by Lisa Daniels
He bit his lip and looked back and forth between the women. “You still owe me an explanation. Until then I will continue to hound you about finally giving up this foolish intractable claim that you want to be alone the rest of your life.”
“I never-”
There was a muffled cough and the pair looked at Saskia. “As a single woman, I have to say that is her choice. However, I dare say if you give her time she may change her mind.”
Noely frowned, unhappy with the turn of conversation to the one topic she really did not want to discuss. “I have no need to change my mind. It would be unwise for me to pretend that a relationship is possible.”
Saskia raised an eyebrow and looked at her. “Oh, one of those. I know a couple of ladies who were very much of the same mindset.”
“And they lived happily ever after,” Noely said a little testily.
“Oh, yes, they sure are now that they have changed their minds. One of them is even getting married to the most beautiful man I have ever seen. Not that the other has a slouch for a companion, but well, guess he just doesn’t match my idea of a perfect man as much. Don’t worry, Jaylon, if my few years of experience demonstrate anything it is that even the coldest woman will eventually realize that when you find the right person you have to be a complete idiot to give it up.”
Noely frowned, causing the woman’s smile to widen a little more. “For some of us it is best to do the right thing than the smart thing.”
“Tell me, dear, what do you do for a living?”
“I work in the kitchens at the palace. It’s a tough job, although I’m sure it doesn’t compare to sitting around and enjoying the company of your clients.”
Saskia laughed, “You don’t need to be so defensive. And your assumption is about as far off the mark as it is possible to be. Do you think that the women I know are all merchants and socialites?”
“If you are traveling so far, probably not.”
“No, indeed not. Believe me, I know that working in the kitchens can be difficult. One of the women I mentioned did that for a while when she was a good bit younger than you. She is now a spy and an incredibly powerful witch. The other one has a slightly less stressful job.”
Jaylon finally spoke, “Like a fortune teller?”
Saskia laughed, “No. She’s a dragon hunter.”
“What?” Jaylon and Noely asked in unison.
“It’s a little less stressful than being a spy. She doesn’t have to lie for a living. And she never pretends that things are alright when they aren’t. It’s just dodging flames, claws, and more obviously deadly creatures when she’s on the job. Anyway,” she patted Jaylon on the shoulder, “take hope in this. Even the most obstinate woman may change her mind given the right person. She just needs the right person.”
Noely’s mind immediately went to Cyprian, and she blushed.
Saskia noticed. “Oh my, my, but I think she may know what I’m talking about.”
Jaylon looked over at his friend. “Is she right?”
Noely sighed, “You know what, why don’t you just stay here and help Saskia. Maybe she can close up faster so that you can go talk.”
“You are not getting rid of me that easy. I want to hear about this.”
Noely reached up and patted his face. “I think that you need to be here, and you know it. I will be fine. We can always make it a date for tomorrow.”
Jaylon looked at Saskia who had an attentive look on her face. “I guess… if that’s alright with you.” Saskia nodded. He grabbed Noely’s hand. “But I haven’t forgotten. You promised. This changes nothing other than to postpone it by a night. And I’m saying yes to the captain for you tomorrow.”
Saskia placed her hand on his shoulder and spoke up, “Give her time and space. You can’t force her and expect good results.”
Jaylon frowned. “Alright. But promise me you will consider it.”
Noely simply nodded before pulling her hand out of his, turning, and leaving the shop.
Chapter 6
The Roar of a Crowd
Noely wasn’t quite sure what to feel after the incredibly bizarre encounter with Saskia. She very much wanted to be angry at the woman, but found that it was incredibly difficult. In the short period of time since meeting her, Noely had seen nearly a full range of emotion, yet she felt that Saskia more than meant well. From the way Saskia had reacted to Jaylon’s friend’s name, the young woman already knew what news Saskia had to deliver. Perhaps she didn’t have the details or know what had happened, but clearly Jaylon was about to find out that he had lost one of the few friends he had as a child. One of the two people he had considered his family. He was going to be heartbroken because no matter how accurately he was able to guess what was going to happen to others, Jaylon never seemed able to guess his own future, even when all of the signs were there. He was such a positive person, Noely felt guilty about what he was about to experience. Regardless of what they had agreed to for the next evening, she knew that the next few nights were going to be filled with her consoling Jaylon.
And it was Saskia’s burden to tell him.
A part of Noely wanted to stay and comfort her friend, to let him know that she was there, but she also knew that he would not want to see him break down. He always tried to be strong in front of Noely, and she knew that was in large part because his friend had done that for him when they were young. Nyle was a year or two older, but he had repeatedly stood up for Jaylon against the duke. Jaylon had tried to be her protector because of the example that Nyle had set. She would be there for her friend after the initial shock. Saskia would be there for him through the difficult acceptance.
A heavy sigh escaped her lips as she headed back toward her home. Her stomach growled, reminding the young woman that she had eaten very little that day. All she wanted was to go home and try to process the last 24 hours. It had been an incredibly long day and she was extremely tired, but trying to sleep with a growling stomach had little chance of being successful. There was a little place near the palace that served good food without it being too heavy. It was also on the way home.
