Chapter 1
Chapter One
“ I t is said he is forged from the very essence of shadow itself.”
Setting down my fork, I looked across the room at the four guards gathered around the dimly lit table, their faces half-hidden in the flickering candlelight. It was a distance, but even with the constant clamour of clinking pint glasses and scraping metal, I could discern snippets of their conversation. One guard leaned forward. “You mean to tell us that this… creature is more shadow than man?”
“Yes, and his presence can turn the brightest day into the blackest night. He is a whisper in the dark, a figure who slips through the cracks of reality itself.”
The youngest guard, barely more than a boy, shivered and glanced around. “How do we fight something like that?”
“You don’t fight shadows with steel…” I leaned in closer, the chair creaking beneath my weight. “You fight them with fire!”
My fork slipped through my fingers and clattered onto the floor when the tavern door swung open. I turned in my seat. A flood of soldiers and castle guards from the King’s Royal Court strode in after another finished shift. Together, these men governed our city, Sagaya. Stripped of their fine armour and uniforms upon entering, here, within the walls of The Shady Oak Tavern, they no longer displayed any signs of the positions or ranks they once held. This was a place where they could come and gather after a long and tumultuous day; they were off duty, free to do whatever the hell they pleased. Some men played cards, while others found solace in the amber depths of liquor or the comforting embrace of a woman or two. Above, nestled within the tavern, an inn and brothel beckoned to those seeking further indulgences.
The clock on the wall chimed for the second time since my arrival, a reminder it was nearing midnight. We were behind schedule. I straightened, stretching my tense neck and resting my fingers on my thigh to where my dagger was concealed, the cold steel a welcome comfort. Taking a deep breath, I inhaled the scent of leather and old spilled ale that had soaked into the wooden floorboards over the years and scrunched up my nose.
“Hello?” I glanced up at the lady standing over me, her voice barely audible over the noise. My gaze lingered on her for a moment as she stood, her hands on her hips. “Did you hear me? I said you cannot sit here any longer, girl. Move on.” She waved me off with a flick of her fingers, her gesture cold and dismissive, as if I were nothing more than an unwanted stray. “This area is for paying customers only!”
The women who worked here were known as Gracelings. A title they earned from the way
they gracefully danced through the aisles, dressed in little more than undergarments; they kept their makeup immaculate, and hair elaborate, with not an inch out of place. Their role was to entice the men by offering their undivided attention to those who sought it. The men were puppets, and the women puppeteers, plucking at their strings to captivate their audience. The atmosphere buzzed with lust and desire, so thick it could be cut with the gentlest stroke of a butter knife.
Before I could respond, she spun and patted her elaborate updo to ensure it was still intact before sauntering to the next table. Allowing her sleeve to slip off her shoulder, she settled onto a man’s lap and tipped her head back with careless laughter.
High-pitched screams erupted from a fight across the room. I shot out of my seat and moved swiftly, my hand falling to my weapon. I scanned the crowd for my sister as everyone hurried out of the way or moved for a better view of the brawl. “Excuse me, miss.” A barman brushed against me, rushing past with a mug of ale in each hand, the foam overflowing and dripping onto my feet.
I looked down at my boots, my shoulders slumping as a resigned sigh escaped my lips. Although they were worn, they were the last pair that still fit me—now tainted with the stink of ale.
A soldier winked when I passed his table, his glazed, bloodshot eyes roaming me like I was someone to be purchased.
“Disgusting.” Locking my eyes ahead, I inched my hood around my neck to shield my face further.
I glanced around the room and released a breath I didn’t realise I’d been holding as soon as I spotted my sister. Leaning casually against the counter, she raised two fingers to signal the bartender for another drink. The bartender, lounging against the back bar, absentmindedly cleaned a glass before preparing her order, glancing periodically at the commotion, as if anticipating the moment he might need to intervene.
He poured a clear yellow substance into a small glass and slid it to her with a subtle nod before moving on to the next punter. She threw her head back to swallow the drink in one go, exposing her neck that looked longer than usual, given how much of her chest she’d exposed. It seemed the women who worked here didn’t have to pay for their drinks. Perhaps the landlady took it out of their hard-earned pennies at the night’s end, or maybe she kept it all, along with their virtue.
