” He eyed Hazel thoughtfully. “That was brave of you. Stupid, but brave.”
She looked away, unsure what to make of the statement. Was it a compliment? Did she care? “I’m just glad to hear she’s alright,” she said.
Silence stretched between them.
Hazel pulled out the desk chair. She smoothed her dress and took a seat on the plush velvet cushion. She gathered the materials she needed to pen the letter, finding everything but a quill.
A hand appeared over her shoulder, holding a sleek, black feather. No, not a feather. A writing quill. She grasped it, meeting Slaide’s gaze as he looked down at her, those golden eyes burning with the heat of ten thousand suns. “Don’t mess this one up. It happens to be my favorite.”
Hazel found herself giddy with childlike joy, smirking mischievously at the quill as she took it.
And then she began to write.
Once Slaide had takenhis leave, Hazel’s letter in hand, she collapsed into the bed.
Her body was tired, but her mind refused to turn off. So, she lay there, quiet and unmoving, hoping she could just… go to sleep.
Realizing her mind wasn’t going to give in, Hazel climbed out of bed and decided to get to know her surroundings a little better. She grabbed the chamberstick and candle from the bedside table before slowly making her way around the room.
There wasn’t much in the way of decoration. No family photos adorning the walls. No trinkets or personal items. In fact,besides the ornate bed and curtains, there wasn’t much to say about the space at all.
Beyond the full-length windows overlooking the gardens and forest beyond, the bright moon began to peek over the treetops. It illuminated the room so fully, she almost didn’t need the candle at all.
Hazel followed the light it cast into the room to where it met the floorboards. It was then she spied the tapestry hanging in a forgotten corner.
As she approached, Hazel discovered a depiction of their entire pantheon of gods, plus extra she didn’t recognize.
In the middle, the elemental gods were represented—the ones she was familiar with. But below them… additional godlike beings took up residence in the Underworld. And above, a goddess with pale skin and flowing white hair was one with the moon, seeming to channel its power. Opposite her, a dark-skinned male figure was postured in the same fashion with the sun.Celestial gods.She wasn’t sure where the name came from, but it fit all the same. She’d never seen anything of the sort.
A sudden draft sent chills up her spine. Gooseflesh pimpled her arms. But the windows were shut and so was her door.
Hazel frowned. But wait…
Carefully, she pulled the tapestry forward to peer behind it, finding nothing but a stone wall. Not that she had expected some long-forgotten hidden passageway that might spell her escape, but it would’ve been nice.
Across the room, the handle to her door turned and jangled, as though someone on the other side was fiddling with the lock.
Hazel’s heart jumped into her throat as questions assaulted her mind. She should be sleeping, not snooping. But why was someone entering her room, knowing she should be asleep?
She blew out the candle and slipped behind the tapestry just as her door creaked open, silently hoping the room was darkenough to hide the obvious lump behind it. Her fingers itched to reach for the locket as it grew uncomfortable against her chest.
Whoever it was took three steps into the room before retreating back into the hallway. Hazel released a sigh of relief, relaxing her body into the cold stone against her back.
