by Bronwyn Eley
But he didn’t need to say it.
‘He’s dead, Kaylan.’
I tried to respond quickly to show I wasn’t afraid, but my lips had welded together. Liem smiled tightly. Now I understood why he might think I would be home now instead of at work. Rhey had just turned ten; he was eligible.
‘Not even the Shadow’s death would be a good enough excuse for me missing work.’ Liem’s brows quirked. I knew no one was fooled by the humour laced through my tone.
The Shadow. Our Lord’s personal servant. I never knew where the nickname came from, but it aptly described the role. My father always used to call them by their real name. I would never forget how he scolded me the first time I used the word Shadow in his presence.
Sometimes it seemed like my father was the only one who remembered that the Shadows were people before they were swallowed up by their inescapable fate.
I gestured to the door. ‘Well, then ...’
‘Hold up.’ Liem’s shoulder-length black hair unravelled from its knot as he chased after me. His large hands crashed onto my shoulders, steering me forward. ‘I want to be there when Tosh wraps you in heated armour for being late.’
‘Hilarious.’
Darkness swallowed us as the air thickened with heat and ash. I had grown used to working in the dark; it was necessary so we could see the heat of the metal. Liem resumed work but kept an eye on me over his shoulder. A smile tugged at his thin lips as he pulled his hair back. Ignoring him, I took in the mess of the shop. Mess meant Tosh was in a bad mood.
Great.
Already beads of sweat had started making their way down my spine, my forehead, my chest. I had been told a long time ago that there was little point in wiping them away.
Of course, it’s hard to listen to a large, scary, dirty man when you’re ten years old and being told to ignore the sweat, the pain, the smell, the heat. I begged my parents for a new job, any job, not understanding that they had no more say in the matter than I did. Over time I stopped asking. Over time I stopped hating the flames.
Tosh let out a loud curse. Glancing over, I saw the first drop of blood leave a fresh cut on his palm and fall to the sooted ground below. The swearing continued as he reached for a strip of cloth. A smirk crawled onto my face as he struggled to tie a knot one-handed. I moved to him and grabbed his hand, which he snatched back.
‘Did my livelihood get in the way of all the fun, Kaylan?’
I rolled my eyes and grabbed his hand again. ‘Quiet.’
‘Did you not hear the warning bell telling your arse to get over here?’ he continued, this time allowing me to properly bandage his gnarly, sweat-and-blood-covered hand.
‘It’s not like I’m making a habit of it,’ I snapped, throwing his hand down as I finished. He jerked forward, grumbling. ‘I’m here now.’
‘Just because you’re my best Striker …’ The rest of his sentence was lost as Liem’s hammer came down hard on the suffering metal. ‘Next time I’ll put you between the anvil and Liem’s hammer.’
There was no point talking back. Tosh’s bad moods were as infamous as they were regular, but some days it was easier to understand where he was coming from. Today was one of those days.
I retrieved Sal’s payment and held it out. ‘Take your cut.’
Tosh made a deep growling sound at the back of his throat and snatched the coins. ‘It seems my warnings fell on deaf ears.’ He dropped two coins into his box and tossed the remainder back in my direction. I pocketed them before turning my attention to something more pleasant – my work.
Placing my apron over my clothes, I ran my hands over the worn leather, wearied from shielding my body from cinders. It wasn’t much to look at compared to the fine gowns the Noblewomen wore, but it was my favourite possession. Not that I owned that much to begin with, but there was something about the brass buckles and decorated leather that made me smile. Decorated by me, of course. Once I was grown and Tosh issued me a new apron, I took a sharp, broken nail – a failed project of our newest apprentice – and began scratching designs into the thick leather. Mostly just swirls, to begin with. Then one day I added my name. Then I started adding my accomplishments, as infrequent as they were.
I ran my hand over my favourite one.
Tosh named me his successor today.
That was a few years ago, when Tosh decided that I would take over the forge from him one day. Nothing was official yet, but it gave me hope that I had a future I might be proud of.
