Chapter 22
Chapter
Twenty-Two
-brIDA-
The echo of his footsteps outside my cell had a particular gait. Not arrogance, but urgency, as though he were always on his way somewhere else.
The slow creak of my door echoed through the chamber, if it could even be called that.
“Good morning, Brida.” His tone was congenial as he closed the door behind him. When he did visit, he came with snacks, though I only ever ate from the tray when he was gone.
“I’m sorry that wolfberry jam wasn’t an option this morning, but I’ve brought you a blueberry muffin instead. A lesser berry, but alas, what can we expect from these people?”
These people?
“Do you not mean your own people? Do you not wear the colors of the Court of Whispers?” I eyed him up and down, even his shoes matched Marsh’s. Black shoes with a violet sole.
He brushed me off with his hand as if to say, “Of course, what was I thinking?” But no such words left his lips.
He dragged the chair to the spot he preferred—the one he always insisted on, though each night I moved it back across the room.
If I was going to be forced to endure his company, then I would at least find some semblance of joy in it.
“Come now, let’s have a chat.” He crossed his legs as he sat, rubbing at the crease that had formed in his perfectly pressed purple pants.
“You should know by now that I prefer to stand for our conversations.” It had been weeks since he had told me his name. I struggled to remember it at first, but it was now seared into the recesses of my mind. Marius, the inquisitor.
“Suit yourself.” He popped a piece of muffin into his mouth. “Now.”
I rolled my eyes, knowing where this was headed.
“Do you know who I am?”
My nails dug into my palms as I exhaled a deep sigh. “You are my personal tormentor.” I turned my head to look at him and found him smirking at me. Ignorant piece of…
“Beyond tormentor, do you know who I am? How we came to be in this position?”
“Marius, of the Court of Whispers, Tormentor of Brida Larrow, Lapdog of Reed Marsh.” I took a step closer, all the while maintaining my distance, “Do you enjoy doing his bidding?”
The vein in Marius's neck bulged, his eyelid twitching. “You know very well we have no masters here, Brida. We each do as we please.”
“All of us outside of these cells, you mean?” I pressed
“I’m working on that.”
“On what?”
“All of this would be so much easier if we simply took the time to get to know one another. Once you trust me, I will be in a position to help you.”
There were few people I had trusted in this world: my mother, my father, Addie, Kadian. In Azmeer, that circle grew to include my friends, Dainan, Alvar, even Marsh. It had earned me nothing but despair. My trust had been a weakness, a grave one at that.
“Very well then, Marius,” I placed my arms behind my back as I paced the short distance between the walls of the cell, “tell me about yourself. If it’s trust you seek, it must be earned from both parties.
I’m Brida Larrow, as you know, and all you have told me is that your name is Marius. Marius what?”
He raised his eyebrows at me in… surprise? Curiosity? Did he believe I was playing along? That I could be bought?
Folding his hands over each other, he cleared his throat, “My full name is Marius Sodasa.”
Sodasa was not a name that rang a bell from any of the history textbooks I had read in university, or while in Azmeer studying for Illerium’s class. It held no major significance in any of the courts… at least not to my knowledge.
Staring at him, he appeared as most of the Fae did. Youthful, handsome, no discernible trace of his true age. “And how old are you?”
“I will answer your questions, Brida.” He leaned forward to ensure I heard him, “So long as you answer mine.”
Scoffing, I nodded in agreement. Should I wish to, I would end this game in a matter of seconds. “Very well.”
“I am ten thousand nine hundred and eighty-nine years old.”
“Gods,” I found myself saying. “Has such a lengthy life led you to this mundanity where you now squander your time interrogating human women?”
“Ah, ah.” He clicked his tongue, “It is a question for a question. Thus far I have answered two, you shall do the same.”
I attempted to hide the look of displeasure on my face. I was certain it resulted in a grimace. Dear Alvar, you would once again be appalled…
“What was your childhood like?” He leaned back in his chair, like this was a congenial conversation. Two individuals meeting for the first time, sharing aspects of themselves, attempting to entice the other.
“It had its ups and downs,” I said, knowing the look he gave me indicated I was required to be more specific.
“I lived in two worlds. One filled with love, joy. The other in which I was an outsider, never accepted. As you can imagine, well, maybe you can’t,” I gestured towards him, “to experience loss at a young age can have a profound effect on a person.”
He lowered his head in acknowledgement. “Is that what led you to sneak into Azmeer?”
“Is that why I’m being held here?” I questioned, “Because you believe I broke a fundamental law of the courts? If that’s the case, I should be tried at the Center Court in Azmeer, not here at the edge of the world.”
I should have suspected Marsh would have informed the courts of my forged invitation.
His chuckle was low, a kind sound, one I didn’t want to admit I found soothing. “If only it were so simple. But we both know it’s not.”
“Then tell me why it is you and I are here, why you continue to ask me the same question, day after day. Why does pucchia blast through my cell each night, forcing me to confront what’s real and what’s a dream? Why is there a glow that grows in the distance of the mountains?”
Each night after the smoke billowed in, and the dreams took hold, I was guided by a light.
An orb leading me through the darkness, a familiar melody walking alongside us.
It was the glow I had seen from my breakfast with Marsh, a tether to my soul.
But each day as I awoke, its light lingered in the expanse of Tactras.
“They’re forcing pucchia into your cell?” He ran a hand through his hair.
“It’s frustrating not to be told everything, isn’t it. How does it make you feel, Marius Sodosa?”
He rose to his full imposing height, crossing his arms across his chest. “When you realize I’m here to help you, Brida, your tone will hopefully change. But,” he sighed, “I fear it is unlikely.”
“Because you know me so well to make such an assumption.”
“Part of you, yes.” His words were curt as he paced across the room, taking it in long, easy strides.
“You do need to force yourself to remember, Brida. Open your mind to the parts of yourself that you have closed off from the world. Your childhood did change you, the loss of one’s mother can be unbearable.
But this will only be successful if you willingly open yourself up and accept what will come to pass. It must be voluntary.”
“You think I would voluntarily let any of this happen? To be here?” I snorted, “I’m not sure what lies Marsh has been feeding you…”
“I’m not doing this for Marsh, Brida.” His tone was shriller than it had ever been, “I’m doing this for you.”
Marius held my gaze, his eyes locking me firm in place. “Si talu me, amirale sig te afu mi.” He whispered.
What?
“Should I know what that means?” I questioned, raising each of my brows.
Marius's expression fell. “In time.” He turned his back to me, striding towards the door. “Have they done anything else to you?”
At my silence, Marius whispered, “I’m sorry,” before exiting, the familiar echo of his steps making their way down the hall. Always in a hurry, as if he hadn’t wanted anyone to know he’d been here.