Six of Ruin (Heirs of Irenwell #1)

Despite the floran and the giant leaving the room, and therefore allowing more air to breathe, tension still seemed to rise. Blood ran faster down my veins as I watched the two men left in the room assess each other.

Danilo stepped in front of me, shielding me with his body, “Let us make one thing very clear, Rixen, I do not like this one bit.”

Rixen let out a smug laugh, “You’re not up for some brother-bonding?”

Danilo’s fist landed on the table, startling me, “You are not my brother!”

What the fuck have I gotten myself into?

“Oh, but we were raised by the same man.” Rixen circled the table with the map. “Doesn’t that make us brothers in the most important way possible?”

“You are neither the King’s son nor my brother.” Danilo gritted his teeth. “And if you screw this up-”

“Careful how you speak in front of the Princess.” Rixen snickered. “I’m certain she’s not used to such vile words.”

“If you screw this up, Rixen,” Danilo raised his voice, “I will kill you.”

My eyes widened.

“If I screw this up,” Rixen turned around, ready to leave the room, “None of you will survive long enough to kill me.”

He slammed the door shut, leaving me alone with Danilo and my thoughts. This journey hasn’t even started and it already thoroughly exhausted me.

I should have let Rodrig go in my stead. Perhaps ruling the Kingdom would be easier.

“Danilo-”

“Come on, your Grace.” He interrupted me. “I will escort you to your room.”

“Uh,” A wrinkle appeared between my brows, possibly making me look more like my brother than I would have wanted, “I heard there’s a buffet and I’m starving.”

“I will ask a maid to bring some food to your chambers, then.” Danilo nodded.

Seeing where this was going, I crossed my hands on my chest, “I want to go to the great hall.”

“Princess,” Danilo turned to me, “it would be best to get some rest. We must travel by night because we have to reach Woods of Loria during day.”

“So?” I asked. “It’s possibly the last night we’re safe and sound. Do you truly believe I am going to sleep through it? You are mistaken, Sir.”

“Irina,” Danilo let out a sigh, “you will have to sleep on the ground for the next couple of months. Do you truly want to-”

“Do you ever have any fun?” I interrupted him, causing the crease above his nose to deepen and his piercing eyes narrow.

“Alright, then.” He said through his teeth. “Let us join the buffet.”

My nervousness grew as we walked across the bridge overlooking the mountains and the skies. Sure, I was in desperate need of some liquor, but I was also in desperate need of some answers.

The man whose thoughts I’ve been entering for the last couple of months was Rixen and I was about to spend the next few months by his side. I had to find out how much he knew about me.

Did he know about my magic? Or the fact I was looking for the Vanishing Well in the ruins of Orathia? Could he possibly know why we were intruding each other’s thoughts?

The mere thought of talking to him alone scared me out of my wits, but I could never explain it to Danilo. I knew in my gut he would never let me be alone with that man.

“Is Rixen our guide?” I asked while we descended to the great hall.

Danilo nodded, “A mage could get us to Orathia, but only Rixen knows the way through the ruins of the abandoned Kingdom.”

Something he had said back in Irenwell itched my mind, “You said our guide wasn’t human.”

“He’s not.” Danilo opened the door to the great hall.

The grey and white space was littered with candles, colouring the walls a warmer colour. Tables were laden with food, but nothing as exotic as in Irenwell. I noticed the scarcity immediately. Plenty of boar, sure, but there was almost no vegetables or delicacies from around the world. Boar for dinner, it seemed.

“So, what is he if he isn’t human?” I asked as I scanned the great hall.

The first one I noticed was Torvald, because he was larger than anyone in the room. He had already found some friends and was currently saluting while singing an off-beat song. Nickeltinker disappeared somewhere, but amongst Bastian men, I wouldn’t even be able to see him.

Rixen was in the farthest corner, his face hidden in the darkness. But his silhouette was unmistakable, tall and lean and radiating certain elegance.

“He’s a shadowman.” Danilo said. “A creature with an ability of turning into a shadow.”

A chill spread down my neck and arms, the fine hairs on my skin lifting. Shadowmen.

“My mother mentioned them once.” I remembered. “She said they were similar to Fae Folk.”

Danilo shook his head, “They are nothing like Fae Folk.” His blue eyes met mine. “Some say they are descendants of demons.”

