Читать книгу Scars of Iron - Ivy G. Shadrick - Страница 7

All sorrow and all feelings of discontent are now subdued due to the perfect lives of humanity. I have solved much, but I am unable to help a person who becomes so hopeless that their essence vanishes. And only when a person recognizes their lack of hope and their joy, will they fade.

When a person does not want to continue living I can do nothing to stop them from fading. As the one remnant of the Mortalis Era is the need for meaning in life.

We, as a society, do not consider fading to be death. But merely a soul departing from our world. A soul prepared to leave this life and begin the next.

I may never reach such a point of desperation that I fade, yet I am just as vulnerable to murder as the rest of humanity. But homicide is a crime of the past, and this leaves me, what the mortals would have called immortal.

But having an everlasting life means nothing if all hunger for that life has been lost.

-A.A public entry

[DELETED]

The morning was crisp and pleasant as I walked through the sprawling courtyard and echoing corridors. Steeling my face into an unfeeling and unrelenting calm, I prepared my mind. Forcing myself to accept anything Elaric would make me endure.

As I stepped into his study, Elaric made no move to stand from his chair. But the corners of his lips curled up into a cruel smile. He inspected me in the manner a predator studies their prey. While he studied me, I forced myself to keep my face unfeeling and serene.

I rolled my shoulders back, lifting my chin, and straightening my spine ever so slightly. Lacing my fingers together behind my back, I tried my best to hide their trembling.

I swaggered over to the chair that sat across from him. And I lowered myself in one elegant movement.

Clenching my jaw, I looked him up and down, as he had done to me so many times before.

His dark disheveled hair fell in his eyes and his face was weary from lack of sleep.

Elaric said nothing to me, his eyes lazy, his posture relaxed. Daring me to speak first, challenging me to yield.

Evening the playing field, I raised one eyebrow and shot him a wide smile. Sitting tall, and lifting my chin, I didn't speak first. And I didn't break to his wishes.

Pulling my gaze from Elaric’s, I examined my nails. Completely unbothered by his brooding presence.

“You look just as awful as ever,” Elaric finally said. Then he lifted his feet and set them on his desk. Not seeming bothered by the fact that there were papers beneath his boots.

“Why, thank you,” I dipped my chin in mock respect. “The same goes for you.” I offered a delicate wave of my hand. His broad shoulders tensed and his jaw tightened at the movement.

“And you still haven’t cut your hair, that is going to need to change,” his voice was as smooth and lethal as ever.

“I will cut my hair when I feel like it. And when I have officially decided that I will go through with your mission. But I will only agree if I am allowed to live in peace after. If I can leave and forget all of this ever happened.”

“You will be able to live whatever life you want to after this is all over,” he promised. My stomach fluttered inside me. “But I am not able to promise that you will be able to forget.” He shifted in his chair. “I heard you met Aegiah,” he switched the course of our conversation.

“That I did, she is very kind. Why is she here?” I asked, careful not to come across as too curious.

“Aegiah is my sister,” he replied, the thought seeming to repulse him. “But she's unimportant, and a mere distraction from your training. Which, if you don’t mind, we should begin.”

“You said we would start with weapons training,” I pointed out. “But I don't see any weapons.” I looked around the room, shrugging my shoulders.

He stood and made his way to the massive cherry colored cabinet behind the desk. It towered over him and opened with a loud creak. Inside were weapons of all kinds. Some appeared so old, they could have been forged several centuries ago. While others gleamed a bit too bright in the early morning rays.

“You will become familiar with each of these devices,” he said, picking up a small silver dagger. The metal glinted in the sunlight coming in from the window beside the cabinet. And the hilt of the small blade was made of ivory and resting at the tip of the handle was a small jade stone.

“You will learn to wield each of these weapons with complete accuracy.” Elaric lazily twisted the knife in his hand. “Or you will fail,” he angled his head to the side, his eyes remaining on the blade.

The dagger left his fingers, and I watched as it sailed for my face. Time slowed and I was completely defenseless. I froze, and I couldn’t breathe.

Then, I turned my head to the left, and the dagger embedded itself in the door behind me.

