CHAPTER 21
I pulled at the hem of my sleeve, as an uneasy feeling crept in.
“It’s nothing.” I tried to pull the hem down farther, but the fabric of my tunic was already stretched as far as it would go.
“Don’t lie to me, Avyn.” His tone was stern and authoritative, matched with a look that sent a cold shiver running through me.
He reached for my arm, held it firm, but gentle, and slowly pushed back the sleeve. The hairs raised on my arm as his hands grazed my skin, and my breathing faltered for a moment. He was so gentle, but the callouses on his fingers scraped against me.
“What the hell?! Avyn, when did this happen?” He pulled my wrist in front of us, showing me the markings as if I hadn’t seen them before.
“Last night.” That was all I said.
“Last night? How the hell did it happen?” He released my wrist as Ulric walked over, finally joining us.
He looked just as shocked as Zendryk and stared at my arm.
“I had a midnight snack.” I did not like the two men staring at me, questioning the lines that marked my arm.
“A snack? You just got up and went for a snack and came back marked?” Zendryk questioned sarcastically.
“If you would let me finish instead of interrupting me, you would know how it fucking happened.” My sarcastic personality was speaking now, and not my polite one.
He threw up his hands in defeat. “Fine.”
Was he upset? His cool demeanor facade was ebbing away. I had never seen him like this.
“I went for a snack in the servant’s kitchen, and noticed that by the sparring ring,” How much do I tell them?
They would find out eventually that I had the swords.
“There was a light.” Not giving the full details about the glow and voice in my head, “I wandered out there and the two swords from earlier…”
Ulric interrupted me this time, “You did not touch them again?!”
“As a matter of fact, yes, I did. Is there an issue with that?” I crossed my arms again, displaying the markings as I did.
He shook his head no, in answer or disbelief, I was not sure.
“After I had touched them,”
They do not need every detail. The voice in my head piped up.
I answered silently, If you are going to tell me what to do all the time, a 'Please' would be nice.
Silence. Good. “After I picked them up, these black marks appeared.”
“Is there more than that?” Zendryk motioned his head towards my arm.
Shit. “Yes, it’s on both arms and across my chest.”
“Let me see.” He demanded.
I lifted my other sleeve, and the same patterns of veiny vines swirled up my other arm.
“And your chest?” He asked.
“Absolutely not.” I protested.
He rolled his eyes before speaking. “I’m not trying to see your breasts, Avyn.”
“Speak for yourself,” Ulric said, and Zendryk punched his arm …hard.
“You’ll just have to take my word for it. It looks the same as my arms.” I responded while Ulric rubbed his arm.
“Fine. Have you told anyone else?” The edge in his tone had started to leave.
“No.” I looked to the ground.
“And where are the swords?” His calm demeanor was back now.
“In my room.” I didn’t look up to him.
Ulric piped up, “They didn’t hurt this time when you picked them up?”
“No. It felt… good to hold them this time.” Looking down at my feet, wanting to run away from this conversation, run away from everything that was happening.
No one said anything, and I started to count the seconds in between; nineteen and twenty slowly turned into fifty and fifty-one.
“The swords must have had some power infused in them. Maybe an incantation to mark those who try to take them. A thievery precaution of sorts.” Two lines appeared between Zendryk's eyebrows as he thought.
Incorrect.
Mentally sighing, I clapped back, “Then what is correct?”
Silence. This was getting annoying.
“That is the only reasonable explanation I can think of. I have heard similar things before, but nothing recent. Avyn, I want to get a better look at the swords.”
We gathered in my room away from any prying eyes; I sat cross-legged on my bed as the two men stared at the two swords leaning against the wardrobe. I rolled my eyes with boredom; they had been staring at them for the last ten minutes. I fell back onto the fortress of pillows behind me.
They do not want to touch them.
“You don’t want to touch them,” I warned.
“Why not,” Ulric asked.
What do I say? I didn’t want them to know about the voice; they’ll lock me away for being crazy.
“Do you not remember yesterday?” I responded while shrugging my shoulders.
Ulric looked at me and then back to the swords, but Zendryk was the one who spoke. “I’ll take my chances.”
He bent down and reached for one of the handles, the tip of his finger just grazing the top of it, before he snapped his hand back and stuck his finger in his mouth.
“OW!” It came out muffled.
I warned him. The voice sounded almost pleased.
“I warned you.” Mimicking the words that just passed through my mind.
“Then by all means, see if you can pick them up today.” He motioned towards the two blades.
“Fine.” I uncrossed my legs and climbed off the bed, and they both moved out of the way for me. I haven’t touched them since putting them there last night. What if Zendryk was right and it was a thieving incantation? I paused for a moment.
Don’t hesitate. They will not hurt you.
The voice hadn’t steered me wrong so far.
Without hesitation, I reached down with my eyes closed and gripped one of the handles.
No pain. No glowing. I pulled it up and showed the two men.
I grabbed the second one. “See, no problem.” I motioned towards them with my hands, forgetting I was holding two deadly weapons, and they both jumped a foot back.
“Shit! Have you never used a sword? Let alone two of them?!” Zendryk asked as Ulric took one more step back.
“We didn’t have the luxury of swords or weapons in my village.” I went to cross my arms, but Zendryk reached for them, making sure to avoid the blades.
“You are going to cut your own bloody hand off, woman! Put them down.”
I did what he said, but laughed a little in my head.
You need to train.
And you need to stop being so bossy. Let me guess, no response? I fired back.
Silence. “I think I would like to learn how to use them, though. I am pretty good with hand-to-hand combat, but, if we are attacked again by a … Soulless, I’d like to be able to defend myself.”
Zendryk's brows furrowed, then softened when he looked at me. “We can combine the lessons. You are farther ahead in hand-to-hand combat than I thought, but you could still use some guidance.”
I huffed in response, and he ignored it.
“We can probably extend the lesson longer to accommodate both. It will allow for a more realistic training experience if you were ever to lose your weapons during a fight.”
“What about etiquette classes?” I asked.
“I would rather you know how to use a sword over a salad fork.”
Ulric snorted from behind him, and I shot him a glare.
“We will tell the servants to prepare quicker dinners and have our food plated before we arrive. They will be less formal and shorter, allowing more time for lessons. Ulric, can you please find Mrs. Prast and let her know of the changes?”
He nodded and left my bedroom, leaving Zendryk and me alone.
“Is there anything you are not telling me?” His eye matched the tone of his question.
His intuition was good.
“No. I told you everything I know.” I replied, not looking at him.
He didn’t say anything but continued to look at me, causing my heart to flutter along with the butterflies in my stomach. He really was the most handsome man I had ever seen, but I won’t be telling him that to boost his ego.
He began walking towards the door, but stopped and turned back to me. “There is going to be a party, a ball in a week. My parents have requested your attendance so you can get acquainted with the other manors.” And then he left.