Page 7 of The Hollow King

“Borin feed you foods.”

The iron snapped around my wrists and the second set of chains circled around my ankles. The cold metal made me shiver.

I stared at the open door because I was not sure if I was safer inside the cell.

Chapter 4

Varga

They could not kill me. No matter how hard they had tried. My pact with the gods kept death from taking me. Once they realised that their efforts were futile, I held that power over them and they bent to my will.

The morning air was crisp, but the cold did not penetrate me. I glanced at the horizon above the village. The faint glow from the sun had begun to break through the darkness.

“Borin,” I murmured.

He entered the balcony. His feet stopped behind me.

“Is it free?”

“Yes, Master.”

“Feed it in the dining room.”

I glanced at the skulls beyond my castle. It took time for the flesh to decay, and it took effort to polish them before they were attached to a spike. The new sacrifice would eventually end up in my collection. One more year done away with.

“Yes, Master.”

My only purpose was to make them suffer. I may have forgotten why, but they always proved that they were deserving of the fear that I instilled within them.

“Tell the cook to give it nourishing food.”

“Borin give it three foods, Master,” he said with excitement.

I turned to look at him, but he was already gone.

When I entered my bedchamber, I saw the clothes he had laid out for me. It was not unusual for him to do so, but it was a finer tunic and matching dark brown breeches. Above the bed my sword and axe hung there. Their names were etched into the wooden plaque. The world of violence was wrapped in those weapons.

A reminder that I once fought on behalf of my province before they turned on me. I slid one finger along the length of my claw until I reached the razor-sharp tip.

The sacrifice might not know why I was keeping it alive, but it would all end the same.

The begging.

The tears.

And then the screams.

It was rude to toy with food, but I was the monster of Talaksia.

✛ ✛ ✛

It was not acting afraid. After breaking her fast, it wandered around the large room. It was wrapped up in a blanket, but the dark-haired pleat fell over it. Some of the flowers had fallen off but still clung to the strands. With each movement the sound of the chains followed her.

There was no escape from my castle, but they were a reminder of her status.

“Master,” Borin whispered.

I swiftly stepped back from the doorway.