Chapter 6
The inside of the castle is gloomy, the atmosphere making it feel like we’ve entered another world.
The thick air that flows through the hallways carries the scent of musk and rich incense, which intensifies as we move deeper into the castle.
The floors are made of flawless, dark stone that is so cold to the touch that it sends chills coursing through my body.
The walls are lined with weathered stone, and I assume we are deep within the castle at this point, because it feels damp.
Light green moss grows in the corners, and torches dance along the narrow corridors, casting additional shadows in all directions.
We round the corner, and the hallway opens wider, allowing us to walk shoulder to shoulder. Maines, Oak, and I walk forward in silence, waiting for the moment when we can speak in private, while Warrick and Fenmore lead the way.
“Almost there,” Fen says, interrupting the silence to point in front of her.
Warrick leans in and playfully whispers something in Fen’s ear, and she brushes him away with a huff.
He slides his hand to the small of her back, trailing his thumb in small circles, and she takes a step closer to him after their lighthearted spat.
His body towers over hers as she leans into him, and I can’t help but wonder what Silas thinks about his Commanders being in an obvious relationship.
Rooms begin to line the walls; each thick wooden door has a serpent on it that winds in a different direction, open mouth pointing to the ornate door handle. The snakes look so realistic, as if poised to strike the second you touch the handle, ready to sink their sharp teeth into your hand.
A thought crosses my mind: Silas has never discussed the meaning of serpents within Andorwood. But then again, Silas hasn’t revealed much to me, it seems. My stomach churns with anger, and the urge to talk to him intensifies with every step.
“Here we are.” Fen claps her hands together. “Briar, your room is here to the left.” She throws her head in the direction of the door. “Don’t worry, Silas’s is next to yours.”
A golden snake with ruby eyes is engraved on the door that she indicated as mine.
I peer around her and Warrick to see a larger wooden door right where she said Silas’s is. Black jewels sit where the snake’s eyes should be, and the serpents are bright gold, standing out against the darkness. Curiosity moves through me.
What does his room look like?
“I can’t believe it. I’ll get to see the Prince of Andorwood’s childhood bedroom,” Oak jokes, cutting into the silence and offering us a quick chuckle. “Seriously, it’s a bucket list moment.”
Laughing, Fen points across the hallway and says, “Oak, this room will be your accommodation for your pleasant stay in Andorwood.”
We all look, and Oak’s door is similar, but the snake’s eyes are adorned with a royal blue jewel.
“Nicest room in the castle, I’m sure,” he quips.
We all ignore him this time and wait for Fen to continue. “Maines, your room is here.”
Pointing a few doors down, Maines is the furthest from ours. Her door is jeweled with a dark violet and looks smaller than the others.
Her reaction is cold, but she dips her head. “Thank you.”
Fen grins, shifting her gaze back to mine. “Dinner is in an hour. You should all freshen up. Father has prepared quite a show for tonight’s entertainment. You’ll find all the clothing you need in the wardrobes.”
“Thank you,” I say.
“We also had a few people shift any belongings we could find on the ship for you,” Warrick says. “You all should be comfortable.”
“When you’re ready, head down this hallway and down the grand stairs; the Great Hall will be on your right. We will wait for you to arrive and enter together,” Fen says, stepping to take her leave down the dark hallway.
“Where is your room, Fen?” I can’t help but ask.
She smiles, but Warrick answers before she can. “We stay down the hall and to the left, near Larkin’s room.” He smiles. “We’re close, so don’t hesitate to let us know if you need anything.”
“You two have a room together?” Maines asks.
Warrick laughs. “When she allows me to stay with her.”
Fen gives him a nudge and rolls her eyes. “He’s so melodramatic.”
He pinches her side, and a playful laugh leaves her lips.
“I can assure you I am not the dramatic one here,” Warrick responds, flashing a glance to Fenmore.
“Like I said,” Fen continues. “We will see you all very soon.”
“Don’t be late,” Warrick adds, and his tone is a warning to us, returning the conversation to the night ahead.
Warrick and Fen make their way down the hallway toward the Great Hall.
He wraps his arm around her shoulders, and I hear a chuckle leave her throat, brightening the dim hallway around them.
As they round the corner, they vanish, leaving Oak, Maines, and me alone for the first time since our arrival.
