A LAND OF FIRE AND DARKNESS

Chapter 2

Two days after assassination attempt

The chambers in the King's palace were chosen specifically for me. There were no large windows that opened up towards the sea, no way for me to easily climb out of the room. It only had one point of entry, which were the doors.

The room was decorated in a range of greys and blacks with large furniture fit for any royal guest. I had my own bath chambers and a sitting area that looked towards the fire place.

I stared at the fire place and watched the magical dance of purple flames. I had been put into the room two days ago. My time had mainly warped into me sitting in the living room while I watched the magnetic flames.

I had been stripped of my weapons and my leather armor, and now wore not much else except a white under garment.

I was not allowed to leave, not until Delcallon woke up and decided my fate. If he woke up.

Brallon sat opposite me with a tray of food on the coffee table. He leaned forward on his knees and traced his blue eyes over me. "Please, eat." He began with a tender voice.

My gaze did not drift from the flames though. I was not hungry, I was not tired, I was nothing.

"If Delcallon wakes up and thinks I have not fed you." Brallon began while wiping his forehead, "He will kill me."

I highly doubted that. The King was weak. He could not kill Eskar, even though the man was a monster. I doubted he would lay a finger on his friends.

"You have not eaten for days." Brallon continued to talk.

I did not recall the last meal I had taken. Probably before the Cave. Before Eskar tricked me, and tried to bleed me out into the stream. I had highly toxic blood that could kill Elementals, this is one of the many revelations that Eskar had informed me about.

Others included that fact that I was not a mortal, but instead a Half-breed Highvarion. An Elemental claimed by fire. My father was not the King of Utohia as I had thought, but a Knight that trained me every day of my life, a Knight who was secretly an Elemental.

I did not even want to think about the Intwined nonsense.

Brallon bobbed his head and stood up in defeat. He had been sitting there for nearly an hour trying to push me to eat. I had just ignored him.

He stepped towards the door before it was unlocked and he walked out.

Before the door closed, I heard Laveen's voice, "Well, that went well." He taunted with sarcasm.

I took in a deep breath as I tried to feel something. Anything. Fear that Eskar would come back, Guilt for trying to kill Delcallon, pain for being hurt. But I felt completely numb.

Five days after Assassination attempt.

I sat in the armchair, crawled into a ball as I stared at the flickering flames of purple. I traced a finger up and down my bear arms. Maybe the burn of the fire would help me feel something.

Dorica sat opposite me. Her face was clenched in hatred as she glared at me with her crystal-clear eyes. She appeared ready to slit my throat, and clearly did not want to be in here with me.

"Eat." She growled with complete disgust.

I looked back towards the flame and continued to ignore her. I was not hungry, and I was tired of people telling me what to do.

She shot up from her chair and strode towards the door. It was opened up for her like it was for Brallon.

She looked at someone, "There I tried." She shrugged before stepping through the doorway.