Arnica spun in my direction. Her face was pinched as though the drink scorched her throat, and it took a moment for her features to relax again. She looked breathtaking. It was my first time seeing my sister dress in such a way. She looked like a goddess when she stepped into the light, her breasts swelling in that scandalous midnight-blue dress we purchased with the last of our pennies. It was far from appropriate, but with the big gold hoops in her ears matching the sparkling shadows on her eyelids, she blended in perfectly with the other Gracelings here tonight.
She left the glass behind for the bartender to clear and got up, staggering slightly. Pausing, she lifted her chin and brushed away the strand of auburn hair that fell from her updo before sauntering forward witha soft yet seductive smile.
“Focus, Arnica,” I pleaded under my breath. I inched closer, hoping to capture her attention, but she took no notice. Instead, she focused on the men and the role she had to play. I tracked her gaze while maintaining a cautious distance. There, I spotted my brother Jesse sitting at a table with three soldiers.
A smile crept across my face as I watched him shuffle the deck of cards before dealing them with unwavering confidence I couldn’t help but admire. Jesse lounged back in his seat, blending seamlessly with the other unsavoury characters who frequented this place. Dressed in tailored stolen garments, with dirt strategically smudged across his cheeks and tousled hair, no one would guess he was merely a fourteen-year-old boy. Among these men, he played the part well, exuding a sense of belonging as if he were truly one of their own.
I prepared for the signal, shifting nervously in place. When an old man with a ruddy face and beer foam clinging to his moustache glared at me, I quickly moved to another spot. I tugged at my bottom lip, my gaze flitting around the room until pausing on the clock again. Every passing second seemed to tighten the knot in my stomach. We were mere sheep surrounded by a den of lions. If these men had even the slightest suspicion of our identities, they’d throw us into the dungeons without hesitation. After all, these men spent their days hunting us.
Doubt gnawed at me. Perhaps there was another way? One which was a little less reckless and foolish. Get in and get out, remain unnoticed—that was our mission tonight. A tightness gripped my throat as I fought to suppress the surging power within me. Heat simmered beneath my skin, and with each swallow, I struggled to contain my magic, which simmered beneath the surface, threatening to be unleashed. I took a deep breath.
The men studied the cards they’d been dealt, throwing their coins into a small pile in the middle of the table like it meant nothing. Jesse did the same, and a knot formed in my stomach as I watched our last coin slip through his fingers and land on the table with a hollow thud.
Jesse’s face twitched, the only giveaway of the same sinking feeling settling on him, too. That one coin of such little worth to these men could have fed us for a whole week, maybe longer, if we really stretched it. He caught my eye, giving me a wan smile that the table might easily interpret as overconfidence with his hand. But to me, it was a signal—a silent warning. He was ready.
Jesse possessed a unique ability. With the slightest touch, he could delve into a person’s mind, sometimes glimpsing vivid images and snippets of their immediate stream of consciousness. Yet time was of the essence; he had to swiftly extract what he could before departing unnoticed. Lingering too long resulted in unsettling dizziness that occasionally led to headaches or temporary memory loss. Arnica and I had learned firsthand that his extraordinary gift came with its own set of consequences, for it was us he used to practise on.
I glanced at Arnica to let her know Jesse was ready, but found her squinting hard enough that, even at this distance, a dark line was visible between her brows. She swayed and instinctively reached for support, grasping the bench beside her. I rolled my eyes up to the dark, pock-marked ceiling before shifting my attention from the man beside Jesse to Arnica. I fixed her with a stern look, urging her to regain composure, for she was, after all, our decoy.
Twirling a lock of hair around her finger, Arnica slipped past one of the men and brushed her hand along his back, giving Jesse enough time to lean in and glance at the man’s card. I held my breath as the man remained distracted, enthralled by Arnica’s presence.
One down, I noted. Still, a bead of perspiration formed on my forehead before Arnica glided onto the next target. Her delicate fingers trailed up the nape of his neck, teasing the tip of his collar. When he tilted his head towards her, she batted her eyelashes before quickly glancing at his cards. Her smile widened.
