Shadows of Voryn

Chapter Four

The image above is Lord Joro

Livei

Shoved into a cold iron-sealed dungeon, Livei sat in a dark corner, silver chains cuffed around her wrists and ankles. There was a crack in the ceiling structure, rain dripping down beside her, and she used it as her only source of water. Livei sighed, shut her eyes, and bounced the back of her head against the wall, bored being locked away.

Livei had lost track of the days, the skin around her wrists and ankles was peeling off, moist, and inflamed from the silver poisonous to her kind. Lips cracked, she shifted her head, allowing the rain to drip into her mouth. It was satisfying despite barely tasting it and she groaned.

There were better ways of dying. A ripped-out throat. A sword through the heart. Livei dreamt of that as she thirsted to death. "Fuck me."

One of her packs walked up with his muscular arms crossed over his chest. "You fucking hyena." Forqo huffed, his smoky smooth voice, refreshing to hear. "You had to piss off Lord Thad, of all fucking people."

Livei took a sobering breath. "You have mead to soothe my throat?" Her voice cracked from lack of water.

Forqo grunted and shook his head. He curled his fingers around the iron bars that separated her from freedom. "Mead is what got you in here."

"And mead is what will help me forget."

Forqo frowned, not finding her humor amusing. "You need to be wiser. Your mistakes are adding up." Forqo glanced around. There were always ears and eyes that reported back to Master Cadius and Lord Thad.

He was right but it did not change how Livei wanted to live. If Livei didn't break a rule from time to time, she would grow disgusted with herself. "Is there word of T'ara?"

No one had come around and the guards made it clear they would not answer her questions. After being forced to shift and attack T'ara, she'd seen the wounds she left on her friend. If she lost T'ara it would break her more than the torture of no water.

Forqo snorted. "Can you speak without the mention of her name for one day?" He spoke teasingly without a smile.

Rolling her eyes, Livei scowled awaiting a response.

He shook his head. "She lives." He wondered if he should tell her the good news. Good news at least for her. Forqo did not trust easily and word of T'ara coming brought upon new concern.  She wasn't one of them. "Lord Thad has sent her to live within these walls."

Livei rose from the ground. The silver chains rattled, and shifted, burning a new skin she'd avoided reaching. "Must you torture me with lack of words? Tell me."

"She is on her way. That is all I know. Other than that, Lord Thad has told Master Cadius to end your punishment. I can assume it's because they want you to help with her transition." Forqo wanted to speak wisdom to Livei, but she was not ready to listen.

Livei put her head down. It was clear he wanted a different outcome. "You do not like news of her coming." She waited, but there was no response. "She will do well here. Give her a chance."

Looking at the guard standing near the main door further ahead, Forqo chose words, careful not to say too much. "She is a half-breed and untrained in all things important."

   Livei frowned, stunned by his lack of understanding and sympathy. "She did not choose her fate. She is a slave the same as us. If anything, it's worse for her. We do not know what it is like to be assaulted and abused because of what she is. And yet, she stands tall. She will learn how to be a hyena and she will be our fate."