Black Moon Draw(42)

“Hmmm. Okay. I guess that’s fair.” I find myself momentarily caught in gazing at his noble, chiseled profile and hoping he’s not the Betrayer. He’s a pretty boy compared to the Shadow Knight, and I’m not sure two more handsome men exist. “When and where?”

Blue eyes settle on me, wary yet amused. “Two candlemarks, by the well at the center of the gardens.”

Candlemark. It’s gotta be a measure of time. Except I’m not really sure how long that is.

At my blank look, the Red Knight allows a small smile to slip. “I shall send someone to find you.”

“That’ll work,” I reply. “I better go for now. Shadow likes to use his axe on people.”

“Indeed. It would be wise if you did not tell him about our plans.”

“Got it.” With a smile, I turn away and start down the hallway.

I don’t see the Shadow Knight but assume he’ll find me when he realizes I’m not following.

“Battle-witch!” It’s my squire and he sounds frantic.

Facing him, I wait as he emerges from the intersection I just passed and hurries to me.

“You should not wander off!” he chides me. “The knights here will do terrible things to you, if they catch you! You’ll be -”

“Deflowered and beheaded. I know.” I roll my eyes. “C’mon. Take me to wherever I’m supposed to be.”

The poor kid rarely interacts with me without ending up confused or uncertain. He takes my hand and tugs me down an adjacent hallway. I don’t know how he knows his way around. I’m soon lost. The hold is a maze of hallways, stairs, and closed wooden doors that all look alike. There are no windows to help me orient myself. For all I know, he’s taking me in circles.

We arrive to a hallway that looks like every other one, except it has a dead end. One of the doors is cracked and the squire pushes it open.

The bedchamber is more impressive than the foyer. There are thick rugs in jewel-toned colors covering the stone floor and lining the walls, a huge hearth taller than I am on one side, a four-poster bed that’s at least twice as large as a California King, numerous trunks and wardrobes, a dining area by the corner nearest the door, and a bench seat beneath the windows.

“This is gorgeous!” I exclaim, walking to the bed. It feels like a real mattress and I fling my sore, aching body across it, sinking into it with a sigh. It’s plush and the blankets a bit itchy. They smell like horses. Pretty much everything in this world does, I’m noticing. But I don’t care. I curl up on my side and relax my unhappy body.

“Witch!” the Shadow Knight snaps.

“Can you leave me in peace for two seconds? Please?” I groan.

There’s a moment of quiet and then, “Very well. Do not leave this chamber.”

Thank god. I say nothing.

The door closes behind him and I lay still. I’d give anything for a bath or maybe some Icy Hot. I wonder if it’s possible for my ass to be broken; moving even a little bit makes me wince. I have enough padding down there that a day on a horse shouldn’t faze me.

“Are you hungry?” the squire asks.

“Starving.”

“Shall I fetch you supper?”

I lift my head. “You’d do that?”

He nods.

“That’d be amazing. Thanks.”

The kid leaves.

After a good five minutes, I sit up with a grimace. I check my hand, hoping to find a note there from LF with instructions on how to get out of here. There’s nothing, aside from the countdown, and I stand and do some stretches to loosen up my miserable body.

A knock draws me towards the door and I open it, expecting the kid.

“M’lady.” A man with a white tree on his black tunic bows. “The Red Knight will see you, if you are available.”

“I am.” Interested in what the Red Knight can tell me, I hesitate only for a moment to consider what the Shadow Knight might want me to do.

No. I’m strong enough to make my own decisions and apparently, magical enough to flatten full-grown men into pancakes. I’m no longer waiting for permission from someone else to do what I want to.

Take that, Jason!

The messenger leads me through the maze of a hold. Torches light the hallways cheerfully and provide a source of warmth. It doesn’t seem like we go far despite the many turns and he opens a door leading into a garden lined by torches. Dark hedges line cobblestone pathways leading toward a black splotch I assume is a pond in the middle of the small garden. Benches squat beneath trimmed trees and I can smell flowers without seeing them.

A form near the pond stands and I wade through the well-maintained foliage towards him. The Red Knight stands beside a low table with a pitcher and two chunky goblets on the tray.

I approach and glance at the still pond. It reflects the stars and moon, rippling in a breeze too light for me to feel. It’s chilly in the garden but also peaceful.

“Wine?” he asks, motioning me to sit.

I hesitate. In the real world, it’s not a good idea to accept a drink from a man you’re pretty sure you can’t trust. I can’t think he wants to do me harm – or he would’ve killed me instead of offering wine the first time we met. I know enough about him and this place that I’m tempted to pass.

But come on – this is wine.