The Blood King - Chapter Nine (Patreon)

Nymira

Multiple things have become clear to me in the few hours I’ve been awake in this castle. First, it belonged to someone else. Whether or not it was taken by force or given is a mystery. But judging from the intention of the humans who brought me here, no one seems to be against his occupation. Second, there are only a handful of human servants, meaning it has either been ordered that I am avoided, or the king who occupies this land didn’t just take out the former ruler alone. And third, I do not know who or what is in charge here.

It occurred to me that I know the names of no one I have encountered, as if everyone has been charged with watching me, and not interacting with me—the man who brought me a decent change of clothes, included. I have been isolated, all because of what I am. For some reason, however, I have been properly fed, clothed, and healed. Even my strength has slowly begun its return. I can see more than what’s in front of me, and I can smell beyond basic scents.

It makes my situation even more confusing. Am I here because I am seen as a threat? Or is my death waiting around a corner? It doesn’t make sense that they would offer me the luxuries they have if they plan on killing me.

I release a breath of frustration, holding my hand out in front of me. My brother’s necklace remains wrapped around my wrist, hiding the one mark that has formed. The mystery king spoke of markings as if they meant something, and as if my not having one was an anomaly among my kind. It may be the only thing keeping me alive. So for now, I must keep it hidden.

I must keep everything I’ve discovered about myself hidden.

I slowly lower my hand to the edge of the balcony as I look out over the garden. I pull in a deep inhale, closing my eyes as the scents remind me of the forests. I laugh quietly as I am reminded of the moments Peyra and I shared. Her teaching me everything she knew so that I would be able to care for myself if something ever happened to her. Foraging, creating medicine, keeping to the trees…

I hated the sweltering heat the trees caused, trapping the sun's warmth. But what I wouldn’t give to be back there, back with Peyra, complaining about the freedoms I didn’t know I had.

“Auruna san.” I turn away from the balcony to see the man who brought me clothes, approaching with a cautious grin. He maintains eye contact as he comes to stand next to me, raising a brow.

“What?” I ask.

He scoffs in disbelief.

“So you speak the common tongue because you have to,” he says.

I narrow my gaze, turning away from him. This is the second time someone has mentioned it. The first was the humans who captured me in the first place, cursing Peyra for “teaching” it to me. I know what he is doing by asking. He’s trying to see how much I know about myself.

I ignore the man, looking back at the garden. The sun has passed its highest point, signifying the afternoon. The servant who has been by my side since coming here was called away for her duties, leaving me alone, or so I thought. Now, I am not entirely sure her absence wasn’t on purpose.

“The clothes suit you,” he says, his gaze remaining on me.

“Yes. They are better than the abomination left for me,” I say, earning another laugh from him.

“Abomination?” he asks.

I shrug.

“It was impractical. I cannot properly fight in it,” I say.

“Are you expecting a battle while you are here?” he asks, laughing.

I finally look away from the gardens to take him in. His stance is relaxed, and I am surprised at the strange scent coming from him. It’s much different than a humans. The longer I take him in, the more I am convinced that he isn’t. But I don’t quite know what he is. I only learned the basics of the Ancients. Peyra never taught me any specifics.

“I do not know. No one has told me why I am here. But I have spent most of my life expecting a battle when I am seen,” I say.

His amusement drops slightly, and instead of responding, he turns to look out at the gardens.

“Has your king decided to release me?” I ask, breaking the silence.

He doesn’t look at me as he responds.

“Why would you think that?” he asks.

“Why else have you shown up unannounced?” I ask.

My answer shocks him.

“If I’m being honest… I wanted to see the Ikniri up close. It’s been so long since we’ve seen one. Any of us,” he says, slowly looking at me. I hate the way his eyes gleam with what could pass for hope as he looks at me.

I narrow my gaze, stepping back.

“I am not a monument for you to look at,” I say, earning a laugh.

“You are right. It’s just extremely surreal to see you,” he says.

There’s almost a double meaning behind his words. He speaks them with a familiarity that brings nothing out in me.

“I want to see your king,” I say.

His face shifts instantly at the mention of his king. His expression is no longer relaxed. He’s guarded, even standing up straight to emphasise his response.