Noticing the low-burning flames, I strapped on my belt, checked my tools and tugged on the rope to pump the bellow. Air hissed into the flames. Fire spat at my arms and hands.
I decided to pick up where I left off yesterday, moving to the pile of misshapen metal. One of our regular clients was a farmer who was a little too rough with his tools. I clamped the metal between my tongs, the fire hissing as I interrupted its flames. Heat soaked into the metal as I turned it a few times. Then I drew it out, squinting, always captivated by how sunlight seemed to emanate from its centre. Burning hot as if something were alive inside.
Rumour said the Relic burned hotter than any fire.
Pushing the unwelcome thought aside, I set to work.
When my hands were all but cramped into uselessness and my hair stuck to the sides of my face, I dropped my tools and stepped out into the fresh air. Sixth Bell rang softly through the air, carried from one of the far-off towers. The edges of the courtyard shone with the light of torches hanging from the walls of buildings. I spotted a single Lamplighter strolling by the small fires, keeping them strong for the night ahead. People milled about the courtyard, some dining and drinking at a tavern’s outdoor tables, others lingering. Maybe for the same reason I lingered a while before I went home.
I untied my apron and pulled it over my head, reassuring my aching shoulders that a rest was coming. As if on cue, I spotted a glimmer of deep green emerging from the alley up ahead. As usual, heads turned, conversations dimmed, eyes focused as she passed by. Her smile had always been dazzling, her teeth somehow straighter and cleaner than most, but it now shone brighter against her flawless skin and jewelled neckline.
‘You really shouldn’t walk alone in this part of town,’ I called to her. ‘Some unsuspecting fool might try their luck with you.’
‘Then I feel sorry for the poor fool and his left eye.’ Shae chuckled, earning herself a few more stares from passers-by. She was lucky – despite all the years of roughing it with me on the streets, her skin had remained remarkably unblemished. Her long, slender arms were exposed all the way up to her shoulders, the low cut of her gown showing off just enough to grab attention.
In her profession, it was necessary to be perfect.
Which she was. Smooth skin of an envious golden-brown, a flare of the same gold in her dark eyes, hair that was almost annoyingly perfect and a figure that wasn’t too dainty or too bulky. Not like me.
‘My point exactly,’ I shrugged, acutely aware of the grime under my fingernails and the soot on my face, chest and arms. ‘The Companion facade may fool some, but I know your mean right hook all too well.’
Shae cringed as she finally reached me. ‘I was aiming for Ellee’s face.’
‘You’ll recall I wore that black eye proudly.’
Shae nodded, brown eyes narrowing as she assessed me. ‘Yes, you were rather disappointed when it faded.’
‘And you couldn’t follow through with my one simple request...’
‘I wasn’t going to hit you again!’ Shae shuddered, wriggling her shoulders. ‘Your mother gave me the sternest talk. Not even my own parents are that intimidating.’
‘Yes, well.’ I gestured to her gown. ‘They’re not going to yell at you. In their eyes, you’ve done well for yourself.’
A sour expression replaced her smile for a moment, but disappeared just as fast.
‘Look who it is,’ a voice behind us teased.
Looking over my shoulder, Liem emerged into the evening. Unlike others, who
only saw Shae, I knew his exceptionally wide grin was for both of us.
‘On cue, he arrives.’ Shae chuckled, reaching for Liem’s hands. Something gnawed at my stomach. His hands were worse than mine, and yet he never hesitated to treat Shae how he had always done. It was harder for me, being so close to her. I knew the kinds of trouble she would find herself in if she came home in a mess.
‘Dearest Shae,’ he mocked, releasing her. ‘Your clean and pure light shines like a beacon among this den of miscreants.’
‘Foolish Liem,’ she mimicked, dipping her head slightly. ‘You’ve forgotten I used to be part of this den of miscreants. Sometimes I still am.’
Liem eyed her apparel and tisked. ‘In that gown? I’d hate to see it ruined.’
‘You and Quinn both,’ Shae said sternly.
