Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Sylvi
Ileft Eira at the stables and walked home at a slow pace, my steps dragging on the cobblestones as I attempted to expunge the day’s events out of my head.
Thankfully, the moment I stepped through the front door of my family home, I was greeted by the blessed sound of a dying fire, the crackling of wood inside the hearth echoing peacefully in the small living room.
Leaning my back against the door, a shuddering breath broke from my lungs.
I stood there for a minute or two, eyes shut, willing the stress of the day to slide off my skin.
The air inside my home was warm, filled with the faint scent of herbs drying by the hearth and the lingering aroma of supper left on the stove.
Guilt pressed into my lungs. I’d asked my mother to leave me a plate, even though I hardly ever ate after I arrived from the palace.
She knew that, yet she always made sure to leave food out for me.
After hanging my cloak on a hook by the entrance, I peeked into her room and found her fast asleep, her breathing soft and steady, the exhaustion of the day weighing heavily on her aging frame.
My gaze lingered on the empty spot beside her, where my father would’ve laid.
That side of the bed always remained untouched, as if she was too afraid to disrupt it.
A half-burned candle flickered next to her bed on her nightstand.
It was her way of letting me know she’d been waiting up for me.
I blew it out, then quietly left and closed the door.
Candlelight filtered under Lyra’s bedroom door, too. She was likely curled under her blankets, reading. I decided against knocking and potentially being swallowed up into a long conversation I didn’t wish to entertain.
Aldric, of course, was not home. He was at The White Stag, working until the early hours of the morning, tending to drunks and dealing with the type of folk the queen had warned me about.
The thought of him being embroiled in that kind of shady business made my skin crawl.
I sighed, rubbing a hand over my face as I moved to the kitchen.
I would need to have a serious talk with him about that, especially with the rumors of a brewing rebellion and the Unseelie Court visiting our realm.
The stew left on the stove was still warm, the rich scent of root vegetables and cured venison filling the air.
I reached for a bowl but hesitated, stomach churning at the thought of eating.
The war council, Jack’s decision, the things his mother had said all coiled inside me like a living creature, restless and spiny.
Sitting there, alone with my thoughts, would only make things worse.
I needed to get out of the house.
Back in my room, I hurried to my wardrobe and tugged off my uniform, and searched for something more inconspicuous.
I opted for a simple cream-colored blouse, loosely laced at the neckline, paired with a thick, long wool skirt in a deep midnight hue, heavy enough to keep out the cold, yet easy enough to move in, along with a dark brown cloak, worn from years of use.
Unlike my uniform, this allowed me to blend in with the city’s common folk.
I left my hair down, the thick black strands cascading past my shoulders in loose waves. I didn’t think too much about why I wanted to disappear into the night like this, only that I needed the air. Needed to lose myself in the steady hum of the city.
Before heading out, I knocked on Lyra’s door, just to make sure my mother wouldn’t worry if she woke up and decided to check on me. “Come in,” her sweet voice trilled.
Opening the door a crack, I said, “Hi, honey.”
Her eyes widened, a smile curling on her rosy lips as she placed the book she was reading down. “Sylvi, hi,” she yelped. “How was your first day?”
I gestured for her to lower her voice as I stepped fully into the room. “Good. I can tell you all about it tomorrow morning. Just wanted to let you know I was back from the palace and —”
Her gaze traveled over my clothes. “Where are you going?”
“Um…” I paused, my shoulders slouching as I contemplated if this was even a good idea, but if I second-guessed myself, I’d only end up unable to sleep and wanting to tear my walls down.
“I’m going to go say hi to Aldric, maybe have a cup of his famous mead,” I uttered conspiratorially.
“Don’t tell Mom about the mead, though. You know how she gets. ”
“I won’t,” she replied, making a tying motion over her lips, happy to be a part of my secret.
The light from the candle made her eyes gleam with such profound innocence that my heart ached.
Soon she would start her season of courtship, and I already felt the pang of bitter-sweet sadness at the loss of her childhood.
She was becoming such a beautiful young lady, and I couldn’t be prouder.
But I also couldn’t deny I would miss doting on her.
Sometimes I wondered if perhaps I treated her too much like a porcelain doll.
Or if maybe after our father’s death, I instinctively took on a more parental role, which was why I was so protective of her.
