Page 62 of Wolf Caged (Bound to the Shadow King #1)

SAPHIRA

K aeleron had failed to join me at dinner.

I had sat there staring at the empty chair at the far end of the table, mind filled with all the things I had noted in the books I had flicked through, a blend of interesting facts about elkyn, the history of the lich, and a history of mining in the Shadow Court.

I had no clue how I had ended up falling into that book.

Maybe it had been the mention of Falkyr that had caught my eye when I had been flicking through the pages, followed by something about dwarves that had roused my curiosity.

Before I had known what was happening, I was devouring all the facts about mine shafts that dated back centuries, the dwarven clans who worked them, and the prized metals found in the heart of the mountains.

I had wanted to ask Kaeleron whether his black armour was crafted from such a fine metal.

Jenavyr had confirmed during our training session that her sword had been forged from it, a gift to her from her brother when she had gained enough skill with a blade that he had decided she was worthy of something a little finer than the swords the regular guards used.

She had also been the one to apologise for her brother’s absence last night.

Apparently, he had been summoned to the legion posted near Wraith Wood after there had been a report of people being spotted in the mountains that bordered the western fringes of the vast forest and hadn’t returned until this morning.

A reasonable excuse for his absence, but still it prickled.

He had taken the time to tell Vyr where he was going, but hadn’t come to tell me, instead letting me dress in that ridiculous shimmering navy silk gown he had delivered to my room, a bias-cut one that hung from one shoulder and was so light it clung to parts of my body, revealing them, and sit in that dining room unsure where the hell he was.

Well, if he summoned me to dinner again, I was going to refuse to go and see how he liked it.

Still, his unplanned absence had given me one thing, a rare gift that I was determined to treasure and make the most of in case it never happened again.

Vyr had told me I could wander the city without an escort.

At first, I had been sure she was joking so she could see the castle guards slam their spears across my path like they always did whenever I approached the main gate, but she had taken me there and the men had remained at their posts on either side of the heavily fortified stone archway, gazes fixed straight ahead.

I had hurried through the gate in case my chance at freedom was snatched from me, grabbing it while I could, and then I had locked up tight and looked back at Vyr, and had asked her to come with me.

I had no reason to be afraid. I knew that as I traversed the main street of the city, listening to the low chatter of the people coming and going along it, and gazing in the windows of every store.

No one even looked at me. Not a single one of the common folk knew who I was and the finely dressed highborn I did come across didn’t seem to care.

In fact, they all avoided me if they noticed me.

Yet, I had still panicked, that night Elanaluvyr had attacked me flashing across my mind to make my heart race and limbs tremble, and asked Vyr to come with me.

Her words had stayed with me during my walk.

I was stronger now. I didn’t need her protection.

I was stronger, she was right about that, but my visits to the town had been so few that I still felt out of place, as if everyone was watching me and knew I didn’t belong here, in this place where I felt I belonged the most.

I looked back at the castle that loomed at the top of the hill, above the terraces of half-timbered buildings.

Or perhaps not the most.

I was beginning to feel I belonged there more now, high up in that castle, in that stunning garden or those lush woods, surrounded by all that nature and beauty.

The feeling was indescribable and hard to pin down, but it beat within me, a vivid and vibrant thing that drew me back towards the castle.

I continued onwards instead, sure it was just fear of being alone in the city and noticed by someone that had me wanting to return to the safety of the castle.

The window of the bakery caught my gaze and held it, the sweet confections laid out in baskets and lacquered wooden boxes luring me towards the store.

I stood there in front of the bowed glass window, eyes flitting over the colourful treats nestled like jewels in black paper.

What would they taste like? Would Kaeleron like them?

I imagined he had probably had them before, but what if he hadn’t?

What if I could give him something he had never tried?

Would his face light up, some of the storm clouds lifting from it?

He liked sweet things. He might like these.

A pang hit my chest and my shoulders slumped a little as I patted the empty pockets of my black leathers.

Not that I had gold to buy them with. I didn’t have a single coin in my possession, and I doubted the shop owner would believe me if I said they were for the king and asked them to charge the castle, and what sort of present would that be anyway if I had Kaeleron pay for them?

