I didn't attend classes the next day and refused to leave my room. I sent Riana to tell the Swordsmaster I was feeling under the weather and thankfully, he was alright with this and sent her back from all my classes with what I needed to complete before the next day.
"Are you alright, Lady Eveline?" she finally asked as she was brewing some tea. "It's not like you to miss classes."
I held my right hand over my wound under my shirt. The event had traumatized me more than I cared to admit. I hadn't slept a wink last night for every time I closed my eyes all I saw was the cloaked figure standing over me with the knife poised to cut into my arm.
"I will be," I said in a hushed whisper. " I just… I need a day to recuperate."
She said no more sensing I didn't want to talk about last night. How could my own kind do this to me? We were supposed to be at treaty with the Darklings- not all of them were our enemy. There was good and bad in every race.
She brought me a cup of tea before I walked over to my desk to at least take my mind off last nights events with my studies. I just didn't want to face anyone today especially not knowing who all did this to me. I knew myself well enough to know I would think everyone, but Alistor a traitor.
A knock came on my door at dusk, but I didn't get up right away to answer it.
"Do you want me to get that, Lady Eveline?" she asked poking her head through our shared door.
"I'll get it," I said sadly.
She shut her door as I slid my chair over the wooden floorboards to go see who had come to check on me. I wasn't much in the mood for visitors. I unlatched the door to see Neil's figure taking up most of the entry.
"How are you feeling?" he asked gently.
"A…alright," I stumbled out.
"Will you be back in class tomorrow?"
"I'm.. I'm not sure."
When his eyes glanced down at my left arm as if he knew what was under the left sleeve, it unnerved me. Was he one of the Keltcher? Could the man I was courting be part of that cruel corrupt lot of Guardians?
"I brought you some venison stew. Can I come in?" he asked after a moment.
"I'd… I'd really like to get some more rest, Neil."
"We really need to talk," he said urgently.
"It can wait," I snapped, then added with more gentleness, "till I'm better."
He said nothing as he pressed the bowl into my hands and stormed off. Was he going to admit to being part of that group the same as Adam? Had Adam told him in confidence what had happened last night? With a slight shake of my head, I shut the door before placing the beam back in place and setting the bowl of stew on my desk. It wasn't until I sat down that I realized that my hands were shaking. How was I going to be a Guardian if the first real danger I encountered I folded?
I ate the stew in quiet choking back the tears I felt trying to release. What they had done was barbaric and reckless. I now knew where their quarters were. What was stopping me from taking the Swordsmaster and the King down there? Did I trust them enough to not be part of the secret sector within their own walls? I trusted they were not, but I needed more information before I came forward.
Another knock came at my door.
"Go away, Neil!" I called. "I told you I was going to bed!"
"It's Alistor."
My heart stopped for a moment. I didn't know if I could face him. Not just yet. His face would just remind me of all the horrors that happened last night.
"Eve…"
"Alistor, I just… not today," I said. "I can't."
"Let me in please."
The way his voice sounded, I found myself getting up from my desk and going to the door. He sounded as tore up as I was and perhaps each others company would help. His fair skin had dark circles under his eyes and his usually well kept pony tail was a mess with loose strands in disarray. He looked about how I felt.
Before I could move to let him in, he wrapped me in an embrace almost knocking me off balance.
"I'm so sorry I wasn't able to protect you. The way you were screaming…. I don't think that scene will ever leave my head."
I let him hold me for a moment. No one understood what I was feeling besides Alistor and this is what I needed since last night. I had just been looking for someone to make me feel like I could be weak for a moment. I let him go and ushered him in before barring my door once more.
"It wasn't your fault," I whispered. "There was too many and you had a brute holding you back."
He nodded sadly his eyes falling on my left arm. "How… how is it?"
I shrugged. "She stopped it from spreading. I haven't changed the bandage… I haven't wanted to look at it."
"That's partially why I came," he said bringing some new bandages out of his pocket. "I wouldn't want to look at it either if it had happened to me."
"You don't have to," I whispered. "I'm sure it's fine."
He rolled his eyes. "Sit. You heard what she told you. They need to be changed at least once a day for the next week."
I sat at my desk and looked away as I felt his nimble callused hands began to roll up my sleeve before undoing the bindings. I heard him suck in a breath as he looked at the deep laceration on my arm that would brand me for life as a "blood traitor".
"You know, Eve-"
"Just bandage it up.... please."
"Eve this means you stand with the Darklings. How is that a bad thing?"
Tears welled in my eyes. He just didn't understand. It was more than that. I had brought shame to my family and to my bloodline from the first twelve. To be called a blood traitor meant I had lost my calling. IT didn't matter that the Keltcher had branded this on me. If anyone saw this, it was to bring me shame. Alistor would never understand because he was just a simple mortal and that was what made him so special.
"You wouldn't understand."
"I do actually. Its a marking from before Darklings were seen as equals and if your kind stood with them you were outcast for it. It's different now. Darklings are supposed to be accepted. Why are you allowing the Keltcher to make you be filled with shame when they are the blood traitors?"
I looked at him, a few tears welling in my eyes.
How did he always know how to make me feel better.
"Will you be at classes tomorrow?" he asked.
"A..aye," I said shakily.
He finished and when he was done, he gave me a small kiss on the cheek before he left without another word.