The Blades

Chapter Twelve

June 24th

Dawn arose the next morning to Bayah's familiar knock on my door. Why is she always up before me? I told her to come in as I sat up and began to brush out my hair. I was still dressed in my clothes from the night before but I turned to her as she entered, "What's the news?" I asked.

"She woke up five minutes ago, demanding to speak to 'the devil who woke her up.'" She laughed slightly. I found it ironic that I was the she-devil when it was usually her.

"That's one name I haven't been called before," I told her as we left my room and made our way down the hall to the prison.

"Fun fact: It is actually because of your hair," she informed me.

"Bayah, have you been reading again?" I teased.

She made a face and gently pushed me, "Ha-ha, very funny," she said, "But you are aware that the Nyx are a race of almost entirely light-haired people. Brunettes are uncommon and redheads are seen as cursed."

"Gee thanks," I huffed.

"You're welcome," Bayah added quickly before continuing, "The redhead Nyx babies are left in the forest on their island to die because having one in their city is said to bring curses from their Gods." I'd heard that Nyx religion was different than the rest of Eravith. They followed a type of sorcerer that guided and controlled their magic. It wasn't even clear if it was one sorcerer, many, or even a sorceress.

"Ouch," I mumbled as we walked down the stairs to see Airys, sitting up in his chair, his eyes were on the woman, who was pacing her cell up and down, up and down. She stopped as we entered, her wide eyes found me and I thought I saw something in her eyes flicker. Fear? I thought these guys didn't have emotions. How could she feel fear? I brushed it off as a misread.

"Atla." She stood up and crossed to the bars of her cell, staring at me with unblinking eyes. As I approached, I could see that her left eye was a prominent, pale yellow and her right was a striking, electric blue. According to Bayah, this Nyx was most likely blonde but we couldn't tell for sure until she washed all the silver blood out of her hair. She continued to stare.

"Your name is Atla." It wasn't a question. This is really creepy.

"Yeah, that's me. Who are you?" I asked.

"I am Thälor and I am here to save your life." Her voice was monotonous and smooth but almost had a gentle ringing to it. Her accent was thick and regal-sounding, like a fancy queen.

"Save me? From what?" Bayah and Airys were looking at me with confusion.

"I do not know. There was a fire and a man with light-colored hair. The last I remember, I was on the ground, he was pointing his red sword at me and then he said something, your name, and then he stabbed me."

"That's not vague at all," Bayah mumbled and I glared at her.

"Was the sword like this?" I reached behind me and pulled out one of my katanas to show her the redness of the blades and she nodded.

"Yes. Do you know of him?"

"Alekai. His name is Alekai," I told her and then went on, "We don't like him at all."

She nodded and then looked around at the three of us before her, "I would like to stay. This one here," she pointed to Bayah, "she hit me with a lamp. I like her." The faintest smile crept up Thälor's lips. Her body seemed to relax slightly as the corners of her lips turned upward. Bayah gave her a cheeky grin.

I looked back at Airys, who gave me a confirming nod, "You could stay with us and learn to be an assassin but if I let you out, you have to promise not to kill me, okay?" Thälor nodded her understanding.