Journey of Shadows (The Palâdnith Chronicles Book 1) by Sam J. Charlton

Author:Sam J. Charlton [Charlton, Sam J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-01-13T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

A Fiend in the Night

Val awoke in the early hours of the morning to a full and protesting bladder. After all the wine he had drunk, he should have visited the privy before going to bed. Cursing himself, Val struggled – his stiff thigh muscles aching as he did so – out of his warm bed and pulled on a shirt and leggings.

The fire had long gone out and the room’s chill made him shiver. He lit a candle and padded across to the door. Out in the hallway it was pitch black. If Val had not been carrying a candle, he would have blundered around in the darkness looking for the privy – and might have ended up walking into someone’s room instead by mistake.

Val padded down the corridor; his bare feet silent on the rush-matting floor. Around him, the Red Tussock Inn slumbered. He could hear snoring reverberating from some of the rooms. Reaching the privy, Val sat his candle on a ledge and relieved himself. Then, he stepped back out into the hallway and shut the door behind him.

A cloaked figure blocked his path.

Val nearly dropped his candle in fright. Mirroring his own surprise, the shadowy form gasped and attempted to dart past him. Val recovered his wits, realising that he recognised the figure. He reached out and grabbed the young woman’s arm, bringing her up short.

“Milady,” Val raised the candle so that Lady Cirinna’s pale face was illuminated. “Where might you be going at this hour?”

“Let go of me,” she hissed. “Keep your voice down!”

Val smiled gently but did not release his grip.

“It appears to me as if you are attempting to run away,” he continued, “and while I applaud your courage, may I remind you that it’s a cold, dark night out there and we are in wild country. How long do you think you’d last?”

Lady Cirinna’s hood fell back. Her hair was tied in a long braid, and although her face was ashen, her pale eyes were two hard shards of ice.

“Let me go!”

“Return to your room,” Val replied, pushing her gently in the direction of her chamber, “before Tobin catches you out here.”

The click of a door catch releasing caused any retort Lady Cirinna might have made to die on her lips. Captain Tobin stepped out of his room, carrying a lantern aloft, and light flooded the hallway. Spying Val and Lady Cirinna, Tobin bore down upon them. Val watched Tobin approach and, still gripping Lady Cirinna’s arm, felt her tremble. For all her bravado, she was terrified of this man.

The captain loomed over them. His face was florid and his eyes bulged with the effort he was making not to bellow.

“What are the pair of you doing out here?” he growled.

“I was using the privy,” Val replied, “and the Lady was waiting for me to finish so she could take her turn.”

Captain Tobin’s hard gaze raked over Val before it settled upon Lady Cirinna.

“Milady wears a cloak when she visits the

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