“What the fuck is going on?” Maines snaps, after making sure we are alone.
“That was quite the arrival, I’d say,” Oak chimes in.
They both look at me, waiting for me to add anything to their conversation, but I remain silent, unable to find the right words.
“Did Silas tell you they would cheer for his arrival? I thought they would kill us on the spot from the things I’ve heard of this place,” Oak continues.
“I agree,” Maines adds. “I’ve heard terrible things since I was a child, like that only forgotten monsters come to this island, but that clearly isn’t true."
My head is spinning.
I need to talk to Silas. Immediately.
“Silas told us there were good and horrible people here. Maybe it is all a rumor.” Oak rubs his head. “And then we get here, and he bails? What is up with that?”
I feel anxiety bubbling inside my veins. “Fen told me not to let the cheers fool us. Something is going on, and we will find out. I trust Silas to explain more when he can,” I defend. “Right now, we need to go to our rooms and prepare for dinner.”
“What is up with her, by the way?” Maines crosses her arms.
“Who?” I question. “Fen?”
“Yes, her. She doesn’t like me, and it’s very apparent,” Maines huffs.
“You’re overthinking this, Maines. We’ve been with her for a day.” I move toward my door, the snake’s eyes gleaming in the hallway. “Give her a chance.”
I reach for my door handle hesitantly, still half expecting the snake to rear up and bite me. I hold my breath and close my eyes before I grab the handle, releasing my breath quickly as the door opens easily and without a snake bite.
“I’ll see you two soon,” I say over my shoulder.
I hear Oak tell Maines that he will walk her to her bedroom as I shut the door.
My back scratches against the heavy wooden door as I lean against it, inhaling deeply for the first time. I need a moment to think.
The sun has set, and the moon quickly rises outside. The darkened kingdom looks back at me from the tall, narrow windows that line the entire back wall of the room. Rich, deep crimson curtains hang to the floor, reminding me of my Daramveer bedroom. However, this castle is much nicer.
I move through the room, observing my surroundings.
The furniture is sparse, yet each piece is crafted from dark walnut and adorned with engravings that hint at its age.
My eyes fall on the bed against the far wall—one with a large canopy draped in rich red velvet.
The silk sheets are also a deep crimson, and a chandelier hangs from the ceiling, resembling falling stars.
I realize the eyes on the snake indicate the color within, and I am instantly curious about the other bedrooms.
I sit on the side of the bed and melt into the softness of the sheets as I try to process today.
What is going on?
Think, Briar. Think.
But, nothing comes to mind.
My mind is a mess of thoughts as I try to process our arrival and Silas’s actions since we’ve been here.
We have things we must accomplish, and I cannot afford to be distracted.
We must find a way to prevent this war from starting, saving both Rohhit and me in the process.
I look down at my hands, the black fingertips and darkening veins never letting me forget.
My eyes begin to close against my will, and my body relaxes.
I feel myself drifting into sleep, exhaustion overtaking me, even with memories that are almost too much to bear.
My body feels as if it is floating. The heavy sensation of sleep presses down on me when I suddenly hear someone familiar screaming my name.
Briar.
I sit up abruptly in bed, my heart racing, and glance around. Nothing but the crackling fire responds.
I know that voice, but I’m not ready to admit it to myself just yet.
I walk to the heavy door and crack it open, peering into the dim hallway.
To my surprise, it’s empty, with only the shuffling of feet in the distance reaching my ears.
The candlelight in the hallway casts an unnerving shadow against the stone, and I swear something is watching me, waiting for me to step into the darkness.
Quickly closing the door, I brush off the unsettling feeling and rub my tired eyes.
I walk to the large walnut wardrobe and pull on the doors.
Gowns in all shades of red and deep burgundy hang before me like the morning sun.
This is an interesting color choice for me, as I typically gravitate to blacks, but red will be a fun change.
I’m willing to give this a chance since it reminds me of the dress Rose brought to me from Eddris.
The gown I currently wear is peppered with dirt from the walk here, so slipping into something fresh will make me feel better.
After a brief perusal, I pull out a scarlet gown entirely made of silk. Thin straps rest on my shoulders, leading into the billowing, low-draped neckline that hangs perfectly over my breasts. The fabric alone makes this dress breathtaking; no jewels or embroidery are needed.