Belvedor and the Four Corners (Belvedor Saga Book 1)

by Ashleigh Bello

  “Put your hood up!” he snapped at her, not even bothering to look back. He continued to pull her along, never loosening his strong grip. She did as he commanded without question.

  They passed the hundreds of identical sleeping quarters that housed all of the slaves. Their rugged appearance gave an eerie look in the shadowed light of the lanterns that lined the street, as if giant wooden cages stapled to the side of the mountain.

  The dining hall loomed ahead, and she noticed one of the swinging doors left ajar swung back and forth in the wind. Arianna started to veer left towards the Dueling Arena before Solomon jerked her towards the right.

  “This way,” he growled. Arianna changed course. In the dark, she couldn’t decipher the path he led her down.

  She gasped as Solomon turned to face her, a fire blazing in his eyes. He slammed her into a stone wall of a building she did not know. Solomon’s strong arm strapped her down like a belt across her chest. She closed her eyes shut, wincing at the sudden contact. As her arms and body glued against the wall, she couldn’t help but think the worst. Please don’t kill me.

  When she opened her eyes, she saw he also pinned himself up against the wall. He lifted a long index finger to his mouth, and his eyes bore into hers, daring her to speak or move. She had never been so unable to do so in her life.

  Paralyzed by fear of her master’s wrath at her betrayal, she didn’t even realize the chattering of voices ahead until quite some time had passed. The voices grew louder, and she felt her panic swell. A man running down the path stopped right in front of their hiding place, his companions not far behind.

  While the roof of the building sheltered her and Solomon in the shadows, nothing tangible separated them from the man. She prayed the darkness was enough, but she trusted it little. Her heartbeat quickened at the thought of the night being her only safety blanket, hoping Solomon couldn’t feel her fear.

  “Where have you been?” cried a deep voice as another regulator met the man in the middle. “Where the Hell are Akias and Das? Why aren’t they with you? We need that bloody roster. There’s been a slave out of bed. The general is handling this one!” he said, his face sullen. He ran a hand through his thick hair.

  “They… they’re dead,” the other regulator said, trying to catch his breath. Arianna studied his round body and wrinkled skin. The jog had winded the old man, and he hunched over, gasping for air as the other stood wordless.

  Solomon and Arianna exchanged only a glance before returning their attention to the two cloaked men.

  “Dead?” he mouthed as Arianna deciphered his wordless lips. The other regulator only nodded with the same shocked look spread over his face as he awaited a reply. “What do you mean dead?” the man said in a shaky voice. His black hair fell all around his thin face, and he stood much taller than the other.

  “I mean dead, Mundar. It was a bloodbath,” he said, trailing off into thought.

  The chatter of more voices joined the ranks as a herd of laughing men came to a halt where Mundar and the messenger stood. Arianna smelled the thick scent of whisky lingering in the air about the drunken group. She guessed they came from the tavern nearby the elder’s quarters. Her nose wrinkled at the stench.

  “What are you girls moping about?” said a belligerent man. He slapped Mundar on the back. He buckled under the weight but came back with a fierce uppercut to the man’s jaw. The large man fell like an axed tree to the ground. Rubbing his chin, he tried to wobble back to his feet.

  “Hey, calm yourself, Mundar! What’s eating you anyhow?” said another regulator.

  Arianna’s heart pained as a man with rubicund hair and freckles stepped into view. He reminded her of Noah. And Liam… no. She shook her mind back to the present before it had time to wander off track. This was neither the time nor place. She watched the man chuckle as he lifted the fallen tree to his feet.

  Mundar pulled the redhead to his face by the collar of his silky robes. The already pale man blanched as Mundar’s lips moved in an unintelligible whisper near his ears. The man scratched the stubble at his chin, contemplating Mundar’s words for only a moment.

  “Alright men, there’s been a… situation. Das Cupper and Akias Gruso have been found dead near the barracks,” he said, his casual character now asserting one of authority.