I’d grown up around the guard and hadn’t truly taken to wearing frilly dresses or makeup, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t appreciate the importance of girlhood.
She embodied that to the max, and maybe a part of me loved indulging it, and now a part of me feared that once she embraced the next stage of her life, I would lose the bond I’d treasured for so long.
Heart heavy, I said, “I don’t plan to stay out long. Just need to unwind a little after today.”
“Of course. I’ll let Mamma know you’re with Aldric if she wakes up.”
“Thanks, honey. See you in the morning. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
Despite the late hour, the streets of Isenheim were still lively.
Torches flickered against the snow-dusted cobblestones, their golden glow illuminating the breath of merchants packing up their stalls and street performers bidding their last farewells.
A pair of lovers stumbled past, arm in arm, lost in a haze of spiced mead and laughter.
I pulled my cloak tighter around my shoulders and kept walking, my boots making little noise against the damp stone.
As I neared The White Stag, the air changed.
Here, in the lower quarter of the city, the scent of baked bread and spices gave way to something richer, like sweet pipe smoke mixed with the undercurrent of sweat and secrets.
Laughter spilled from the tavern doors, mingling with the low hum of a fiddle being played from somewhere inside.
The late-night establishment was packed, the dim interior bathed in the amber glow of lanterns hung from wooden beams, their flickering light casting thick shadows in deep corners, shielding unsavory individuals from unwanted eyes.
A cozy warmth settled over me as I stepped inside, the scents of my brother’s famous mead, spiced ale, roasted meat, and candle wax tickling my nose.
At the center of the chaos stood the famous male himself. Tavern master and barkeep, Aldric was busy pouring drinks with ease while trading jokes with the patrons. He had the kind of charm that could coax a coin from a miser’s purse and a laugh from even the bitterest soul.
It was why I wasn’t surprised when I caught sight of Coralyn, one of the barmaids, hovering close to him, her dark skin radiant in the low light, her black curls swept up into an elegant knot at the nape of her neck.
She was beautiful, sharp-witted, and from what I had gathered, not entirely immune to Aldric’s affections.
Her dark eyes landed on me as I threaded my way through the thick crowd. She smirked when I plopped my ass on a stool by the bar. “Captain, it’s rare to see you off duty,” she said, crossing her arms over the countertop, her ample bosom spilling over the low neckline of her navy-blue blouse.
“I could say the same about you,” I quipped, unclasping my cloak and laying it over the backrest of the high-backed chair beside mine.
She tilted her head toward Aldric. “Business is good these days. Gotta keep working. Just ask him. He’s been extra charming tonight, though I assume that means we’ve finally cut a profit, or he’s up to something impish.”
“Likely both.” I shook my head, the tension in my shoulders easing, if only slightly.
Aldric appeared moments later, setting a small pitcher of the honeyed drink everyone came here for and a wooden cup beside me.
Coralyn grabbed a platter from a passing server and placed it next to me as well.
My stomach grumbled at the hearty serving of bread, cheese, and smoked meat.
I started to refuse, but my stomach clenched harder, reminding me I had eaten nothing since the morning.
“Eat,” my brother said, offering no room for argument.
I sighed but complied, taking a bite of cheese. “You’re bossy.”
He smirked, placing his broad hands on the counter. “Runs in the family. Does Mom know you’re here?”
“I’m a fully grown female.” Then I leaned forward and added more softly, fluttering my eyelashes in a playful manner, “Not to mention the captain of the guard. I don’t need permission to go where I please.”
He winced at those words, the part where I reminded him of my position at the palace. “While at The Stag, just keep that part to yourself, eh? I don’t want my patrons feeling intimidated.”
I winked at him as I took a swig of his delicious mead. “Exactly why I ditched the uniform tonight, big brother.” I meant to lighten the mood, but I knew my attempt at a joke had fallen flat.
My brother tipped my chin up. “I’m proud of you, Syl. But I also like seeing you let loose a little. Enjoy yourself tonight. You deserve it.”
Before I could thank him, he was snatched away by servers putting in more orders of mead and fare.
As I popped a morsel of roasted pig into my mouth, Coralyn stepped around the bar and nudged in close to me, whispering in my ear in a teasing, seductive tone, “Leoric’s in town.”