Chapter 10
The General cast a glance inside his quarters, tilting his head as though signaling someone to leave. An attempt at an apologetic grin graced his face, though it appeared awkward and unfamiliar, as if rarely employed.
Seconds later, a brunette skipped out, kissing him on the cheek and making sure to shoot me a look of contempt as she breezed past.
I returned the sentiment with the same smile that I had afforded the General. Her eyes narrowed even more as she approached the stairs.
It occurred to me that perhaps some practice perfecting my facial expressions would be handy going forward.
It appeared the General could benefit from a few lessons as well.
“Are you here to guard my door?” His words cut through my train of thought. He leaned against the doorframe, shirt flowing in the breeze. I narrowly avoided eye contact with his midsection. Finally, he let out a loud sigh before sauntering back into his office, leaving the door open behind him .
“Do you want me to close this?” I questioned, following him inside. He waved his hand as he walked away.
Is that a yes?
Esprithe, he was rude. I showed up, presenting myself on a silver platter, and this is how he wanted to behave?
With all the petulance of a child.
Why was I not surprised? Wealth practically dripped off him.
No doubt he grew up on some massive estate with doting parents and access to anything his rotten little heart desired.
We were worlds apart, that was glaringly obvious.
Expecting civility from someone who'd never known struggle, never understood isolation, was foolish. And dangerous.
A predator. That’s what he really was. If I was going to survive this, that truth needed to sink into my bones so far that I never forgot it. Any other behavior from him was a lie, just another part of the glittering facade.
The man who stood before me, who gawked and scoffed and nearly stomped his feet, who wove deceit into his goodbyes, and threatened Osta, and blackmailed me–that was the General.
That was Laryk Ashford.
Gritting my teeth, I turned and pushed the heavy door shut with a screech.
“I’m going to change. Don’t touch anything.” He wandered around the corner.
The space was massive with walls resembling pavement, coarse and textured in shades of gray. They seemed to go on forever before finally meeting the high ceiling, adorned with massive wooden beams.
The office itself was enormous. To the left, a desk of dark mahogany dominated the space.
Its sleek surface, devoid of character or personality, bore the weight of neatly arranged documents and a precisely aligned set of writing tools.
Sprawled out on the back of his desk chair lay a black coat, the upper part lined with badges .
The opposite side of the room housed a seating area. Low-slung furniture sat upon a cowskin rug, upholstered in subdued fabrics of charcoal velvet and muted leather. It was oddly organized. Almost uncomfortably organized.
Like a sociopath lived there.
I eyed the leather sofas across the expanse.
It looked as if they had never been used…
no creases, no indentions. My eyes threatened to roll.
All this space, and he didn’t even appreciate it.
Some of us had to scrape couches up off the street.
Because in no world did I allow Osta or I to take a single gold from the royal delegation—the program that provided assistance to lower classes throughout the realm.
These people already thought we owed them something. I wouldn’t let it be true.
Annoyance, perhaps even curiosity, pulled me closer. He said not to touch anything, but he never told me not to make myself comfortable. I sat awkwardly, shifting my weight on the firm leather. It offered little give.
Maybe comfort wasn’t the goal.
The General strode back into the room without giving me a second glance. His disheveled look was now replaced by a structured black shirt and gray trousers. Everything was buttoned this time, fortunately.
His hair was pulled tightly behind his head and his scar seemed darker this morning. Sitting down across from me, he laced up his brown boots in silence, like he’d forgotten I was there. Like my presence was simply an afterthought.
“We have some salve at the Apothecary that might help with your scar,” I said, trying to lessen the tension.
He looked up, surprise flickering across his eyes as he finished lacing his left boot.
It was annoying how good-looking he was.
“I appreciate your concern, truly.” He smirked.
“But I’m afraid there’s not much that can cure this type of laceration.
” Leaning back in his chair, he studied me, shifting the energy in the room.
Silence engulfed the air as his eyes bore into me, like he was searching for something in the curves of my face.
A familiar heat crept across my skin, threatening to expose my discomfort.
But I fought it back with vengeance. In no way was I going to show him anything that could be interpreted as weakness.
An eternity passed before he furrowed his brow and shook off whatever he was thinking about. “So, I figured we could start with three days a week. I’ve reserved a private gym for us near your work. It–”
“I haven’t agreed to your proposition yet,” I lied. Again, I hadn’t meant to say it out loud, but the man clearly brought out the worst in me.
I expected to see anger in his eyes, but they stayed emotionless, serpentine, like my boldness had disturbed nothing within him.
“As I was saying, it shouldn’t interfere with your job at the Apothecary. At least our initial training shouldn’t. You can meet me in the evenings. Every other day should be sufficient. Excluding weekends. I’m sure your social life is titillating,” he said.
