Page 56 of Ember and Eclipse
She was lowered to what she assumed was the ground.
“Guards!” the Maester yelled. She loved to hear the tremble of fear in his generally monotone voice.
His shout was cut short. A thud and wet, garbled choking followed.
When she managed to open her eyes, the world pieced together in fragments that didn’t quite connect. Blinking was a colossal effort, but she did it until her vision cleared. Her head was tipped to the side, and the first thing that came into focus was the Maester, his hand trying to stop the flow of blood coming from his throat. He was pale, too pale, and even as she watched, he collapsed to the side, falling parallel to her. His blood poured onto the red and gold carpet in slowing spurts.
Death had come for him, too.
The sound of approaching footfalls came soon after. She tried to right herself but barely twitched from her position. The only thing she managed to do was lower her chin to watch the scene unfold before her.
Three guards poured into the room, noted the dead Maester, and then looked upon Death. With their weapons already drawn, they made no warning before attacking. The clashing was muted, and her sight went in and out of focus, but Death, a black hood over his head, fought mercilessly.
When the last guard was felled, his head landing far from his body, he came for her again. She held no fear, just an aching need within her. Being lifted and positioned in strong arms made her momentarily dizzy, but when the world righted itself, she saw his face.
Looking down at her with concern glowing in his silver gaze, was the Wolf of Romul.
Devdan.
“You,” she croaked.
“Me,” he murmured.
Why did Death wear his face? She wanted to ask or ensure that she was, in fact, dead, but it came out a groan instead as her eyes shut against her will.
The last thing she heard before she was dragged back under was, “I told you I’d come back for my emerald.”
Chapter XXXIV
Relwasinasea of enchanting black, except for a single flickering light. When she followed that light, she took stock of the new sensations. She was on some sort of cushion and on her stomach. Groaning, she turned her head to identify the single lantern in the dark place.
What she could see of her surroundings in the meager light was not telling. The walls were a smooth stone, and the ceiling looked low. The air was musty and stale, bringing to mind dark caves and cool cellars.
Was this where souls went who had no coins to cross the river Styx?
Rel twisted slowly onto her other side. A worn leather pack leaned against the wall. She stared at it for a long time, coming to terms with the fact that she might not be dead after all.
As she sat up slowly, her body protested only in the way it would if she were very much alive. She was no longer in the torn red dress but an oversized tunic with the emerald necklace tucked beneath. Besides twinges of pain, her back didn’t hurt as it should and stuck to the back of the tunic with some salve over the wounds. She brought the collar to her nose and inhaled.
It smelled likehim. Mountains at night and skies kissed by dusk. Like the cleanest version of him, giving her images of him pulling it on after a soak and lounging in it.
Definitely not dead, then. Unless the Underworld was full of jesters.
She pulled the bag into her lap and was surprised at its weight. Inside was a canteen and food—bread that had lost its warmth, large purple grapes, and even several strips of the dried meat she detested. There were also two knives, and she pulled them out to inspect them. She recognized them as the ones she had chosen the night his pack arrived.
She laid them down beside her and unwrapped the bread. Biting off the smallest of pieces, she chewed until a whisper of a noise made her pause. The sound echoed in the strange hall, and she turned her head several times to track it.
“It’s only me,” Devdan whispered, his gravelly voice echoing in the strange cavern. He stepped into the circle of light and looked her over.
Narrowing her eyes, she pinned him with a glare. She had several questions and didn’t know which one needed to be answered first but started with, “Why?”
“Always skipping pleasantries,” he muttered.
Rel picked up the throwing knife, and Devdan marked the motion. “Why did you bring me here? Why did you…” She trailed off, gesturing to the pack and the tunic with the blade.
“We don’t have much time. So, you’ll have to come to terms with some things pretty quickly.”
Rel took him in. He was carrying another pack on his back, but what caught her eye was how his entire front glistened in the low light.Blood.