  As Arianna’s eyes adjusted to the night, she saw red satin on his collar and cape. He stood out from the rest, and she recognized him now as the general’s right-hand man, Sir Dean Westing.

  She studied him with curiosity. He looks too young to be a leader. His locks swooped at his bangs, and he grew the same ginger stubble on his goatee. His olive green eyes burned with authority as he relayed orders.

  The men changed like chameleons on the defense, laughter stopping dead as Sir Westing spoke. Even the drunk man who seemed on the brink of losing his stomach lost the wobble in his step.

  “Listen up men! You’re now on duty, so sober up. Chapin brothers, I want you to go with Mundar to check out the bodies. Wait for your next orders there. Snoop around a bit. If you find anything interesting, hold on to it,” said Sir Westing. He paced before the group with his arms behind his back.

  Two men stepped out from the crowd, the Chapin brothers. Something about them seemed resourceful. Dark brown hair fell in waves around their faces, and their tan skin matched their eyes. Arianna found it impossible to tell one apart from the other. Moving as one, they gave a slight bow and started into a run behind Mundar, kicking up snow as they went.

  “The rest of you, round up the crew and meet back here in ten minutes. R.J, you’ll be coming with me. You’ll need to inform General Ivo of everything you saw. Let’s go!” said Sir Westing.

  As soon as the words left his mouth, all of the men scattered in different directions, leaving only Sir Westing and R.J in Solomon’s and Arianna’s view.

  Sir Westing looked alert, and for a moment his gaze paused in their direction. Arianna felt her chest contract as she chewed at her lip. If she could see him, could he see her? She prayed for better luck than that. As soon as the fear had built up in her mind, the two men turned and ran down the street, out of sight.

  Solomon released his hold on Arianna, and she staggered forward at the sudden freedom. It felt like she’d never once breathed as the air flowed back into her shriveled lungs. She stole a glance at Solomon, but his mood seemed to only worsen. He stood there for a second or two before he regained his hold on Arianna’s elbow. They continued down the same path as before, the same path the two men just ran away down.

  Given all her near-death experiences these last two months, Arianna began to ponder the worst. Is it just in my cards to die young? Solomon released his grip and slowed, breaking her reverie.

  They came across a row of neat looking homes quite large and lavish in comparison to most of the other buildings she had ever seen. She remembered the homes from long ago as the Supremes’ Way of Warrior’s District. She knew Solomon lived somewhere nearby, so she assumed they were headed for his quarters.

  He put his hand out behind his back in a gesture to follow as he tiptoed in-between the houses. Dirt roads turned to brick, and the barren grounds turned beautiful in the fallen snow. Arianna gaped at the homes which appeared in the same garish style as the ones in Lessa’s district.

  Unlike that of the Healer’s District, square windows, tinted a soft blue with white borders, stuck to the walls. The roofs formed intricate zigzags, and grand stone chimneys jutted out from the tops. A cylinder, wood door bolted at the front, and the stone of the buildings shone silver in the light.

  As Arianna tip-toed behind Solomon, they danced around the spots of lantern lights, playing in the shadows. He led her around the back of the long road of houses, producing a silver key from his robes. Wooden steps connected to a small patio on each house. Solomon climbed the nearest set, motioning for her to stay hidden.

  Arianna stood near the stairs when she heard some footsteps quicken around the corner, the snow crunching under
foot. She moved to shield herself under the small space between the stairs and the ground.

  “Solomon, there you are!” Arianna heard Solomon grumble as a man called his name.

  She peeked through the cracks and saw Sir Westing himself at the foot of the stairs. He glanced down, and Arianna froze. Could he see her? He didn’t seem to notice as Solomon vied for his attention.

  “Dean, to what do I owe the pleasure?” he said with a placating expression.

  “We’ve been searching everywhere for you. Where have you been? My men were at your door only minutes ago,” he said, sharply.

  “Oh, I do apologize. I’m a heavy sleeper, but I was roused by all of the commotion outside. What’s happened?” he replied in such a casual demeanor that Arianna almost believed his lie.

