Page 6 of A Court of Ash and Midnight
“And I don’t believe I require an invitation to weigh in on vital happenings within these walls, Commander Thornne.”
They stare at each other in heated silence for several more moments, a seeming battle of wills, and then Commander Thornne turns, catching me in his coppery gaze.
“How did you get here, girl? And don’t tell me you don’t remember, because I’m not buying that. People do not just find their way to this castle. We have protections in place.”
The way he says it, I wonder with a shiver what they have in the desolate lands outside the walls. More beasts, like the nightmare at the gate? Or some sort of dark magic?
I suck in a deep breath. “I don’t know what to tell you, because Idon’tremember, and I’m telling the truth.”
He takes a step closer to me, and the smell of sweat and leather invades my senses. “You mean you don’t remember a single thing before arriving at our gates? Nothing in your life prior to that moment?”
I shake my head. “No, I remember my life, but not how I got here.”
“Go on, my dear,” the Professor says with an encouraging smile.
“Last night, I was in Kyrn, on the coast of Tervanne,” I begin.
The scowl on the Commander’s face deepens even further. “That’s impossible.”
“Let herspeak,” Professor Julian hisses.
“I was in Kyrn, and I realized I was being followed by several men. I fled the city, and I thought I lost them, but then they found me a few miles away in the marshes. And then I—” For no reason I can fathom, I don’t want to mention the jade-eyed man. So, I lie. Or rather, I leave out that one detail. “And I fell trying to escape, and then I woke up here.”
“You’re lying,” the Commander growls.
“Why were the men chasing you?” the Professor asks.
“I—I don’t know.” My throat is tight, my face red from the pressure. “They’ve been after me for years. I don’t know why.”
Both men look surprised, though the Commander reins in his emotion much more quickly. “How could they chase you all these years, and you haven’t a single clue why?”
“Well…” I trail off. Do I really want to tell these strangers my secret? Do I have a choice? They already don’t believe me.
“Yes, girl?” the Commander presses. “Spit it out.”
“I don’t know why they’re chasing me, because I don’t remember anything in my life prior to eight years ago.”
The words rush out of me, and somehow, even though these are far from ideal circumstances, it feels good to tell someone,anyone, the strange secret I’ve kept all this time.
I am met with silence for a long moment.
“How…fascinating…” Professor Julian says, staring at me as if I am some rare specimen. “I’ve never met someone who suffered from amnesia.”
“You can’t possibly believe this absurd story,” the Commander rumbles. “She can’t remember anything from her early life, and she also can’t remember how she arrived outside of Shadow’s Keep, the home of the Guardians. That’s quite convenient.” He whips his gaze from the Professor to me. “Who sent you? Who are you working for?”
“W-working for?” I stammer.
“Can’t you see you’re distressing her?” Julian says, pressing his palms together in front of his heart in an imploring gesture.
“Of course she acts innocent. All spies are excellent actors…”
This is getting out of hand quickly. “I’mnota spy!”
“A spy would obviously say that.” The Commander’s glare is soul-penetrating.
“Can I speak to you privately, Commander Thornne?” Julian says in an exasperated tone.
The Commander answers by pivoting on the heels of his boots and storming out of the room. The Guardians in the doorway stare straight ahead, stoic as statues. Professor Julian traipses after him, and as soon as they are out of sight in the hallway, I hear them break out into an argument once again. I catch only snippets of what’s being said.
