Page 14 of Aubade Rising
“I don’t trust anyone, not even other Mordros. It’s my job to find and eradicate the rebels. I would question anyone alone at night.” His voice steadies, “It’s not personal. From now on, you’ll have an escort into the city.”
“I will not!”
His eyebrow rises, “Good luck getting the ferryman to take you without one. You could always swim.” He gestures to the dark river separating us from the palace. The current is violent and the water frigid – I wouldn’t stand a chance.
“The King vouched for me; does that mean nothing?” My throat closes, I can’t bear to be trapped in the palace. The dread I felt at returning to the city and the harbour pales compared to being trapped mere floors above the dungeons where I was tortured.
“The King may trust you but I have a rebellion to deal with and no guarantee that you’re not about to join it!” He sweeps a hand through his hair, pushing it out of his eyes and I notice the bruises under them. He’s not sleeping either.
“I am not a rebel,” I spit out. “I will not sacrifice everything I’ve worked for, what little security I have in this cruel kingdom for some idealistic mission backed by a few explosives.” I’ve seen first-hand now how reluctant the Mordros are to change. Aubades will never repeal the Difan and get other archaic restrictions repealed without gaining power of their own. My research is the answer, not a rebellion.
“Then you shouldn’t have a problem with being escorted.” His crossed arms tell me he considers the matter closed.
“I have a problem with being treated like an irresponsible child!” I’m not going to let this go easily.
“Have you forgotten that your home was a target in the attack? It’s for your safety too!” he shouts, then checks over his shoulder to make sure we’re still alone. His polished facade cracks and I get a glimpse of the weight he’s carrying, keeping the Kingdomsafe.
“A coincidence. Hitting the residential district was bound to cause the most chaos. My apartment was collateral damage.” My words sound weaker than I’d like. But I refuse to believe any different.
“You’re too clever to be that naive. Why take the risk? You have everything you could possibly want in the palace.”
“You don’t know anything about what I want or what risks I’m taking.”
“And yet you charmed the King into offering you one of the most coveted positions in the Kingdom after one meeting?” Something flashes in his eyes as he scans me from head to toe.
“It’s not coveted by me. I don’t even want to be here.” I throw my hands up in exasperation.
“Then. Why. Stay?” he grits out.
I avoid his gaze, unwilling to admit what we both know – that I have nowhere else to go.
The painful silence extends for the ferry ride back to the palace, neither of us willing to break the stand-off.
Chapter 13
Captain Devath is infuriating. None of the ferrymen look me in the eye when I next implore them to take me across the river. Not even kindly old Diogel, my personal ferryman. He is happy to take me to the laboratory, but gives me a sympathetic smile when I plead to go to the city.
“It’s not worth my job and I happen to agree with the Captain. The city isn’t as safe as it used to be.” His eyes crinkle with concern as he regards the city across the river with dismay.
I resort to badgering one of the palace guards to escort me. I’m assigned a guard who looks half my age, fresh out of training. I feel so very safe…
We make an odd pair, traversing the city towards the address Dervla gave me for her geologist contact. Taking his duty of my safety seriously, the young guard scans every road junction and crossing, frequently holding me back so he can check for danger. It’s ridiculous and now I’m running late. What on earth is he actually even looking for in the middle of the day as we walk through the market? I highly doubt rebels are lurking in each alleyway, waiting to grab me.
I’m relieved when we reach the address and make our way up the steep stone steps to the wide doorway. But the guard reaches to knock before I can. “What do you think you’re doing?” I hiss. “Your role ends here. Wait outside until I’m finished.”
“But Captain Devath instructed me to be your escort.”
For ocean’s sake! It’s bad enough that Dervla has commanded me to ask for help from a Mordros. I’m not going to let another one witness this moment. “That doesn’t entitle you to my personal business. Feel free to pass that back to the Captain.”I summon ice into my voice and glare at the guard until he sensibly retreats to the bottom of the steps.
I knock on the door and wait.
A willowy young man throws open the door, dressed from head to toe in an impeccably tailored, rich burgundy tunic, his light brown hair perfectly coiffed. He looks like he would be right at home in the shopping district of Pentargon.
“Howl Karek. It’s a great pleasure to meet you.” He shakes my hand keenly, welcoming me in.
We stride down a long corridor to his office, feet tapping on the polished stone floor. An immaculately tidy desk commands the space. Howl leans casually against it with a beaming smile and gestures for me to sit opposite. I lower myself cautiously onto the futon, careful to avoid crumpling the soft cushions, all too aware that everything in this house is fastidiously tidy and ordered.
“Now tell me exactly how I can be of service?” His smile is a little too big, the warm reception unwarranted. I wonder what exactly Dervla told him about me.
