Page 55 of Beyond Those Gilded Walls

The tenderness was replaced at once with ire as I smacked at his hand. “Don’t touch me. I’ve had enough lies, Tallon. What was that place, why is Sylviana following me, and what has happened to my brothers?”

“The real question is why are you so intent on testing your aversion to death?”

I narrowed my eyes. “What does that mean?”

He stepped closer to me. “You seem to court death at every turn, Odyssa. Despite your best efforts to the contrary, you remain alive. I would not keep testing your luck.”

“My brothers, Tallon. The treatment.” He would not tell me about the nightmare world, and while I was curious about Sylviana, my brothers were the priority. “What progress have you made? Did you deliver my letter?”

Whatever response he’d been about to give was cut off by a knock on my door this time. I growled in frustration and stalked to the door. “Who is it?”

“Zaharya and Talyssa. Do you have a moment?” she called through the door.

I spun around, intent on telling Tallon that it was his turn to hide and that we would finish our conversation after, but he was gone. Both he and Sylviana had disappeared in the moments I’d had my back turned. My jaw clenched and I blew out a breath, pasting on a soft but neutral expression before tugging the door open to face the women. “Would you like to come in?”

Zaharya hesitated for a moment but nodded and I opened the door wider to allow both her and Talyssa through. Zaharya stopped as she passed me. “We wanted to check on you.”

I narrowed my eyes at her back as I followed her inside. “Why?”

Zaharya settled on the corner of my bed, crossed her hands in her lap, and pursed her lips, while Talyssa stood to her side, wringing her hands in front of her. I had a strong suspicion I was not going to like their reasoning. “We’ve noticed Tallon paying you more attention lately, and?—”

I held my hand up to stop her. “I would just like to get clarity on one thing first, before you continue with what is undoubtedly another warning to keep my wits about me and stay away from him. Am I the only one being warned off, or does the warning apply to everyone? I would like to know, seeing as I saw Maricara pressed up against him in the hallway as I was leaving tonight.”

Both of their eyes widened. Talyssa’s face flushed and she tucked her hands behind her back as her eyes darted between Zaharya and me.

Zaharya kept my gaze.

“Truly, I understand that we are not here to make friends, and I understand that none of uswantto be here. And believe me, I understand the dangers this castle and those close to Prince Eadric pose. I do not understand why, in the face of these dangers, it has been decided that I am some sort of threat to any of you.”

The tension was thicker than the red mist outside the window. In the end, it was Talyssa who broke it. “We just wanted to make sure you were safe, that you knew what you were getting into if he continues with the attention. We didn’t mean anything by it.”

“I think perhaps you mean different things by coming here tonight,” I said carefully. Talyssa did seem genuine, but I’d thought the same of Zaharya before I’d heard them gossiping about me that night I went to the cellars. “And while I appreciate the warning, without context, it does me no good.”

Zaharya’s shoulders slumped as she relaxed her rigid posture and pushed a hand through her hair. “The warning is for everyone. Maricara has been here the longest, and I…” She trailed off, shaking her head. “I do not know why she was pursuing Tallon tonight, I truly don’t. I admit, I am wary of you. You’ve attracted far too much attention since you’ve arrived and I have no desire to be associated with what that attention might bring. But I did come here today in good faith, to warn you that there was a reason your services were needed.”

More word games, more hidden meanings. “Speak plainly. I tire of the games.”

She sighed. “As do I. We’re forbidden from speaking of it directly, but I will try to tell you what I can.”

“What forbids you? How would anyone know?”

“The castle knows.” She sighed again, rubbing her temples. “I was conscripted into service nine months ago. There are seven attendant positions. Since I began work here, we have welcomed thirteen attendants as we welcomed you.” She squinted at Talyssa.

The redhead picked up the threads of Zaharya’s thought and continued. “None to my knowledge have contracted the plague. None to my knowledge were granted freedom from service.”

My mind went back to the Soulshade of the woman with the slit throat and the pieces began to fall into place. My fists tightened at my sides. The other servants were dead, and it was heavily implied they’d been killed. Both women visibly relaxed as understanding dawned. My jaw ached from how tightly it was clenched. “Who? How?”

Zaharya shook her head. “I cannot say either. But please, heed our warning. Those who live here in this castle by invitation are not safe, not for us.” She stood from the bed and both she and Talyssa made for the door. Zaharya clasped my arm as she passed. “I don’t know what Maricara is trying to do, but I’d stay as far away from her as you can too. Whatever she thinks you have done to slight her, she doesn’t forgive lightly.”

“Thank you both for coming,” I said after a moment of silence. Despite that they’d interrupted my conversation with Tallon, I did appreciate that they were trying to look out for me in their own way. It warmed something beneath my breastbone, and I smiled, hoping it wasn’t too much of a grimace. “Sleep well.”

They both murmured their own thanks and departed.

The door closed quietly behind them. I mindlessly moved about to ready for bed and drew the curtains closed before sliding beneath the covers. Pulling my knees to my chest, I stared into the darkness, rubbing at my temples. What she was implying had been clear, that Tallon had played a role in the deaths of the other servants. Camelya had implied that Tallon would be the one to kill me if I made another mistake. But Tallon… Tallon had told me if the prince wanted me dead, he would do it himself.

Tallon could not be trusted, this much I knew already, but the bargain we’d made loomed over my head. If he’d wanted me dead, he wouldn’t have made the deal, I reasoned. Unless, a small voice contradicted, it was another part of his games and he had no intentions of keeping it.

I fell back into the pillows and closed my eyes. I needed to assume the letter never arrived, that Rhyon was dead, and that Tallon had told the prince of my plans. As much as Emyl despised me, as much as I wanted to just give in and work here until I was a forgotten piece of the backdrop, I could not bring myself to break the vow I made to my mother. I’d had nothing in this life except her approval.

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