A Court of Fear and Faith

Chapter Four

By the time the sun peaked itself over Lily's windowsill, Matthew was gone. He had jobs to do just like her so she didn't hold it against him. In the momentary peace, Lily rolled over in bed and watched the sun illuminate her small room. Four walls, a bed, a small cabinet for her clothes, a small stand with a basin to wash in the morning and a mirror hung on the wall. Nothing personal, nothing sentimental but it was a dry place to sleep. Some days she wondered if she could even remember what it meant to be in a home. When she was young and her mother and grandmother were around it was all she knew. Despite moving around to different jobs with them they brought the warmth and comfort of what home should feel like. After their chores, they would all gather around the kitchen hearth and sing songs to each other, tell stories and be merry until Lily fell asleep in her mother's lap. It was in those times that Lily was taught to read and write by her grandmother, something that now set her apart from other female servants and the skill that got her most jobs.

Sitting up, she caught her reflection in the mirror and grimaced, her hair was a mess and the bags under her eyes were purple as crocuses. The nightmare had kept her tossing and turning all night, not from fear but from the pure thrill of hurting that horrible man. It felt right. Justified.

Maybe she was going insane.

She hauled herself out of bed on tired limbs and grabbed her favourite outfit from the cabinet, a red wool skirt and a cream blouse. Despite the stained apron, she thought herself quite striking in this, beautiful even. She quickly tied a headscarf atop her head to keep the loose strands out of her eyes and tied up her usual work boots.

Today, she would have to be careful. Instead of rushing out to the forest at the first chance she got, she would have to do her chores at a steady pace. She would seem determined and concentrated rather than rushed. Once she was done she would sit down for lunch and eat, maybe even take a bit out for Matthew, chat about a small cluster of beetroot she'd spotted in a far part of the woods. Then when everything was done she would wander out to the forest until she was thoroughly out of sight.

Azriel.

The thought of seeing him again made her giddy with excitement. As she took a last look in the mirror before getting on to her chores she pinched her cheeks. Did he look at her and see something beautiful?

She shook her head to banish the thoughts. She shouldn't think that way about someone that can't give her... What did she want from him?

*

"Good luck with the beetroot," Matthew called from the stables as Lily walked up to the gates, "if there are enough the horses would love some."

Lily laughed and waved at him. Today the guards were minimal and so Lily passed through without any derogatory comments which was a relief. As she passed through the oily sludge of the magical wards surrounding the castle she swore she could Matthew still hollering about various shrubs for the horses but she didn't look back. She had to get out of sight. So she kept walking forward, holding tightly to the empty basket in her hands and listening closely for any footsteps behind her. She couldn't take any chances. If they found Azriel, only the cauldron knew what they would do to him. She had to protect him from them. Even if it made her a treasonous traitor.

"Are you alright?"

Lily jumped as Azriel appeared suddenly at her side and when she looked over at him she nearly passed out. Instead of the armour, today he was dressed in a black tunic shirt with black trousers, beneath his undone collar she could see the edges of a swirling black tattoo on his chest. The only remanence of his gear lay in the two blue gems that peaked out from the cuffs on his sleeves. His hair looked slightly damp as if he'd just gotten out of the bath and a couple of strands hung loose before his face. His golden eyes scanned her face rapidly as she gathered herself to form an answer.