The Empty Ones (Fantasy Romance)

69. The silent and the sick

It's been more than a week and it's been more than annoying.

My new guard is following me around all the damn time.

Meanwhile I do not even bother trying to talk to him anymore. He got used to it, I guess. He probably thinks I am presumptuous and standoffish but that was to be expected. It's not like they call me 'the baddest of them all' for my great reputation.

Mute usually spends around sixteen, of the twenty four hours a day has, with me. What an odd number. I would really like to ask Theon why he chose that. The rest of eight he probably eats and sleeps because he does none of these things while being with me. He does not even freaking have to pee which makes him even more creepy.

He usually stands at the door of the room I am in, still as a statue, watching me.

If his gaze wouldn't wander off over the room I would think he isn't even remotely humanoid.

And out of morbid curiosity I would want to know what he is thinking after looking for hours in a row at a girl reading book after book, walking alone in the garden, never seeing anyone, never talking to anyone more than necessary.

In truth I do feel more lonely than ever. Theon made himself at home in my days without asking for permission and now it's a gaping void where he used to be.

Luckily Mute doesn't enter the bathroom or the bedroom. He just stands right behind the door to my rooms. Yes, standing for sixteen hours. That must be torture.

Despite my efforts I haven't advanced considerably in my quest for Laini's potion recipe.

I have searched for anatomy books because Theon said you need to know the cause if you want to cure something. Which makes a lot of sense. But, in the few I have found there were mostly males depicted. I even had the feeling that the pages depicted women were removed.

Today I am going to ask the court physician about it. Yes, something happened to give me an incentive to go back there.

Mute is looking at me while I eat breakfast in my room refusing deliberately to go to the palace dining hall.

Stop freaking looking! But then again that's his work. He also seems displeased with what he has to do. And it shows. He is either stoic in his expression or frowns.

Soon it's midday and Chaled comes to exchange guards. Unlike what he said, it isn't always him. So far there were several other guards taking Mute's place. Never the same, just him coming every three four days, was the only repeating one.

I smile at Chaled and Mute shows an undisguised frown.

"Blessed day to you, Mahrani!"

"May the gods illuminate your way, soldier." I look at him. His hair is shoulder long and braided and his eyes deep pink. Most midrib don't share the faith of Zenith. How come he does?

Mute walks away leaving us alone. Usually his walk is very silent and even gracious but now he marches like a soldier.

"Something happened to him?" I ask Chaled.

"Ah, Mahrani, that's not for me to talk about but Mute has some issues."

"Clearly..."

"He fought really hard to rise in ranks. It's his reason to live so to say."

"Well is he not part of the Dark Esquadron? That's an honor." I want to add 'mostly for an empty person' but don't. Objectively speaking it's a great accomplishment.

"Yes indeed. But he really admires our Lord the Emperor and wished he would be his personal guard."

"And now he is stuck with the disgraced wife? A disappointment indeed." I let out a short, sarcastic laugh.