I fought back the urge to narrow my own eyes. His arrogance knew no bounds. My back hit the cold leather, as I attempted to settle into the rigid sofa, but it felt wrong. All of this felt wrong.
“I can make that work. My tone was neutral, but anxiety speckled rage continued to churn in my gut.
“Fantastic. And just so that you’re aware, this training is technically unofficial. You won’t need to move into the Compound until you reach initiate status.” He looked me over. “You won’t even join the Guard as a recruit until we’ve mastered control over your focus. Which we will.”
“How can you be so sure?” I asked, leaning forward onto my knees.
“Because I know what I’m doing. You’re not the first reckless cadet I’ve had the pleasure of training.” He sat back in his chair, crossing his arms as another one of his smirks played at his lips .
I forced my head into a nod, turning my attention to the corner of the room. I’d let him win the battle today.
“I have a special way with people. I know what makes them tick. I’ll figure out your blockages and we will remove them. Any further questions?” His voice was clipped.
“I think you just about answered them all.”
Tension brewed, crackling in the air between us like a storm about to burst. Whatever he was thinking was a mystery, but his eyes had a way of scanning me like he knew my greatest fears, like he knew how much I loathed being seen.
I couldn’t hide here. Sitting in this Compound was like waiting for a dragon in his own lair.
I wondered if he could read it on my face.
“Well, now that we’ve ironed out all of the details, I’ll walk you out,” he said, breaking the deafening silence that threatened to pull me under. He walked over to the desk, retrieving his coat and a stack of papers.
That was quick, simple, apart from his suffocating presence. Relief passed over me as I stood, making my way back to the door, perhaps a bit too quickly.
“This way,” he called as he neared a different door on the opposite side of the room. Shivers ran down my spine. I stood motionless.
Huh?
“I was going to show you through the Compound. Aren’t you eager to see what your future looks like?” He chided.
I truly wasn’t.
My mind briefly considered bolting out the exterior door, but I found myself trudging over to him. I sighed heavily, audibly. Civility was the goal today, but my strength was being greatly tested. Insulting him with my breath was the least I could do to stay true to my heart.
He handed me the stack of papers. “Some light reading.” He smirked and pulled the door open, “After you.” He motioned for me to walk ahead. I hesitated as I had before in the greenhouse .
“Do you have some aversion to doorways? Go on.” He scoffed and tapped the back of my boots with his own, causing me to stumble forward.
Prick.
My heart was racing as I stepped onto a balcony overlooking the Compound below.
Staircases were fixed in each corner, traveling all the way to the top floor.
The walls were dark charcoal, much like the General’s quarters.
Down below, the space was vast, stretching out through the entirety of the block.
Tables rested in uniform lines throughout the mess hall, overrun with members of the Guard socializing, eating, studying. I noted a closed off section to the right.
He must have noticed my gaze wandering. “Those are the on-campus training gyms,” he remarked.
My eyes widened, taking in just how many people were filtering through the expanse below. Eventually, this would be the place where I spent the majority of my time. It still didn’t seem real.
“As I said before, you won’t be training here any time soon. Don’t start crying.” He smiled wickedly before whispering, “I can’t have you accidentally incinerating my guards, now can I?”
I shot him a look of contempt, but he was chuckling, clearly far too pleased with himself. One would have thought a General in the Guard would be more stoic. That would have been preferable.
My skin tingled at the feeling of his hand on my back, ushering me forward towards the staircase that led down to the social area. I lurched forward instinctively, getting out of range of his touch.
We made our way down the stairs, and he pointed for me to go left, a gesture that had me breathing a sigh of relief. The gates to the front entrance were just a few paces away.
“I’m actually off work tomorrow if you wanted to start earlier in the day,” I mumbled, remembering what Ma had said. Sitting around and dreading this all day might just be worse than getting it over with .
He twisted his lips.
“Meet me in the morning, 9:00 sharp. And don’t be late.”
As the words left his mouth, my attention was drawn to the front gates, where a familiar face drifted towards me.
Deadly blue eyes, golden hair. His armor bore the symbol of the Guard–emerald serpents winding up the chest plate, mirroring my growing horror.
My mouth turned bitter. My muscles tightened. I couldn’t breathe.
“Don’t make me repeat myself,” the General said with exasperation.
I couldn’t move. All I could do was stare.
The General’s gaze followed mine, confusion spreading over his face.
I had to get out of here.
“Yeah–I’ll be there,” I managed to mumble as I turned and hurried towards the gates.
It was the guard.
From the Dam.
The one who pulled the levers.
The one who killed my friends.
A burning began at the back of my eyes, blurring my vision. I broke into a sprint that didn’t stop until I made it to the apartment, my back hitting the door as it slammed shut behind me. My heart continued to race as the fears came tumbling back.
My mind was in the Sprithe River, drowning somewhere beneath the current.