“Can I get you a drink, handsome?” she purred.
“Get me a beer,” he commanded without sparing her a glance.
Two down.
The last man flicked his eyes between his cards and Arnica, seemingly more interested in memorising every inch of her as opposed to the cards in his hands. He took a long, deliberate drag of his cigarette, exhaling a cloud of smoke into the air.
“Hi!” Arnica sauntered over to him and winked before sliding up behind him and draping her arm over his shoulder. She brushed her lips against the tip of his earlobe as she leaned in and whispered something before floating toward Jesse. Pressing my lips together, I sent up a silent prayer. With a subtle touch, she gently laid her hand upon Jesse’s, using the connection to transfer her observations.
Arnica glided back to the bar, and I followed, passing Jesse, who discreetly revealed his cards. When I reached Arnica, I delivered a hard pinch on the back of her arm. “Ouch! What was that for?” she yelped, massaging the spot my fingers had squeezed.
“Arnica, how much have you had to drink?”
“I couldn’t resist,” she whispered. Do you know it’s free if you work here?”
“Nothing in life is free, Arnica.” I studied her closely. “They do that for a reason, you know; they want to mummify your senses, so you throw yourself at these animals,” I remarked, sniffing the air.
“Come on, Jaynie, lighten up a little.” I rolled my eyes at the use of my childhood nickname. “We’re out in the big bad world for the first time in Gods knows how long. The least we could do is enjoy it a little,” she laughed, squinting a bit too much for my liking.
“Concentrate!” I growled. Arnica had an unmistakable wild streak, a fiery essence that set her apart from both Jesse and me. I sighed.
“Okay, okay.” She laughed again before taking a seat. I settled on the stool beside her, and we exchanged the information we had gathered.
“Jesse has two tens,” I revealed.
“Thank goodness!” she exclaimed, relaxing in her chair.
“I know.” I smiled.
“The first man has an ace and a ten, and the other two have already folded,” she added. I caught Jesse’s eye and gestured with my hands for him to hold. With the cards he had, the others would fold, and he would win this round again.
As the hour grew late, I surveyed our surroundings. It was loud, and the clamour of the crowd drowned out any chances of observation, with each table engrossed in their own conversations and games. No one seemed to bat an eye as Jesse slipped from his seat. Instead, the men continued with their next game, and another man slid into Jesse’s spot. Jesse pocketed the coins and went to the serving counter where Arnica and I stood.
“Time to go,” I whispered to Arnica, who nodded. Without looking back, I forged a path towards the door, resisting the urge for one last glance at them. As planned, Jesse would take Arnica’s hand and lead her toward the hallway leading to the pleasure rooms. However, instead of proceeding further, they would slip out through the back door and meet with me outside.
I lowered my head and quickly covered myself with my coat, scanning the room from beneath my hood. Something didn’t feel right. An unsettling sensation tingled up my spine, and I couldn’t shake the feeling I was being watched.
A man with an accordion began singing on the makeshift stage, and the crowd erupted into cheers as he began an old ballad. They sang back to him in unison, triumphantly raising their drinks and clenching their fists in celebration. Laughter reverberated throughout the air.
I scowled and lifted my gaze, searching for the exit, but it was the ghostly light from the corner of the room that drew my attention. I hesitated. The feeling of an unnatural, otherworldly presence caught my breath as I stared at the stranger leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. His unwavering gaze locked on me, and it was like his eyes were flames penetrating into the depths of my soul. He tilted his head curiously, sending shivers down my spine. I quickly stepped back and changed direction, stumbling into a chair behind me.
“Damn it!” I exclaimed, glancing down. My stomach plummeted as I realised it wasn’t a chair but a soldier I had recklessly stumbled into.
“I am sorry, sir,” I apologised, ready to make my escape. I barely turned before he seized me, yanking me into his lap. I felt a wave of panic as he held me firmly in place.