  It seemed to satiate Sir Westing’s suspicions, but the authority still laced thick in his voice when he replied to Solomon.

  “I see. Well, you must come with me now. General Ivo requires your assistance. There’s been a murder… Das and Akias.”

  “You don’t say?” Solomon straightened his back. “I’d be happy to help. Who could’ve done such a thing?”

  “A young slave was caught near the Dining Hall shortly after we found them dead. She’s being interrogated as we speak.”

  Solomon gaped at the news but recovered his nonchalance in record timing.

  “You mean to tell me a slave murdered Das and Akias? That’s absurd! Das was one of the best regulators in the district.”

  “If you have any other culprits, Solomon, best tell me now,” said Sir Westing, his voice chilling. Pink lips pressed into a hard line as he waited for a response.

  In one quick movement, Solomon leapt down the stairs, the key dropping from his hand. He stood nose to nose with Sir Westing, his look just as menacing as when Arianna first laid eyes on him this night. His mood had not lifted.

  “Sir Westing, if you improperly address me again, I will see to it that you’re buried alongside your fallen friends. You may be the right-hand of the general, but the general is the right-hand of me. Do you understand?” said Solomon. He emanated power in every way.

  Sir Westing shrank before him like a child, and Arianna couldn’t help pity him in that moment. She knew that feeling.

  Solomon continued, “I slayed many men for less, and I’ll not be belittled by the likes of you. My title has been granted to me by the King of the Olleb. I’m here by choice, unlike that of the general or you for that matter. If you forget your place again, I will set your soul free in the Tombs of Blancoren.”

  Even Arianna shrank back at his words. She knew it was considered a horrible fate to be buried there. No slave, not anyone, wanted to lie under these mountains forever. There would be no freedom there.

  Sir Westing stood his ground for only a moment of pride before he found his humility. He bowed on one knee in front of her trainer. “Please, forgive my offense, Master Bell, Wolf of the East and Great Warrior of Olleb-Yelfra. I humbly ask for your mercy.” His eyes never left the ground.

  Arianna had never seen Solomon enforce his true power on anyone before. Moreover, she had never heard him called by so many titles in one sentence. She realized only now that he ranked higher than General Ivo.

  How could she betray someone so influential? She prayed it was all just a dream, a nightmare she would soon wake from. At the same time, she reveled in the fact that this ‘Wolf of the East’ had chosen her to give his guidance and friendship. The best of the best had shown her the ways of the sword and of the world. Now, he even doubled as her rescuer. He had committed an act of treason on her behalf, a slave.

  Solomon turned on his heel and walked away in the direction they had just fled. Sir Westing was still bent at his knee, his fists clenched at his side. He stood and Arianna saw him clutch the hilt of his sword as he began trotting behind Solomon. She watched and waited from the cover of the wooden stairs as they walked away, but Sir Westing never let go of the hilt.

  Once they rounded the corner and out of view, she scampered up the steps and retrieved the key now covered in a thin layer of snow. She wiped it off with the sleeve of her cloak and undid the lock. A click sounded from the door as it creaked open.

  She slipped inside and re-locked the latches. Clasping her hand over her mouth, she struggled to control the waterfall of tears threatening to cascade at any moment. Turning, she found a flickering fireplace in the wide room which lit the area. The gray stones of the outside walls formed the inside ones as well, and the soft color looked almost cheery. On the floor lay a huge, white, furry pelt. Arianna studied the animal and remembered reading of it in the Learning Center as her fingers skimmed the top of one of the long, ornate couches seated around a table.

  Simple Solomon seemed to like a little splendor after all. On the wall above the fireplace hung a grand oil-painting full of color. Animals Arianna had never seen before filled the backdrop, and a river sparkled under a cerulean sky. She couldn’t help but smile at the peacefulness.

  She saw the spacious house filled with various rooms jutting from the hall and a large kitchen area in the back. She didn’t explore but instead only stared at the painting. Thoughts of the recent events stirred in her mind as she settled on the soft rug beneath her feet, staring at the colorful portrait.

