Page 14 of The Shadow Fae Rhapsody
“We can only keep this bluff for so long.” The figure gives Graysen another look through his mask, his tone stern. “The general will want to hear something from his niece. Make sure everything is finished by the end of the week.”
I try lifting my head to look at the person who calls himself the Shadow Fae again, but my neck feels stiff.
The governor releases a sigh of utter relief once the figure leaves..
“You heard him. We need to ship her tonight. Take her outside,” he orders his guards.
One of them gathers me as per his master’s command. It’s too painful to open my eyes after that beating but I keep counting the steps silently in my head. I need to know where they’re taking me.
When my vision returns, I find myself outside of the governor’s compound, still in the company of Graysen and his guards. But there are more people now, watching us. I can ask for help. My heart pounds faster inside my battered body.
A clergyman trails behind the governor. I recognize him from the dilapidated temple we visited back in the poor village.
“Please let me heal her,” he begs to my captors.
“Out of our way!” One of the sentries pushes him away.
“Wait.” Lady Graysen raises her hand. She strides towards us, her ruby chiffon dress shifting at the movement. I flinch as she touches my cheek with her bony fingers, studying me beneath her honed stare. “Let him heal her face. The girl at least has to be recognizable for the trade.”
The guards do as she bids and allow the priest to scramble towards me. Warmth seeps into my skin as he passes Anastarros blessings into me. He mends the worst of my injuries first, the bones, the muscles and tendons, secretly defying Lady Graysen’s order.
I lift my head to look at him.Thank you.
The priest’s technique is smooth, but he is a malnourished villager from Feywildra. There is not much he can draw from the God without losing his own strength. Guilt smears across his face as our gazes lock.
Help me,I plead with my eyes.
“We shouldn’t do this. The Wiolants will burn down the village if she doesn’t write to them,” he warns the lord.
“He has a point,” the governess says, turning to her husband.
“Fuck the village,” he barks at her. “We can start a new life in Tiamat with that kind of money.”
“Think of the children in the village,” the priest tries again. “Rainer will kill everyone when they find—”
A sharp gasp of air escapes his lips. The priest’s knees buckle as he struggles to breathe. My heart plummets at the sight of the black feathered arrow lodged in his throat. The governor smiles, kissing the crossbow in his hand.
“I’ve always hated your sermons, old lad,” he says, kicking the dying elf. I watch helplessly as life slowly leaves the priest’s eyes.
The governor and his wife move towards the carriage. My heart stumbles when I see the large barrel sitting on the ground. They’re going to seal me in that. I increase my effort to wriggle free from the guard’s hold.
It’s no use. He’s too big and strong. My kicks only seem to annoy him. Something hard tackles my captor, almost toppling him to the ground.
“Let her go!” Jessica screams, throwing her entire weight on her punch. It knocks the guard over and destabilizes him. His hold on me eases and I finally have the chance to reach for Oscar’s pocketknife. I slash the blade deep into the sentry’s thigh. He releases me from his iron grip and I run into Jessica’s arms.
“You goddamn brat!” he curses, trying to stop the bleeding vessel on his thigh. “What have you done?”
His suffering cries reach the governor’s ear and the rest of the guards. They turn their attention towards us, eyes alert and deadly.
I take shelter and hide in Jessica’s heavy maid dress.
“It’s going to be all right. Everything will be all right,” she mutters quietly in my ear. “But when I tell you to run, you must go in that direction.”
I look at the dark path she gestured to. It leads straight to giant trees of Astefar.
“I’m scared,” I say to her.
She smiles at me. “Don’t be.”
