Chapter 40 The Captain of Shadow pt1
Thorne’s quarters resemble a library more than a living space. Books line shelves on every wall, and there are stacks on the floor and piles near every window. The only thing hinting this might be where anyone sleeps is a gothic four-poster bed tucked in the corner and shielded with thick black curtains. That, and the hammock hanging between the two beams holding up the roof high above us.
When I discovered last night that Thorne’s quarters were in one of the highest towers of Hellbane, I’d been so tired I didn’t think I’d make it up the staircase. I was certain I’d collapse on the steps, stomach too full and churning with the unfamiliar meal. A kindly older woman assisted me the rest of the way up and helped me undress for bed.
It was strange, someone catering to me as I used to do for the queens and Elysandra. Her touch was gentle and measured, and her kind hazel eyes held only understanding and affection. She told me she was Thorne’s personal servant, and as such, she was now mine.
By the time I was settled in the hammock for the night she had long since vanished, and now as I wake with the light of the morning cresting over the peak of Dragon Mount, I find I spent the night alone. Thorne instructed me to be here within an hour, and yet he never came to rest himself.
Slowly, I rise and stretch, my bare toes swinging over the cold marble floor as the hammock sways back and forth with my movement. It’s funny, but last night may have been the best night's sleep of my life. Standing, I straighten my cotton shift and walk over to the window. I lean against the cold glass as I run my fingers through my hair, detangling the tresses as best as I can.
Hellbane spreads out before me, lava rivulets beneath every walkway heating the fortress. Servants are walking around, scurrying like ants from this vantage. It’s easy to see who is a slayer and who is not, the way they walk tells all. Servants scurry with heads down, determined to get to where they need to be. Slayers, though, walk with their heads high. With eyes on the sky and hands on the hilts of their weapons, they move through the walkways and alleys of the fortress, always on alert. Always watching the skies.
A hasty knock at the door draws my attention moments before the older woman scurries in, much like the servants far below.
“Miss, I apologize, but you have mere moments to dress!” she says, panicked. She hurries towards me with black leathers in her hands. Each article of clothing down to the boots bears the markings of Ember herself, black with accents of rubies.
“Bane is coming.” I say it as a statement, not a question. For even though I have not yet seen him, I can almost feel him rising inside the tower. His power seems to leak out of him, reaching for me through stairs and stone, space and time, and it tells me one thing. The shadow captain is coming to claim my service or my life.
“What’s your name?” I ask, trying to hide my nerves as the old woman helps me out of my shift and into the skin-tight, protective leather armor.
“Magdelena, but you can call me Maggie. Don’t dawdle now, Bane is not to be messed with.”
“Maggie.” I roll each syllable of her name over my tongue, memorizing everything about her. “If I die today, I want to say thank you. You’ve shown me more kindness in this past night than most people.”
Maggie chortles as she buckles my weapon belt around my waist and moves to my back, quickly twisting my hair into a tight bun that she secures with slender silver spikes. “You will not die, Anara dear. Thorne will not allow it. If anyone tries to hurt you, stick them with these hairpins. I’ve poisoned them, so take care not to stab yourself by accident.”
“What? Poisoned?” I turn to look at Maggie in shock.
The mischief on her lined face speaks volumes. Maggie is much more than she seems.
“Fodder,” a hellish whisper summons from the other side of the door. “I’ve come for you, fodder.” Bane chuckles darkly as he pushes the door open and darkness floods the room like night has instantly fallen.
Red light flashes in the gloom right before something whips by my head. I yelp in surprise as another flies by, this time nicking my ear and splitting the cartilage.
“Captain Bane!” Maggie snaps.
Instantly the darkness vanishes, revealing Bane leaning up against the door frame with his arms crossed and a sly smile on his lips. “Apologies, Magdalena, I didn’t realize the fodder had company.”
“Watch yourself, Bane. She’s chosen. If Thorne were to find out she was assaulted while under his protection, he would not be merciful.”
I cup my bleeding ear as I turn slightly. From the corner of my eye, I see the ruby at the end of the curved dagger that cut me. My eyes flare in surprise when I see it’s not stuck in a wall, but held in place by the gnarled hand of Maggie herself. I swallow in disbelief. The old woman caught the dagger in mid-air in complete darkness, likely saving my life.
“I think these belong to you now, deary.” Maggie smiles as she slips both ruby daggers into my empty scabbards. “If that bastard tries to stab you in the dark again, do Auntie Maggie a favor and return them through his guts.”
“Your first lesson, fodder, if someone tries to kill you and fails, their weapon now belongs to you,” Bane tells me as he straightens and turns his back. “Come, we have a long day ahead of us.”
He descends the stairs without another word.
I stare at where he disappeared with my mouth agape. If he knew that he would fail to kill me…did he just gift me these daggers? I stroke the rubies that top the hilt mind lost in thought.
“Remember the hairpins, Anara. Remember the rules. Don’t disappoint Thorne.” Maggie smiles at me and pats my cheek, urging me to follow Bane. “Do these things and you will survive to see tomorrow.”