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As he always did at this time of night, Harlow stood before the stove, brewing himself a cup of tea. My eyes flickered to the herbs he’d used, a brow raising at the label: dewberry and lavender.
Did Harlow have trouble sleeping as well? Did he close his eyes at night and think of all the criminal things our dear king forced us to do in the name of Asidia andjustice?
“What do you want?” he snapped, not glancing over his shoulder. How he’d heard me approach was a mystery. I was known for my stealth.
Harlow had been here for as long as I could remember, and while the man often had my hackles rising, I respected him. He was fair, or as fair as men in this world could be.
“What are your plans for the girl?” I asked, trying to sound as bored as possible. My voice came out stiff and strained instead. Inwardly I cursed as I slid into an unoccupied seat next to a round table littered with unfinished card games and half-empty glasses of ale.
Harlow grunted and finished making his cup. “I’m thinking of sending her to the Guard, of course,” he said, taking a seat across from mine. My fingers dug into the wood of the table. “She clearly won’t be able to follow orders, and that’s going to cost lives. Perhaps the generals there will know what to do with her.”
Taking a sip from his steaming mug, Harlow watched me over its rim, his green eyes narrowing in that assessing way of his. He might seem a brainless brute to others, but he played that role for a reason. His enemies would never see him coming when he eventually struck.
“Thoughts on that?” he pressured when I remained silent, pretending to pick at the dirt beneath my nails.
My left eye sparked with the barest flicker of light; once, twice, a third time. It did that occasionally, often leading to headaches.
“Eh.” I raised a shoulder, cocking my head. “Might be a waste of a soldier. If what the king plans comes to fruition, we’ll need competent fighters. Besides, you won’t have to deal with her much longer.”
The Mist and its lethal mysteries beckoned. As much as I didn’t want to think about it, Kiara and the other recruitswouldlikely be dead by the end of the month.
Harlow took another drink, this time indulging, forcing me to hold my breath before he set down the mug a minute later. Sure, I could override any decision he made, but that would look suspicious, and if I’d learned anything from my past, it was to never show anyone your hand.
“You have a point,” he grated out, meeting both my eyes. Another reason I respected him; he didn’t glance away when his gaze met the left side of my face. He pushed back in his seat and ran a hand through his shoulder-length hair. “She should still be punished, though.”
I scoffed. “You were the one that said there were no rules.”
One of his brows rose. “I’ve never known you to care so much about a recruit before, Maddox. What’s so special about this one?” he asked. “And please tell me it’s not because you haven’t had the company of a woman for quite some time.” That brow of his lifted even higher.
“My private life is not your problem. Thanks for the concern, though.” I crossed my arms and leaned back, matching his posture. “But I haven’t seen a fighter like that in ages, and yes, her skills impress me. Besides, isn’t it punishment enough that she’s the only girl surrounded by a bunch of boys with oversized egos?”
The chuckle that Harlow let out stunned me. “I suppose,” he said, grasping his bruised jaw. “But don’t expect me to take it easy on her, Maddox. She might beimpressive, but she’s trouble.”
I sighed. She was trouble all right. “If she steps out of line again, blame it on me.” The words were out of my mouth before I could contain them.
Where the hells had that come from?
If Harlow was just as surprised by my promise as I was, he didn’t show it. He dipped his chin in agreement before bringing his cup to his mouth and taking another sip.
Later in my room, once I’d left Harlow to his tea, I shut my lids and surrendered to sleep.
I didn’t dream of the Mist, or of the life leaving the eyes of those I’d killed.
I dreamed of pure, radiant light.
Chapter Eleven
Kiara
Our world will know only despair, should this curse endure. We cannot survive without the sun, not for long. Already our crops have been cut by half, and what little food grows is hardly enough to feed a hungry people. My king, something must be done, and soon, for I fear rebels will rise and bring chaos to the land.
Letter from Admiral Liand to King Brion,
year 2 of the curse
During the ensuing days, Harlow barely glanced my way, only acknowledging me if delivering an order.
Or a threat.
