Chapter 5
Rhyel sighed as he looked back at Sana's door. How could she be from such a notable family and act as if she were some sort of servant?
"Oh, I didn't realize you were checking on Lady Sana," Zena said, walking down the hall followed by a few maids carrying a tray of food, a few dresses, shoes, and toiletries. "I thought you'd be in the dungeon questioning that coachman."
"I'm going there now," he said, nodding to the maids. "I'm glad you found the rest of Sana's things. I think these will make her feel more comfortable."
"Oh, these are my clothes," Zena said, her eyes filling with sadness and concern. "There was nothing of Sana's left in the forest besides her satchel. That's...that's all she brought with her."
Rhyel curled his hand into a fist, anger rising in his chest. "I don't like this, Zena."
"Neither do I," she said, raising an eyebrow. "But I'm surprised you're taking such an interest in her."
"She's the Lady of this House. I want to make sure she's taken care of."
"Mm-hm." Zena smirked. "Just like the other potentials that you barely spoke a word to."
"That's not true," Rhyel grumbled, looking away from the teasing gleam in Zena's eyes. "I thought you were going to help Sana settle in tomorrow."
"I was, until I realized the poor thing had nothing to wear but that tattered dress she came here in and I'm sure she must be hungry too," Zena said, nodding to the maids. "Come on, ladies. Let's get Lady Sana settled in."
"Yes, General," they said, bowing their heads. "My Lord."
Rhyel dragged a hand through his hair as he continued down the hall, making his way to the dungeon.
He didn't care about Sana in the way Zena was suggesting.
He just didn't like the idea that she might've been treated less favorably by her family.
She deserved better than that and he would make sure her beautiful violet eyes never held such sadness in them.
She wasn't worthless because she didn't have any abilities, and he vowed never to make her feel that way.
Did Kai Lightbourne assume he'd uphold the alliance whether Sana made it here alive or not? That if she did survive being left in the forest, he wouldn't care what kind of state she arrived in?
Rhyel grit his teeth as he took the stairs down to the bellows of the castle. He wouldn't be upholding any alliance with the Lightbournes until they gave him an explanation for Sana's treatment.
He eyed the young man cowering in the corner of his cell, clenching his arms around his knees and shivering from the damp.
"Are you Lady Sana's coachman?"
The shaggy blonde-haired man looked up at him with his brown eyes full of fear. "I-I am."
Rhyel nodded to the guard beside his cell who slipped a ring of keys from his hip, unlocking the door.
Stepping inside, Rhyel crouched down to the shivering man. "You will tell me what orders you were given when you delivered my betrothed to me."
"Y-yes, sir."
Sana found her tattered green dress hanging in the empty wardrobe beside the bed. She plucked it off the hanger and set to work mending the tears from her encounter in the forest.
She could at least try to look presentable tomorrow when she'd meet General Zena.
Sighing at her dress that was nearly threadbare at the hem.
She doubted the people here would accept her.
She didn't look the part and although she would try as Lord Rhyel asked, she'd just be a disappointment to Darcanos, just like she was in her home.
"Lady Sana, may we come in?" A soft, gentle voice called from the door, tearing Sana from her degrading thoughts.
"Um, y-yes," she said, bawling up her dress and shoving it beneath the thick quilt. She was supposed to be from a noble House. It'd be embarrassing if anyone caught her mending her own clothes. "You may come in."
The door opened and Sana's eyes grew wide at the beautiful woman with deep brown skin and black braids wrapped in a bun on top of her head.
Black, silver-tipped fur covered her shoulders, matching her long black dress that swept against the floor.
Whoever she was, she looked as though she was meant to be the Lady of Darcanos.
"Hello, Lady Sana. My name is Zena Nozdi. I'm the General of Darcanos," she said, giving her a slight bow. "I hope you're feeling better."
"I-I am," Sana said, standing from the bed and bowing to her. "It's nice to meet you, General Nozdi."
"Oh no, it's just Zena and you bow to no one in this House, my Lady," Zena said, turning to the women standing behind her.
One, short and plump with pale skin and graying black hair tall and the other tall and lithe with light brown skin and golden brown hair.
Both held content smiles on their faces and kindness swirled in their golden brown eyes.
"These are your maids, Eula and Kezi. They will be tending to your needs.
