Page 18 of The Iron Fae
“Ten-ish.”
“Ish? How can there be an… ish hallway?”
Rowan laughs. Internally, I’m making notes to remember what sort of halls are what. As Rowan has described them, halls one and two, as well as ten and nine are… offices ‘and other boring things.’
“The next set of halls are bedchambers. Guest suites mainly on the first floor. Your suite is down that hall. If you follow the stairs,” He points to the rising steps a few beats ahead, “then on the next floor you’ll find the royal’s bedchambers.”
Rowan pauses at the foot of the stairs. He lifts his free hand to stroke the knuckle of his pointer finger down the curve of my face. “My room is the second door on the left.”
I exhale loudly through my nose and push his hand away. Holding up our interlacing fingers, I raise my brows with question. His knowing smirk only grows before he tugs me forward again. With loud clicking steps, I try to keep pace.
Halls one, two, ten, and nine are boring things. Halls three four, eight, seven, are bedchambers. What’s left? The middlemost halls? Halls number five and six.
“I have a guess as to what is in the middle.” I say to Rowan’s broad shoulders.
“Yes, you’ve probably guessed it.”
“Dining, banquet halls, and ballrooms?” I mimic Rowan’s pleasant accent.
“I do not sound like that.” He pauses as we reach the middle of the castle.
“Yes, you do.”
The frown that formed on his lips only intensifies as he takes offense. “You must be bad at doing impressions. Do Lincoln’s.” He demands.
“Fine.” I’ve got nothing to prove but I’ll be damned if I’m not great at impressions. I square my shoulders and stand as tall as I can manage, holding my chin perfectly straight, and puffing my chest. “Your curiosity is troublesome, Briar. Let me fetch you some other things to intrigue it.” I give it the same roll of the accent as all the Iron Court seems to share.
“Damn that was good. Do Kai.”
Kai’s easy. Proper but the relaxed version. I stand tall still but relax my chest and chin. I hold my hands lightly in front of me. Oh, and I can’t forget the half-hooded eyes. “When the rains of life fall on the lakes of eternity the nearby city is less likely to run it dry.”
“Ooo,” Rowan bites his knuckle. “Spot on. Fuck, now I’m pissed because thatmustbe what I sound like.”
“Yeah, well.” I shrug, careful of every step I take as I start back up. But I know everything else, it just repeats. “Where are we going now?”
“To the garden.”
I don’t remember seeing a garden when we passed the back on the castle on Kai’s horse. It is not just the short hedge maze?
“Oh, is that near the back of the castle?”
“Yes, it’s right out the back doors.” He reaches for my hand again. This time I notice how his thumb strokes against mine.
I’m slightly winded from our trip from the front of the castle all the way to the back. That’s not even mentioning the way Rowan practically ran me through the tour. Does he have something else planned? God, I hope not.
“Where are your parents?” I ponder out loud. I’ve yet to see the infamous king and queen since my arrival. Though that’s probably a good thing because playing the part of Kai’s lover doesn’t entirely sound exciting.
“Busy.” He shrugs.
“But they’re here?”
“Oh, yes.”
He pushes open the door that shields us from the outside world. Finally. The fresh air fills our lungs as we step out. As expected, the lush leaves of the small hedges that create the maze-like patio hit us about midcalf. The greens are rich with the life that grows here, vibrant and thriving.
Rowan leans down, twisting a plump berry from its hedge and tosses it into his mouth. He hums an appreciation. All along the bottom of the bushes, the sides that face inwards toward the castle, are different berries. Many of the small fruits grow next to the lovely indigo blooms I saw yesterday.
So there is a garden…at least Rowan wasn’t trying to trick me into anything.
