Chapter 37 #2
Fen observes my mental and physical state, then indicates my bedroom down the hall. “Go take a bath and rest. When she wakes up, you will be the first person I come to get. I won’t leave this door.”
I look down at myself, and I’m filthy, coated in my own blood and dust from the library. “I don’t think I should leave,” I reply.
“Well, do what you want, but I know the healers won’t let you near Maines while you’re coated in blood. The cleaner you are, the better,” Fen replies.
She’s right, I need to get out of these clothes and cleaned up. I reek of sweat and blood, and this is no way to see Maines.
“Come on,” Silas urges, as he grabs my hand. “I’ll run you a bath.”
I nod and let him guide me down the hallway toward our bedroom.
The door opens, and fresh morning air fills my senses from the open windows.
The sea I’ve grown so accustomed to hearing crashes below us, and I feel my body relax—something I never thought possible again.
Silas lets go of my hand and disappears into the bathing chambers to run the bath for me.
I walk over to the large open window and glance across the sparkling ocean.
Right now, it’s calm and quiet. But, I can’t shake the feeling that something is off, and I know it’s what heads toward us.
Every day it gets closer, growing more restless to put its feet on the ground.
We are prepared for this fight, but with all the recent events, I know exhaustion hangs over us like a shroud.
On the horizon, I swear I see something, but it quickly vanishes behind the glow of the light. I push away from the window and turn to see Silas standing at the threshold, his hands tucked in his pockets, watching me.
“What?” I ask.
“You are filthy,” he huffs, indignantly.
“That’s all you have to say?” I reply.
“Oh, no. I have a lot to say.” Silas tilts his head, looking at me. “But first, I’m worried about getting all the blood off of you. The water is running, so come on.”
“Impossible worrywart,” I mumble, as I walk past him into the room.
The bathing chamber is filled with warm, steamy air.
I almost groan at the sight of the hot, running water pooling in the tub, and the space is filled with the scents of various soaps.
The drain isn’t latched, so I can ensure the water runs clear before plugging it.
I slowly remove my pants, letting them hit the ground with a thud and make my way to my shirt.
My body screams as I lift my arms over my head, and my injury barks in protest.
Silas stands behind me, helping me remove the blood-soaked shirt while paying close attention to the cut across my forearm. He tosses the shirt across the room, and my arms dangle at my sides. Silas carefully unbraids my hair and assists me in stepping into the warm water.
I slowly lower myself into the warm water and close my eyes. I never thought a bath could feel so wonderful. Silas grabs a pitcher and a rag and sits beside me on the ground.
“Sit back,” he instructs.
I don’t argue.
I lean my head against the hard porcelain tub and close my eyes.
Warm water flushes around me as Silas works to clean the dried blood from my body.
He slowly takes the rag to my cheeks and forehead to rid my body of the Rigils, both completed and broken.
I know he sees that and is burning to ask me questions.
I crack open my eye and see his gaze burning through me.
“Go ahead,” I say. “Ask.”
He chuckles. “You can’t relax for five minutes, can you?”
“Hardly,” I reply, closing my eyes again.
“The Rigil on your forehead was broken when we entered the library, so the ward didn’t work.”
“It worked for a while,” I answer. “I found the book in time for it to smudge, and that’s when I was seen.”
“I see,” he says, and quiets.
“Is that the monster you all speak of?” I ask.
“Yes,” he says, dipping the towel back into the water.
The warmth of the water surrounds me, and I watch Silas’s face intently.
“I had no idea until I saw him myself. The God of Darkness created the creature as a protector. Legend has it that this island was his home before the Wielders came into existence. It lived freely, which, as you saw, isn’t the case anymore.
It hates all kinds of Wielders now and only obeys Raddnoke. ”
I nod, opening my eyes. “He told me his name is Eldursyth.”
“You might be the only person who has been told that creature’s name and lived to tell the tale.”
“Lucky me.”
“You, my love, are destined to become the stuff of legends.” He leans in and kisses my forehead.
“Eldursyth told me something regarding the stone,” I confess.
Silas attempts to remain steady, but his posture straightens. “And?”
“A stone was created for every kingdom. Daramveer, Andorwood, Eddris, Cammon, and Brinkym. All different, and all deadly. Whoever is in possession of the stone decides how it should be wielded based on its magic. Andorwood’s is the Stone of Truth.”
Silas remains silent, and I can tell from his eyes that he is battling his own swirling thoughts.
“We need to find the other stones before Calia and Nolan do,” I add. “They already have the resurrection stone. If the others are that powerful…” My mouth goes dry at the thought.
Silas looks at me. “Do you think Oak has any idea about Brinkym’s stone?”
“No.” I shake my head. “I don’t think so.”
“Now isn’t the right time to ask. He’s consumed with Maines—understandably so. We will talk to him when we have the time.”
I give an agreeable nod and settle back into the warm water.
Silas picks up the small towel and starts to wash my arms, being careful of the cut on my forearm. He moves toward my head, taking a small cup, and running the water through my dark hair. I close my eyes, and sit forward for him to continue bathing me.
I hear his sigh and cut my eyes toward him, questioningly.
“Today is a big day. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have my doubts.”
“Doubts about what?” I sit up further in the tub and plug the drain.
“These people are scarred from Malachi. They will be excited to hear of his disappearance, but acceptance is what I fear. Acceptance of me, and acceptance that Malachi won’t return one day.”
I lean my arms against the side of the tub, looking into his eyes. “You are going to be an amazing king, Silas.”
Silas runs the towel up my back. “Will you stand with me today?”
“You want me too?” I move into his touch.
“Of course.”
“Then I will,” I say, with a smile.
We fall into silence as he continues to run the towel over my body and finishes washing my hair.
“I can only hope that I lead these people with fairness and grace.”
“You will,” I smile.
“With you by my side?”
I look at him and cup his face. “I’m not going anywhere.”
He presses his forehead against mine, closes his eyes, and inhales deeply. He then brings his lips to mine, and we lock into a kiss—slow and steady, but filled with passion and amplified by the fear still coursing through our veins.
His hand drops the towel and travels up my body, becoming tangled in my hair. He presses my face closer, and I lean nearer to the edge of the tub.
I feel momentarily lost, only here with Silas, and the connection between us appears to sing in from our closeness.
I press myself to the tub's edge again, wanting to be as close to him as possible—as safe as possible—and I know I have that when I’m near him.
His hand moves through my hair, never breaking our connection, and our kiss deepens.
I move my arm over his shoulder and press my bare chest against his.
He pulls away. “I love you.”
I gaze into his green eyes. “And I love you.”
A knock on the door echoes through the room, and Silas glances at the door. He swiftly grabs a towel for me and shouts, “Yeah?”
I hear Fen’s voice, and I quickly stand from the water and wrap the towel around my body.
“She’s stirring. They think she may wake up.”