Inheritance

Part 2. Chapter 17: Like no one Else Could

The caravan trundled on until it arrived at the fortress in the middle of the Crater. The portcullis was opened by two watch guards on the inside of the structure, and Taylor, Pollyanna, and Them, were greeted by a very dark, torchlit entrance room which had paths forking to the left and right, and a staircase in front of them.

Syria said in her ineffectual, uncaring way, "I suggest you all have something to eat, take your baths, and then go right to bed. You will be woken up at sunrise from now on. Our steward, Maruka, will show you to the dining room. I have business to attend to."

There was a young, human man standing next to the staircase who was dressed in heavy, fine, black robes and was just about the handsomest man Pollyanna had ever seen, which was a high compliment, because the Arrozans in her eyes tended to be nothing but eye candy and she had spent most of her long life around them.

Maruka had fine, jet black hair over a very stark, white face and his features were otherwise human and incomparably lovely, but Pollyanna had no attraction toward him.

The only person she had ever had a fiery attraction toward was Fjorn, and he was long dead. However...

Her thoughts were interrupted by Maruka's nervous words, "I-I'll show you all to the dining room, then."

Maruka mumbled as he twitchingly and unnecessarily pushed a short tendril of hair behind his ear.

Maruka seemed to walk bone-achingly slow as he trudged down the, somber, sparsely lit hallway to the left.

Pollyanna could feel the despair within all of the criminals they had been travelling with.

Even the boisterous Taylor was quiet.

The fortress was just so... Dark and eerie. There were no decorations, no noise, no color, no joy.

It was truly beginning to settle upon the group that this dank, dark, and somber place was to be their future.

Pollyanna assured herself, however, I will get us out here Eory. I promise. Somehow, some way, I will make you safe and happy.

Their footsteps seemed to echo ominously as they went, and the heavy breathing of the dwarves in the group could be heard markedly.

Maruka turned down an open arch on his right down the hall, and the new recruits were greeted to an empty, cold and iron dining hall which had food already laid out for the newest recruits.

The tables were not warm and friendly like the tables were at Castle Maribe--with the lavish tapestries decorating the wall, the pricey rug laid out under the tables, and the finely embroidered tablecloths laid out across each of the tables.

Everything was bare; from the walls to the cheaply made, wooden tables, and the cold, iron floor.

Pollyanna sat down at the table situated in the middle of the room, and Taylor, looking insecure, wasn't sure where she wanted to sit.

Them and Pete sat across from Pollyanna, and Them smiled and waved her over.

Taylor bit into her arm and approached Them nervously.

Pollyanna had her eyes glued to the young woman, and thought she was acting very much like Eory—very nervous and self-conscious, but she knew when she sat and started flirting with Them that she couldn't be Eory.

Pollyanna stared at her food with her arms folded on the table intently.

"Y-you should eat..." Maruka, who had sat next to her, prompted her.