Ari and the shadow knight

The Silk Trap

The Silk Trap

The victory in the Great Hall did not last past sunset.

By nightfall my high-ceilinged room felt like a cage. I sat on the edge of the mattress holding the short sword across my lap. My thumb traced the silver wire wrapped around the handle. The cold metal gave me comfort. But it could not stop my mind from racing.

Tonight the lock on the door did not click from the outside. The heavy iron bolt was pulled from the inside where Cassian stood.

He wore no armor tonight. He wore a dark shirt and dark pants. He moved softly like a wolf without making a sound on the stone floor.

He walked over to the narrow window. He grabbed the iron bars and pulled hard with all his weight.

"They are solid," Cassian said quietly.

"I could have told you that," I said, sliding the sword into its sheath. "I pulled on them myself earlier. Nobody is getting in through there."

"They would not come through the bars," Cassian said, turning around.

He walked over to the big wooden closet. He ran his hands along the wood and tapped the back panel to check for hollow spaces.

"They would use secret passages," Cassian warned. "They would use the chimneys. They could drop poison in your water. There are a hundred ways to kill you in your sleep and only one of me."

He walked over to the small table near the fire. He pulled off his leather gloves and threw them down.

My eyes fell on his bare hands.

In the dim firelight his hands looked rough and beaten. They were long and strong but covered in old marks. White lines cut across his knuckles. A deep round scar sat on his left thumb where an arrow had hit him.

His palms caught my breath most of all.

Thick shiny burn scars covered both palms. It looked like he had grabbed a hot iron bar and held on.

"Your hands," I whispered before I could stop myself.

Cassian stopped moving. He looked down at his palms and slowly flexed his fingers. The scarred skin stretched tight and turned pale.

"A reminder," Cassian said flatly.

"Of what?" I asked.

He raised his eyes to mine. "Of what happens when you trust the wrong person."

His voice held no anger. It held no bitterness.

"The first prince I served thought he could buy his enemies," Cassian explained. "He arranged a secret meeting under the palace and told me to wait outside."

Cassian walked to the corner of the room and leaned against the wall. His hand rested on his sword hilt.

"When I broke down the door they had already cut his throat," Cassian said softly. "They held my hands on hot coals so I could not draw my sword while they killed his guard."

Silence filled the dark room. I swallowed hard.

"What happened then?" I asked.

"I killed every man in that room," Cassian said.

The words were quiet and plain. They were scary because he said them so calmly.

Cassian looked out the dark window. "I learned two things that night."

"What were they?" I asked.

"Hot iron burns," Cassian said, staring into the dark. "But a broken oath burns longer."

His fingers tightened around his sword handle.

"And second," Cassian added, looking back at me. "The people who smile at you in the day are the ones who buy the fire coal."

He closed his eyes for a moment. "Go to sleep Arianna. I will watch the door."

I looked at him for a long time. He was cold and dangerous. Yet he had protected me from the poison and Duke Varn.

I pulled the wool blanket over my shoulders. For the first time since leaving the slums my chest felt light. He did not sleep so I finally could.

Morning brought a brand new problem.

When the heavy room doors opened it was not the maids. It was Duke Varn.

He wore a light jacket with gold thread instead of dark robes. His silver hair looked bright in the morning sun. His empty hands were spread open to show peace.

Behind him two young boys carried a big wooden tray. The tray had fresh bread, honey and cheese. It had a hot pot of tea.

"Lady Arianna," Varn said with a deep bow. "I hope you slept well. The palace gets cold so I ordered extra blankets for you."

I stood up from the window seat. My hand moved under my shirt toward my short sword.

I looked at the food tray. My stomach turned over.

"I thought the palace cellar had bad drinks," I said coldly.

Varn laughed softly and shook his head. "Ah the wine from before."

He let out a sad sigh. "That was a terrible mistake by the cellar staff. The head man was fired yesterday. It is bad to treat the heir of House Lowen like that."

He smiled kindly at me. "This tea was made while I watched."

The boys put the food tray on the table.

Varn stepped forward and broke off a piece of warm bread. He ate it right in front of me without stopping.

"You see?" Varn said gently. "There is no poison here."

He stepped closer to me. "I know you do not trust me Arianna."

He looked sad as he spoke. "And after everything that happened you should not trust me."

He took another step closer. "You were pulled from the slums and dropped into a dangerous place."

His voice became very soft. "I want you to know something."

He held my gaze. "I never wanted the blood test to hurt you. The Council demanded it. If I said no they would have called you a fake."

"I had to let you face the test," Varn said. "That way nobody can question your royal blood now."

I watched Duke Varn very carefully. His eyes were calm and warm.

If I had not seen the gray poison burn through the rug two days ago I might have believed him.

"And what happens now?" I asked him.

"The hard work starts now," Varn said.

He reached out and put a gentle hand on my shoulder.

"The coronation is coming soon," Varn said. "Every lord in this kingdom wants to use you for power."

His smile stayed calm and gentle. "I want to teach you how to rule them instead."

His hand pressed lightly on my shoulder. "I want to be the shield you need."

For a quick second he looked like a safe person. He looked like the protector I always wanted.

"Think about what I said," Varn said quietly.

He bowed once more and walked toward the open door.

"Eat the fresh bread," Varn added. "It is very good today."

The door closed quietly behind him. The room went silent again.

I stood still and stared at the untouched tray on the table. The bread smelled warm and good.

Then I looked over at the dark corner of the room. Cassian had not moved a single inch while Varn was talking.

"The charcoal," I whispered into the quiet room.

Cassian met my eyes with a firm look.

"He is buying the wood," Cassian said.