“What have we here? Look at this, boys! This pretty one seems to have fallen right into my lap tonight!” I turned my head to avoid the foul stench of liquor on his breath as his filthy hand yanked down my hood, and then the side of my coat, exposing my bare shoulder.
The group of men whistled and burst into laughter. They made lewd comments as their eyes crawled over me like I was a delectable morsel on a platter before them.
“You will let me go,” I demanded calmly. His callused hands grazed my skin, and I attempted to squirm free.
“Oh, you like to play hard to get, do ya?” he jeered. I closed my eyes and turned my head from him again. If only I could reach my blade. Desperate to break his tight hold, I curled my fingers and arched my back. “Why don’t I take you to the rooms and show you how hard I can get?” His words dripped with vile intent, sending a shiver of unease through me.
But then the atmosphere shifted, and the temperature dropped. I whipped my head to the figure standing before us, his frame casting shadows over my face.
It was the man I had glimpsed moments earlier, standing against the wall. His presence was overwhelming, his stature tall and formidable. It was like gazing up at a God. He cleared his throat, gaining the soldier’s attention.
It wasn’t the first time I had been in the presence of a handsome man; Sagaya was so full of them that I had grown accustomed to it. However, this man was unlike any I had ever encountered, as though spun from everything perfect in this world. Dressed entirely in black—from his boots and trousers to his untucked button-up shirt with rolled-up sleeves—it was clear he was not from around here. Perhaps he was a visitor from a distant town. He shifted, and I was instantly drawn to the sinuous black ink cascading down his neck, swirling like a secret script woven beneath his skin.
“I think she told you to let her go, did she not?” A predatory anger laced his words, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand on edge. I shifted my gaze to the soldier in the hopes he would let me go. He didn’t. Instead, he responded with a disdainful remark, dismissing the stranger.
“Mind your own business, commoner,” snapped the soldier, his fingers clawing into my arm with such force that his nails dug into my flesh, leaving a stinging trail. Undeterred, the man stepped closer, and a wayward strand of his dark hair fell onto his forehead so perfectly I wondered if he was even real. His glare softened when his eyes met mine, extending his hand towards me. Willingly—easily—I clasped it, trusting him against all logic. The instant our hands met, unexpected warmth coursed through my veins, like an electric current transcending between us. He, too, glanced at our joint hands. I sensed the people around us beginning to take notice; I needed to get out before I drew any more attention.
The soldier stepped forward, and his cohorts rose in unison, standing with him. The tension buzzed thick and savage between us.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he sneered at the stranger, tightening his grip on my wrist. “Find someone else, mate. This one’s mine.”
I readied to defend myself, yet my unexpected saviour had already moved me behind him and positioned himself between me and the encroaching group of men. Time seemed to slow momentarily, then sped up in a swift forward surge as he intercepted their advances with fluid grace. He seized his assailant, wrapping his hand around his throat and pressing a dagger firmly against his spine.
I stood still, stunned. The whole room watched with bated breath.
“Touch her or even dare to look at her again, and your days are numbered. Do you understand me… commoner?” His voice rumbled low, like the growl of a snare-trapped beast; his scowl deepened, and his eyes narrowed.
“Okay, okay!” The guard held up his hands in surrender. With a forceful shove, the stranger pushed him aside, leaving him gasping for air in his wake.
Gripping my arm, the stranger pulled me away with an urgency that matched the pounding of my heart. I looked behind me at the men left behind, starting to regroup and gather. I knew men like him. I grew up watching and studying such men who craved fights and fed off power. They would want blood for what he’d done tonight.
“Who are you?” I raised my voice, struggling to be heard amidst the renewed clamour. He continued guiding me through the crowd, weaving through and around tables.
“No one,” he replied, but I refused to relent.
“They will seek revenge for what you did back there. You must know that?” I pressed, but he didn’t answer. He fixed his focus on the door and the path that led to safety. As we passed through, I watched in astonishment as men cleared a path for him, while women looked up, awe-struck.