My cheek stung, and a sharp pain forced me to squeeze my eyes shut. A thick warmth ran down my face and slipped down my throat. And when I reached up to touch my cheek, my fingers came away red. I ran my fingers over the cut, feeling the gash that stretched from the bridge of my nose to my ear. It had narrowly missed my eye.

My eyes watered and tears mixed with the blood on my cheek, and the stinging salt forced me to turn away from him.

Then I looked Elaric in the eyes as I stood. “I will not fail, because failure is not an option for me,” I hissed at him. “And I will get rid of the Queen, but I will not do it your way.”

He just sat there quietly, content and grinning.

Blood continued to slide down my face and neck. It dripped into my mouth and the coppery tang overwhelmed my senses.

“I will do it, but you can't control me.”

Elaric's eyes widened, shocked at my words and the new, raw strength that I had gathered. He opened his mouth to speak but I cut him off before he could say anything.

“I will be the keeper of my own fate. And I don’t care what you, or the stars, or the fates say to that,” my voice trembled a bit as I said it.

Then I turned to leave. And when I reached for the door handle, Elaric grabbed my wrist and dragged me back into the study. The door slamming shut behind me.

After several long moments had passed he dropped my hand and turned his eyes away from mine. He took a step back as he finally spoke again, “You still need to train, and I don’t care how you kill her, only that you do.”

He strode back to his desk and sighed as he sat in his chair, resting his feet on the desk once more. I shot a glare at him, one that he fully disregarded. Then, I conceded and huffed as I sat across from him again.

“All I care about is teaching you how to fight, making sure you know how to kill, and building you into a weapon of destruction honed to perfection.”

“Then, I do believe we have the same goals.”

The door swung open and Aegiah came trudging in. “Elaric I need the–” her words stopped short when she looked down at me. Her eyes dropped to the blood covering my clothes.

She brushed soft fingers against my cheek, her hand coming away covered in my blood. Aegiah didn’t seem bothered by the mess on her hand as a muscle flicked in her jaw and her eyes lifted to her brother.

Slowly, she turned her body to face Elaric and her eyes shimmered with pure wrath. And in the unwavering voice of a queen, she began, “Training is not cutting someone’s face up with knives. You should know this better than anyone, Elaric.”

They spoke about me as if I wasn't in the room. But I kept my mouth shut and didn't mention it.

Her eyes trailed the room, searching for the weapon. When she saw the dagger in the door, she pulled the blade out. My blood still coated the silver and now the ivory handle had turned a deep crimson.

“Were you aiming for her face?” Aegiah seethed.

She reached me in two deep strides and grabbed my hand. She pulled me to my feet, and I didn't fight to stay seated. She looked as if she might drag me out of the room at that moment. I cringed away from her, but caught myself and tried to hide the fear bubbling in my stomach.

“I am the one meant to instruct her, not you,” Elaric said to his sister. He never once flinched as he leaned forward, planting his feet on the floor and placing his elbows on the desk. “My ways of discipline will sharpen her into what she must be. And I will do with her as I please,” he sighed, glancing at me for only a moment. “Please leave. We need to continue our lesson.”

“Lesson?” Aegiah thundered. “Throwing knives at a woman will not teach her to wield one,” her face shifted back into pure hatred and rage. She dropped my hand and slammed her fists onto Elaric’s desk.

“Aegiah, don't–” I began.

“You can instruct her in weapons training and the art of combat. You will be responsible for honing her body to perfection. But I will teach her in the ways of strategy and intellect, and she will be better for it.”

With those her final words, Aegiah's exited the study with not so much as a glance back at Elaric or me.

Walking through the halls of the enormous house, my stomach growled at me. My pace hurried, and I made my way to the banquet hall for breakfast.

On my way, I found Aegiah pacing outside of Elaric’s study. When she saw me her face, full of worry, softened, though only a bit. Her eyes were tired and her fiery hair was a mess.

“Aegiah, what’s wrong?” I asked from down the hall.

“A woman came to the house last night,” she was out of breath as she rushed up to me. “She claimed to have a meeting with Elaric.” Aegiah's voice shook as she continued, “I let her in.”

“Who was she?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. “Are you alright?” I gripped her elbows, peering into her eyes.

“Elaric seemed to be waiting for her. He allowed her into his study. And I heard him lock the door behind her,” Aegiah paused, seeming unsure if she could continue. “At first, I heard them whispering and then they went silent.” Her voice broke as she continued, “The door is still locked and neither has come out yet.”

