Chapter2
662 Words
Toren Ravenskar didn’t bother remembering servant girls . Too many of them . Too little reason .
But that face kept coming back . A basket of apples . Dirt on her hem . And gaze that’ didn’t belong
to a maid .
Too steady .
Too calm for someone who had just crossed paths with the commander of the enemy army .
And far too observant .
“ Ella Vale.”
That’s what she called herself . Papers ? Perfect .
But she lied . He knew - it not from her words , but from the pause before them .
She looked at him like someone with a purpose .
And people with purpose ?
They were dangerous.
He let out a dry , humorless laugh .
- If you’re a spy , you’ve got guts . Or you’re an i***t . Maybe both .
He leaned back . The fire crackled . Somewhere in the courtyard , boots echoed .
He didn’t know who she was . But one thing was certain : she wasn’t who she claimed to be .
And something about her made him want to reach for a sword , not a report .
He stood .
- keep an eye on this .. Ella . Let her scrub floors and smile all she wants - but watch who she talks to . What she listens to .
Where she goes . Everything .
He didn’t let strangers play games on his ground .
Especially not the ones who looked him straight in the eye .
Being a maid was harder than she’d imagined .
Her back ached , her hands smelled like onions , and the head maid
- Edra - looked at her like she’d stolen half the royal silver .
Serena was scrubbing a corridor floor when she heard the footsteps .
Not servant footsteps . Not hurried , clumsy one ones .
No - these were heavy . Measured . Military .
Too many of them lately .
“ they’re watching me , “ she thought .
She didn’t know who exactly . But she could feel it - like a prickle behind her neck .
She straightened slowly , wiped sweat from her brow , and turned her head -
And froze .
Him.
Toren Ravenskar .
He walked past the gallery without even glancing at her . But her heart was ready to abandon ship and run for the hills .
He looked like he could cut a man down with just a stare . Like winter wind wrapped in steel and scars .
“There he is . The murderer . “
But why , did the chill crawling down her spine feel more like heat ?
She bent over her bucket , pretending to work .
No . She wasn’t here to shake .
And definitely not to stare into the traitor’s pretty green - hazel eyes .
She had a mission . A reason .
And a lie to live .
.. He walked past her . And still , that nothing felt like everything .
Serena bent over the bucket again , pretending to scrub . But her hands were still .
He hadn’t said a word . Hadn’t looked .
And yet her chest felt tight .
He knew .
She could feel it - like sensing a storm in clear skies .
Toren Ravenskar was a commander . A man trained to doubt first and strike second .
And now he’d noticed her .
Not as a maid . But as a threat .
Elvy whispered something , but Serena didn’t hear it .
Another voice was echoing in her head .
Her father’s .
“Be the shadow . Watch . Stay silent . Survive .”
Now she was in the heart of the lion’s den .
And the lion had already walked past.
Next time , he might stop .
- Writer