That churning nervousness turned into slight fear, but I wouldn’t let it dissuade me from finding the answers or enjoying the last normal night. The boar looked delicious.

The men looked delicious, too.

I smiled as I glanced around. All muscled, dark men with just the right amount of ale in their blood. Gretchen would lose her mind if she learned of my intentions.

Ever so slightly, I leaned closer to Danilo, “How about a dance?”

He stepped away, “It is late, your Grace. I believe it would be best if we had something to eat and called it a night.”

My mouth dropped along with my pretences, “Would you truly refuse a dance with a princess?”

And for a moment there, his blue eyes darkened and I saw a glimpse of reluctance underneath.

But he shook his head off and slightly turned around, “The road ahead is long.”

“You said it yourself, Sir,” My hand trailed up his muscled arm, “we shall sleep on the ground for the next couple of months. Might as well make use of the bed while we have one.”

“Irina.” The man grunted.

I cocked my head, “Danilo.”

He stared at me, his eyes dancing over me and his jaw tensing.

“I know you’re scared of this journey.” He said. “But there’s no need to act out. I will protect you with my life.”

He appeared embarrassed. I squinted, not truly understanding what he tried to say.

Danilo cleared his throat, “There’s no need to... repay me-”

I raised my eyebrow, “Repay you?”

The knight seemed utterly thrown off, his blue eyes bounced back and forth between the floor and my face, when I realised what he meant.

“Oh, Goddess,” I whined, “You think I want to make sure you will protect me? You think I want to bind you to myself in a way?”

“Why else would you-”

“Good night, Sir Danilo.” I rolled my eyes as far back as my skull allowed and began to walk away.

He grabbed my arm in a very improper manner, “Irina-”

I brushed him off roughly, “You were leaving, Sir Danilo.”

He bowed his head and walked out of the great hall, leaving me alone. I glanced around; all of the people looked the same. Huge, dark, brooding men. Even the females were quite similar to the males. And all of them were strangers.

Sudden dizziness flooded me and homesickness hit. I leaned against the wall, trying to breathe in. I missed Irenwell air, I missed the warmth and food rich with spices, I missed the gardens and vineyards. People here only ate boar and drank ale.

And the idea of sleeping on the ground for the next couple of months had zero appeal to me. Men who would join me on this journey were most likely used to it; eating shit, begging for coins and sleeping in the dirt. I’d rather die than live like that.

Thinking of what awaited after this night did not help the nausea and I finally lost my appetite, for the food as well as the men. I gripped the corner of the wall and closed my eyes for a brief moment.

“Now, how am I to use your marvellous abilities if you faint on me?”

The voice startled me and I leaped away, quickly turning around and facing Rixen. My heart raced in my chest and I was suddenly very sorry for making Danilo leave.

Shadowman looked over me with distaste, the corners of his lips twitching upwards. I grabbed the hem of my dress, ready to leave momentarily. Perhaps I could find Nickeltinker and he would protect me.

“Leave me alone.” I used my stern voice, which usually only worked on my brother.

Rixen shook his head slowly, “That’s no fun.” He circled me like he was assessing prey. “But I could most definitely use you.”

Offence was the best defence. Offence was the best-

“You pretended to be drunk.” I spat.

“I pretend to be lots of things, Maiden of Irenwell.” Rixen smiled. “How about you join me for a drink?”

I glanced towards the great hall. These people were strangers. I couldn’t ask anyone for help. Torvald was Rixen’s bodyguard and Nickeltinker was nowhere to be found. I just had to shoo Danilo away.

“I don’t feel like having a drink.” I muttered.

“Oh, but I know you wish to speak with me.” Rixen gestured towards the middle of the hall. “If you do not want a drink, perhaps we can talk over a dance.”

My nerves prickled, “Fine, one drink.”

I’d rather drink than dance with him.

I followed through the crowd after the shadowman, escaping interested stares. My mind somewhat cleared and I realised he called me Maiden of Irenwell. It was the same name that Gyorg seer from the Bordering City called me when she read my destiny.

The shadowman walked over to the table where three Bastians sat. One glance and all three of them stood up and walked away, offering no remarks other than sneers. I should have asked Rodrig more about Rixen of Orathia. Or Gretchen. Or any damn person. Who was he? Why was everyone afraid of him?

