Chapter 6 #3
“What?” He loomed over me, a nerve in his cheek flexing.
“Not nice.” He laughed mockingly. “Fuck, kanin, you are so na?ve.” He leaned close to me.
“You have no idea what is out here. The reality beyond your own tiny, protected world. Safe in your little castle, where you’ve been coddled, spoiled, and lied to. ”
“Coddled?” I sputtered. “Lied to?” Ire surged through me. “You know nothing about me or what I’ve been through.”
He let out a curt laugh, his face only inches from mine.
“You forget. I was required to scrub your floors, muck the animal stalls, and set up your training sessions for months. I was there. I watched you every day.” I swallowed at this admittance, realizing how unaware I was of those around me.
I was used to people watching me, used to thralls bustling around, but never gave them much heed.
“I’ve seen and heard everything. I know how pathetically they have prepared you for the world and your future.
How they stuffed your head with fabrications and slanders. ”
“My father told me Night Ravens are barbaric and cruel,” I snapped back. “And so far, you are only proving that true.”
“We’re barbaric and cruel?” He snorted, his head wagging. “And your father is so innocent?”
“He only responded in kind to what your people were doing to us!” I retorted, my defensiveness crawling up my back. “Actually, your king has done far worse!”
“Has he?” He slanted his head, an odd amusement crossing his face. “Tell me, White Raven . . . who was the one who sold you for mere weapons?”
The strike made me falter, the heartache and betrayal stabbing me through the chest. It quickly twisted to fury.
“He didn’t sell me!” I retaliated, brushing my long, knotted hair out of my face.
“It was part of my marriage dowry.” I could feel the fib perched on my tongue, but my brain tried to reconcile it as truth.
I mean, it was in a way. The weapons were another offering to the king for me.
“He was doing what was best for his people! That is what a true leader does. He puts his people first.”
Smugness oozed from him. His condescending silence opened my mouth to defend my father’s choices.
“Being king is priority.” I crossed my arms. “His duty is to his people. Not that I expect someone like you to understand.”
“Yeah. I bet you don’t.” He rotated around, his fingers wrapping around my bicep and heaving me with him.
Tripping, my feet struggled to catch up, pointlessly tugging against his hold.
“I will fucking tie you up outside, and leave you for the wolves, if you continue to fight me.” He glanced back at me.
“And they aren’t the pretty white ones you are used to, kanin. The rabbits they hunt are Ravens.”
“I’d rather be face-to-face with a wolf than you.”
He let out another scoff, which grated on my nerves.
“We’ll see if you continue to think that.”
As we weaved across the farmland to the house, my attention was drawn to the moldy, dead crops and parched soil covering the terrain.
The Shadow Rift was said to be barren, that nothing could grow where the curse touched.
Only a few years after the war the curse started to encroach on this zone between Day and Night, one hundred and ninety-nine years ago.
However, when my gaze rose to the empty livestock pens and saw wool still stuck between the wire, the few pieces of farm equipment left slightly rusted and broken, it seemed like it was only a few seasons since this land was used.
This was prime growing time in the lower lands, the harvest feeding people for miles around.
Farmers earned good money, and no land was left abandoned like this.
“What happened?” I scanned the fields. “It looks like it was all neglected.”
That vein cutting across his cheek twitched again. I noticed a thicker scruff was growing along his jaw, defining his face.
“Don’t they teach you anything? Nothing grows in the Shadow Rift.” Annoyed, his regard darted around as if someone could be hiding in the shadows. “Now be fucking quiet.”
“I know that.” I ignored his insolence. “But that was centuries ago. Why does it appear as if it was just abandoned?”
“Because the Shadow Rift keeps growing.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means . . .” He paused, rubbing his hand over his face.
“That this farmland was part of the Day Realm until a few years ago.” He didn’t give me time to respond before he spoke again, his voice low.
“Now shut the fuck up before I gag you again. And don’t bother screaming for help here.
No one will help you. And if you run, hope that I don’t catch you.
” He turned, not even bothering to drag me along, imagining his threat was enough.
Maybe trying to run would be pointless, but I couldn’t imagine anyone seeing a kidnapped woman and not helping. Especially if they learned who I was. Silvervalians were ordered to protect me at all costs, and they gladly bent the knee for me.
If this farm used to be part of my country, the people inside were probably Day Ravens. They were obligated to help me.
He was hoping I’d believe him and not bother, be a willing victim who didn’t fight back.
He should know I was not that girl.