Page 39 of A War of Embers

Slipping into the crowd of people, I try to blend in the best I can as I head towards the kitchen under the guise of putting my mug in the sink to be washed. When no one stops me, I slow my walking and stick close to the wall to not hinder anyone moving about at full speed.

Stepping into an alcove during a particularly populated rush, I see several scarves hanging from hooks on the wall. It’s almost kismet. I sneak over and grab out while everyone is too busy shoving by one another. Tucking it up and under my shirt, I quickly get back to the hallway towards my trek.

It doesn’t take long to get near the overflowing kitchen. Several of the staff are loading bags and baskets with food items before the food begins to move down the human conveyor belt towards the outside door in the far corner, right to where the luggage is being sorted.

“Trying to sneak away?” Nox’s shrill voice captures several people’s attention as he comes through the backdoor and heads directly towards me, forcing people to shuffle out of his way.

Drolly, I raise my mug into the air. “If you mean, did I come to the kitchen for the entire purpose of placing my mug in the wash, then yes. I snuck away from my room just for that.” I peer over my shoulder, as if Alyvia is right behind me, but she must still be preoccupied with Zeke. “Now, if you don’t mind–”

“If you’re planning something, some kind of hit to take out one of the guards, we know to look out for you,” Nox warns.

I sigh. Unbeknowningly, he just gave me information to use when I sneak out later. But this cat and mouse game is tiring. Of course I expect the guards to look out for me, I gave them every reason to by mouthing off to Rowan. Still, Nox doesn’t need to know that. “If you’ve come to give me a lecture, you can save it. I already got one moments ago from Rowan, I don’t need another.”

Now several people are gawking at me, but no one dares to tell me to address him by title. Perhaps they’re finally catching on that I don’t care about their rules and etiquette.

“Lord Rowan spoke with you? Just now?” Nox asks, clearly baffled.

I pretend to feel sheepish by raising my shoulder in a lopsided shrug. “Is that not normal? Him seeking out people? You’re more than welcome to go find him and ask what our conversation entailed if you don’t believe me.”

Nox glares so aggressively I’m surprised daggers don’t appear to embed themselves in my skin. “I don’t understand Lord Rowan’s fascination with helping you, but he’s not so bewitched by your looks as you might think. It’ll take more than throwing yourself at him for him to actually heed you.”

For a few seconds, I’m stupefied by the fact Nox thinks I’m using my womanly wiles to trap Rowan into some kind of…I don’t even know what he thinks I’m trapping his precious Lord in. But the idea of doing it pisses me off. Stepping closer, I grip Nox by the front of his shirt and drag his chest towards me. Pitching my voice low, I practically snarl, “Listen here you little shit, I don’t know what crawled inside your asshole and died, but you don’t get to speak to me that way. I have not thrown myself at Rowan. I don’t need to. I have his attention because we speak the same language: violence. And if you want me to demonstrate how that works, say the word. I’ll gladly show you what living in Tellus has taught me over the years.”

Nox opens his mouth and quickly closes it instead of blurting out whatever insolent comeback came to mind.

“Keres, release him.” Zeke’s voice comes from behind me, but he doesn’t try to physically remove me from Nox’s personal space.

I shove Nox aside, sneering at him. “Go play guard somewhere else.”

“But don’t go too far,” Zeke adds on, the harsh lines of his face deepening as he steps beside me to glare at Nox. “We need to have a little chat about how we address Lord Rowan’s guests.”

Pale faced, Nox jerks his chin in acknowledgement to Zeke before leaving through the back entrance.

Sighing, I lift an eyebrow at Zeke. “You don’t know why he’d think I’m throwing myself at Rowan, do you?”

Zeke quietly assesses me for a moment before responding. “Nox has been working very hard to hold an audience with Lord Rowan. Nox is a highly respected guard within the community, and extremely protective of those in the city. He wants to be considered part of Lord Rowan’s inner circle. The fact you’ve held several audiences with Lord Rowan proves to him that you’re more powerful than he’ll ever be, regardless you both bear immortal souls.” Zeke snorts. “He’s also been around Lady Cirilla too long, he’s swayed to her version of life where she breeds with Lord Rowan and has a personal bodyguard to protect the future children who could potentially be the most powerful Lords or Ladies to walk the realm. You threaten that picture.”

“Seems like a ridiculous notion to believe I’m threatening it from happening.”

“Yet you’re a threat to it all the same.”

Lifting the empty mug into the air, I show Zeke before setting it in the soapy water of the kitchen sink where someone else immediately begins cleaning it. “All I came in here to do was not make a mess of the room I’m sleeping in. Instead I’m being regarded like I’m a threat to the entire Haze ordeal.”

Zeke snorts. “Aren’t you? It’s where monsters procreate. Since your arrival, Lord Rowan has been less inclined to meet with potential suitors. Now usually this would be considered a normal affair to occur, but he’s meeting with you even though your interests are entirely different. You’re still receiving more attention than anyone else. It’s making people antsy.”

“Well that’s hardly my fault.”

He simply offers me a reptilian smile. “I overheard you explaining Lord Rowan sought out your company not too long ago? Discuss anything interesting?”

“No.”

Zeke’s smirk stretches to an outright grin. “Liar. Enjoy your time, little monster, we’ll be back soon.”

He walks back out of the kitchen door into the thick of moving people. Everyone seems to be gearing up for the massive movement towards the forest soon. No one looks at me as I begin to make the trek back to the guest room I’ve been staying in. There’s no one else to bump into, to pick a fight with, or to stalk.

Now, everything is simply a waiting game. Let them leave into the forest, have their eyes peeled open for any enemies. Little do they know tracking herds of people comes easy to me. I monitor the gangs living in the trees between Districts, noting anyone who may be perceived as a threat to the Cinnabar District. When deemed too high of a risk, I dispose of the person before they can make any movements.

Going into the Wraithlands feels almost the same. As if I’m tracking something threatening, though it’s to my life instead of on behalf of someone else. On the bright side, Lady Cirilla may decide being around Lord Rowan isn’t worth it after everything I have planned to put her through to really drive home how just how badly I want everything to end.

---