Black as Night by Anthea Sharp

Author:Anthea Sharp [Sharp, Anthea]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781680131444
Publisher: Fiddlehead Press

Chapter 21

I stared about me in amazement as the warrior led me through graceful corridors broken at regular intervals by arched doors. Whenever one hallway intersected another, the ceiling soared overhead, decorated with carvings of leaves and vines. Crystal bowls holding flickering blue flame, smaller than the ones I’d seen outside, shed soft radiance over the white stone walls and polished floor.

It was the exact opposite of Castle Raine. I’d grown used to those shadowy, cold corridors, the uncompromising walls of hewn granite, but they’d never felt welcoming. Not like these open and graceful halls.

We passed a large room where a fountain played, and another that seemed to be a dining hall of some kind, elegant tables and chairs arrayed within. My escort led me by several Dark Elf courtiers, who regarded me with faintly horrified looks as we passed. They were all garbed in flowing silks the color of tourmaline, or clouds at sunset. Elaborate jewels winked from their necks and wrists and even their hair.

I couldn’t tell if they disdained humans in general, or if my bedraggled condition was the cause. Possibly both—although the elves at the harvest, while haughty in bearing, hadn’t seemed scornful of mortals. The two races intermarried, after all, at the highest levels.

For the first time, I wondered if regular Dark Elves ever wed humans. There were a few myths along those lines, as I recalled. And a passage in the Studie had mentioned an ancient prophecy uniting elves and humans in a marriage to save both kingdoms.

Prophecy made me think of the Oracles, and of Thorne.

“Is the Galadhir here at the palace?” I asked my guide.

She gave me a bemused look. “Yes.”

“Can I see him?”

Her brows rose, dark arches of surprise on her pale forehead. “I believe he is currently recovering. His wellspring is dangerously depleted from overuse. Which is why he was unable to—”

“Rose!”

I turned at the familiar voice and saw Kian striding toward me down the hall. His jaunty smile was nearly my undoing. Tears pricking my eyes, I flew forward to meet him, suddenly wanting nothing more than the comforting feel of his arms around me amid all this strangeness.

He held me close a moment, then stepped back. I was reluctant to let him go, but I reminded myself I wasn’t a child, needing to cling to him for safety. Frowning, he looked me up and down.

“That Thorne fellow certainly didn’t take very good care of you! You’re a proper mess. Did he at least feed you on your journey?”

I was unwilling to explain that I’d gotten lost in the forest, with almost no food, and had to be rescued by wild beasts. Kian already disliked Thorne. Why make things worse, especially as we were all trapped together in the Nightshade Court?

“I am hungry,” I admitted.

“And grubby. Go clean up and I’ll see about getting some food to your room.”

“Do you know where it is?” I glanced from him to my escort, who stood patiently watching our exchange.

“Of course I do—you’re right next to Neeve.

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