Shadow of Dusk

Imprisonment

Cailin almost ran right into Robert as she rushed from the office. She jumped back quickly, as if burned.

            “I’m sorry, Robert,” she said, embarrassed.

            “That’s quite all right. Are you okay?” asked Robert, looking at her flushed and tear-streaked face.

            “Oh—yes, fine,” said Cailin. “Could you—I mean, where are Brielle and Amine?”

            “I’ll take you to their room. The three of you will be staying here at the citadel with us until we escort you to Veredore. You’re our guest!” said Robert brightly.

            Cailin snorted softly. “Guest, right. Prisoner. Escorted? Evicted.”

            “What’s that, Cailin?” asked Robert politely.

            “Oh—nothing,” replied Cailin as she followed Robert down the stone hallway.

            “Is Tristen—” but Robert stopped, seeing the look on Cailin’s face. He hoped Liam had not killed the man right in front of her.

            They reached a large oak door and Robert tapped lightly on it. Amine answered and gasped softly as she reached out to Cailin. Cailin fell in her arms, overcome with emotion. She began crying steadily. Amine placed her in Brielle’s arms and thanked Robert.

            “If there is anything you need,” he said softly, “please ask for me.”

            “We will,” said Amine, as he backed out of the doorway. She shut the door firmly and turned to the weeping girl.

            Cailin was sitting on one of the large four-poster beds in the room. It was a beautiful suite, with four beds in each corner and two large wardrobes flanking the room. The window was closed but the drapes—dark blue velvet—were open, allowing the dimming sunlight to leak through, sending golden sparks on the granite floor. In the middle of the room sat a large blue rug, which Cailin was kicking one foot along absently as she sobbed.

            Brielle sat next to Cailin holding her hand, so Amine sat on her other side and took the other. Robert had told them only that Cailin was summoned because Tristen was in the castle with Liam, and then he had said nothing when he led them to the room.

            “Where is Tristen?” asked Amine, looking closely at Cailin’s face.

            “He’s dead,” said Cailin quietly.

            Amine rocked back and Brielle gasped loudly.

            “Dead?” blurted Brielle. “Did Liam—?”

            Cailin shook her head. She then shakily told them about the dark magic.

            “I don’t know why, really, Liam thought I could truly see into that Duskraders’s heart. I guess it was just because I’m part veredian,” finished Cailin.

            “Maybe he trusts you now,” offered Brielle. “He should,” she added forcefully.

            Cailin only shrugged slightly and wiped her eyes. Talking about Liam was painful. How could she love that man? He’d done nothing to earn it. He hated her, hated her looks, hated her heritage. He was driving her away, kicking her out of his country because of what she was. And he had her heart? But then she remembered something he had said in the forest that night, where he had said he had fought for her country but had lost. And then she remembered the tone of his voice and the look on his face when he told her he didn’t trust Tristen—the Duskrader—and he didn’t even need magic to see through that.  She couldn’t think of Tristen, either. He was gone. Her only comfort was that he was now with Liaden again. She felt a bit envious.