And why the heck did I want to give him a present?

I jammed my hands into my pockets. I suppose he had spared me from a terrible fate, and offered to let me work off my debt, and then he had decided to train me so I was stronger and knew how to fight, and to top off all that he had given me free rein in his own personal library.

I was beginning to feel dangerously like a guest rather than a captive.

“Saphira.” A deep masculine voice startled me from my thoughts and I looked off to my left, towards the source of it.

“Riordan.” I smiled as I spotted him across the broad cobbled avenue, heading up the hill towards me.

He looked harried as always, his blond hair tousled, as if he had been running his hands through it, and several guards trailed after him. Not guards, I realised as he said something to them and they bowed their heads, acknowledging an order. Soldiers. Part of his regiment?

The vampire jogged over to me, leaving the dozen men to continue the march up the hill to the castle, and looked me over and then all around me.

“No guard today?” He looked as surprised as I had felt upon discovering I was allowed to head into the city without an escort.

“I’m considering it part of an apology from Kaeleron for being branded or maybe because he ditched me at dinner last night.” I shrugged when he arched an eyebrow at me. “Vyr says he was called away to Wraith Wood and was gone all night.”

“I met with him this morning. He is not in a good mood after that visit, but I can’t blame him given the potential threat to his people. Sightings of seelie are a good reason to be a touch furious.”

“Seelie?” My eyes widened and pulse picked up. “There were seelie within the Shadow Court?”

“Rumours at least. Several sightings close to the borders of Wraith Wood. The whole area is on high alert. Kaeleron hunted them all night, and returned furious that he couldn’t find them.

” Riordan scratched his stubbled chin, his lips quirking.

“Although, maybe I shouldn’t be telling you everything. If Vyr didn’t?—”

“I won’t tell anyone,” I interjected, eager to know more, because I could only imagine how unsettled the people of Wraith Wood must be with seelie potentially in their midst, as well as just how furious Kaeleron must be.

He had closed his borders to protect his people, but the enemy had infiltrated them. “Do you know where Kaeleron is?”

“I do.” He glanced over his shoulder, as if checking no one was listening in, but as he continued, I realised he was looking in the direction of something.

“Listen… if you really want to risk your neck by seeking him out when he’s like this…

I won’t stop you. I’ll just warn you to be careful. Be really careful.”

“Where is he?” I gazed beyond him, in the direction he had been looking, towards the bend in the main avenue before it swept downwards towards the docks, sure Kaeleron was somewhere in that direction and wanting to know why.

Riordan’s expression shifted back and forth as he debated telling me.

“Either you tell me where I can find him, or I wander off in that direction without a clue and try to find him myself. Who knows what might happen to me in those dark alleyways?” I smiled up at him as he scowled at me.

“Manipulative little creature, aren’t we?” He huffed. “Head over to Fierel’s, the blacksmiths. It’s north-west of here. Take the passage over there and follow the right branch that takes you towards the outer wall. You’ll find him there… and do not tell him I sent you. I like my head where it is.”

Was Kaeleron in such a bad mood that he would kill one of his own inner circle?

I shivered at the thought he might be, and what I might be getting myself into by seeking him out, but then steeled my nerves and straightened my spine, because my primal instincts demanded I find him and see that he was fine, that this seelie incursion hadn’t shaken him.

“Thank you,” I said as I hurried towards the alleyway, determined to find Kaeleron before I lost my nerve.

“Your funeral,” Riordan muttered as he walked away. “I’ll pick you out a nice casket.”

I flipped him off over my shoulder, earning a husky chuckle from the vampire, and then the passageway swallowed me and I focused on my hunt, my wolf instincts coming to the fore as I scented the air, seeking a trace of Kaeleron.

No doubt he was at the blacksmith to order weapons for his men, arming his legion with the finest swords available.

I caught the scent of ash, steel and wild storm, and tracked it through the narrow alleys between old buildings, heading deep into the outskirts of the city. When the scent grew fainter, I backtracked and took another path, banking right.