Chapter 14: Sena - Fated to the Night King

Gus smiled at me as she claimed the seat beside my cot.

"Brought you some roast chicken this time."

I watched her carefully, waiting for any sign that there's more to her offer, but saw nothing suspicious. Which made me even more wary.

But wariness lost the battle with my hunger, which had finally reappeared, and my mouth watered at the delicious scent of her cooking.

"Thank you," I managed to say as she helped me sit up and then slid the covered plate onto my lap.

"Well, now. You have a right lovely voice, young lady." I wince and she looks away, busying herself by straightening out the blankets resting on my legs. "Was sure you'd talk in your own time, if you could. Seems the healing is on pace. You eat up as much as you like. I also have some cookies fresh-baked for you, as well. They're a favorite here, if I do say so. And I do say so." She gave me a wink before leaning back in the hard-backed chair once more.

The taste of the chicken was truly divine. Herbs and butter on my tongue, the crispy skin cracking as I bit down on a piece. I eat slowly, savoring every bite because I didn't know when I'd ever eat like this again. At home, meals like this were reserved for those counted as Whole, untainted, while the Stricken survived on the cast-offs that remained. Or what we could scrounge and cook up ourselves.

"Does my heart good to see someone enjoying my food so completely. I'll make you extras for such a compliment."

I nodded my head and listened as she talked about her work in the kitchen, the favorite foods of seemingly everyone who lived in the castle. And the King, of course. I watched her as I chewed, amazed that she spoke with such familiarity. "Alkan, the King, he found me on one of his travels, you know. I was in a bad way, myself, at the time, you know. Wasn't sure if there was any chance of getting out of it, and then he tripped right over me. Found me where I was, saw past the mud and the blood, the bruises, offered me work if I wanted it. I've been part of his court ever since."

She paused, and I kept my eyes focused on my plate. At the rapidly disappearing chicken and the freshly cooked vegetables she included. "Have you ever wanted to leave? To go back where you came from?"

Gus scoffed. "Go back to what? Fighting for every scrap and looking over my shoulder for someone wanting to bury a knife in me? I don't think so. The Night Kingdom has its rules, and we're all pledged to follow them, but it's safe. Here, we're cared for. Regardless of where we came from or what we do. Once we pledged our fealty and took the Oath, we're welcomed and the benefits of the Night Kingdom are open to all. The King's protection covers any who are part of his court."

"It must be nice." I mused over the idea, looking for the trick, the lie. It was hard to believe in the rosy picture she painted. I'd heard beautiful words for years. But I was still exactly where I'd always been, living a life governed by the Alpha. In the small, cozy office with blankets piled on me, delicious food filling my belly, that life seemed far away. Except that his presence still loomed in the back of my mind. Judging my thoughts. Criticizing me for taking too long to heal. Demanding to know when I'd have the answers he sent me here for.

"It is. We all work hard, but we all benefit the same, as well." She hesitated, giving me an appraising look before continuing. "It's not often that the world outside these walls offers the same bargain. That I know."

Her experience layered every word, conveying years of pain and going without in the spaces between, the things she doesn't say. But there was also happiness and satisfaction that I sensed. Like she'd found her place among the Istakarrans and she knew it was good. Because she'd seen what bad truly looks like.

"When you're ready, you can share with me what you'd like to be called. Some people choose a new name; others hold tight to who they were. Neither is wrong. Just tells us what you prefer. Starting over or building on the foundation you already have." She gathered up my empty plate, replacing it with a smaller one wrapped in a pristine white kitchen towel. "As promised, cookies. Oats and extra chocolate. You can take your time with those. Let your stomach adjust. You've gone without for a while. It'll take time for your body to accept more."

'Thank you," I said to her once more, testing out my voice. I'd been relieved when it had returned and I could hear my own whispers as I practiced in the night. It was the last bit of the Alpha's ordered silence finally slipping off me. I'd cried into my pillow in the darkness I was so happy. My voice was still weak and thready, like it too, needed time to adjust to being used again. She patted my hand and stood but stops when I offered her something more.

"Sena. My name is Sena."