Page 28 of Unkindness of Crimson Ravens
Studying the sheet on the music stand, I hummed the notes scribbled with passion. The melody was sad, set in a minor scale, making my heart melt with sorrow. I memorized the melody, wishing to bring it into life on my violin one day. Perhaps they had a violin in here, though I was not eager to touch anyone else’s instruments—whoever the owner was.
I continued my observation, flipping through the book on the table nearby. The handwriting was barely legible, full of rage and tragedy. I read through the pages until my eyes spotted a signature at the bottom of the page.To Issac,it read. I quickly closed the book, realizing it was an unsent letter.
Ashamed of my actions, my legs carried me out the room, not wishing to continue my adventures snooping around a space that felt so intimate.
I’d wandered around for what seemed to be hours, and still there were so many floors I hadn't discovered yet.
As I walked through the long corridors, a huge wooden door entered my view.
A big hall overflowed with dozens of weapons and training equipment I once saw the knights at home use. This must’ve been a training hall, but who trained here? How many people lived here exactly?
Sets of axes, bows, daggers, and swords proudly decorated the hall. My hand extended toward a sword that looked just like mine before my mind had an opportunity to stop it.
This sword was longer than I was used to, and a lot heavier. I wielded it around, just like my father had taught me to, remembering his hands on my shoulder fixing my stance.Holdit like it’s an extension of your hand, little pearl,he used to say to me.
Lost in the memory, I wielded the sword slicing my invisible opponent’s neck. A smile of joy spread across my face from my little triumph, until the sound of slow clapping interrupted the peacefulness of the room, forcing my head towards the sound.
Two pairs of eyes watched me from a distance.
Roxanne stood next to the man who kept clapping, eyeing me with unmistakable annoyance. They both wore some kind of training attire: long trousers and tunics. Roxanne’s fiery hair was braided into a crown, revealing her long neck.
“You shouldn’t be here,” the man said at last, his eyes shot lightning at me.
His black hair and brown eyes reminded me of the day I’d tried to escape this place. He was the one standing by the door of my room when I’d ran off, he was the one talking to Francis just moments earlier.
“Well?” The man brought me back from my observation and for the first time I felt true terror being in the presence of a vampire. He looked as if he was holding himself back from lunging towards me and draining me empty of any thought.
“I was just leaving,” I made sure my voice sounded steady as I put away the sword back in its place. The man just snickered in reply.
“Leave her be, Caleb.” Roxanne grabbed a bow and arrow from its stand.
My eyes never left Caleb’s, searching for any sign he wouldn’t charge me the moment Roxanne was distracted. Perhaps I put the sword away too early.
Caleb eyed me expectedly, assessing my own appearance this time. “Duel with me,” he spat out.
“What?” I didn’t bother hiding my confusion. The man had at least a foot on me, and a moment ago he looked at me as though his gaze alone could make me disappear.
Caleb started towards me and despite my better judgment I took a step back. He grabbed the sword I just put away, flashing an ugly scar that marked his hand. “Prove you can be more than a waste of space in this castle,” he snickered, shoving the weapon towards me.
“Caleb,” Roxanne called out in warning from the other side of the room while effortlessly sending the arrow flying straight into the center of the hay target.
I stared back at him still in disbelief, though his cruel words dared me to take the challenge.
What in the Kingdom was I thinking? There was no way I could possibly win—I hadn’t trained in years, and even if I had I stood no chance against the warrior he certainly was. “I am out of practice,” I finally said.
“Does it look like I care?” He shoved the sword into my chest. “I won’t draw blood, I swear on the Moon. Not this time, at least,” he whispered. “Prove you are more than a useless royal.”
My vision blurred in rage when I grabbed the sword from him. My recklessness would be my end.
Caleb’s cruel smile did not leave his face as he unsheathed his dagger.A dagger!
I took my stance, squeezing the hilt of the weapon. If I wanted any chance at surviving this I had to attack first. The weapon advantage was on my side, since Caleb thought I was too weak for him to arm himself accordingly.
I swung my sword to the right, holding it with both hands, preparing to strike my first blow. Caleb did not stop smiling down at me.
The sword was meant to be used with one hand, although I was not used to such weight. I cared not how inexperienced I might have seemed.
Absolutely no part of me believed Caleb’s promise to not draw blood. Nevertheless, I’d made no such vows. I went straight for open skin.
