I look down at my dirt-covered feet. “No, it is not my way.” I don’t explain more. My shoes are likely in this room somewhere—or did my Dread remove them? The girl just nods and guides me from the room like a mother hen with her chick.
“We will get you shoes too,” she says. “The den is too cold for bare toes.”
I follow the girl down the carved stone corridors I’d traversed last night, watching each turn carefully. I remember my Dread’s words. I am only here by his invitation, and I am not to break any rules.
Her skirt swishes rhythmically as she walks quickly and turns down a hall I recognize. This is where I met the young warrior last night.
There is no natural light to be found in this place, making everything strangely dim with shifting shadows. The only light comes from flickering flames—torches or lanterns or roaring fireplaces, giving everything an orange hue.
She brings me to a large meeting room with a massive wooden table and metal chandelier.
“This is the meeting hall for our quarter. There are several others just like this in other areas of the den, but this is ours. Here, you will commune and dine with the other Drahkitas in our quarter.”
“I know you!”
The woman and I jump in unison and turn to find a maskless warrior with soft locks of brown hair. The boy from last night.
“Gordian!” the woman says, surprised.
“Sorry if I scared you, Helena. I was just saying hi to the new Drahkita.” His eyes turn to me. He awkwardly adjusts the large sword at his belt. He is clearly not used to the weight of it. “I didn’t get your name last night.” His brown eyes turn to me, a sweet smile on his lips.
Maybe he truly is as kind as he seems.
I feel like I hold no value here at all, but he told me I was someone important.
“Do you know your name?” he asks, tilting his head.
“Of course she knows her name.” The woman waves a hand at him. “Drahkitas are shy in the beginning stages, you know this.”
His grin widens. “I do know this.”
“Lina,” I say quietly.
“Drahkita Lina, a lovely name.”
Helena’s voice drops low. “How did you meet last night?”
“Oh…” He looks down at his boots. “Well, she came out for something to eat.”
Helena waits, chin tucked like she’s expecting something more.
“With Haze, of course,” he says, cheeks reddening. “You can ask him!”
She lifts her chin but doesn’t smile. “You worry me sometimes, child. Come, Drahkita Lina, I have some food ready for you.”
Helena grabs a basket from a table in the corner and sets it on the massive wooden table. “As I was saying, this is the community room for our quarter. We are station six. You will have the option to dine with others from your station here at designated times. For now, I will guide you to those, or ensure you are fed independently if you’d rather.” She flips over the cloth covering the contents of the basket.
She shoos the boy away as I stare at the pile of breads. Some light, some dark, some brown, some with mixtures of various colors. I’ve never seen such an assortment.
“Choose one,” she prompts. “I’m partial to the banana.”
My brow pinches. “Which is that?”
She grabs the yellow muffin and hands it to me.
I lick my lips absently as she covers the other breads and removes the basket.
I carefully bring the bread up to my nose to sniff it. My god, the smell is nothing like I’ve ever experienced.