“That is not possible,” he says.

I scoff.

“Why? He cannot keep me here without explanation. I was brought here against my will after the only family I’ve ever known was taken from me. And I have been compliant ever since. I deserve an explanation at the least,” I say.

Caius steps closer to me.

“He can, and he will. We both know your compliance is because you are too weak to attempt an escape on your own. Be glad he is feeling merciful, Ikniri.”

“Nymira,” I say, letting my anger rise. “My name is not Ikniri. It is Nymira.”

His eyes widen slightly, and he steps back. “My apologies…Nymira.”

I watch him quietly. I don’t understand him. Could he be someone close to the king? Or a random guard disobeying orders to see the Ikniri?

“Who are you? Did the king send you to spy on me?” I ask.

He shakes his head.

“No, of course not. My name is Caius. As I said before, I just wanted to see you. It’s been decades since anyone has seen one of you. We thought your kind was extinct,” he says.

I look away, but he continues.

“Are there more of you—”

I ignore him, the desperation to get away fueling me as I hoist myself up onto the balcony.

“Wait, Nymira—”

I’m jumping down into the garden before he can grab me, glad that my strength has somewhat returned as I land.

The maze of grass is tall enough to swallow me, surrounding me with the greenery I’ve been staring at from afar all afternoon. I slowly stand, turning to look back to the balcony. I briefly see Caius looking over and into the garden before he disappears, and I laugh to myself.

“Fool,” I murmur, moving through the garden. He’s too familiar for a stranger who is part of holding me here against my will. His tactics are obvious. He’s trying to figure out how much I truly know about myself and my people, but I have been clear that I know nothing. He’s revealed his motive too soon. He only brought me clothes to earn my trust and get information from me. But I will never trust anyone here. Those men brought me here expecting a reward. And up until I corrected him, he referred to me as “Ikniri,” never bothering to learn my name. Or see me as anything beyond what I am. He sees me as the last of my kind, a symbol of what no longer exists, that is all.

The mystery surrounding my existence is perplexing to these people, and I need to understand why.

All I was told by Peyra is that my people were lost during the war. A war the blood king led. I assume he has long since disappeared. But the moment I think it, I am reminded of what the mystery king said to me before having me dragged from his chambers.

“Word of the first Ikniri in over twenty years will spread. And I will not have released her by the time the trouble you will bring reaches. There is no place for you beyond these walls.”

Does that mean the blood king is still out there? Willing to hunt me down as the last of my kind? If so, it still doesn’t explain why this king would harbor me instead of letting me disappear to eventually become a legend.

I pull in a deep breath, closing my eyes as I take in the scents around me. My hearing has returned to its heightened sense as well. The rapid flutter of insect wings is clear as I move with my eyes remaining closed. I smell…water. I can hear the trickle of a fountain, and the heavy flutter of birds’ wings.

I smile, opening my eyes. It’s easy to maneuver through the maze with my senses intact. It takes me all but five minutes to find the water. I release a breath of disbelief as I exit the center of the maze to see a fountain in the center, surrounded by a pond. The fountain is taller than a baby tree, water spouting from the top to trickle into the baths beneath it.

I move quickly to the water, my interest piqued. I squat before the fountain, my fingers dipping into the water. I frown in disappointment. It’s warm. I continue to study my fingers beneath the water, my mind shifting to that day. If I had listened to Peyra, I wouldn’t be in this situation, and she’d be alive.

I narrow my gaze when I feel nothing from touching the water. In the river, I was able to freeze it and access a piece of my power that was never possible. But now, I feel no access to that part of myself.

I tense as a chill ripples over me. Someone is behind me, and I don’t have a weapon. I turn, not letting them get close, thrusting my arm out to attack, but my attacker catches my arm easily, twisting me painfully until I am kneeling with his hand at the back of my neck to hold me down.

“You are good, Ikniri. Unfortunately, I am better,” I tense from the familiar voice.

It’s the mystery king.

“What—” I try to turn, but his grip tightens.

“No no...not yet,” he says. I grunt in pain at the sudden rise in heat surrounding me.

“Now, I am going to release you. And when I do, if you know what’s good for you, you will remain facing forward. Understand?”