Chapter - 48
Jacob and Elara entered Havenrest under the cover of night. Jacob's injuries were a steady throb, each step sending small jolts of pain through his body. Before anything else, he found his way to a local healer, a modest old woman. She examined his wounds, clicking her tongue as she cleaned them, before dabbing a cool, medicinal salve on his injuries. She handed him a bundle of herbs to chew on for the pain. As she worked, Jacob's mind drifted to Thorne.
Thorne had patched him up numerous times, never once sparing him the lecture that came with each wound. It was only now, under the healer's brisk hands and lackluster care, that Jacob realized how much he'd come to appreciate Thorne's rough kindness. He smiled to himself. He'd never admit that to the old man, though. Thorne would puff up like a rooster, and Jacob would never hear the end of it.
With the treatment finished, Jacob rejoined Elara outside, and together they made their way to Malakar's estate. This time, the guards didn't stop or question them. Even in the late hour, they swung open the gates and let them pass without a word. A maid met them at the door and guided them silently through the estate to the same opulent lounge where they'd waited the day before.
It wasn't long before Malakar himself entered, wrapped in a deep maroon robe, his hair tousled and his expression irritated at being woken from his sleep. He eyed them with curiosity. "What happened?" he asked, his voice still rough from sleep.
Jacob tossed the sack of silk onto the table, the shimmering threads spilling out in a heap. "Got you your supply of silk," he replied, his tone flat and businesslike. His gaze never left Malakar's face. "Now hold up your end of the deal."
Malakar's eyebrows rose in surprise as he inspected the silk. He hadn't expected them to return so soon. Those Silkshade Spiders had plagued the region for some time now, proving too deadly for the hunters who had ventured into their territory. Yet here were these two, bringing back the bounty within a day. Malakar recognized talent when he saw it and knew better than to underestimate them now.
Clearing his throat, he gestured for a servant to bring Angela and Lily. Moments later, the two women entered, their expressions lighting up as they saw Elara. Elara's face broke into a smile, her eyes filling with tears of relief as she ran forward and wrapped her arms around them both. Angela, held her close, smoothing Elara's hair, while Lily clung tightly to her elder sister.
"We're taking you both away from here," Elara murmured as she held them close. "You're free now. We'll be together again."
Malakar watched the reunion, his gaze shifting back to Jacob. He disappeared briefly, returning with a parchment in hand—the slave contract binding Angela and Lily to him. He took a small blade and cut across his fingertip, letting his blood drip onto the contract, the ink of his ownership mark glowing faintly before fading. Then he held the blade out to Jacob.
Jacob met his gaze for a moment before taking the blade and cutting his own finger. His blood mingled with Malakar's on the parchment, and as he placed his hand over the contract, Malakar muttered an incantation under his breath. The runes around Angela and Lily's necks glowed briefly.
"There. It's done," Malakar announced, rolling up the parchment and giving it to Jacob. "These two are your slaves now, Mr. Jacob."
Jacob looked over to Elara, who gave him a small nod. They had already agreed on this arrangement—it was the only way to guarantee Angela and Lily's safety in this world. Releasing a slave required a sanctioned official of the Royal Court, something neither of them had the means to secure. And in Elara's eyes, there was no one she trusted more with her family than Jacob.
Malakar cleared his throat and shifted. "Mr. Jacob," he began, "before you leave, I feel it's only right to apologize for my… earlier behavior. I assure you, I have not touched these two women. The younger girl's purity is wholly yours to… enjoy."
Jacob felt his blood boil at the man's words, but he kept his face impassive. The thought of responding—of setting the man straight on what he thought of such "rights"—crossed his mind. But exhaustion, along with a deep desire to be rid of this place, kept him silent. With a short nod, he turned away, gesturing for the three women to follow him. Elara, Angela, and Lily followed eagerly, relief and joy brightening their faces as they left the estate behind.
The four of them made their way back to the inn through the quiet, empty streets. Angela and Lily, after years of separation, spoke in hushed, excited tones with Elara, catching up on everything they'd missed in each other's lives. The bond between them was clear, even if years apart had etched lines of sorrow and pain on their faces. Jacob trailed a few paces behind, watching their reunion with a quiet contentment.