It was over.
“What’s this?” he questioned, lifting the back of my jacket to inspect the fabric binding.
“Bandage,” I lied with ease. I had been practicing this lie ever since we left the house. “I got a tattoo yesterday. Need to keep it covered.” I pinched my eyes closed, pleading to the gods to not let this be my last moment of life.
“Hm,” he said at last, his hands moving to check my arms before leaving me entirely. “No more of those until you are out of the service.”
I nodded, biting my tongue when the question of why he had one bubbled up. My panic seeped out of my pores in a way that made me want to collapse against the stone wall.
I turned to face him, careful to keep my hands at my sides. “I won’t get any more, I promise,” I assured him before glancing behind him to find Viscount Adis and the two guards who had led me here standing with their arms crossed in apparent annoyance.
He continued to peer at me, looking me up and down, before lifting my arm to squeeze my sorry excuse for a left bicep through the jacket. “That’s all?” His voice was gruff, and I assumed he was going to order extra workouts until . . . “Too weak to be of use in my rankings. I don’t want him.”
This time I did sag against the wall, my fear renewed as he spun and stalked away from me without another glance. Was this it? Was I about to be returned home? All that just to be deemed too weak for military service?
When I looked up, I knew immediately that my hope was unfounded, just from the way Viscount Adis’s lips twisted. “Don’t get too excited, Mr. Potson. Just because General Otho doesn’t want you doesn’t mean you are free of your obligated service. I am in need of another personal guard. You will comeand work in my home with Markos and Syrus.” He motioned to the two guards, finally giving me their names.
Without waiting for my answer, Markos grabbed me roughly by the arm and led me away.
Well,I thought to myself,at least I wouldn’t be going to battle.
CHAPTER 3
We weaved our way back through the barracks, which I was no closer to solving the maze of than when I arrived. At some point, my pack had been pushed back into my hands. It felt lighter, but until I was given a moment to breathe, there was no way for me to verify that anything had been taken from my possession.
After passing through the barracks, once again causing my eyes undue stress, I was shepherded down the street to one of the most opulent houses I had ever seen. Although I was immediately disappointed we weren’t fully leaving town, I was too in awe of the structure to worry about that now. The palace, or whatever it was, was large, with massive stone columns holding up the thick roof. It was two levels, just as many of the other houses on the street, and it was decorated with colorful tiles in various areas, breaking up the monotonous white stone. As I was shoved through the gaping doorway, I was suddenly sure our entire house could have been pushed through as well.
Inside the massive entrance, there was an open courtyard, so one could feel the rays of the sun during the day and spy on the stars at night. To my left and right, there were halls that went on forever, with closed doors that led to what had to be an impressivenumber of rooms. I wasn’t given any time to look around, though, as the grip on my arm was unrelenting. I had no idea how the guards and viscount were used to moving so fast, but I wasn’t about to slow them down by asking.
Near the end of the open courtyard, I was shoved through a smaller door, which, to my utter surprise, led to a dark hallway filled with more doors. I was suddenly certain the entire town of Ralheim could probably live in this palace of a house. A thought that turned my stomach.
As soon as we were out of the open, I was shoved to the floor in such a rough manner I barely had time to put my hands out to catch myself, and in doing so, I failed to notice that my pack had been taken from me a second time. It wasn’t until I caught my breath, peering up through my dark hair, that I even noticed what was held in the viscount’s outstretched hand.
The black book with the gold writing.
I grimaced.
I was a dead woman walking.
“You can read this, no?” The viscount peered down at me, his knuckles white from how hard he was gripping the book.
My parents had told us never to admit we spoke the language of the Seid. In Ralheim, witchcraft was illegal, just like twins. And only a decade before, there had been a hunt—called the purge—to eliminate all the Seid, and the Seid language, from Ralheim history. It had been carried out by Viscount Adis’ father, and anyone over the age of sixteen was put to death. Thus, costing most of the children of Ralheim our parents.
And that had been the second purge in the last century.
I opened my mouth to lie?—
“Don’t lie to me. The only reason you are of any use to me right now is because I found this book. Now, tell me, can you read it?” He inclined his chin to one of his guards (Markos, I think?), who delivered a swift kick to my side. Right into my still-healing tattoo.
I swallowed a painful cry, nodding furiously.
“Say it,” he demanded, his shiny black shoes moving closer to where I still remained on my hands and knees. I could nearly see my reflection in them they were so shiny. Would I be killed for knowing the language of the Seid? There wasn’t time to debate before his shoe lifted, and I squeaked out my answer.
“Yes, sir.” I gasped, immediately closing my eyes for the punishment I was sure was coming.
“Excellent.” He let out a chuckle before his reflective shoes moved away. I finally felt confident enough to move, sitting back on my heels, and my gaze followed his motions as he paced back and forth. The room we were in was dim, but I could just make out a raised portion of the floor behind where Adis paced, a covered table with candles resting on it. Beyond that was a wall, covered with a large painting. I couldn’t make out the painting, but the frame glinted in the candlelight.Gold. “You see, Otho is above using magic to win the war . . . But I am not. Ralheim meanseverythingto me. I know some of your kind escaped the purge, and now you are to help me gain magic, do you understand?”
I shook my head, though I could read the Seid language, my parents had never said anything about using it to gain magic. According to them, magic had been dead for generations—bred out of the family lines. “Sir, it doesn’t work that?—”
