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“To bed.” I kept my voice steady, fighting the urge to use magic as a means to shut the creature up.
“Dinner is not over,” Marius said, face twitching as it began to relax.
“Believe it or not, I have lost my appetite.”
Turning around, I took large steps away from the table, until Marius called out, “Wait… wait.” His deep voice cracked. “Please. My… my anger gets the best of me. It is that or I simply forget myself.”
I paused, his apology hanging in the air between us. I felt the need for magic slip away like butter over an open flame.
Get close to the beast. Lure him.
“I need more wine,” I said, turning back to face him and ignoring his apology. “And something sweet — that is my price.”
“Price to stay?”
I grinned, lowering my chin. “Precisely.”
“Then forgive my disappearance. I will return shortly.” With that he left through the door at the end of the dining hall. From his pocket he pulled a brass key and fit it into the door. One sharp turn and it unlocked, and he disappeared into the shadows beyond.
Marius left swiftly, just as I drank yet another glass of red wine in the same manner. Down to the bottom of the glass I drained it. Then another, and another, until my mind was fuzzy and eyes heavy and slow. It became apparent quickly that Marius was not returning. I must have sat like this for a while, waiting, with the hope that I was finally getting somewhere with him. Getting close to him as I had planned. But clearly, I was wrong.
The sky beyond the room lightened, signalling the arrival of dawn. And the disappearance of Marius for yet another day.
Frustrated, I wobbled from the chair, not caring as it tumbled to the floor. It was time for sleep, I knew that much. But as I walked towards the door I had entered in, I stopped.
Marius had not left for his promise of sweat treats through here. He had gone through the unexplored door at the back of the dining hall. The one that was still left ajar.
On awkward legs I stumbled towards it, ready to explore yet another part of this maze of brick and mortar.
Where do you hide, Marius?
10
Iheard the murmurings of soft voices as I rounded the dark winding corridors beyond the dining hall. Everything was dark here. I felt the floor beneath my feet slope downwards. The further I walked, the deeper I found myself in the belly of the castle.
There were no windows. No available light to help guide my way. I had to use my hands against the cold stone wall to know I would not collide into something face-first.
I could have called up a flame, but the wine had dulled my senses. That and the clear presence of Marius that was up ahead.
Perhaps hardly any time had passed at all during Marius’s absence. I had given in to my own impatience when he would have likely returned to the dining hall soon enough?
But I stilled as the voices rose ahead. Keeping my breathing as shallow as I could muster so I would not miss out on a single word.
“You are slipping,” a familiar, youthful voice said. “I would not be the one to remind you, but it was your own request that I keep you in line.”
“Your worry is misplaced,” Marius replied, his voice a low growl.
“Is it? We all sense your change in mood. We have witnessed it enough; some even have experienced it to know where this path will lead.”
A shuffle of footsteps in the dark and the shadows seemed to vibrate. I rubbed a palm over my eyes. Was it the wine?
“It has been years since I have allowed myself more than a word with the Claim. Can this year not be any different?”
“I am merely reminding you as you have requested. Or have you forgotten the oath you made me take?” The voice sharpened. The speaker sounded so young yet held much power beneath her tone.
Marius paused in his response. In my place hidden around the corner of the dark corridor I could imagine him running circles with his forefinger over his chin.
“It all ends the same, Marius. It always will. And you will spend the year to follow in the dark place you made me swear to keep you out of.”