I had never met the woman, but as head of the Companion House, Quinn needed no introduction. Her reputation for creating the most stunning and skilled Companions was common knowledge, even down here in the den. Men and women so alluring, so confident, it was no surprise that people lined up to spend a night alone with them, no matter the cost.
Still, the rumours about Quinn’s methods made me pause to reconsider the negative thoughts I had about Tosh.
Shae moved to wrap her arm around my waist, but I darted away. ‘I’m filthy.’
She rolled her eyes. ‘You’re always filthy.’
‘Yeah, well, it’s part of the job.’
‘Ever the Blacksmith.’ A smile danced on her lips. ‘Fine. Let’s get out of here.’
‘I take it I’m not invited?’ Liem joked, cocking a brow.
We glanced over our shoulders, my posture somewhat less impressive than Shae’s, and together responded with a resounding no. With that, we turned and left a chuckling Liem behind, heading for the Lookout.
Chapter 2
We nicknamed it the Lookout when we were children simply because it overlooked the Lower Quarter farms. We had stumbled across it one afternoon while we were on a grand adventure around the backstreets. Shae was the guard; I was the criminal evading capture. But we gladly stopped our game to attempt to climb the high stone wall.
It wasn’t an easy feat for two nine-year-olds, but somehow we managed, taking the evidence home with us later that evening. My mother wasn’t happy about the bruises and torn clothes, but it was worth it for the view. Fields of greens and yellows. Browns as rich as the skin of the people who tended them.
Shae dropped my arm and pulled up the sides of her dress, which split open at the front to show off just enough of her legs. Kicking off her plain shoes – the only ones she was permitted to wear down here – she bundled the fabric in her hands, pulled it to one side and did her best to knot it. The heavy material hung limply, threatening to unravel.
Shae swept her thick, dark-brown hair into a tie. She was growing it longer, on Quinn’s request, and it now hung halfway down her back. Apparently men liked something they could grab onto.
She dug her fingers and toes into the shallow holes we had scratched into the wall over the years. Up she went. Ludicrously lavish undergarments, bits of lace and delicate patterns that were only needed in her profession, were on display as she drew higher. She knew better than to pull such a crude stunt in public, but it was the reason we met at this time of night. Down by the farms in the dark, there was no one to bother us.
I waited below with my arms slightly forward, ready to tense at the first stumble. It had only happened once and resulted in a broken arm and bloodied face. Luckily, it was my body that fell. It was easier to explain to a Lead Blacksmith than it was to a Head Companion.
Shae moved quickly, her movements sure from years of practice. I followed the same path up a moment later and together we spun to face the farms, legs dangling off the sides. Still and silent, we watched the few farmers working the late shift, their burning torches weaving like small flaming animals scurrying about.
A concerning crack sounded as Shae rolled her neck, sighing at the release. With a deep breath, she sagged forward, arms bracing the edge of the wall, elbows locked. I hated to remove the gentle smile from her face, but –
‘Mr Alarn was Sentenced today.’
Shae shifted back. ‘What for?’
‘Negligence.’ I rolled my eyes.
‘You suppose his crops died?’
It was the most likely cause for his Sentencing. I just shrugged, knowing that if I let myself think too much about it, I would never stop.
‘I can’t believe it.’ Shae hunched forward again in a very un-Companion-like manner. ‘Remember when Dala was born?’
I smiled and nodded. We had been racing each other around the streets; Shae was winning, even in her silk dress and thin shoes. But she wasn’t looking where she was going and barrelled right into Mr Alarn, who had been out buying crockery as a gift for his new family. The bowls in his hands had tumbled to the ground, but I remembered him holding back a smile. He knew Shae was destined for better things than those of us still down here.
‘Clumsy fool,’ I joked.
Shae nudged me. ‘I offered to replace them!’
‘I think all he ever wanted from you was for you to embrace your new life.’
‘Act your age.’ Shae mimicked his deep voice and the way he slightly rolled his Rs like some of the merchants from far off east.
‘And your rank.’ I followed suit, pointing to her. She chuckled and swatted my hand away just as the heavy tread of boots reached our ears.
