The four of us had walked out of the chamber and were currently making our way through the dining hall.
Stopping, I faced them. The Maiden and Lady halted. Vikter’s stare narrowed. Her companion’s eyes were wide, and she had both lips sucked between her teeth, appearing as if she’d been caught doing something she shouldn’t. The Maiden was once more veiled, hidden again.
“Where would you like to go?” I asked her.
The Maiden said nothing as Vikter’s eyes slitted even more. Her silence reminded me of when she’d first entered the Red Pearl, back when I thought her incapable of speaking above a whisper. But I now knew better. She could speak quite clearly and sharply.
When she wanted to.
Seconds ticked by in increasingly strained silence, and it hit me that everything that had gone down in that chamber had followed us out here. I wanted her to answer, to speak to me, but she was clearly still troubled.
I glanced at Tawny.
Her lips popped out from between her teeth. “Her chambers…” She paused. “Mr. Flynn.”
One side of my lips kicked up. “Hawke is fine.”
A smile appeared as she glanced at the Maiden. “We would like to return to her chambers, Hawke.”
“That all right with you?” I asked the Maiden.
She nodded quickly and then hurried past, leaving behind a faint trace of her fresh, sweet scent. Tawny walked much more sedately, her smile easing into a grin. Vikter was the only one who didn’t seem to be able to walk past me without making contact. His shoulder bumped mine. I bit back a laugh as I fell into step behind them.
We entered the foyer, and right off, I got a small taste of what it was like to be in the presence of the Maiden. Two women were dusting the statues, talking among themselves. Upon our arrival, both stopped, their eyes widening and chatter ceasing. One dropped her feather duster. Their gazes followed as we made our way to the main staircase that led to the floors above. The servants we passed on the steps did the same, all staring at the Maiden, not taking their eyes off her until she was no longer in view. It was like she had some special power that froze people upon sight of her.
My brows pulled together. While I was used to drawing some level of attention from women and men, young and old, this was different. I knew those who looked at me, those who had no idea who I was, still saw me as a person. Usually, someone they wanted to waste a few hours with. But when they looked at the Maiden, they clearly only saw what she was—the Maiden—and what she symbolized to them—the one Chosen by the gods.
Just like when the King and Queen had me caged and chained, the Ascended had only seen what I was—the Prince of a kingdom they wanted destroyed—and what I symbolized to them—the vessel that carried the blood they needed to survive and multiply.
I eyed her hands. They were clasped in front of her, but I bet she was twisting them as she had in the Great Hall. She was aware of what her presence invoked.
But was she aware that they didn’t see her? They only saw what she represented.
I didn’t know.
We finally reached her floor. Why she was housed in the vacant wing of the castle, one of the oldest parts of the structure, was beyond me. The halls up here were narrower, and I bet the chambers were drafty in the winter. The only sound was our footsteps. Even I couldn’t hear the near-constant flutter of activity that pervaded every other floor and wing.
I didn’t have a chance to say much when we reached the door to her chambers before she opened it and practically flew inside. I only caught a brief glimpse of bare stone floors and a chair before Tawny gave us a parting nod. Then, I was left staring at the closed door to the chamber I needed to get inside. The Maiden had been able to get out of that room and make her way to the Red Pearl. I doubted she’d walked out this door to do it.
My head cocked to the side at the sound of a soft thud against said door. “Should we be worried about that?” I asked as I turned to the man I knew wasn’t my fan.
“They’re fine.” He glowered at me from behind a lock of sandy hair. “I need to speak with the Commander, which means you will be guarding the Maiden.”
I nodded.
“From the hall,” he added as if that were necessary. “And don’t leave your station. Not for anyone or anything.”
“Understood.”
“Not even for the gods,” he insisted.
“I know what’s expected of me.” I met his glare. “Both of them are safe while I’m here.”
Vikter looked like he wanted to say something more, but he must’ve decided it wasn’t worth it. He turned stiffly, stalking down the length of the hall. I figured he wanted to see Jansen to bitch about my appointment.
Wouldn’t do him any good.
I started to move so I faced the door when I heard Tawny’s faint, muffled voice.
“Hawke Flynn is your guard, Poppy.”
My brows flew up. Poppy? That was what Tawny called her? Not Penellaphe. But…Poppy. The poppy fields of Spessa’s End flashed in my mind.
“I know,” came the softer, even fainter voice.
That was her. Poppy. The prickle at my nape came once more. I hadn’t heard her voice since the night of the Red Pearl.
“Poppy!” Tawny’s voice was loud enough that I blinked. “That is your guard!”
The corners of my lips curved up as I shifted so I stood even closer to the door.
“Keep your voice down,” the Maiden said as I drew my lower lip between my teeth. They’d have to whisper for me not to hear them, and as I heard their footsteps retreating, I really hoped her companion continued to practically shout. “He’s probably standing outside—”
“As your personal guard,” Tawny interrupted.
“I know,” came the exasperated response.
“And I know that this is going to sound terrible,” I heard Tawny say as I angled my head closer, never having been more thankful for my heightened hearing than now. “But I have to say it. I can’t contain it. It’s a vast improvement.”
A silent laugh left me.
“Tawny.”
“I know. I recognize that it was terrible, but I had to say it,” she replied. “He’s quite…exciting to look at.”
I grinned.
“And he’s clearly interested in moving up in the ranks,” the Maiden countered.
The curve of my lips flattened. Did she not agree with her companion? She had to. I knew I was quite exciting to look at.
“Why would you say that?”
There was a beat of silence. “Have you ever heard of a Royal Guard that young?”
Well, I couldn’t fault her for saying that. It was a valid question.
“No. You haven’t. That’s what befriending the Commander of the Royal Guard will do for you,” the Maiden said. And, man, she didn’t know how right she was. “I cannot believe that there was no other Royal Guard just as qualified.”
Tawny didn’t respond for a few moments. “You’re having a very strange, unexpected reaction.”
Crossing my arms, I had a feeling her response had more to do with what had happened at the Red Pearl than it did with anything else.
“I don’t know what you mean,” the Maiden said.
Sure, I thought, smirking.