“Thank you,” I dare to say, awkwardly holding the bread in my shackled hands.
The masked woman stands there in uncomfortable silence, observing me. Refusing to be rattled, I munch on the bread slowly.
“Bizarre,” says the woman, her voice laced with amusement. “Seeing the great Major Tiernan Kilkenny diminished to a groveling prisoner.”
My hackles rise. It takes longer than it should for me to get the bread down my throat.
“For now, anyway,” she adds. “Oh, I do hope you don’t make things too easy.”
She takes a waterskin off the belt hidden underneath her red cape and tosses it toward me. It hits the stone ground with a sloshing sound. I know she expects me to rush for it right away, but I don’t dare take my eyes off her.
“Who are you?” I ask.
“A nightmare,” she says. A surge of sensations momentarily flows out over her fiercely erected wall—cold sweat, searing pain, and white-hot fear. In a heartbeat, she mentally smothers it all again. I shudder.
Interesting.
She sweeps out of the cell with excessive flare before I can pick up on any more emotion.
I miss Durvla’s presence—I miss the way her thoughts are launched at me. I miss the sound of her sweet, melodic voice, her laughter, her body against mine.
If these miscreants end my life, there will be so many things left unsaid. But maybe it’s for the best. At least when all is said and done, I will have given the woman I love a chance to live. She’ll one day be able to move on without me.
Chapter 46
The next timeI hear footsteps, I perk up and give my visitor my full attention. Lynx peers at me through her mask from the cell entrance. The guards open the gate, and she gestures impatiently to me. “Well, come on.”
Stiffly, I get to my feet, and as soon as I am beside her, she lays a hand on my shoulder and jumps us out of the brig and into … somewhere else. I slowly breathe through my nose, trying to ward off the sick feeling in my gut. We’re standing in a passageway before a door, with two guards plus the Terraforger already there. This time, the Terraforger is unmasked, light brown eyes teeming with so much emotion that I’m inclined to keep my mental shields firmly up.
“We don’t have all day, Pendry,” Lynx bites.
The Terraforger seems to hesitate, but then she snaps her fingers and the chain between my shackles disconnects with a rattle. The cuff on my right hand breaks apart next, and all the pieces float into Pendry’s waiting hands. I’m left with a simple manacle on my left arm and the continued dampening effects pressing into me.
Lynx steps forward, close enough for me to be overwhelmed by the scent of roses and bitter herbs. As if she’s attempted tocover up something more medicinal with far too much perfume. I stand still as she grasps my arm and lifts it, checking the shackle. Satisfied, she drops my arm.
“Tidy up, get dressed, and be ready for your summons from the sovereign. All your clothes were left untouched.”
She takes a couple of steps, then vanishes as ifwalkingis beneath her. Pendry seems inclined to say something to me, but her pouty lips pucker even tighter, and she turns on her heel to hurry off. I dare to peek at her emotions; her guilt barrels into me with such strength that I nearly lose my balance.
The guard opens the door to the bedchamber for me, and I step inside. There’s a familiar, massive bed, black curtains drawn over the large bay window, and multiple swords hanging against one wall. Lynx’s words suddenly make sense.My clothing…Because this is my chamber. The last time I was here, I’d come to change out of my knight’s armor and into a suit for the Feast.
To dance with Durvla.
The ache in my chest becomes unbearable, and I rub at it as I force myself to push past the sentiments. A bath and fresh clothing should do me well. Then I’ll figure out what in hells my next step will be.
There are no servants to fill my bath, nor do I have the freedom to fetch the water myself, so I scrub the filth off my body with a washcloth and tepid water from the basin in the bathing chamber. I trim my beard close to my face and stare at my scraggly reflection in the mirror. I’ve seen better days.
But I’ve seen even worse days.
My hair is in need of a trim as well, but time isn’t on my side. I pull it back into a bun at the nape of my neck and slip into a fresh shirt and lightweight trousers. My maroon uniform stares at me from the wardrobe. I run my fingers over the material.Five years in Carys’s service and just as many in the Royal Brigade.
Just when I’d gotten used to being my own man … here I am again.
A sigh drops from me as my door swings open. I’m fully clothed, but I feel naked without weapons. No swords, no daggers, no Wielding. Only my mind.
“Let’s go,” says Lynx.
My steps appear sure, but my legs feel shaky as I follow her out of the room and down the hallway. We walk past several doors, making our way swiftly toward what I’m certain is Iywan’s study. Or Rheon’s now.
