[THIS STORY WILL BE TAKEN DOWN ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2024]
He had hunted me, captured me, and locked me in a tower.
Season 3 'Of Crows and Thorns'
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While in RISING, Tabitha discovers something peculiar that may assist Nelle in her plan to escape the...
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As much as I wanted to ignore everyone staring unashamedly at me, I couldn't. As I walked, I swept my gaze around the courtyard as if bored, but I noted everything. The large gateway entrances that were carved into each side of the Keep, and their iron portcullis that could be drawn down and block the way into the courtyard—who was coming and going from the wooden doors that led inside the fortress. I met those blatantly staring at me with my own glacial one. Graysen wasn't the only one who could look cold and impassive. I was a godsdamned Wychthorn Princess, a member of royalty within our world.
Amongst the soldiers leaning against the wooden railing of the training pit, there were a few faces that I had a vague recollection of, from the time they'd gathered around me like a nightmarish cloak of crows at my family's temple.
Graysen led me across the courtyard, now deafened with silence but for our footfall ringing against cobblestone and Sage's low warning growl. I followed him into a square stairwell with windows cut into the sides, and we climbed upwards. It wasn't the servants who drew aside to allow us to pass, it was Graysen who shifted aside. They all shot me fleeting glances that darted away before I could hold them.
Staff, not servant.
It was such a strange term. And his mother was right. Staff did seem more inclusive, it did seem as if they were all part of a team.
They greeted Graysen as they descended, and there was warmth inflected in Graysen's tone when he addressed them all by first name basis, which to my shock they returned. He wasn't Mr. Crowther, he was Graysen. He asked about their family or their latest trip off the estate. Or they parried with glib shots that drew out a smile or laughter. One of them even teased him about his latest project down in the garage. If it was still sitting there on blocks and in pieces.
And Graysen looked away, bashful, rubbing the back of his head and feathering his hair.
I blinked back the surprise at seeing him like that.
But when he turned his head my way, jerking his chin to indicate that we needed to keep moving upwards, the warmth was wiped clean from his expression.
While I climbed the stairs my thoughts turned inward. How many servants had I known? Had I really known as a person, not someone picking up after me or serving me meals and refreshments? Our servants had been part of the background and served a purpose, to serve me. I had maids and governesses, but there was still a divide between us as my family held the Great House. I knew all the servants at my home by name, but it was, shamefully, a shock to realize I hadn't really known them at all, not like it seemed Graysen did. And I couldn't say for sure what their lives were like beyond what they could do for me.
We'd almost reached the top floor when I stumbled to a stop to collapse against the wall of the stairwell, needing to catch my breath. My conditioning had deteriorated while being trapped at the top of his tower, and I supposed as well as falling ill to hibernation.
