“What makes you think you are so good at reading me?”
“I have my ways.” She peaked over her shoulder and flashed a grin. “Speed up. You’re so slow!”
I decided to direct the conversation onto another course. Talking about Hadrian became boring, fast.
“Well, hopefully you pick your weapon today,” I said, speeding up to keep up with her.
“I hope so. I’m holding out hope that the dagger is still there, sounds like something I would work well with.”
“If your skill at cutting carrots is anything to go by, I’m sure you will be the best knife wielder in Thessolina,” I replied.
We dropped our voices as four of the King’s guards passed by on elks. I’d seen the same guards pass by already since we’d left the palace; they must have been doing a routine check of the grounds. We kept our heads down and walked past. I was sure I heard my name from one of them, but I didn’t look up to check.
I looked up to the sky, the light disappearing behind a large dark cloud. I held hope for rain, it’d been days since it last did and it would help wash away the muggy atmosphere that clung around the city.
“About the shifting, or lack of shifting. Has Hadrian helped you with that?”
I bit my tongue before responding.
“Between me and you, no. He hasn’t even mentioned it for a couple of days. I guess I am just a late bloomer.” The lie was sour in my mouth.
“Don’t worry, I am sure it will happen soon enough.” Her reply was cold.
She picked up her pace again and I struggled to keep up.
***
THE GREAT HALL was filled with the loud laughs and conversations of the many elves that sat at the long oak tables, all who were waiting to be served. I looked out over the room at the sea of purple and black, guards sat next to the shifters, chatting and banging tankards together. I caught a glance at Petrer who looked content sitting amongst a group of guards and two unfamiliar shifter girls who flanked him on either side. His wide smile lit up the room, a beacon of familiarity in a sea of uncertainty.
Nyah was nowhere to be seen, I’d lost her once we entered the kitchens when we arrived back from the city. It was a rush of unpacking bags and preparing to serve the great hall.
***
I STOOD AMONGST the many other workers, each who balanced trays and jugs in their arms. We waited around the edge of the room; for what I was still unsure, but I kept my head forward and waited for instruction.
There was movement from the dais that stilled all conversation in the room. I couldn’t see from where I stood, a large pillar blocked my view, but the deep voice that sounded was unforgettable.
“Good morning to you all…” King Dalior said, his voice filling every inch of the throne room, his words dripping in lush tones. “I must first thank you all for your hard work during training. I have heard many things from Commander Alina who has expressed such pleasure in your efforts over the past few days.” The crowd looked at each other, faces alight with pride. Somehow, I felt his words were not for me, not at all.
“My dear, dear children…” he paused, taking in a breath, “I am afraid my visit is not a positive one this morning, for I bring news of an attack. I regret to inform you that there has been yet another, this time at the peaceful farming town of Vlaroi. When news reached me this morning I had learned of the level of destruction of Vlaroi. It has been a brutal and unprovoked attack.”
The temperature in the room dropped. I listened, my heart beating. King Dalior’s voice had dropped and as he spoke I could hear the sadness that laced his words.
I knew of Vlaroi. It was a town Fa had visited before. Close to the forest of Vlamour, the deep woodland cutting across the entire country like a belt. Many did not pass through it, or even venture close. It was believed beasts and creatures lived amongst the dense woodland of Vlamour. Creatures that sucked at the bones of younglings and restless spirits that melted the mind with a touch. The stories were enough to keep anyone from its depths.
“Unfortunately, that is all I can share with you at this moment, but although this tragic event has caused us such worry, I want this opportunity to remind you of your importance to Thessolina against this threat. You must not let this news deter you, only encourage you to train harder and prepare you to face it.”
King Dalior stood amongst the elves that sat at the four long tables, his ruby cloak spread behind like a pool of blood.
“Please, enjoy your feast this morn and gather your energy for another day’s training. Train harder, faster. We must be ready for their next attack. The Morthi behind these attacks will not get away with it again.”
He bowed his head and turned back to the throne, disappearing through a doorway behind it.
It took a few moments for the room to shake themselves from the shock of the news. I missed the clap, our signal to place the food on the tables, and only began to move when I noticed those next to me step forward. I moved through the room, my mind focused on nothing but Vlaroi. Once I placed the platter of food onto the closest table to me, I headed straight for the kitchen, numb.
I picked my pace up and by the time I reached the kitchens, I ran straight through and out another door. Once beyond, I landed on my knees and vomited across the ground, my stomach cramping as I retched.
I slumped to the wall beside the door, not a single speck of energy left to even turn towards it when it opened.
“Here,” Nyah’s voice whispered beside me. She handed me a piece of brown bread and a tankard of water. “Eat this.” She side-stepped the puddle of sick and moved to sit down beside me, squatting her long legs.
“Thanks.” My throat was sore and my stomach empty. “I don’t know what happened, one minute I was fine and the next…” I gestured to the sick before me.
“Don’t worry about it, it happens to the best of us. I tried to catch you in the hall, but you looked as if you had seen a ghost. You had no colour at all.”
“Did I?” It was hard to piece together what happened once King Dalior had left.
Nyah reached out and placed her hand on mine. She was cold to the touch; her fingers gripped a hold of my arm. It was her face that worried me, it was pinched, and she looked like she was in pain.
“Nyah, are you well?” I asked, but she ignored. “Nyah?”
“I’m concentrating…” she said, her eyes closed and her lips stretched until they were white with tension.
“On what?”
A sudden wave of warmth seemed to encase my entire body and my emotions began to change. The panic melted away within me, gone in seconds. Although I had no idea how it kept happening, I could feel its origins. I looked towards the throbbing feeling, it came directly from Nyah’s hand.