Stone Sacrifice ✔️Chronicles of Grey BOOK ONE [COMPLETED]

Chapter Twenty-Seven

When next I opened my eyes, I was alone.

The room I lay in was lit by a single torch which was spluttering as it neared its death. The room was small, more of a closet then a room, and I lay only on a blanket which in turn lay on the dirt floor. There was nothing else in the room except a pile of clothing next to a small rivulet of water that flowed down the cracked stone wall, and an empty hole that assumed itself a doorway. The room smelled of dirt, sweat, and urine.

I was naked beneath the sheet, I realized, and felt a second of panic which had me standing and searching for weapons, but then I remembered the moments before sleep.

They already knew who I was, and by the sound of the tone in which the man had spoken my name - or rather, how he had said my title - I assumed he had been expecting me already.

It's her! He's had said when he'd seen my mark. No surprise in his tone.

But how could that be?

I dressed quickly, finding only a loose wool shirt that fell off my shoulders it was so large, and trousers which dragged on the dirt they were so long, but both were clean and so it would do.

Yet I still hesitated in that doorway. Having the marks on my neck so exposed made me distinctly uncomfortable. I could not remember the last time I went more then a few minutes without my gloves on, and that was to peal my nails so they wouldn't rip through, or to wash myself. Even my feet were bare at this moment, and so my markings there showed - though not on my ankles due to the length of the pants.

I felt very naked.

"There you—"

I turned and struck out with my fist, only to have it caught in a palm which was familiar.

Arion raised an eyebrow, his lip twitching. "I see you're feeling better."

I let out a breath and lowered my hand. "Sorry." Shenz the quiet Shadows!

He chuckled and held up his other hand. "I was just coming to bring this in case you woke soon."

I looked at the rough stone cup and took it, tasting fresh water which felt so wonderful that I moaned. But even that bliss could not last long.

I held the now-empty cup at my side. "Who were those people? Where are we? And where are my clothes?" Then I frowned. "And who undressed me?" My eyes widened. "Jaz and Aitch! They know! Are the Dragon Knights-"

"Miera, calm down and I'll explain." He said with both amusement and mild annoyance. "These people are mostly old Knights who ran from Marqis during the battle against your parents. Orro will explain further. But everyone here has these." He held up his pendant of blood and Stone which was what kept him safe from the Stones ears. "They had extra and gave them to Jaz and Aitch. As for who undressed you, that was Lessa, Orro's granddaughter whom is also here. And the only female which is why I even allowed it. We're safe here under the maze, your weapons are cleaned and ready for you when you wish them, and your clothing is drying over a fire in the main hall." He paused. "As for the other questions you're going to ask, no I do not know much of how they know and expected you because I, too, have been sleeping, as have Jaz and Aitch and a couple others that fought for our lives outside, but I believe we can trust them. They are loyal to you. Everyone is awake now. You're the last up, so if you want to come and join everyone for sup, you're more then welcome. Orro's is eager to meet you. But first..."

He took my face in his hands and he kissed me.

It was a brief kiss, but deliberate, hard, and serious. I felt shock - it didn't help that I was still recovering from his giant speech - and was barely able to return it before he pulled away, but when he did pull away, I wouldn't let him stay away and instead dropped the cup, grabbed his face, and kissed him instead.