The Fate Weaver

chapter 20

Chapter 20

The fresh air, tangled with the miasma of sweat, blood and foliage rushed up to me and threw its arms around my neck welcomingly when the dungeon doors were closed behind me with a solid thud. I had left Magnus with Terrence with much unease, but the outside air, so pure compared to the stale air in the dungeon's, made it easier for me to forget the unease.

Flanked by Sir Zachary and his protégé and followed by Marie and Joyce, I walked slowly up the staircase of the dungeon, putting on the best poker face my experience could allow. Brody's presence always beside me was something I found myself growing accustomed to.

Ambivalent emotions stirred at the pit of my stomach. I felt nearly like a betrayer for becoming comfortable and used to Brody's presence within such a short period of time, when Magnus had been my bodyguard for as long as I could remember- no pun intended.

Though it was barely conspicuous, Brody seemed more tense around his master. Perhaps it was because he was afraid to make a mistake and receive a reprimand from Sir Zachary. whatever the reason, I had no reason to be displeased; his slight mocking sarcasm had vanished completely.

"How about we take a seat at the station over there, my lady?" suggested Sir Zachary gently.

Though the period of time I was with him was considerably shorter than anybody I've met today, I felt the most comfortable around him next to my own father. Sir Zachary was both impossibly polite but friendly, I didn't sharply regret being born a royalty like I often felt around Magnus, who always insisted on being so extra polite it almost offended me sometimes.

I looked at the station, following his gesture, with difficulty snapping myself out of the reverie.

Surrounded by foliage stood a small station on a foundation of carved rock. Only the top was covered by  an arched roof made out of sleek turquoise marble, seemingly catching fire in the radiant sunshine. Four pillars of solid mahogany wood supported the station, and the floor was covered in a rough mat.

"Yes," I muttered, reminding myself not to daydream again. "Yes of course."

I led the way, flanked by Sir Zachary and Brody, hearing Marie mutter something, as usual, excitedly, to her unresponsive sister.

The steps were roughly carved from wood and rock, algae-encrusted. They have let Mother Nature touch the court- Senalia lived with the nature, not dominating over the nature.

The entrance of the stairs was flanked by two figures carved out from white rock- the symbol of the royalty that was imprinted on the ring I had around my finger. Sub-consciously, I curled my fingers, my thumb caressing the cold silver.

"Bring us some refreshments, Marie," ordered Sir Zachary without turning around, when we reached the stairs.

"Yes, my lord," answered Marie immediately.

"Please...let me help, my lady," murmured Brody.

I did not have the time to answer; his hand, surprisingly roughly calloused and warm, cupped my elbow, when I took the first step up.

"You can have some faith in my sense of equilibrium, bodyguard Brandon," I only half-joked, pissed off at the amount of attention I was being showered with all of a sudden.

He did not respond, and only when I reached the top, and kicked of my shoes at the side, he released me immediately as though scalded by fire.

I took a seat at the top, and Sir Zachary sat after me at my right, his hands folded at his lap neatly, a silver streak of his hair shining in the golden sunlight coming from his left, and bathing the side of his weather-beaten face.