Page 21 of Ties of Shadow

Slipping into some shoes, again, the right fit—should I be grateful or terrified?—I bustled after him. The silk slipped past my legs in luxury, but I feared they showed more than they should without all the layers I was used to wearing. Shaking off the thought, I caught up to him and stayed two paces behind him.

“Where are we going?” I asked as he turned down a hall I hadn’t seen before.

“A tour.”

Chapter twelve

A Tour

The Shade remained silent as he turned down three different corridors.

“Could you”—I skipped to catch up again—“please, tour a bit slower, sir?” And don’t tours usually come with words of instruction?

“Words are excessive. Watch. Learn. Keep up.” He stopped suddenly, and I nearly careened into him. “And why are you behind me?”

“I’m sorry. You are faster than me.”

His green eyes flashed with black, and he gestured beside him. “Come here.”

My hand lifted my gown as I approached. He nodded once and stepped away; I followed just a step behind. He glanced at me again. “No.” Grasping my shoulders, he pulled me forward. His hands felt hot through the thin fabric. “Walk here. At my side.”

“But—”

He raised a black brow as he pursed his lips. That new rebellious coal in my chest wondered if I should push the issue, but when trying to survive Death, I surrendered. “Very well.”

We took off together. As I was no longer racing, I suspected he had slowed. He threw out a hand intermittently, indicating doors but providing only the briefest description as we went along. We passedmany guest rooms and the servants’ quarters. We went around another corner before I dared to speak again. “What… what shall I call you, sir?”

The Shade paused, staring straight ahead in thought for a moment. “The Shade is adequate.”

I was pleased he didn’t say Master. The stairs ascended in rocky steps that were worn down in the center. The next ceiling was not quite as high—perhaps only nine feet. Small windows on the left let in some light as the rooms jutted off to the right.

“Here is the armory. The second kitchen is where a lot of bread is baked. The western wing. The chicken coop.”

“I’m sorry?” I’d stopped before a door that had been cut in half. The Shade strode to my side, his shadows sweeping aside my skirts as his shoulder brushed mine again.

“Chickens, Dayspring.” Opening the top of the door, I could see twenty black chickens milling around a stony room, the floor covered in straw. When he opened the lower door, chickens ran toward us, murmuring and clucking. Their combs, waddles, legs, and eyes were all black, but their black feathers shimmered in a rainbow of color under the lights. A shadow slipped between us, entered a drawer, and pulled out some seeds and mealworms for the excited chickens.

I blinked once, twice, and slowly turned to regard the Shade. The menace of hope and light had…chickens? Probably for blood sacrifices.

The Shade snorted, then scratched at the light stubble on his cheek as he turned his face toward the hall.

Eyeing the room once more, I turned. “Sir, would you like me to care for the chickens?”

He raised an eyebrow. “Why would you do this?”

“As a servant of the Shade.” I curtsied briefly. “I’m happy to do what needs to be done.” I pulled the fine dress out to examine it. “Though this outfit would be soiled, so I’ll need a more casual outfit.”

A rumble burbled. Was he…laughing at me?

“Come, Dayspring. You will not be a chicken tender.”

I bustled behind him as he took off with long strides, light opaque shadows streaming behind him. “A maid then? I could clean.”

“No.”

“A…a chef? I’ve baked before at the…” Don’t mention the prince, don’t mention the prince. “I mean, before.”

“No. Speaking of him, why did the prince want you dead?” He turned so suddenly, I almost ran into him, but his shadows caught me and held me upright. My heart ached at his question.

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