Page 21 of From Beneath the Moon

Dinner continues on. I sit like a good little lap dog. Drink wine. Laugh at well-timed jokes. From the outside, it looks like I’m beginning to accept my fate. Even enjoying my time at the Jord. One would never know that I was drugged and kidnapped and brought here against my will by my pleasant expression. On the outside, I am a picture of serenity, acceptance, and submission; on the inside, I’m anything but.

“I’m afraid I miss our entertainment. Tonight’s dinner is rather boring, is it not?” Lawrie asks loudly to no one in particular.

Lord Rollo’s fingers squeeze around my hips possessively as he chuckles, the sound gravelly like two boulders crushing together. “Why don’t you sing again, my bride?”

“Add a little dancing too!” Uttert shouts from above his wine glass, and the rest of the court laughs.

Fine, just fine. I stand, scanning the room for the perfect spot to start. “You want dancing now? Getting greedy, are we?”

The room falls into laughter.

I have them where I want them. “If you so wish.” I take a deep breath to center myself instinctively—just like what Marrow used to do, I realize. Then I begin to sing The Alliance of Old, a tale of when the first Treaty was signed by the humans, Elves, and Underlings.

I might as well remind this wretched court of their original oaths while singing and dancing for them.

My opening lines soar across the open spaces, bouncing effortlessly across the polished stone floors. The vibrations of my music fill the space with ease.

Come on now, do that magic thingy already, I groan internally. Not feeling that tingle just yet. How did I do that?

To the rhythm of my Telling, I step closer to the door, swaying my hips left and right. The song builds higher and higher, the cadences never quite resolving, which is the reason why everyone is unconsciously leaning forward, waiting for my resolve.

I spin and almost lose my footing. Just a few more steps and I can run out of here. I just need to put them into a trace. I sing louder, hoping that will help.

No. Nothing other than the usual rapt attention.

Ugh!

Lord Rollo has the audacity to look smug while watching me, as if he is taking credit for my talents. My fingers clench, and I sense a slight tingling deep in my core. It must be my internal Source magic. Most humans cannot channel the Source without a stone.

I am not like most humans.

I fuel that feeling, carving it with my poetry into a shape that coils and spins around me. I can see the minuscule threads of light, pulsing like the sound itself took shape. Pushing those threads outward toward the court, I watch as they fall prey to my trap one by one, eyes glazing over, shoulders slumping.

Only when everyone is dazed from my magic do I dart.

As fast as I can.

I pass the door, and hope bursts from my chest. I only need to get to—

I freeze. More like hit a wall. My muscles lock up, stiff as the stone surrounding me. What the fuck is happening?

“Think you could escape from me, pet?” Lord Rollo steps out from the doorway, hand outstretched. He slowly rolls his hand into a fist, and I feel my body correspond with a terrible tightening sensation, like I’m prey being squeezed by a python.

A sickening crack. I wail with pain as one of my ribs breaks under his torture. “Please! Stop! You’re hurting me!”

Lord Rollo releases his grip, and I instantly collapse to the floor, clutching my side protectively. He crouches down next to me, his teeth bared. “I thought I felt something happen yesterday.” He reaches into his ears and pulls out a small piece of material. A device to block the influence of my voice.

I groan in pain and spit up bile right onto one of his polished shoes.

“I almost let you run, just to see where you think you’d escape. My Oksvakt patrol at all times. There is. No. Way. Out.” He kicks me to emphasize that last word.

Stars pepper my vision, like the stars above Nickel’s cabin where I learned what I was, a Starwatcher.

Kick.

The scene fades to another one. Castor teaching me to hold my staff. Fixing my elbow. His touch featherlight.

Kick.