We have brought you your dinner, a few dresses, shoes and they will prepare your bath so you may bathe before you sleep tonight. "
"Um, okay, but I can start my own bath. I'm used to that."
Eula and Kezi stopped their pursuit to stare at Sana in shock.
"Carry on." Zena chuckled softly, waving her hand to them before she crossed the room and took Sana's hands. "You are not a servant here. So, please don't disrespect your maids' work."
"Oh, I never meant to do that. It's just I don't want to be a bother."
"You could never be a bother." Zena squeezed her hands. "And your maids are paid very well to service you as the Lady of this House."
Sana frowned. "They're paid?"
"Oh yes. Lord Rhyel doesn't believe in servitude." Zena smiled. "Working in the castle is a highly respected and sought after position. It's an honor to look after the Lady of Darcanos."
"I'm...I'm not really a Lady," Sana murmured, hanging her head.
"You are," Zena lifted Sana's chin. "You just need to see it," she said, gesturing to the couch in front of the fireplace where the maids organized a spread of food and wine for them. "Come sit. You must be hungry."
Sana's stomach growled at the smell of roasted meat and grilled vegetables. "I am. Thank you for bringing me a meal to eat."
"Is having a meal not a regular occurrence for you?" Zena said, taking a seat beside her on the couch.
"Oh, um. Yes, but not anything like this." Sana eyed the plump leg of lamb, the hefty portion of mashed potatoes, and the pile of steaming vegetables. "This...this might be too much for me."
"That's okay. Just eat what you can," Zena said, pouring her a glass of wine and one for herself. "I hope you don't mind me coming to see you this evening."
Sana shook her head as she slowly ate a forkful of the succulent meat on her plate. "I don't mind."
"That's good," Zena said, smiling as she drank from her glass. "I hope your encounter with the golems didn't frighten you too much. I promise that doesn't happen very often."
"It's okay." Sana slid a shaking hand over her neck where the golem dug its nails into her skin. "H-how did you know I was out there?"
"Most of us who live in the north are shifters and our primary form is a wolf," Zena said, taking a bite of the lamb.
"We have a keen sense of smell and as the Alpha of our pack, Lord Rhyel's senses are far more heightened than the rest of us.
He was the one who smelled your blood on the wind first."
"If you all have senses like that," Sana said, clasping her hands in her lap. "Why did you bring me here?"
Zena tilted her head to the side and frowned. "What do you mean? Why wouldn't we?"
"Because I'm not gifted," Sana whispered. "Lord Rhyel doesn't seem to care, but I...I can't possibly be his wife and the Lady of this nation without any abilities. No one will take the north seriously with me as Lord Rhyel's wife."
"Mm, I thought you were going to be like your sisters. I've heard so much about their vast abilities to shift into birds of prey and their uncanny gifts with fire."
Sana looked away from the hope shining in Zena's brown eyes. "I'm nothing like them and I have nothing to give to the north."
Zena let out a bark of laughter. "I'm glad you're not like them."
Sana looked back at her. "You are?"
"Yes. The north doesn't need anyone like your sisters and neither does Lord Rhyel. I've been down that road with many other gifted women from suitable families and I'm sure you've heard the rumors about the many failed engagements of the mean spirited Lord of the north."
Sana bit her lip and nodded. "I have."
Zena waved her hand as she took a drink of wine.
"Well, they aren't true. Lord Rhyel isn't mean and he didn't drive them away.
They left on their own because..." She sighed.
"Because the north isn't luxurious like the other nations.
It's cold and filled with creatures from the beyond, but the people are some of the kindest I've ever known. "
Sana picked up her glass. "Is...is that why you think I'll be okay here?"
Zena smiled. "You'll be more than okay, my Lady," she said, sliding her hand over Sana's. "I can feel it. Now eat up. After the day you've had, I'm sure your body needs a good meal."
Sana nodded as she took a drink of the lush red wine that seemed to warm her veins. She never had the pleasure of eating a freshly cooked meal like this. Her meals were never served hot, not even warm.
What kind of place was House Darcanos? Where the servants were paid and she was treated as if she was worth something.
And since when had anyone been glad she wasn't like her sisters?
It felt surreal to be treated like this and she wondered when she'd wake up from this fever dream and find herself dying in the cold, damp forest alone.