Page 50 of Jeweler to the Blessed
He was so solid—his body so unforgiving. I bounced back, more aware than I’d like to be of all the places our bodies had just collided. He turned, arching an eyebrow, his face giving me nothing. This was one of the few times I wished I had an adamas stone. I could slide my hand along the sharp planes of his face and see what color the stone flashed—could see what emotions lingered close to the surface.
I shook my head. I needed to get some rest.
“We’re here,” he said.
To my left, two guards stood outside a small wooden door. Torches on either side of the hallway lit the space. I nodded, moving away from Hart.
“I should check the room.” He stepped in front of me to open the door.
“We already did,” the guard on the left said.
Hart ignored this as he stalked into Alaric’s room—my room. I followed. I’d never been to Uncle’s rooms at the castle. They were richly appointed, as I’m sure any room there would be, but they were also on the main floor, toward the kitchens, indicating his place of servitude. Looking around the room, I couldn’t see anything that reminded me of Alaric.
The bed was neatly made with white linens. The desk was tidy, with only a few pieces of paper out of place. It was a different sight from the state of his workshop bench. The bureau was large and made of intricately carved dark wood, but I did not imagine Alaric picking it out for himself. I wanted to go to the desk and see what might be hidden in the drawers. I’d wait until Hart was gone to do so.
He scoured the room, even crouching to check beneath the bed.
“Looking for monsters?” I asked.
He stood as he finished his assessment, stopping beside the fireplace. “You don’t seem to realize how many are out there, Chaos.”
I held in an eye roll. The monsters I feared were in this castle, draped in fine clothes and smiling to my face while they stole life from the citizens of Kavios. “I’ll be fine.”
His curt nod was dismissive. “I’ll be back first thing in the morning. The guards outside won’t let you go to Alaric’s workshop without me.”
An ornately furnished cage indeed.
Hart studied me like he would pry the thoughts from my head. The fire in the grate cast a deep glow on his features, highlighting those forest-green eyes that pierced so deeply.Before he could say anything else, a knock sounded at the door, drawing his attention.
“Oh!” A faint voice echoed as Hart opened it.
“Who are you?” he asked.
“Prince Elias assigned me to see to the jeweler’s needs.”
I tried to glance around Hart’s broad frame, but he filled the doorway. I waved a hand over his shoulder, trying to draw her attention. “Hi, I’m Emberline, the jeweler.”
Hart sighed and sidestepped, allowing me access to the woman. She was petite, with light brown hair and large, expressive eyes. Upon seeing me, her smile lit the hall, and she dipped into a curtsey. I reached for her, desperate to pull her into the room, but I was too slow.
The guard on the right let his hand slide up her arm—the adamas ring on his finger flashed yellow. Her smile faded as the guard stole the slip of joy she’d shown.
“Careful there.” The guard let her go as quickly as he’d touched her, but she hadn’t stumbled or asked for his aid. There was no mistaking what the guard had done.
Hart stepped between the woman and the guard, guiding her into the room. She stumbled, and her gaze darted toward Hart over her shoulder as he closed the door.
“He won’t touch you,” I said.
Hart held my gaze. I couldn’t decipher what lingered there. I didn’t know why I said it. I was confident enough that Hart wouldn’t attempt to take from me, but I had no such guarantee he wouldn’t take from a servant in the castle. They, especially, were paid well, with the expectation of such occurrences.
After collecting herself, the woman appeared to accept my assurances. “Have you eaten? Would you like a bath?”
I hadn’t considered what seeing to my needs might entail. I shook off the connection with Hart, focusing on the woman. “Are you alright? Do you need anything?”
She waved me off. “I’m here to serve you.”
I nodded, accepting that she wanted to move on. “You can make a meal and a bath happen?”
Yes, I was in the castle, where luxury I’d never experienced was available, but I hadn’t expected it to be offered to me.
