Page 76 of Court of Talons
I bow and step back, awaiting his instruction like the servant I am.
“More wine,” he finishes, as the giddy laugh of the girl beside him breaks his concentration long enough for me to slip away from his glare. I don’t mind. I’ve done what I wanted to do. After that, I sense Fortiss’s gaze upon me constantly as I weave my way through the crowd. I don’t make his task difficult. I set up position near his table, eventually dragging a water jar over to rest against the wall. I’ll have need of it soon enough.
Fortunately, no one disturbs the vessel or pays undue attention to me. By the time the women and men begin pairing off to leave and the rafts of retainers file out of the feasting hall, leaving the servants to clean, I’m not surprised that Fortiss remains behind. He stays as the councilors take their leave, and Rihad as well, who looks very content with the evening’s work. Eventually, even the pouting blonde leaves Fortiss behind, though she’s clearly reluctant to do so. He turns to stare at me.
I roll my eyes, fixing my attention on the table I’m clearing. How many girls have made that offer to Fortiss this week alone? Probably too many to count.
“You’ve done a good job hiding from me this week,” he murmurs.
“Hiding is sometimes the way,” I return easily as I survey the room. It’s nearly empty now, and the guards are paying little attention. I suspect I won’t get a better opportunity.
“Before we can, ah, do anything else, a moment, sir.” I half curtsey as timidly as I can manage and gesture to the water jars along the wall. “This won’t take long.”
Fortiss frowns, watching me curiously as I move the short distance to the large water jar. I squat down to pick it up—and don’t have to feign staggering under its weight. The jar is nearly full.
“Here.” He strides over to me and lifts the jar from my arms as if it weighs nothing. “Where are you taking this?”
“To the beast below,” I say, as if that’s perfectly obvious. I turn away from him, heading toward the high table.
“What?” He hastens after me, then slips around and positions himself before the door that leads down to the cavern when I try to enter. “Talia,” he bites off under his breath. “It’s forbidden for you to do such work.”
I shrug. Interesting. “Well, I’m playing a role, here. I was given these orders from the head cook. She says to take this jar down by this door, adding to the supplies where the beast rests.”
“I don’t care what the cook instructed you to do.” Fortiss works his jaw, and I think for a moment that perhaps he does know what resides in the caverns of the First House, the glorious Divh held captive. Then he shakes his head. “Lord Rihad has his own servants to attend to…that.”
“You’ve seen yourself how busy the house staff is. Here.” I hold out my arms impatiently to take the jar again. “Caring for the creature is the work of servants, not warriors. In this, I am happy to serve.”
His lips twist, and he turns stiffly away. “It’s not right.”
Without another word, he strides into the archway.
As I recall from before, the stairs are long and winding, and at some point, Fortiss slows enough that I can step in front of him, trotting quickly ahead. “Thank you, sir, I’m in your debt, sir,” I keep murmuring just to needle him, but I get only grumbled responses for my efforts.
At last, we reach the lowest level, where the wide apron of stone spreads out toward the metal bars. Fortiss is barely moving now, and I pull the jar from him, wobbling a little under its weight. I go to the great vat at the side of the room and shove the lid free, spilling the water into it and stirring.
“What’re you doing now?” Fortiss demands. “You’ve done this before? I’ve never been down here.”
“Then all the better that you’re with me.”
When the salve is prepared, I scoop several portions of it into one of the smaller jars next to the vat and move toward the bars. I’m almost through them when Fortiss seems to come to life.
“No,” he says urgently. “I can’t go in there. I’ve given my word. It’s forbidden for any warrior knight to enter this section of the dungeons. But I won’t have you get hurt.”
I blink at him as another layer of Rihad’s damnable deception slips away. If Fortiss knows only that there issomethingin this dungeon that he has pledged not to explore, but not what it is—then clearly his level of personal honor is far higher than I ever expected. In my father’s house, I would have gone exploring straight away.
Either way, I can’t completely let this moment pass. He may be constrained by his sense of loyalty to Rihad…but I’m not. “Shh. You’ll wake her.”
“Her?”His voice is strangled, and he doesn’t speak as I move to the edge of the precipice and kneel, dumping the oil mixture over the side.
Despite himself, Fortiss approaches. I hear him slide between the bars. “What are you…”
“She likes it.” I sit back on my heels, waiting. I hear his soft footfalls on the stone even as a scraping in the cavern beyond begins. “See?”
“I can’t see anything. I’m surprised you can.”
Fortiss reaches me and, with a hand on my shoulder, sinks down to the stone ledge. “I shouldn’t be here. And it’s too dangerous for you.”
“Right.” I shrug. “But I’m here to perform a service to the beast that roams these caverns, nothing more. And she’s chained.” I nudge him with an elbow. “You can’t tell me you’ve never been down here before.”