I've been in a five-month bad mood. Even Lynna and Frian avoid me when they can.
"My lord," says Ellatar, outside my study.
"Come back later," I snap, my hand on my burns. I don’t hear his footsteps leave. "Is there a reason you're still standing outside my door?"
"There are over two hundred Shadow Hunters at the eastern gate," he replies, eventually. "I'll start identifying them for background checks and sending them through the gate, but did you want to speak with them?"
"Send them into the eastern training courtyard," I order, standing with a glimmer of hope in my chest. "I'll meet them there in three hours once they're all in."
True to Ellatar's word, in three hours the eastern courtyard is flooded in a sea of black. Neat rows of hunters form immaculate square ranks. Every one of them is dressed in dark leather hunting gear, a heavy black hooded cloak, and a charcoal stripe painted across one cheekbone, a mark that I'd seen on Renna before. At the front stand Annaliya, Onyx, and Stellan on three black horses, and dread swirls in my stomach.
Where is she?
I slide off my horse at the top of the steps, and the army of hunters bows in perfect time. Onyx kicks his horse slightly, riding forward to meet me and dismounting. Charcoal stains strands of his golden-brown hair black, and black gloves cover his hands. Onyx evenlooksdeadly. He produces a document from the inside of his cloak. "We're here to fulfil your contract if it still stands."
Where the fuck is she?"It does. Twenty weeks?"
He nods, and I turn a few pages, looking for what I'm after.
On behalf of the six ranks of my army, as well as my deputies, Stellan Helaneth, Onyx, and Annaliya Aelena, I accept this offer, subject to the terms as detailed in sections two to nine in this contract.
Signed:
Rennalya, Commander-in-Cheef CheifChief of the Shadow Hunters.
I smile at the signature. I like Renna, but the woman cannot spell for shit. I turn the page to check the date and a low grumble forms in the column of my throat. Of course she signed it the very day after I left. She could've fucking written to me to let me know. I’m pissed off now. “Rennalya."
"Her full name, my lord. She hates it."
"She's here?"
"We were ambushed on the Hallin Pass," he says, and my dread becomes suffocating. "We had fifteen badly hurt. She's helping carry the injured to your healing halls."
I need to get a hold of myself. I haven't felt relief like this since my son woke up from a particularly bad head injury. "Fine. I have a busy diary today, I'll have to brief you all later," I beckon over ten guards. "Cetresar and his company will show you to your accommodation. Food and medicine will be provided. Take three days to recover from the journey and then you'll get started. As for you, there's a meeting now that you'd find useful to attend."
"I'll attend, but it'll be my first meeting.”
"Just listen and observe. Can you read and write?"
"Not well, my lord. A little. I'm learning."
"It's a weekly summary of the enemy’s activity within my borders, so it is relevant to you."
We start, and Onyx enters a short while later. Like me, his six-foot-four frame is too broad for doorways. Two swords and a bow are still on his back, his arms crossed across his chest. A few of the lords around the table raise an eyebrow, impressed, probably by the sheer size of him.
"You must be the Shadow Commander," says one, extending his hand.
Onyx looks at it for a second like he’s not interested in making any new acquaintances, but eventually shakes it. "She's on her way. I'm her deputy," he grumbles, shaking ten more hands.
"Your name?"
"Onyx."
"That's unusual. Is it a nickname?"
"No."
"Onyx...? What is your surname? I might know you.”