After ordering a larger than normal dinner, Noely tried to keep her mind focused on what she needed to do. At first this was difficult as her concern for Jaylon was strong, but even that soon gave way to images of the morning.
Her heart began racing and she felt her face flush as she recalled what had nearly happened.
“Hello, lovely. It looks like you need a little company.”
Noely looked up into the face of one of the noblemen. She tried to give him a smile without it being inviting. Standing up, the young woman replied, “Actually, I was just finishing.”
“But you have barely eaten any of your food. Come sit with me and my friends. We could use a lovely young thing like you to keep us company over dinner. I think I could probably be persuaded to keep you a little longer than just through a meal, too.”
Stepping away from the table, Noely tried to think of one of her usual comebacks. It was so rare that anyone was able to take her by surprise like this, but being so distracted had left her vulnerable.
“There you are. Why didn’t you tell me where you were going? And where is your companion?”
Noely and the noblemen looked over as a tall man with short-cropped hair walked quickly toward them. The young woman was not sure whether she should be relieved or worried that Captain Hisa was walking toward her with a grim look on his face.
“Excuse me, but the girl and I are talking,” the nobleman stepped between the two. “I am going to be her companion tonight.”
The captain reached them and looked down at the man. “There is no way she would agree to that. This lady has more substance and taste than a little crony like you could ever understand.” Noely wasn’t sure that she had heard the words correctly because there was no way a soldier would talk to a nobleman like that.
The man who had been coming on to her seemed even more confused. When he responded, his words seemed
more like a question than like he had just been insulted. “Excuse me?”
“I said that we have official business. Please excuse us. You can always look for Natasha tomorrow. She is a serving lady for the Marquise Detone.”
The man nodded vaguely and walked away without another look at Noely.
Internally, the young woman was beginning to panic. She frowned as she looked at the man who had just saved her from a difficult situation, trying to figure out if what was about to come was actually worse.
Leaning over so that his mouth was near her ear, the captain wrapped a hand around the young woman’s arm. “I’m sorry to do this to you, but I need you to accompany me.”
Noely looked up at him. “Where are we going? Why do you need me?”
The man’s eyes darted around and Noely could tell that he was assessing the situation to see who had noticed his arrival. “I have been waiting for you ever since you entered. Something about what you said earlier has been bothering me and I’m afraid I couldn’t wait until tomorrow. Please.” His words seemed polite, but the captain was already pulling the kitchen assistant toward the exit. Not wanting to make a scene and simultaneously wondering if she should, Noely went along with him.
As soon as they were outside and a little ways from the palace, Noely stopped walking. “I’m sorry, but I need an explanation before I go any further.”
Hisa’s black eyes shone in the dark, and for a moment she felt a twinge of fear as he looked around them. He took a step forward, and Noely felt like a small rodent trapped in the gaze of a snake. Fleeing would have been the right thing to do, but she found that her body would not move.
Whatever she was expecting, what he did was not it. Leaning close, his face only a couple of inches from hers, the captain said, “There’s only one way you heard about a strategic avalanche. When did you encounter him?”
Noely’s body was released from whatever trance she had been in, and she immediately took a step back. “I beg your pardon?”
“Oh, I’m not asking you to beg yet, my dear.” He grabbed her arm and began pulling her toward the palace.
“Let me go.” The young woman was debating whether or not she should shout to get attention.
“You shouldn’t. Not if you want me to remain nice.” The voice was cold and hard, but Noely felt that the feeling behind the tone was sheer annoyance. “I need you to make some food. We’ve caught him, but if we are to keep him alive, he’s going to need food.”
Suddenly the young woman’s heart was in her throat. Her steps quickened and Noely did not think to ask anything else as they sped toward the kitchen. As they got close, the captain suddenly changed their direction. Though the captain had not said anything, Noely was certain she knew what he meant – Cyprian was the spy and they had caught him after he had left the cave. Having seen what they had done to him before, Noely was afraid of how badly hurt the shifter would be now. Even though he could heal quickly, there were some wounds that no one could heal, and if the soldiers had taken the man in custody, there was a good chance that there would be no rest so that Cyprian could heal.
They moved quickly toward a small area where Noely had never been allowed to go, the prison for the most notorious people the empire had. Neither the captain nor the cook spoke as they moved through the doors and into a cold reception area. The man moved with purpose, dismissing those who rose to greet him. Noely vaguely heard what they said, but she could hardly focus on any of the conversations as her mind cycled through everything that could have happened to Cyprian since that morning. Having seen him in action she knew that he should have been able to easily escape soldiers. That meant there was still hope. Perhaps Hisa meant someone else, and since he had seen her he had decided to drag her in to make food for the prisoner. For the first time in a long time, Noely found herself praying silently that this was the case, that it did not mean what she was almost certain had happened.
“Make the same thing you made this afternoon,” the captain said as he pulled her through a large door. Clearly they were in a kitchen, but it looked very different from the space in which the young woman usually worked.
