Derren snorted. “Beyond the border? Who has time for that? With all we’re dealing with here, the king needs every one of us close.”
“That’s a rumor you shouldn’t give a bit of thought to,” Lexie said.
I released a small laugh, pretending agreement. “Of course. That’s not what I’ve heard at home, but clearly they don’t know much about this part of our kingdom.”
My new friends must not know anything about the attacks, then. The murders.
The castle entrance loomed ahead, its massive doors carved with symbols I didn’t recognize. Whatever answers I sought lay inside this place that was supposed to be a wasteland but looked more like a kingdom that rivaled my own.
As we approached the massive castle doors, I caught sight of the king again.
He stood watching me from an upper window. Even at this distance, I could feel his stare and the promise of unfinished business between us.
I’d come here to kill a murderer and avenge my sister.
Instead, I might’ve met the one man who could destroy me without lifting a blade.
6
ISI
Inside, they led us through a foyer with a polished black marble floor, and down a dark, gloomy corridor, the shuffle of our feet punctuated by low conversation. Derren, Lexie, and I remained together, though we didn’t speak.
To find out what happened to Addie and free the children, assuming they’d been swallowed by this monstrosity of a castle, I needed to make everyone forget I existed. Including the king. Attention would only raise questions.
We exited the corridor into a great hall that must hold hundreds of people, though only sixty or so of us were herded into the center to cluster together. Despite its cathedral-like appearance, the weapons hanging on the walls and broad black boards covered with white writing shouted war-planning, not worship. Three stories of carved stone rose overhead, supported by arches that divided the walls into sections. Eight equally spaced exits between the arches marked the cardinal points of the room. Light poured through tall windows set high in the walls, making shadows flicker across the stone floor.
An older man stepped forward and cleared his throat, looking us over with a critical eye. Tall and broad-shouldered, he moved withthe grace of someone comfortable with action. His scarred black leather training gear spoke of countless hours in combat. Dark hair streaked with silver framed a face that was handsome despite the jagged scar running from his left temple to his jaw.
“I’m Malcolm Reid,” he said, his voice carrying through the vast space. “Other than your house warden, who you’ll meet soon, you’ll answer to me.”
A small, bushy-tailed creature no bigger than a cat stood on its hind legs beside him, its sleek brown fur rippling and its whiskers twitching as its dark eyes swept over us.
“There are sixty-four of you. Form groups of eight.” Malcolm gestured to a line of assistants who’d emerged from the shadows. “Follow them to your quarters. Choose a bed and store your belongings in the trunk at the foot of each bed. Bathrooms are outside your sleeping quarters, in the hall. Tonight, you’ll eat and rest, and tomorrow…” His gaze dropped to the brown creature before returning to us. “Tomorrow, we’ll see what you’re made of.”
The small creature, somewhere between a weasel and a fox, levitated into the air and spun around, chasing its tail. No one blinked. My skin prickled. Where I came from, magic wasn’t only rare. Using it meant death. And here, it appeared to be as common in their everyday lives as washing a face.
As we shuffled into groups, Lexie and Derren joining mine, I studied the other recruits who appeared as young as maybe eighteen and as old as sixty. No children. What did they do with them?
Others came over to stand with us, one woman a few years older than me, who introduced herself as Fara. She gave us all a pert nod.
Once everyone had sorted, a woman standing near one of the open archways waved toward my group. “I’m Nia. Stay with me.” She pivoted and strode into the dark opening.
We followed her out into a long corridor lined with doors. I noted exits and speculated where each might go. I’d need to start drawing a map so I could investigate without getting lost.
The dormitory room she led us to had been simply furnished.Twelve beds arranged in two rows, each with a wooden trunk at its foot. I chose one near the wall, wanting my back protected while I slept in this place of enemies. I counted the steps to the door so I could get out in the dark without banging into anything.
As I unpacked my few belongings, grief choked off my throat. If Addie were here, she would’ve made sarcastic comments about the accommodations and charmed everyone within minutes. Instead, I was alone, surrounded by people who might’ve celebrated her death.
I shoved the pain away. Mourning could come after I’d sliced through the throat of her killer.
Nia returned and led us through the long halls, ending at a huge dining room with long wooden tables mostly full of people eating already.
“There.” Nia pointed to a short row of empty tables. “Don’t join the others. Unless you’re bonded, you’re not welcome.”
“What does bonded mean?” I hissed to Lexie as we took seats side-by-side.
“Recruits must remain silent.” Nia’s glare gouged my way.
