She was curled up on the floor in the far corner of the room. He had no interest in having to travel back out among the humans every time he wanted her in his presence.
The room was dimly lit. He walked over to her and leaned down to see if she was asleep. He could tell by her breathing that she was. Grabbing her by the arm, he pulled her to her feet. Slamming her hard against the wall, he began to laugh.
'You seem quite cold. Such a shame that you cannot go of your own accord and put on a cloak.' He mocked her, making his body falsely tremble as he gripped his fingers around her arm, bearing down hard into her flesh. 'I'm proud of you for pointing out such a foul being. That girl had no business being here. If it weren't for you, she might have lived. You have served me well, wife.' He thought it humorous that perhaps she'd at one time had ridiculous notions of a real marriage. Humans were such pathetic creatures.
As he released her arm and left her standing against the wall, he took long strides, dramatically, around the room. 'I will tell you this, you should be incredibly grateful to me. I've now saved your life on two occasions. Had you not been chosen as my beautiful bride, had you not been specially picked for me, then you would be dead along with the rest of those who were taken from your village.' He rushed upon her and ran his hands up her bare thighs, then higher. He could just imagine the repulsion that screamed inside of her.
Laughing, he reached around her neck and loosened the ties that held the bare sheath she wore and it slipped to the floor. 'I'm really not in the mood for company tonight, but seeing that you are already here and so eager for my advances, I suppose I cannot deny you such things.' He took her again by the arms and threw her to the bed, then leaned down over her.
'What are you thinking in there?' Sara didn't respond, which infuriated him. 'Answer me!'
Her eyes welled with tears and he sat up, horrified. He reached a hand back and brought it hard against her face. 'You will not display such sentiments in my presence. Do you understand me?' Upon her subsequent lack of an answer, he grabbed her chin in his hand and shook her. 'Did you not hear me?'
'Yes, my Lord,' she whispered.
He sighed and said under his breath, 'To you, I am no mere Lord. I am a God, and this night, you are blessed to worship me.' He started to unbuckle his belt and saw something flash in her eyes. For a brief moment he thought he might have recognized it as anger, when he thought twice, and realized that it couldn't have been. He must be imagining things.
When he was finished, he stepped back off of the bed and stretched. He pointed toward the corner where she'd been when he had returned. 'Out of my bed. You disgust me.' She rose, the discomfort in her leg obvious. As she started to struggle, he reached over and pulled hard on her shoulder, hurling her away from him. 'Stand against the wall.' He walked over toward a basin of water that sat beside a large wardrobe, chilled from the air. The night had grown cold, and Sara's body reacted violently to the now-frigid temperature.
Grabbing the basin in his hands, he walked to where she stood against the wall. He forcefully splashed it over her, drenching her face and body. She choked, coughing uncontrollably as her body tried to clear her throat of the water. 'You will relent, this ridiculous hold you have on your emotions, and we will continue this every waking hour until you do!'
He leaned over and pulled his clothes from the floor where he'd thrown them. He pulled his pants back on, then walked over to the light and blew out the flame, blanketing the room in darkness. He slid back into his bed, grinning.
'Daughter of man, you will be broken. Just like a horse, you will learn who your master is and will come to love me. Do not doubt this. You and I have a long life ahead of us and you have many sons to bear.' He closed his eyes, welcoming sleep. 'Many sons.'
CHAPTER FORTY — ONE
Garren walked into the dining hall where the elders awaited him. He tried not to focus on the hundreds of Adorians who stood, filling the room, waiting to hear what would be said.
'Garren. Come forward.' The same elder who had spoken to him earlier motioned for him to draw nearer. Ariana and Michael stepped back.
'You have been forgiven of your sins. No longer will you hold your head down in shame. You are one of us, not only by blood, but by creed.' One of the other elders brought forth a sword. It was bright silver, the blade engraved with intricate carvings. The elder balanced it in two hands. 'Do not fear us, Garren. By this sword, you are committing yourself a son of Adoria, and pledging your life in her service. Do you wish to do so?'
He nodded.
'Then kneel down.' Garren obediently knelt before them. The elder with the sword walked closer to him, took the blade in one hand, and lightly tapped each of his shoulders.
'Arise now a child of our realm. No longer held in darkness, your eyes are now open to the light. Existai domay enthro Adoria.' He reached down to help Garren to his feet.
The sword was held out to him. He took it, surprised by the weightlessness of it. He'd seen swords like it used in battle before, but had never managed to get his hands on one. The Adorians had been so swift in their movements during a fight, which made sense to him now. It would be nearly effortless with such a blade. The elder turned and spoke to those gathered.
'Please continue. Welcome our new brother as you would one who was raised in our realm. Tonight is a great victory for our cause, as Michael has said.' He assumed that Michael had spoken before they arrived.
Servers emerged from a back room, carrying large trays. As they rounded the tables, the noise from various conversations grew.
The elder stepped closer to him, and gave a partial bow. 'We have not been formally introduced. My name is Jenner. I am the leader of the council of elders, and on a lesser note, father-in-law to Michael and father to Jareth.'
Garren bowed in return, unsure of what to say. The noise around them grew as the room swelled with the movement of a feast underway.
'Be careful of the blade. That is not a metal that exists in your realm. It will never dull, so don't let its weight fool you,' Jenner said.
'I'm honored. Where did this sword come from?'
'That sword was given to me by my father. Consider it a gift.'
Garren swallowed hard. He held his hand up in protest. 'I can't take it. I wouldn't have even laid hands on it had I known.' He started to give the sword back to Jenner, when he felt Michael step up beside him.
'You made a comment to me not too long ago. You said that our fathers had been allies. Your father would have wished it this way, and since we have no sword of his, this will have to do.'
Garren looked behind him to see that Ariana sat quietly in the back of the room. He could barely make out her form in the shadows.
Jenner patted Garren on the shoulder. 'Eat, Garren. The guards have informed me that you never touched your food, and it's been a long journey for you.' He left Garren and Michael.
Michael gave him knowing look. 'You're thinking about Ariana. Tomorrow morning, we'll need to discuss the matter of getting both Micah and Sara away from Eidolon, but tonight we need to put such things aside. Any man, Adorian or Ereubinian, no matter his training, will lose perspective if he doesn't rest.'
Many Adorians approached them throughout the night. Garren was stunned, despite Ariana's warning that he wouldn't receive the reaction that he'd expected. There were very few who had any hesitation in their voices as they spoke with him. Was it possible that they weren't aware of what he had done? Yet, he'd heard his own crimes read aloud just hours before, so they had to know.
'You are wondering why they are so kind.'
Garren nodded.
'They aren't human, Garren. They look human, many of them, but they aren't. Fallen man has darkness in his heart that is not shared by any in this realm. We are a people of simplicity and peace.'
