But what he offered was an easy decision. My life in Steepholde had been awful. I’d been worthless my whole life—abused, harassed, and my job at the pub barely paid enough to stay alive. Males groped me, females despised me, and I’d had to fight for survival every day for as long as I could remember. Here, I would have quarters of my own. Training could amount to a better life, a future.
“What makes you think I want to stay somewhere I was accused of murder?” I asked.
Was I being ungrateful? Yes, yes, I was. But I didn’t want to defer to the King, even if his position commanded it. He hadn’t even cared about my side of the story.
“You’ve been pardoned,” he snapped.
“Gee, thanks.”
“I’m offering you a very comfortable life, Ellie,” the King said, with narrowed eyes. His frustration washed over me. Whenever I was around him, I felt his emotions. It was unnerving, and I forced myself to think straight, to keep challenging him. Anger and fighting grounded me. Sad, but true.
“What you’re offering is a half-hearted attempt to make up for nearly killing me when I’m innocent.”
King Rainier looked at Nylah, exasperated. A non-verbal conversation passed between them.
“If you want to leave, I’ll let you go,” he finally said. “It’s nothing to me, either way.”
I narrowed my eyes. I didn’t believe it. I didn’tfeelit from him. It didn’t matter what he thought, though. What mattered was where I would end up. I was the only person I had to look out for, and I would do what it took to survive.
I wasn’t going back to the tavern, that was for sure. Here, Iwouldhave a better life. It couldn’t be worse than living and working at the tavern. But here, I might find answers, too.
“I’ll stay,” I said.
The King smirked. “Wise choice. Your training starts tomorrow.”
“Come, Ellie,” Nylah said. “You will need to get settled. I think you’ll be very happy here.”
She turned, and I followed her to the door. Just before we left, I looked over my shoulder at the King, but he’d turned his face to the windows again. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking.
7
Dex was sullen and serious as he led me to the warrior quarters on the far side of the palace.
We walked in awkward silence. I was going to join Dex’s ranks eventually. How did he feel about the fact that I was human, joining the King’s elite guard? I couldn’t gauge his reaction when Nylah had summoned him to lead me to my new room.
I got the feeling talking wasn’t one of Dex’s strengths.
“What is the training schedule like?” I asked, trying to make conversation.
“Rigorous.”
“Right, right. I mean, because we’ll have to be in peak condition.”
Dex only nodded.
“Do you think I’ll fit in with the others?” I asked.
He glanced sidelong at me. “Don’t know.”
“You don’t talk much,” I said.
“Not much to be said,” he answered, and I stopped trying to initiate any conversation.
We turned down a long hallway—it seemed to be mostly what the palace comprised—and Dex led me to a door almost at the end.
“This is you,” he said and pushed the door open. “Training starts at the crack of dawn. Be ready. Meals are served in the mess hall. You’re not to leave the grounds unless the King orders it so. If you do, we’ll consider it your resignation from the position.”
“That’s…harsh. What about leave to see family?”