Page 16 of Crown of Briars
Slowly, I nodded, choosing to trust her. I offered Ramia a reassuring pat on her hand, but she grumbled something aboutcareless faeandweak humans.
From my studies, I knew the Shadow Fae had excellent night vision, like many nocturnal predators. This was made abundantly clear as we made our way through the castle. The strange white orbs barely lit up the hall. I could only just make out the crimson carpet at my feet and Enzira’s purple tail, but not much else. When I stretched my arms out on either side of me, they met nothing but air, which meant the hallways were likely built to be wide enough for all manner of enormous unseelie creatures.
Enzira led us up a winding staircase that seemed to climb so high we might have reached the stars. I paused often to catch my breath, and Ramia even more so. But Enzira was patient and waited for us without complaint before continuing onward.
When we reached the top, I couldn’t help myself. I gasped, craning my neck as I took in the dome-shaped window at the top. We were so high up that this tower must have pierced through the shadows coating the outside of the castle. Nothing but a wide expanse of gleaming stars could be seen from the window, each one sparkling. The midnight-blue void stretched on and on, reminding me that there was a world beyond these deadly shadows. There was so much more to see than what my tiny existence offered.
“Wow,” I whispered, awestruck, then looked around, wondering where the Umbra Mist was. Then, I noticed puffs of it collected in dark corners of the ceiling, as if they were hiding from the stars.
Frowning, I looked at Enzira, who had followed my gaze. She nodded vigorously. “Light,” she said, gesturing to the stars. Then, she shook her head, her braids flicking around her when she pointed to the Umbra Mist. “Notirsh.”
“The… The Umbra Mist doesn’t like light?” I asked.
“Dach.” That meantyes.
I tucked this useful information away for future use, realizing this offered an advantage during the nighttime. But what about the daytime, when the sun was out? Without the Umbra Mist, how could I protect myself against the deadlier shadows?
Also, Clermont had mentioned the Umbra Mist had followed the carriage into my court when he’d come to collect me. But if it hid from the light, how was that possible?
I presumed Enzira didn’t understand enough Terrish to answer these questions, so I made a mental note to ask Clermont or someone else later on. Perhaps the library would hold the information I needed.
“Come,” Enzira prompted, waving her hand.
I followed her down the hall, which was carpeted in amber, making the floor feel soft and plush even through my shoes. The Umbra Mist was thinner up here, but it still swirled above me as if welcoming me to my new home. The more I looked at the translucent puffs of smoke, the less frightening they seemed.
A few paces down the hall, Enzira stopped and gestured to a closed door. “Your room.” She then grabbed Ramia’s hand, guiding her to the door on the opposite side of the hall. “And your room.”
“I—what—” Ramia sputtered, trying and failing to jerk free of the fae’s grip. Enzira was much taller and bulkier than her, so Ramia’s feeble attempts were useless. “I—I don’t sleep up here!” Ramia protested. “Where do the servants live? That’s where I should be.”
But Enzira only shook her head more adamantly. For a moment, the two struggled, arguing with each other in their own language until Ramia’s shrill voice echoed around us, bouncing off the walls. I finally drew closer to her and grabbed her shoulder, shushing her.
“It’s fine,” I assured her. “Perhaps that’s their custom here. Besides, it might be better if you’re close by.”
Ramia swallowed, her lips growing thin. Then, she nodded, still looking deeply uncomfortable.
Enzira glanced between us. “Food?”
Ramia looked at me, eyebrows raised questioningly.
I hesitated. “What food do you have?” I asked Enzira.
“Pesha.” Enzira brought her clawed hands together and wriggled them like a fish.
Ramia wrinkled her nose. “Is it cooked?”
Enzira only frowned, shaking her head to indicate she didn’t understand.
“Furgish?” I asked, using my hands to mime a fish swimming, just like she had. Then I pretended to skewer the fish on an invisible rod, and held it over my other hand, wiggling my fingers to make it look like fire.
“Ah!” Enzira said, comprehension dawning. “Dach. Furgish.”
I smiled. “That would be wonderful. Yes, we would both like somepeshaplease.”
Enzira smiled widely, revealing not one buttworows of fangs. Ramia uttered a soft gasp beside me, but I forced myself to keep a calm expression, knowing Enzira did not mean us harm. She was only excited that we understood each other.
Surely, revealing I knewoneAgnarrish word wouldn’t cause alarm.
I moved to open my door, but Enzira made a noise of protest and stepped in front of me before turning the ornate silver handle herself. Slowly, the door eased open, and she peered through the crack, nodding once. She stood back to let me pass.