  Kicking off her shoes, the soft fur tickled her toes. She curled into a ball and wrapped herself in the comfort of her robes.

  This was all a mistake.

  She wished for Liam, for someone to confide to. Wiping the tears from her eyes, she drifted into a deep sleep, into dreams and into the painting.

  It came alive all around her, transporting her from her scarred reality to the serenity which hung on Solomon’s wall. The warm water lapped at her ankles and animals ran through long swaying grass as the sun tanned her face.

  Was there ever a life such as this?

  Her eyes flew open to find Solomon sitting on the couch, watching her, expressionless. He still wore his muddied boots.

  Arianna sat up, crossing her legs. She waited for him to speak first. After what seemed like ages, his look changed into a somewhat sorrowful expression. “We need to talk,” he said, his voice quiet. He pulled something from his robes and laid the object on the glass-topped table between them. Arianna’s eyes widened as she looked upon the letter from Lessa Thur.

  This letter caused her so much grief. She groaned, wishing she had discarded it earlier or set it on fire. Anything instead of carrying it around in her pocket.

  “One of the Chapin twins found this in their scan of the area while waiting for the general,” said Solomon.

  Arianna feared the rest of the story.

  “Lucky for you, the incriminating part of the letter had been ripped. They don’t know who it was addressed to. But…” Solomon spoke softly, “a Lessa Thur is quite comprehensible as the sender.” He finished, crossing his arms at his chest.

  Arianna had been so worried about herself, she hadn’t even considered the damage this could do to her new-found friend. She started rubbing at her temples, trying to relax her frantic mind.

  “Arianna, this letter was meant for you, or am I mistaken?” asked Solomon.

  She nodded and met his gaze. Her shoulders slumped, knowing it impossible for him to look more saddened or betrayed.

  “How did you get it?” was all she could muster.

  “I have my ways.” He suddenly turned cold as he leaned forward. “I’m going to need answers. Now. And don’t leave anything out.” She wouldn’t dare.

  He leaned closer to peer down at her. The fire crackled behind her, licking at the tension between them. Arianna gave a single nod of her head.

  “Good. Now, tell me. Where have you been hiding?”

  Arianna closed her eyes and started from the beginning. She explained about the little blonde boy who broke her pride and the cave of wonders which had rejuvenated it. She told of the ghost girl from the Healer’s District who cornered her with a bow and of her encounter
with the moon-eyed monster in Talis’ home.

  Every secret she held spilled from her like rain from a broken sky. Only in her honesty did she realize she had kept so much hidden. When she finished, her mouth hung dry with nothing left to say. Solomon said nothing as he stared past her at the painting.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CELLMATE

  A week passed since Arianna’s confession to Solomon. It was another Sunday night. Arianna paced in the confinement of her secret caves as the waterfall thundered down behind her, filling the silence as she waited.

  “Arianna?” said a shy voice. This was it.

  Arianna whipped around to find Lessa Thur standing just a few feet away at the mouth of her tunnel. “Hi…” She gave a wave of her hand, not knowing how else to react. It had been two months since their first meeting, two months since the day her world began to spiral. In just that short amount of time, Arianna’s life had been turned upside down. Or was it right-side up? She still didn’t have the answer, but change it had. And in two months, she saw Lessa had changed as well.

  Her hair looked much longer, waving down past her shoulders in golden streaks, and she wore a cloak of pure white lined with sapphire blues and lush fur trimmed down the sides. It seemed too big on her, or did she look thinner than before? And then she saw it, the most curious addition of all. What she thought to be the hood of her cloak turned out to be a small, white-furred animal with big, orange eyes perched on her shoulder. Those eyes… Arianna stared awestricken at a creature she had only ever seen in books at school, a monkey.

  It curled its long tail around Lessa’s neck as it scanned the new surroundings. She remembered those eyes. Arianna stepped back in caution, but Lessa inched closer, stroking its tail. “Don’t be frightened of him. This is Sano. He found me in the trees,” she said with a thoughtful smile.