Heart of Flame

《9》

Aelin

Night had well and truly fallen by the time they had reached the secluded building- more of a castle. Aelin was shaking with fever. Her back was screaming and her heart ached. The fever had taken its toll on her as she walked from the beach, she was barely able to put one foot in front of the other when she stumbled and fell to her knees, not a hundred meters from the ornate entrance to the castle, again rough hands jerked her up and shoved her towards the doors that opened on their own.

The castle was nowhere near as grand as Maeve's castle in Doranelle, but it was still monstrous and beautiful. Candlelight flickered in at least half the windows that Aelin could see and more poured through the open doors, illuminating Maeve and the two strange fae.

Through whatever seemingly limitless power she possessed Maeve had arrived much earlier than Aelin.

Maeve did not say a word as she stepped aside and watched with a hint of a smile, as Aelin was propelled through the open doors, still chained and masked, at least Fenrys had given her his jacket. She did not know where he was, he must be behind her somewhere.

A serving girl- a demi fae- dressed in a simple black muslin dress led Aelin through the castle to a small chamber, only a bed occupied the space. The walls were plain with a small window in the middle of one, a threadbare tapestry hung on the wall opposite the bed and a door in another.

The lock was on the outside.

The girl ushered Aelin inside and gestured to the thin bed. Aelin needed no encouragement, she stumbled to the bed and sat heavily. The surviving girl produced a satchel, Aelin hadn't noticed her carrying it.

She flinched as the demi fae carefully removed the jacket and began inspecting Aelins injuries. She watched as the girl pulled a canteen of water from her bag and a small cloth, watched as she poured water over the cloth and raised her hand. Aelin silently turned, her back exposed. The cool touch of the cloth shocked her, drawing a gasp of pain from her lips. The girl stopped cleaning her back long enough to produce a large rectangle of cloth and a jar of some sort of salve from her back. Gently she spread the salve over Aelins back, ignoring her gasps and whimpers of pain. Finally laying the cloth over the salve and fastening it with bandages around her chest and waist, before replacing the jacket and standing to leave.

'Whats your name?' Aelins voice was a hoarse whisper, the serving girl only turned away and walked to the open door.

'Sleep,' the serving girl said quietly, 'milady.' She gave a small bow and shut the door.

So Aelin slept, dreaming of her home. Her mate. Rowan.

Aelin was jerked awake by the door crashing open in the early hours of the morning. Cairn strode in and sneered at her as he wrenched Aelins chained hands up, pulling her to her feet and dragging her through the hallways and corridors to a throne room. Maeve sat upon a carved oak throne and appeared to be holding court with the other fae. They all turned to face her and Cairn as they entered the hall and Aelin was shoved to her knees before Maeve's throne.

'Now, Aelin,' she smiled cruelly, 'I want what's mine. I want my wyrd keys '