Betrayal (Shadow Hunters Trilogy #1) *COMPLETE*

A New Lead

Early the next morning, I wake up to find a serving woman setting down a tray of food on the little her back towards me, she checks each dish and pours some wine into the goblet. I silently slip from the bed and stalk over near the woman to see what she's doing. I'm able to get close enough to hear her humming quietly to herself.

"Who are you?" I finally say, making her jump. Wine spills onto the table and she glances at it then at me, unsure of what to do first. I watch her with a lazy expression, noticing how young she is. She's a delicate little thing who stands a few inches smaller than me. I watch her visibly swallow before glancing back at the spill. "Well?" I ask. "Who are you?"

"I-I'm...uh...Auice." She does an awkward curtsey and I give her a small smile. "I was sent to wait on you."

I nod. "It's nice to meet you Auice. I'm Eva."

Smiling, she dips into another curtsy. "It's a pleasure to meet you Lady Eva."

"No need for the Lady. Just Eva."

"As you wish." She nods. She looks over at the spilled wine and her cheeks redden. "Oh... I am so sorry!" She excuses herself and rushes from the room. I chuckle to myself as I pick pieces of fish and bread to nibble on while I wait. Before long, Auice returns with a bucket of water and a rag and cleans up the spilled wine, muttering apologies nonstop.

"It's okay. Spills happen." I shrug, putting another piece of fish in my mouth. As soon as the wine is cleaned up and my goblet refilled, she straightens and looks at me. "Is there anything else I can get you, Eva?"

Seeing as I'm an honored guest, I think about how I can use these accomidations to my advantage. "A bath would be nice..."

"I'll have a bathtub sent up immediately and have them heat up some water." She nods. "Will that be all?"

"Is Isaac awake yet?" I ask. She gives me a confused look. "My companion." I smile.

"Oh! Yes he is. He's in his room bathing, I believe."

I smile. "Of course he is..."

She starts to pick up some of my clothes I took off before bed and I frown. "Hey... what are you doing?"

"While you bathe, I was going to have your clothing washed and ready for you. "

My eyebrows shoot up in surprise. "Oh...thank you."

She nods. "Will that be all?"

"For now. Thank you."

She curtsies once more and leaves with my clothing. After a while a large wooden tub with a cannopy is brought into the room and set down before servants starts to enter with buckets of steaming water. As the tub is being filled, I walk over to one of the large windows and look down at the castle courtyard.

Outside, I see guards everywhere along with our horses and bags. Standing next to my horse is none other than Guy talking to one of the guards. He must have sensed he was being watched since he looks up at my window. Instantly I move off to the side so he can't see me but I can still see him. He watches my window for a moment before turning his attention back to the guard.

Finally my bath is ready and I dismiss the servants who filled it. As soon as they're gone, I grab the soap, strip off my underclothes and sink into the welcoming lavender scented water. Leaning my head back, I close my eyes.

Hearing a knock on the door, I open my eyes. "Come in." I call, closing the curtain for some privacy. I leave it open just enough to see out. Seeing Auice, I reopen the curtain. In her arms I see neatly folded clothes and raise an eyebrow. "My clothes are clean already?"