Intoxicating.
"Now that's a wonder," he whispered to himself.
There was something dangerous and interesting about this particular scent. Adrion couldn't help but become more curious, then thought to himself,I’ll keep an eye out for you.
Akiel and a scowling Hulin trailed behind Adrion on horses that came just a few spaces behind his.
"What did you think of the tracks?" Adrion asked.
Akiel and Hulin almost answered at the same time. Hulin gave Akiel a shove and then answered. "From what we saw, whoever did that, went the same direction we're going in. They didn't bother covering up most of the tracks."
"Although, I wouldn't think this would be an interesting situation, to find a dead burned body in the woods and wonder about the killer. It happens every day," Akiel then added.
"Just wanted to confirm my suspicions," Adrion said in fake boredom.
Once they reached Inanov at the front they set forth to Merlanis, galloping at full speed, not intending to stop until they reached their destination. Adrion’s cloak glinted and shone bright as the sun's rays caught onto it, making the light bounce onto his silver hair that moved freely in the wind. Adrionbreathed in the fresh air of the forest, his body almost happy to be away from Apollo, his stallion kept in pace with his trusted trackers that led them through the maze of the forest.
Perhaps my journey will be exactly like how it was today. Finding the bones of untold stories.
Chapter 10
The fallen angel of Celast
Miriam's tonic had been slowly working to stabilize my muscles from one of the longest training sessions I’ve endured with Dezimus. Even worse, I had gotten no sleep. I rubbed off the muck on my face with a sleeve and untied my muddy boots.
There were still some sores and wounds on my body that achingly took long to heal, but I didn't have enough time left to rest. Whenever in Merlanis, I always made sure to seethem... They were like family, like what the arena meant to me.
***
It had surprised me how good it felt to be cleaned and comfortably clothed. The loose cream dress I wore would work for now, the townsfolk were not used to seeing women wearing weaponry or wearing pants for that matter. The red velvet cloak I had adorned worked well to conceal my hair that was put into a tight bun.
A glittering light caught onto my skin. I took a step closer to the fountain that poured water through a magnificent statue, its wings stained with dotted black spots of mould, the stone beginning to crack around the crevices. As old as the statue is, I could still make out the handsome sculpted face it had. The statue had a powerful look to it, with water travelling its way down his broad shoulders to his sculpted chest and then to the bottom, where it made a small pool of sparkling water. I had seen the statue plenty of times yet I frequently stopped to admire it. There was a tune in the air that always whispered sweet nothings.
Blueberries were blossoming this season. The main bakery in the city of Celast made it known as the baked smell of the berries wafted in the air. The smell slowly started to subside as I made my way down the alley, down to the path where lesser nobles resided, where farm men visited taverns and where the old creaky inns were cheap.
I patted down the lace bodice of my dress, feeling my blade beneath it as I pushed open the doors ofMadam de Trix'swell-known establishment. There was no reason to scrunch up my nose indisgust, I had become used to the odour of sweat, liquor and smoke that clung to the customers and walls of this place. I nearly snarled when a man looked my way; luckily for him, he was whisked away by a sultry plump woman. A faint whisper in the darkest part of my mind raked a shadowed claw through the mental shields that I had built up. I had been lucky, so very lucky to have been found by Fala and raised by her when I was a child.A child who is orphaned and lost can find themselves in one of two places. If they are not handsome and lack pleasant features, they are sent for guard training or to join the gilded army. If they have good enough skill and seem handsome enough, they are found by brothel owners to be used for service, until a debt is settled to acquire their freedom.
My two dearest friends, the ones who had not been lucky enough to be rescued by Fala, were found by Madam de Trix and occupied the brothel I now stand in. I was lucky to visit them at least twice this season before the arena packed and moved to the next destination. I made the mistake of placing a palm on the wooden bar, I dusted off the breadcrumbs from my skin with a wrinkled nose, making my way up the stairs. I could not spotherin the dimly lit bar, there might be only one place she could—
"A penny for you to share your thoughts, my lady?" My suspicions were immediately cut off by a familiar mischievous voice. I couldn't help but smile slightly, turning around. "Unless you're here to paymefor other deeds you'd fancy filled. In that case, let me stop you there, and say, for a lovely face like yours, it would be free," Red shamelessly spoke, adding a wink to his weak flirtations. I stepped close to him. So close that I'm sure he could feel my breath.
I bent down a bit, acknowledging that his face was now beet red and whispered, "If I had requests, you wouldn't know what to do with it."
Red instantly took a clumsy step back, "Okayyyy,Mor, it was just a joke." I couldn't help but laugh and bring him in for a hug.
"I missed your foolishness," I mumbled, squeezing him, then let go and took a good look at him. He had gotten taller and developed some muscle compared to the last time I had seen him.
"Your thanks on that." He scoffed although his eyes glittered in sweet joy. "I missed you too—"
"I hope you brought your gold coins, since you're already touching my workers," a loud demanding voice questioned ahead of me. I could barely look the woman in the eyes without trying to take the blade that was strapped to my thigh to stab her eye out. From the vision of my side she stuck her hand out. I unhooked the pouch at my side and dropped it into her palms, not daring to look her way. "I better hear some action coming in from that room, or I'll ban you for good," Madam de Trix snarkily said as she put the bag of coins in between her breasts.
"Oh don't worry, Matron, you'll hear plenty," Red said with a wink as he placed an arm around my shoulders and led me through the stairs. "She's upstairs," he whispered.
***
There were loud breathless squeals and gasps that emitted out of the room, some men who passed the room could be heard snickering. "Are you ladies about done now?" Red asked, sitting with a leg folded and studying a book in hand. I collapsed down onto the bed in a huff, Kya kept jumping on the bed in a fit of giggles in an almost childlike manner, the action made my body keep bouncing.
I missed this.