“And they've been there all night.” I pursed my lips, the statement more of a question.

“The entire night.” She confirmed, nodding her head.

I put a steady hand on her shoulder and asked her, “Have you been here all night?” She shrugged my hand off and shook her head.

“I left once, but only to try to see through the window outside,” she hesitated again, “I couldn’t gather much. But their faces were sour. And the woman seemed to grimace every time he handed her another paper. But I heard their hushed voices and was able to make out one sentence.” Aegiah looked at me with so much pain in her face.

“What did you hear her say?” I asked.

“I heard the woman say, that you're going to have to die.”

My knees buckled, but I managed to keep myself standing. My face dropped and I seemed to float outside of my body for a few moments.

They needed me. I told myself.

Then I myself once more.

I would not accept a fate decided by anyone but myself, I would kill the Queen, I would do whatever it took. And I would be the death-bringer in a world where death does not exist.

Aegiah and I calmed ourselves, telling each other that it was going to be alright. Then we headed down the hall and toward the kitchen.

We prepared our breakfasts in silence, chopping fruit and baking dough as efficiently as possible.

The heaviness of what she had told me hung over our heads. And our conversations during the meal were limited to painful small talk.

After finishing our food we washed our plates and headed back toward Elaric’s study.

And when we turned the corner, the study door opened to reveal Elaric and a stunning woman dressed in finery. She had dark bronzed skin and her long, loosely curled amber hair fell past her waist.

The tension between them was impossible to overlook. And Elaric looked at her as if she was the sun, scowling and glaring, wishing her to go away.

They were arguing in low voices, having not yet noticed Aegiah and me only fifty paces to their left.

Before I could think, Aegiah rushed toward Elaric and the woman. And as I caught up to her I placed my hand on her shoulder, signaling her to slow down. Looping my arm through Aegiah’s, I pulled her close. “They can't know what you heard,” I said as I feigned a laugh. We were two friends, on our way back from breakfast. Laughing and making pleasant conversation.

Or, at least, we pretended to be.

When I looked up, Elaric’s hard gaze had settled on me. As usual, his eyes revealed nothing. His emotions and his surprise held captive behind a cool, impenetrable mask.

I tore my eyes from his and looked at the woman. Then I tripped, pulling Aegiah down with me. And when I looked up, I saw the woman glaring down at me. Then, as Elaric fixed his eyes upon her, she smiled and reached her hand out toward me.

I didn’t accept her help. And my eyes never once left her face as I stood, straightening my back, not even bothering to adjust my twisted tunic.

“Who might you be?” The woman asked, looking down her nose at me, making me feel like a small child, a child being scolded by a parent. But I threw on a veil fixed in unbothered arrogance, not allowing her to have the pleasure of seeing my weakness.

“This is Lithiah Everette,” Elaric answered for me. “She will be staying here for a short time.” His eyes met mine again. “Only whatever time is necessary.”

“I’m Vassa Kyrial,” the woman said, examining Aegiah. Barely looking in my direction. “And I was just leaving.” Vassa smiled at me. “Goodbye Elaric,” she paused, “Aegiah.” She nodded, turning on her heel and briskly walking away. Her hips swayed slightly, and her broad shoulders remained stiff

Elaric didn’t speak to me, and Aegiah whispered her goodbyes as I followed him to the training arena.

Sunlight poured in through the high windows, leaving no need to turn on the lights. The center of the large room was empty and when I reached it Elaric barked, “Thirty laps around the edge of the arena.”

Not bothering to argue with him, I started. Sweat dripped down the sides of my face, drenching my shirt and hair. I was panting, fighting to get down the thick air. And when I finished, I headed over to Elaric standing at the weapons table.

He handed me a sword. “Follow my movements,” he said. Then he led me to the sparring mat and began.

My legs shook beneath me as I followed and repeated sets of attacks and defenses.

“Can I take a break?” I begged when I had finished yet another round. Examining my hands, I flinched at the angry red blisters forming there.

“No,” Elaric spat, “you can take a break when I say so. Lift your sword, don’t let the blade touch the floor.”

I lifted my sword and began again. Grunting at the pain stretching to every muscle in my body.