The Book of Glass

Secrets (5)

Emory watched the sky as it darkened with the threat of a storm. The dark colors replaced the jewel blue sky, casting shadows under the trees and rustling the leaves as wind picked up. Fear coursed through her. Not because of the storm, but because of the men who watched her with deciphering eyes.

"We're making a mistake, Cassius. Why would the village sacrifice the Daughter of Rosalind, a child they've been hiding for a decade, for a pathetic village girl like her? One of us should be back there watching the village for their next move. That way the other can go and get more people to fight with us. We are this close to finding the solution to Evander's problem, and you want to risk it all on some girl?" Linus threw a stick out into the brush, bringing Emory's attention back down to him. He sneered at her, his lip raised in disgust. "Pathetic."

Emory said nothing. Cassius watched her as she turned her face away. She looked conflicted with her full eyebrows furrowed like they were, her dark eyes darting this way and that. The only time she held a gaze was when she looked at one of the commanders, sizing them up. The High Commander had given her his cloak to cover up, the purple fabric must have burned her the way she pulled away from it when offered, but realized her arms weren't covering up her body the way she wanted them to. So there she sat, leaning against the trunk of a tree with her hands bound together.

"Linus, tell me again how she assaulted you."

"She elbowed me in the nose! I thought that would be obvious to any dimwit!" The man shouted in anger, rolling his eyes as he stomped over to the girl.

"And why?"

"Why? Because she's a wretch! That's why!"

"If you don't give me a reason, I'll ask her for one myself. The first reason I here is the one I'll believe."

"She assaulted me, High Commander," the man mocked, "while I was washing her back for any sign of the Mark of Faith."

"I would have thought even a child knew the difference between a woman's back and her front, Commander," Emory spoke up suddenly, her lips pursed in anger. Cassius stood, narrowing his eyes at Linus, whose face twitched with fury.

"She's lying!"

Cassius was about to say something when Emory stood, holding the robe to her chest. She looked like she wanted to say something, but then turned her head away and shut her mouth. Linus scowled and turned away, moving to lean against a tree. "Sit down. What's your name again?"

"Rowena."

"Well, Rowena, we'll settle this with Lord Talbert after all of this has passed. Until then, you can remain at the castle. In the dungeon, of course, but-"

"You said you would trade me for Shay," Emory looked at him with confusion. "You told me if Shay gave herself up, you would let me go back to the village." Emory stepped closer but Cassius held his hand up to motion for her to stop in her tracks.

"Yes, but you still assaulted one of the King's Commanders. We will have to take care of that first. If you're so innocent, then you shouldn't worry." Cassius shrugged, his broad shoulders passing the conversation off as if it were simple. In truth, he didn't care what happened to her, just that Linus didn't have something to hang over his head when he wanted a favor. "Sit down," he ordered before turning away.

"Don't worry, Rowena, I'm sure being in the dungeon of the castle will make you the talk of the village, if you ever see it again. That is, after all, the closest you'll ever come to a castle." Linus smiled from ear to ear, his lips curling in a way that made Emory sick.

Everything went back to silence. Emory leaned against her tree, Linus raked his eyes up and down her body, and Cassius watched them both with a tired expression. It went on until the skies became darker, until small drops of rain fell from them and pelted their bodies.