Crown of Shadows

Chapter 14-Aelin

I woke up the next morning, my wrist still throbbing from the injury. I sighed and got dressed, trying not to let the pain bother me too much. As I made my way through the Keep, I ran into Kodlak, who looked concerned.

"What happened to your wrist?" he asked, his voice filled with worry.

I hesitated for a moment, then replied, "Oh, I accidentally slammed it on something."

Kodlak frowned, studying my wrist. "That looks pretty bad. Are you sure you're okay?"

I nodded, trying to reassure him. "Yeah, I'll be fine. I can just use my healing magic."

Kodlak looked surprised. "You have magic?"

I nodded again. "Yeah, don't you?"

He shook his head. "No, I don't. Nobody in the Keep does. Phantom believes that magic wielders corrupt the weak."

I frowned, feeling a pang of disappointment. "Oh, I see. Well, I guess I'll just let it heal on its own then."

Kodlak nodded, his expression sympathetic. "I hope it heals soon."

As we walked together, the weight of the lie I told hung heavily on me. I hated deceiving Kodlak, but I knew I had to keep the truth about what Phantom did hidden, at least for now.

"Yeah, me too," I replied, forcing a smile.

Kodlak hesitated for a moment, as if he wanted to say something else, but then he just nodded and we continued on our way.

I couldn't shake the feeling of guilt as we walked.

As we walked through the halls, the words of Phantom were in my mind.

"Weakness is not an option."

As I walked through the halls of the Keep, I saw Phantom waiting for me. His presence always sent a shiver down my spine, but I approached him nonetheless.

"Good morning, Princess," he greeted me, his voice cold and indifferent.

"Good morning," I replied cautiously.

"We have a mission today," he informed me, his tone brooking no argument.

I glanced down at my wrist, still encased in a cast, and then back at Phantom. "But what about my wrist? I'm not sure I'm ready..."

Phantom waved away my concerns. "You'll be fine. It's just a small task. Nothing too strenuous."

Beside me, Kodlak stepped forward, his tone sharp. "She's clearly injured. She needs time to heal."

Phantom's smile didn't waver, but there was a dangerous glint in his eyes. "She'll manage. We can't afford to waste time. The mission is too important."

Kodlak and I exchanged a look, silently communicating our concerns. But with a nod from Phantom, we knew there was no room for objections.

"We leave in an hour," Phantom declared, his tone final. "Get ready."

As we prepared for the mission by putting on our gear and clothing, Kodlak approached me, his expression troubled. "Are you sure you'll be fine?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.

I forced a reassuring smile, despite the unease gnawing at me. "I'll manage," I replied, though doubt lingered in my mind.

When it was time to leave, Phantom led us outside where two sleek black horses stood waiting. They were magnificent creatures, their glossy coats shimmering in the sunlight.

Phantom gestured towards them. "Take these," he instructed. "They'll get you to Sanlow much faster than walking."

I approached one of the horses, running my hand along its powerful neck. It nuzzled my hand gently, and I felt a surge of reassurance. Kodlak mounted the other horse, his expression determined.

"Let's go," he said, his voice firm.

With a deep breath, I climbed onto my horse, feeling a mixture of apprehension and determination.

The journey to Sanlow was long and arduous, but the horses Phantom provided made it much easier. Kodlak and I rode in silence, the only sound the rhythmic beat of the horses' hooves against the ground.

As we neared our destination, the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the landscape. In the fading light, Sanlow came into view, its buildings looming ominously against the darkening sky.

Kodlak glanced at me, concern etched into his features. "Are you holding up okay?" he asked, his voice soft.

I nodded, trying to ignore the dull ache in my injured wrist. "I'm fine," I replied, forcing a brave smile.

Kodlak gave me a reassuring nod before turning his attention back to the path ahead.

As we approached Sanlow, Kodlak and I hatched a plan. The man we were after would likely be in his house by now, probably asleep. We decided to sneak in and take him out silently, without alerting anyone in the vicinity.

"We'll need to be quick and quiet," Kodlak whispered, his voice barely audible over the sound of the horses' hooves.

I nodded, my heart pounding with anticipation. "Agreed," I replied, my grip tightening on the reins.

As we reached the outskirts of the town, we dismounted and tied our horses to a nearby tree. With a final glance at each other, we crept towards the man's house, keeping to the shadows to avoid detection.

The night air was thick with tension as we approached the door, our senses on high alert. With a silent nod, we prepared to enter.

The inside of the house was dimly lit, the only source of light coming from flickering candles scattered throughout the rooms. We moved cautiously, our footsteps barely making a sound on the wooden floorboards.

The main room was sparsely furnished, with a worn-out rug covering most of the floor and a few pieces of mismatched furniture scattered around. A low fire burned in the hearth, casting eerie shadows on the walls.

Kodlak motioned for me to follow as we made our way towards the staircase. We climbed the creaky steps, careful to avoid making any noise that might alert our target.

At the top of the stairs, we paused, listening for any sign of movement. When we heard nothing, we continued down the hallway, our eyes scanning the closed doors on either side.

With a silent nod, we split up, each of us checking the rooms one by one. The air was tense as we searched, our senses on high alert for any sign of danger.

As I opened one of the bedroom doors, I spotted the man sleeping soundly in his bed. I slipped inside and closed the door behind me, the only sound the soft click of the latch.

Drawing my knife, I crept closer to the bed, my heart pounding with adrenaline. Suddenly, the man stirred, his eyes fluttering open in alarm. Before he could react, I covered his mouth with my hand.

"Keep your mouth shut and this will be quick," I whispered, my voice barely above a murmur.

The man's eyes widened in terror as he realized what was happening. With a swift, practiced motion, I brought the knife to his throat and slit it in one clean motion.

Blood spurted from the wound as the man's eyes widened in shock. With a gurgle, he slumped back onto the bed, lifeless.

I stood over him for a moment, my heart still racing from the adrenaline of the kill. Then, with a sense of grim satisfaction, I wiped the blood from my knife and slipped out of the room, leaving no trace of our presence behind.

I met Kodlak at the end of the hall and nodded to him, indicating that the deed was done. His eyes met mine, and he gave me a grim nod in return.

"We should gather some proof," he suggested quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.

I nodded in agreement and slipped back into the room. With steady hands, I severed the man's head and hand.

As I left the room, I held the gruesome trophies tightly in my grasp. Kodlak looked at me, his expression somber, and together, we made our way out of the house, leaving behind nothing but silence and death in our wake.