“I’m sorry, I don’t really remember what I made today.”
The man’s black eyes reflected annoyance as he looked at her. “Then make whatever you can cook quickly that will help keep someone from…” His voice trailed off as he tried to find the right words.
“I will see what I can do.” Noely set to work.
The captain was clearly preoccupied as he paced around the kitchen. Noely’s heart was beating furiously as she tried to keep her hands working, though they were shaking. With the way the captain was moving, she was reminded of a large creature of prey stalking something that only it could sense. There was something very off about the entire encounter, and as soon as she noticed it, she began to fear the worst. Still, she kept her mouth shut as she worked, knowing that anything she may say could be used against the shifter.
Finally, the captain spoke. “Did he tell you his name?”
Noely just shrugged, keeping her eyes on the food.
The young man moved forward and slammed both hands on the table in front of him. Jaylon’s words from earlier in the evening rang loud in her thoughts. He’s moving up the ranks very quickly, and from what I can tell it’s all because of his skill. Not three years in the military and yet he’s really got it down. Though she tried to keep her eyes cast down, Noely found it impossible not to look up at the man, his presence demanding her attention.
“You were outside of the walls. We have been tracking a spy. You knew something that only someone who came into contact with him would know, which means that you talked to him. I am asking you,” his voice was hard and sharp, “if he told you his name?”
Not sure why the shifter’s name mattered, Noely looked up. “He said that he was Cyprian. But I don’t-”
The captain slammed his hands down on the table repeatedly, then he looked at the cook with his eyes narrowed to the point where they were slits. “What kind of a spy – gods damn it!” He walked away from her for a moment, then turned and looked at her. “Bring the food.” He said nothing else as he headed toward a large metal door. He ran his hands over a couple of areas, as Noely hurried to catch up. She could hear the bolts moving as she tried not to look at the man standing near her.
The only thought that passed through her mind as the door slid open and the captain strode through the doorway was that no monster or human could ever be as terrifying as Captain Hisa.
Chapter 7
The Downward Spiral
“Damn it!” The captain’s words echoed around them and caused Noely to nearly drop the tray of food she was carrying. The man turned and looked at her. A couple of guards further down looked up at them and when they saw who was coming, they quickly moved away. Hisa spun around and looked down at her. “Stay here.”
Shaking, Noely didn’t go anywhere as the man marched back into the kitchens. The sound of him banging around the kitchen would have been funny if she hadn’t been so terrified. It sounded more like he was an orthros loose in the kitchens rather than a human.
As soon as the sounds died down, Noely’s head turned and she saw the man striding through the door, a large bucket in one hand. He passed her without a word and moved down the corridor. With both guards gone, there was no one to open the gates for him. Hisa was surprisingly gentle as he placed the bucket on the ground and took the key laying on the table where the two guards had been. The man’s motions were incredibly smooth, and through her fear, Noely noticed that he was actually moving very quietly now. Even the keys did not make a sound as he unlocked the gate.
The captain picked up the bucket, then turned to her. “You are going to need to feed him and tend to his wounds because-”
“I-I-I’m not a healer or a-”
The man’s black eyes turned to her as he straightened up. “You have already treated him once, so stop pretending to be shy about it. Just take care of him,
do whatever it was that you did for him this morning. If you don’t, he will be dead by morning.”
Noely swallowed and stared at the floor as the man watched her. Assuming that her silence was assent, the captain turned around and headed down the corridor. They moved in silence except for the sound of her trays rattling against each other. Usually she was able to move things around the kitchen relatively quietly - it was one of the reasons why they had wanted to promote her - but they were moving at such a rapid pace and she was getting increasingly scared the further into the prison they went. After what the captain had said, the young woman realized that he knew that she had helped the man, and that there was a good chance she knew he was not helping Yuezhi’s cause. As they moved along, Noely began to wonder if she was going to be allowed to leave.
It felt like they had been walking forever, not saying a word. Noely’s thoughts had gotten progressively darker as she moved along, but for the most part, they were full of concern for Cyprian. When there were no guards in sight, the cook finally found her voice and forced herself to ask, “What is going to happen to the prisoner?” She tried to make her voice as deferential and timid as possible.
The captain turned his head slightly so that she could see the blackness of his irises. “If we can keep the bastard alive, there will be a quick trial and then they’ll execute him.”
Noely nearly dropped the tray as the man spoke. She felt a hand on her arm as she tried to take in what the man had said, her head feeling a little light. The voice that spoke near her ear was far kinder and warmer than she had expected. “One hurdle at a time.” The young woman began to return to her senses as she looked up into those dark eyes. She was aware that a hand was rubbing her back, and she nodded as if to say that she was ready to keep walking. The young woman did not trust herself to talk.
The captain stepped away from her, his face once again blank as he picked up the bucket. A small part of Noely realized that he was carrying a full bucket of water, and to her surprise, not a drop had been spilled. There was no water on the floor and none running down the sides of the bucket. Wondering how she had missed that before, Noely looked at the man’s back as they moved down the corridor.
