Chapter 9 #2
I circled the room until I picked up the book beside the chair.
It was a beautifully handwritten and hand-drawn journal filled with fables.
One picture of a woman dressed in black caught my attention.
She had long black hair whipping around her face.
The artist had drawn it so only one of her eyes and a hint of her nose and mouth were visible.
Her arms were straight at her sides, her palms facing outwards, and her fingers were splayed – with swirls of grey smoke bound around her.
As I studied the picture, I noticed specks that, at first glance, looked like mistakes by the artist dripping ink onto the page, but as I brought the book closer to my face, I recognised there was a deliberate shape to the specks. It almost looked like falling ash.
A loud knock on the door made me jump, and the journal flew from my hands and landed heavily on the floor. Crossing the room quickly, I opened the door to see the archer.
‘What is your name?’ I blurted out.
He jumped a little at my outburst.
‘Tomas,’ he croaked.
‘You’re an excellent archer, Tomas.’ And I meant it. It was more luck than skill that allowed me to win our tiebreaker.
‘Umm, thanks?’
I nodded in reply.
‘They are serving the midday meal in the barracks, and I thought you might be hungry?’
Tomas was granting me two wishes: access to the barracks and food. When was the last time I ate?
‘Then we can check on your horse,’ he suggested as we headed down the hallway. I mentally mapped the turns so I could find my way back on my own.
Tomas entered the barracks dining hall ahead of me. Hungry soldiers sitting at long tables filled the hall, creating a loud and bustling atmosphere, but as soon as I entered, it became eerily quiet. The eyes of two hundred or more men seated on wooden benches turned to watch me.
I followed Tomas down the rows until we came to a smaller table where Torgrin and Atlas sat alone. I stood silently while Tomas fetched me a chair and a plate of food, then left to find his own seat and a meal.
I sat at the end of the table, trying to ignore the stares. I wished he had stayed; I wasn’t sure what to expect from the two captains across from me.
‘Carry on,’ Torgrin barked at the roomful of soldiers. They did as commanded, but the chatter was decidedly more subdued.
‘Don’t take it personally – I think it’s those rather tight breeches you’re wearing,’ Atlas said, attempting to ease the tension. ‘The world would be a beautiful place if more women wore breeches.’ He nodded, chestnut locks bouncing enthusiastically.
I raised an eyebrow, wondering where he was going with this.
‘Actually – where did you get those breeches from? They look—’
He was cut off as Torgrin kicked the legs from under Atlas’s chair, toppling him over.
I ignored their antics and tucked into the plate of food in front of me.
It was good for a soldier’s meal. There were thick slices of boar meat and a mix of root and leafy vegetables.
There was even gravy and a thick, brown bread to soak it up.
I finally looked up from my almost-empty plate.
Atlas was back in his chair, but both captains ignored their food and watched me.
‘Hungry?’ Atlas asked, his brow arched.
‘Is there more?’ I asked, looking around to see where the food was being distributed.
‘Another plate!’ Torgrin called out to no-one in particular – and just like that, another plate of food appeared in front of me.
This one, I ate a little slower, noticing that both men were picking at their food while watching me.
‘How did you sleep?’ Torgrin asked, leaning back in his chair. I tried to ignore how his long, muscular legs stretched gracefully before him.
‘Very well,’ I replied between mouthfuls.
‘Meg said you have recovered from yesterday’s injuries.’
Meg must be the curly-haired healer.
‘They weren’t as bad as they looked,’ I mumbled, not meeting his pressing gaze.
‘You took a mace to the chest,’ Atlas reminded me.
‘And your face,’ Torgrin said, sitting forward, bringing his own face close to my almost-healed cheek.
I shrugged and leaned away from his attentive eyes.
‘Like I said, it wasn’t that bad.’ I finally stopped eating.
Now that my stomach was full, my breeches felt too tight, so I loosened the cord at my waist a little.
My hands froze when I realised Torgrin and Atlas were staring.
I thought I heard Atlas mutter something about finding someone to wear his breeches tonight, but it was such an odd comment I must have heard wrong.
Tomas soon returned and took me to the stables, as promised. I was pleased to see Nightmare well watered and fed. She had her own stall that was clean and filled with fresh hay.
Tomas was called away, and I was left to my own devices. After some time brushing and talking with Nightmare, I went in search of the horse master to thank him for looking after her so well.
I soon found a man in a room full of saddles, brid les and lengths of rope.
‘Hello there,’ I called out, announcing my presence.
The man turned, and my heart stopped. I felt a lump form in the back of my throat.
One side of the man’s head was partially caved in, and he was missing an eye, but I recognised that face and blond hair. He was the young soldier who had pulled the sword from my mother’s dead body and stood between me and her killer.