Page 3 of The Poison of the Earth
“To... to join you, sir,” I let myself falter, “I... I worked in King Alder’s court and... I hope to be ofuse.” I emphasize the word use but keep my eyes downward so as not to be too forward.
“You’d be better use to your family, don’t you think, woman?”
I look up at him. His face is blank.
“My parents are long dead. My brother left me in that lecherous court. He can rot.”
All true statements.Best to speak truth as much as possible, in case they have a soothsayer somewhere.
Another grunt and he stands, turning to the person behind him. “Get her out, bring her to the main hall.”
And Commander Lonan, the most feared Fae in the realm, sweeps out on quiet feet.
I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.
The other Fae steps forwards and my eyes snap to them.
He’s taller, and broad—thick and muscular in an entirely different manner, and has a wild head of dark auburn hair. Freckles sweep his nose and cheeks and on any other it might make them look adorable. But his sun-tanned skin and rough hands speak of a man not to be trifled with.
This is General Kai, if rumors are to be believed. But Misery’s Militia has done an excellent job of obfuscating the truth.
Some say General Kai is a dragon shifter with true-red hair, some say he’s of dwarf heritage with mousey brown hair, yet others say he’s a Sylph with green fingers. But many, and my personal research, says he’s a barrel chested dark ginger who is completely loyal to Lonan and would kill you as soon as look at you.
My eyes flick down. This man’s energy absolutely says he likes his women subservient, and the glare he has leveled at me is enough for me to even feel a bit like one.
I hear the key in the lock and stay still.
“Come, child,” he says in a rough, underused voice, his hand out.
I place my fingers in his warm hand as I bite down a retort. I had best settle into my role quickly because I am not sure I have the self-restraint to fight both my mouth and face on my reactions to these two assholes for long.
He blinks down at me before he tugs me to my feet and waits while I get my balance, clutching my bag to my chest. Once I’m steady, he guides us out of the neat gaol, past one of the men at arms and out into the narrow hallway. On my way in, that shifter had dragged me down a long hallway and a flight of steps as I hissed and spit at him. While I don’t mind them, most of therealm mistrusts shifters. There is a reason not many are found outside of Guivre Shores’ lands.
And now, on the way out, this feared General goes at my slow pace, even letting me pause to pant on the flight of stairs. He’s entirely more solicitous of me than I was expecting. But he keeps his hands to himself and his riotous green eyes forward. My suspicion of him only grows with each step down the wide stone hallway of the main floor.
This keep is young, comparatively. And was built with some haste, if stories are true. So while the basements and main floor is stone, the walls and upper floors are all rough-hewn wood. I can still scent the living trees and while it would smell of death to some varieties of earth Fae, to me, it merely sparks some of my only happy memories of childhood.
My mother preferred to keep her fireplace burning almost year round in her chambers and the earthy, warm scent reminds me of that. She always said it was her human blood that made her chilly. I stare straight ahead and lock down my thoughts of her.
The General turns, grips the brass knobs of a set of arched doors and pushes them inward.
The first thing I take in as the doors swing open is the lack of guards. None outside the doors, none inside, none standing nearby. Only one woman with weapons, her hair short and purple, standing behind the Commander. My eyes settle upon the massive fireplace at the end of the hall. The mighty, circular wooden table dominates the room, and near the doors is the Commander. I look down and notice that his slender feet are bare and buried in the rug.
I quite nearly raise an eyebrow at how safe he seems to appear.Not advisable, I think to myself.
In front of him is a plate of food and a goblet. Three other places are set.
His eyes sweep up me, feet to forehead; I look down again.
“Come, sit,” he says, hand out, in a hospitable gesture. His deep voice seems smoother now that I’m not in a cell but I don’t understand why.
I hesitate and suddenly the General’s hand is on the small of my back. I jump, shocked at his touch, then hurriedly step forward, going to sit directly across from the Commander.
I see him and the General exchange a glance.
The purple haired Fae sits next to him while the General sits next to me, moving two of the plates in front of us.
“Eat.”
