Chapter 9
“Don’t tell me we are going to see Fen,” Maines complains from behind me, as we walk down the quiet hallway.
Candlelight dances off of her sharp cheekbones, but even in the dim lighting, I can tell she’s annoyed.
“What is your problem with her?” I question.
She shrugs. “She hasn’t been inviting to me. That’s all.”
“She’s letting you stay in her house,” Oak chimes in. “I’d say that’s about as inviting as you can get.”
“Oh, of course. Stand up for her over me.” Maines pushes ahead of him, and he rushes to catch up.
“Whoa. I’m not standing up for anyone, Maines, and you know that.
” He takes her hand. “Just give her some time. This whole situation might feel strange for her, too. I mean, the Queen of Daramveer is dating her brother, and now we’re in her kingdom trying to persuade an army—her army—to fight alongside us. ”
Oak is right.
This probably seems strange to everyone around.
“Fine,” Maines snaps. “But I’m not going to be friendly until she is.”
Oak smiles, nudging her shoulder. “I expect nothing less, darling.”
We continue down the long hallway while I scan our surroundings. I memorized the doors as quickly as possible on our way to dinner earlier. Each door held a jewel that matched our outfits. If my memory serves me correctly, the person I want to speak with was wearing a dark shade of auburn.
“I think the room should be… here.” I urge everyone to stop in front of the ornate door.
Auburn eyes look back at me from the jeweled snake, and I take a deep breath before knocking, telling myself that the snake will not bite me if I extend my hand forward.
My fist thuds against the door as I drive my hand into the heavy wood.
Silence is the reply.
I knock again, harder this time, in case the person behind the door is asleep or avoiding the intrusion at this hour.
I hear feet shuffling behind the thick wood. I glance behind me at Oak and Maines, who both are staring at me with an intense curiosity.
The large door barely opens, revealing nothing but darkness. As it opens wider, Larkin appears, and a look of surprise flashes across his face.
“What?” Larkin mumbles.
Asshole.
“I’m sorry to bother you.” I make a pained face. “But I need to know where Silas is.”
“Quite a fight you two had, I heard.”
“He told you?” I question.
“I don't know the details—”
“Oh, I’m sure,” I interrupt, sarcasm lacing my tone.
“—because I didn’t ask.” His brows rise as he continues. “He came to tell me where he was headed, and I put the pieces together from there.”
“Fantastic,” I huff, annoyed that I have to ask him for help.
“Why are you here?” Larkin asks.
“What?” The abruptness catches me off guard.
“You know where he is,” he snaps. “So, why did you come to my room?”
I look back at Maines and Oak and think for a moment.
Our arrival—the house on the cliff. He mentioned moving out at some point.
“He’s at the small house that sits upon the cliff. I’ll call it a hunch, but I assume he’s there.” I angle my head and look at Larkin. “Right?”
He slowly nods. “That is where Silas resides when he is not at the castle.”
“So?” I add.
“So what?” Larkin’s voice grows more impatient by the second.
“Do you think he’s there?” I push. “You are the last one that spoke to him.”
“Yes,” he sighs. “I would assume that is where he went.”
Another thing that Silas didn’t mention—a completely different house where he lives. I caught him staring at it as the ship was docking, and from the longing look on his face, I knew that house meant something to him.
“I want you two to shift there and check on him,” I add, looking at Maines and Oak.
“What?” Maines snaps. “No.”
“You aren’t coming with us?” Oak angles his head.
“Not yet. I want you to go and talk to him. What I said was horrible, and even though he said so, I don’t think he’s ready to see me just yet.” I smile, assuring them that it’s fine to leave me. “Go tell him I’m okay, and I will meet you all really soon.”
“I’m not sure…” Maines starts, but I cut her off.
“I’m fine. Please go talk to him.”
“Well… if you say so.” Oak looks unsure. “He’s going to be pissed at us for leaving you here alone.”
“Well, good. Maybe he’ll be mad at you two and not me by the time I get there.”
Oak and Maines swap anxious looks.
Maines steps forward. “Promise me you won’t be long. I’ll be left out once those two get together.”
I snort. “Promise. Please check on him. He listens to you.”
Maines nods, and they grab hands to shift, leaving me standing there with Larkin, who doesn’t look thrilled about this entire plan. I take a deep breath, letting the silent tension build around me. Steadying myself, I think of the things I need to say.
I turn to him.
“Can we talk?”
He tenses his brow. “No.”
“Larkin.”
“What about?”
“Are you going to make me stand in the hallway, or may I come inside?”
He rolls his eyes, folding his arms before stepping aside, allowing me to cross the threshold.
