Reign of Shadows (Reign of Shadows, #1)(15)

Air rushed around me as Sivo jolted from his chair. Perla’s heavier gait came forward, too, but there was another movement. Someone who moved faster, his stride fluid as water running free between my fingers.

“What have you done there?” His voice was a deep rasp, curling warmly like peat smoke. Warm fingers circled the bones of my wrist, turning my palm over.

“It’s nothing,” I grumbled, sensing Perla and Sivo hovering close, watching. Whatever they were thinking, they made no move to stop Fowler from touching me or curtail his attention on my hand.

“It’s a burn. What were you thinking? Cooking and handling yourself near a fire.”

I sucked in a breath and held it for a moment, my chest full with outrage over his presumption. “Who are you to chastise me—”

“Someone with eyes to see that you shouldn’t—”

Tears stung the backs of my otherwise useless eyes. I felt them there, but thankfully they did not fall. I did not have to endure the humiliation of weeping in front of this boy who saw fit to judge what I should or should not do.

I reacted without thought. My hand snatched the knife that I used to cut the bread. My fingers circled the hilt unerringly, fitting it perfectly within my grip. It hissed as I swung it, stopping the serrated blade before his throat.

“I can see just fine without seeing. Fine enough to cook. To cut anything. Don’t doubt that I can handle myself. Wasn’t it me who brought you here and saved you?”

The utter stillness of the room told me neither Perla nor Sivo moved. They watched—whether for fear that I would indeed cut his throat or fear that he would turn the tables on me and retaliate, I wasn’t sure, but I liked to think that Sivo was proud. He had trained me well.

Of course they could simply be shocked that Fowler knew of my blindness.

I heard the rustle of fabric as Fowler lifted his arm. The point of the blade gave way under the slightest pressure—but only because I permitted it. If I wanted him dead, he would be.

“Whether my death was so certain or not, point made. I’ll not mistake you for helpless again,” he murmured.

I stepped back, lowering my arm, but kept the knife in my grip. For now, I felt better holding it. I took a calming breath. It didn’t matter what he thought of me. He was leaving.

With that reminder, I ignored the pulsing burn on my hand and dished up dinner, setting the bowls in front of each of us. Steam wafted up to my face.

“Where are you from?” Sivo asked as I was in the process of lifting my spoon to my mouth. I hesitated slightly before bringing the warm broth the rest of the way to my lips.

“I was born in Relhok City. I gather from your accents that you’re from there as well.”

Perla tensed. “We left before the eclipse,” she lied, distancing us from the truth of what had happened inside the royal quarters, from the slaughter of my mother and her attendants.

“Fortunate for you. After the eclipse everything . . .” His voice faded, words unnecessary.

We didn’t need to be told how bad things were in the capital during the eclipse. Sivo and Perla remembered and they’d shared those details with me. Knowledge was power, and a girl without sight needed as much power as she could seize.

“Did you ever see the high chancellor?” Sivo tensed beside me as he posed the question, his spoon clinking inside his bowl.

“You mean the king?”

His spoon clattered into the bowl. “He’s no king of mine. Assassinating the old king and declaring yourself king doesn’t make you the one true king.” Emotion bled into Sivo’s guttural voice. I patted his hand under the table, cautioning him not to reveal so much emotion. Why should a family such as ours, isolated and eking out a meager survival in a cursed forest, care who ruled over Relhok?

“I left the city over a year ago, but last I heard he was working on an alliance with Lagonia. Those were the rumors at least.”

“Lagonia?” Sivo scoffed at the reference to Relhok’s neighbor. “They’re enemies of Relhok. They block all routes to the sea.”

“Nothing like a mutual foe to turn enemies to allies.”

“What mutual foe?” Perla asked.

“Dark dwellers,” I whispered, understanding. They were everyone’s enemy. The rivalry between Relhok and Lagonia paled beside the threat of the dark dwellers. I felt Fowler’s attention on me then, his stare crawling over me. He had heard my whisper.

“Yes,” he replied. “The king will do anything to secure a trade route. The country is starving and we need the sea for fishing and trade to other countries.”

Sivo rose then, taking his bowl with him. He stomped from the room. I knew he couldn’t stomach to hear the high chancellor discussed in such a manner—as a king that might be doing something good for Relhok. As far as he was concerned, the high chancellor deserved a sword at his throat for what he did to my parents. I was inclined to agree, except I didn’t see what could be done about it now. We were here, far away from any chance of evening the score.

“Did I say something wrong?” Fowler asked in a voice that reflected nothing.

“He’s not an admirer of your king,” Perla sneered.

“He’s not my king,” Fowler replied in that even voice. “He’s mad. Everyone knows that, but he rules with an iron fist and the people of Relhok are still alive because of him. That’s enough for most.”