We both hunched forward without a word, knowing they belonged to the city guards. If it were just me up here, they wouldn’t bother with a second glance. With Shae, we had to be careful.
‘Unusual,’ I mumbled when they had gone, brushing the stones’ dry dust from my hands.
Shae shrugged. ‘They always increase their presence after the Shadow dies.’
Of course she already knew. The Companions would have been informed the moment it happened. Shae had dropped comments here and there over the years about how Quinn worked her contacts to keep anyone in her house from being selected. Shae said it wouldn’t actually make a difference; that Quinn was just giving away money and services for nothing. I wasn’t so sure. No Companion had ever been chosen in my lifetime.
It was meant to be a lottery, drawn from a ledger containing every eligible person. I wasn’t sure how they selected the name, but it was supposed to be random.
‘You didn’t know?’ Shae frowned, her tone soft, like a mother speaking to her child on a difficult subject.
I swallowed hard. ‘Liem told me before.’
‘I wish –’ Shae drew in a sharp breath, as if someone had stuck a knife in her gut. She tensed, then shook herself out.
‘What?’
‘It was horrible.’ She looked straight ahead. ‘He looked terrified. So much blood and no one even said anything.’
I straightened and shifted to face her. ‘You were there?’
Shae nodded. ‘In the crowd, right by the stage. He didn’t even look at him.’
I knew she meant Lord Rennard. He was used to his Shadows dying. Death after death had apparently made him numb to the shock of it all.
And now another one was dead, and someone had to take his place.
‘Every time,’ I breathed. ‘Every time it happens, I think, what if it’s someone I know? What if it’s me? What if it’s Rhey? He’s ten now, he can be –’
‘Kaylan.’ Shae’s hands found mine; tucked them up tightly. This conversation was tired – we both knew it. There was nothing new to say. She dropped my hands and straightened her posture, as if to remind the world that she was a Companion, as if it were a shield against whatever happened next.
‘I should go home,’ I said.
‘Don’t let this ruin our night,’ Shae pleaded. ‘If you go, I have to go back too.’
I shook my head but said nothing. Shae rested a hand on my shoulder before swinging around and lowering herself slowly back down the wall.
It could
be anyone.
Any adult, which in this place meant anyone over the age of ten. My heart knotted at the idea of it being Elias. Or Rhey. Or my mother. What would happen to our family if she left us? I was grateful that Kye was still too young, for now.
When we were both back on the ground, Shae pulled me into a hug. I tried to pull away, but she only held on tighter. I held still, hoping my clothes wouldn’t stain hers.
‘My love to the little rascals,’ Shae mumbled into my shoulder. ‘Especially Elias. Tell him I said to stay out of trouble.’
I huffed. ‘No promises.’
She disappeared down the road all too quickly.
I always knew when I was getting close to my house when my legs started to burn. Groups of young children often used the steep descent of our street in their games, running as fast as their legs allowed them, tumbling down the hill, charging back up again.
Tonight the streets were quiet.
As I passed the house where I spent countless days during my childhood, I glanced in through the window. Shae’s parents had always accepted me as the second child they had never planned on having, never surprised when I would just turn up, even after Shae moved into the Companion House. There was no light from inside the house. I looked away, disappointed not to see their faces.
The minute I opened my front door, a small body crashed into my legs.
I chuckled and leaned down to embrace Kye. But instead of finding my youngest brother’s usual smile and chatter, I found a rabid animal – thrashing, crying, out of control.
‘Run away!’ he wailed. His eyes were puffy, his nose a mess, and his little arms pushed against me with all his might.
‘Kye!’ my mother called from the other room. She didn’t sound angry. She sounded afraid.
‘Kye?’ I looked down at him but he continued to push me, to strike my legs.
‘Go! Get out! Please, Kaylan!’
My mother joined us a moment later, out of breath, a cloth clutched in her hand, her eyes as red as Kye’s. She reached for him, but he just screamed louder.
‘Kye, stop it!’ I said, grabbing his shoulders. I knelt before him but kept my arms taut, so I could see him clearly. My heart had begun to hammer in my chest.