The dark auburn room is elegant, yet worn.
Candlelight dances across the walls, casting a sunset-like glow throughout the space.
It’s beautiful, but something about it carries a sadness, as if the objects—including Larkin—conceal a grim secret.
The air is thick with the scent of aged wood, and dozens of books line the far wall.
I make my way to the small sitting area and plop down in a cushioned chair.
I use the silence to study his face.
Larkin reminds me of Oak. He has the same dusty white hair that falls messily in all directions, along with some that shades his lower jaw. However, he’s older—probably my brother’s age—and his eyes aren’t as kind as Oak’s.
His eyes are darker—like the events of his life have tainted them.
“Again I’ll ask,” Larkin says, sitting down in a leather chair across from me, crossing his legs, “why are you here?”
“Because I know you.”
Shock flashes across his expression. “Nope. You don’t.”
I smile, letting the tension build as I begin to pick at my nails.
“Well, I don’t know you, but I know who you are. You know my brother, Barlowe. Or, I should say, you knew.”
The words sting coming out.
Larkin leans forward, placing his elbows on his knees. “And how would you know that?”
“He talked about you.” I relax my shoulders. “Years ago, when he first arrived at the training camp. A powerful Lumor Wielder from Eddris who always talked about traveling to Andorwood.” I pause, leaning forward to match his demeanor. “Larkin. Spiridon.”
He runs his fingers over his facial hair, sizing me up.
I raise my brow. “I wasn’t sure that was your full name until I heard Warrick say it in the Great Hall.”
He studies me for a moment and sits back in the chair, as if not wanting to confirm or deny anything I’m saying. The dim light bounces off his stony face, and I watch him ponder my forwardness and how he wants to respond.
“Yes, that is my full name,” Larkin responds harshly. “And remind me to tell Warrick to watch who he shares information with in the future.”
“I thought so.” I smile, feeling victorious, and sit back in my chair following his lead. “But, I’m trying to figure out why you acted like you didn’t know who I was.”
“I don’t think I directly acted that way,” he says. “I just wasn’t very interested in meeting you.”
“Rude.”
“No,” he immediately replies. “I’m honest, the no bullshit type.”
“Or an asshole,” I mumble under my breath, causing him to glare in my direction.
Fuck.
I’m losing this conversation.
I shift in my seat. “I’m sure Barlowe talked about me. Right?”
He doesn’t respond, but I watch his hands begin to fidget in his lap.
“Were you close?” I ask.
Larkin breaks eye contact with me and looks toward the dark window, as if even his thoughts are desperate to get away from this conversation.
“How long were you at the training camp with him?”
Again, no reply, he remains lost in thought, the tremble in his hands increasing with each passing second. I notice his jaw tense as the rising tension around us becomes unbearable, even making me uncomfortable in my own skin.
I lean forward, growing more frustrated by the second, “Did you hear of his passing?”
Larkin stands, nearly knocking the chair over behind him. His chest heaves, and his eyes flip between panicked and angry as he looks at me.
“I think you should leave.”
“What?” My mouth falls open. “Why?”
“Because it’s late, and you need to go check on Silas.”
“That man is fine,” I protest. “I wanted to speak with you.”
He places his hands in his pockets. “I never asked to speak with you.”
“Gods,” I exclaim, standing after him. “You are so fucking rude.”
He barks a laugh and shrugs. “I’m sorry you find my honesty offensive.”
“No, you aren’t.”
He steps toward the door. “You are right.”
I glare at him, doing a horrible job at hiding the annoyance that boils out of me.
“There’s so much I don’t know about my brother once he left. I was hoping you could help me understand some things I’ve been questioning.”
“Why would you think I could help you?” he snaps.
“Because you were the only friend Barlowe ever spoke about.”
“Friend?” He huffs. “I barely knew your brother, okay? So, I wouldn’t be able to help with anything, anyway.”
Larkin walks to the door, forcefully pulling it open wide for my departure. The darkness of the hallway billows through the door, and I storm forward, never breaking my stare. I push past him and step back into the hallway, still shocked by his rudeness.
I turn around, determined to say my piece. “I don’t think that’s true, Larkin.”
“Think what you’d like, then. It’s not my job to convince you otherwise.”
My mouth falls open, and Larkin only stares at me, his dark gaze burning into mine.
“What aren’t you telling me?” I push.
Larkin glares at me one last time. No gentleness or kindness lies behind his dark gaze, and I cross my arms, expecting them to soften at any moment.
He flashes a sarcastic smile at me before slamming the door so hard my teeth rattle in its wake.