I dug my heels into the ground with all my strength, finally freeing myself from his grip. My sudden resistance caught his attention, and my breath caught when he swiftly turned to face me fully, standing chest-to-chest. I went to speak, to say anything, but the words were caught in my throat, refusing to come out. I hesitated, mesmerised by his gaze. His eyes transformed, shifting from the depths of black to a striking shade of silver. My mind raced with questions. Was this some sort of spike-induced hallucination? Had someone tampered with my beverage, perhaps lacing it with Salvia Divinorum? I recalled tales of the herb, renowned for the intense hallucinations it induced, leaving those who ingested it questioning reality.
“Your eyes.” I blinked, stepping closer. “They were just—” I extended my hand, yearning to touch his face. His hand shot out to grasp my wrist, and he peered over my shoulder before meeting my gaze.
“You need to leave.” He clenched his square jaw with unwavering resolve. I studied the planes of his face, wondering how it would feel to run my finger along the smooth angles of his cheekbones. “Your brother and sister are waiting for you beyond the bend,” he said. Ignoring my obvious confusion, he tugged me towards the darkened hallway. “Aleithra!”
“A-Aeli—?” I stammered, my voice barely audible.
“Jayne.” He spoke my name with a familiarity that made me frown. It jolted me from my trance, as if he had doused me with freezing water. I withdrew my arm, letting it fall back to my side. How was it he knew my name?
I couldn’t speak. My throat was dry, and I struggled to swallow. When he looked at me, I got the sense that he, too, was battling with the need to say something more. Instead, he pointed toward the entrance.
“Go. Now!” he commanded, before turning to walk away.
I attempted to command my legs to move, but my feet were planted firmly on the ground. I stood there, immobilised, fixated on his departing figure, as a sense of emptiness lingered in his wake. I didn’t even know his name, yet I longed to call out and plead with him to stay a moment longer. But before I could compose myself, he had vanished into the crowd, leaving me with nothing but unanswered questions. Thoughts of Jesse and Arnica waiting in the night’s darkness fuelled me to leave, and as soon as I stepped outside onto the gravel, I propelled forward, running as fast as I could. The frigid air hit my face, instantly drying my perspiration on contact.
I glanced behind me at the tavern’s light in the distance. Something urged me to go back, if only for a moment. I bit down on my bottom lip.
“Jayne, there you are!” I spun to see Arnica jogging toward me. “Gods, we were getting worried!” Her steps stuttered at the sight of me. “What is it? Did something happen?”
Although my knees still trembled, I managed to reply, “Everything’s fine,” and muster a smile.
“Then why did you take so long?” Jesse and Arnica exchanged a look.
“It was…” I couldn’t find the words to explain what had transpired. I shook my head. “There was an altercation, and I got caught in the commotion, though I slipped out unnoticed.” Arnica and Jesse shared another look until Jesse shrugged and spun on his heels, prompting Arnica and I to follow. I steered our conversation in a new direction.
“So, are we rich?” I asked, a smile playing on my lips. Arnica chuckled, her laughter bringing a momentary sense of ease.
“Not rich, but we won’t go hungry for at least another month now.” His words soothed my frayed nerves.
“You did well, little brother; I’m incredibly proud of you.” I wrapped my arms around him and placed a forceful kiss on his temple. Arnica did the same before he playfully pushed us away, deflecting our praise.
“A criminal as a little brother; yes, you should be so proud!” His voice dripped with sarcasm. “One day, I’ll be held accountable for my past actions—you know that, don’t you?”
“Oh, come now, Jesse Ritherton,” Arnica admonished. “We are just trying to survive. Nothing wrong with that.”
Arnica and Jesse’s conversation continued, yet their voices drifted into the distance, fading from my focus. As my mind wandered, I tilted my face upwards to the night sky, before drawing a deep, long breath. The air felt crisp and filled my lungs as I gazed at the glittering tapestry of stars illuminating our path homeward. The forest’s edge loomed before us, its trees whispering secrets in the distance. A gentle breeze enveloped me, swirling, dancing, and causing my long golden hair to float in its ethereal embrace. A sense of foreboding washed over me. I glanced at my brother and sister, laughing and shoving one another ahead. A smile crept across my face.
“Race you home?”
Without answering, Jesse and Arnica began sprinting, eager to gain a head start.