And who in the three hells gave him a free-pass to my mind?

I swallowed my fear and sat on the wooden bench. Despite the crowd and the loud music, I felt utterly alone.

“Now,” Rixen sat on the opposite side, his yellow eyes boring into my face, “A little birdie told me you have a special ability I could very much use.”

My magic? My ability to seduce men? Or bore them to death by exclusively talking about myself?

Like an idiot, I asked, “Which one?”

Rixen chuckled, his pale lips twisting into a smile, “So confident. I’m talking about your ability to memorize text you’ve seen once in your life.”

Fuck. He knew about that. The nervousness must have shown on my face.

“Oh, don’t look so shocked, please. I know lots of things about you. Things you might find worse than this.” Rixen called for the waitress with his hand.

His words did nothing to soothe my nerves. My skin began to itch, fear coursed through my veins and my vision began to blur.

“Why-” I gulped down, sweating profusely through my thin dress. The air turned too hot and my limbs numb. “Why are we... what is it-”

“Irina,” Rixen’s gaze hardened, “Calm down.”

“I want to talk to Danilo.” My voice shook. “I cannot be with you here.”

“Listen to me.” The command in his voice made me shut my mouth. “I only need you to read some books for me. If we want the mage on our side, we must find something we can offer him. If you read the books, you will remember all the information.”

I breathed in, feeling only slightly relieved, “I can do that.”

Naturally, I’ve gathered that Irenwell books left out quite a lot and reading Bastian books might offer some insight on my own problem, as well.

Two pints of ale dropped in the middle of the table and a busty, young waitress flashed her most potent smile towards Rixen. I gulped down ale greedily, finding comfort in the bitter, cold drink.

“Good.” Rixen nodded, eyeing my improper drinking habits with a smile on his lips. “I will have the books delivered to your chambers tonight. How fast can you read?”

“Pretty fast.” I shrugged. “That is basically all I do.”

Rixen laughed, “Excluding the household help.”

I took in a sharp breath, but the retort halted on my tongue. The fact he knew so much about me worried me and I wasn’t about to confirm his beliefs.

“Do not tell Danilo I gave you the books. Trust me, we do not want to deal with his dramatics.” Rixen’s expression changed, the smile disappeared. Cuts all over his face were even paler than his skin.

I did not want to keep secrets from Danilo, but I was too scared to share this with him. He wouldn’t understand. Also, Rixen might decide to share my secrets with the rest of the world if I refused to obey him.

I sighed, “Fine. I’ll keep your secrets.”

“A piece of advice, Maiden,” Rixen looked at me, his golden-yellow eyes glowing under the light of candles, “If you want to seduce Danilo, you might want to appear more innocent. Our noble knight is an old-fashioned man; women are conquests to him – he wants to be the first to get there.”

I grabbed the pint of ale and stood up, unable to keep my stupid mouth shut, “I’m certain you like your women the same way you like your conquests, too – easy and barely putting up a fight.”

“I wouldn’t speak of easy if I were you.” Rixen lifted his pint in the air and clanked it against mine.

The ugliest sneer found its way to my lips, but I refused to acknowledge the retort; I was a lady, after all. Before I left, however, I spoke, “Whatever this is... this connection that we have, I want it gone.”

Rixen’s yellow eyes darkened, “Likewise.”

My voice dropped to a whisper, “How... how does it work?”

“As much as I’ve gathered,” Rixen bit the inside of his cheek, “You pull me in every time you’re feeling strong emotions. The same goes for me. But ever since you came to Bastia, it’s grown stronger.”

“I want you to find a way to get rid of it.” I demanded, wondering if this was the right person to demand anything from.

Rixen chuckled, “Your wish is my command. But before I do that, I ought to make this little situation as mutually-beneficial as possible. Read the books, Irina.”

A part of me was afraid of the things he might ask from me once I read the books. Surely, he wouldn’t stop there. At this point, I knew nothing substantial about him, but he seemed to know all of my secrets.

Deciding not to dwell on it, I asked one more question, “They call me Maiden of Irenwell?”

Rixen grinned and saluted once more, the mock in his voice unmistakable, “Ironically, your Grace.”