Chapter 18: Something in the Shadows

The bells had quieted but Saffron still felt uneasy. Elric was staring at her, gauging her reaction. “I’m not going to faint if that is what you are thinking,” Saffron said, staring down at the dead man. She had pressed her fingers to his neck and listened for his breath. He was gone.
“I’ve seen you mend a dragon and heal yourself from poisoning. I have no inclinations that this would make you faint,” he said with a smile. She found herself smiling back at him; the ice had thawed.
“Are you alright?” she asked her, her eyes assessing his body. His face was flushed and there was a thin trickle of blood running from his throat where the man’s blade had nicked him.
“I’m fine. I’m curious as to who the hell this is though,” he replied and nudged the man with the toe of his boot.
“You don’t recognize him?” Saffron asked. There was something familiar about him, but she didn’t think it was so much his appearance as it was…something else. Elric shook his head.
“I don’t believe so. I have never seen him before,” he said and stopped, a curious look on his face. His head cocked to the side as he knelt closer to the man and…sniffed. He reared back, his pupils large.
“He smells familiar. It is the strangest thing,” Elric said and looked at Saffron, confused. She leaned over the man, her head nearly touching Elric’s. She closed her eyes and sniffed as well. Sulfur.
“His scent…it is what I smelled on you the night…the night we met. I had thought it might have been residue from a cannon but now I am not sure. The smell could also be something else,” she said, sitting back on her heels. Her wet hair continued to drip on the floor around her. She grimaced and braided it quickly atop her head.
“What other things?” Elric asked, glad that they were speaking again.
“Well, magic. Certain magics have a smell akin to sulfur. The only thing is…” she paused and grimaced slightly.
“Go on,” he nudged.
“Dark magic,” she replied grimly.
“But dark magics have been forbidden in the kingdom since…well before I was born. The punishment for practicing is death,” Elric said, looking contemplatively at the man.
Saffron snorted.
“What?” Elric asked, his eyebrows drawn together.
“Dark magic is still practiced, just not openly. The Wood is full of it. Didn’t you notice how time seemed different in there?” she replied with a laugh.
“I was a bit distracted at the time,” he said, giving her a look.
“Right. Well.” she froze. The man’s body began to move. She jumped back and Elric pushed her behind him. They watched in horror as the man’s body began to crumble, turning into black ash. The smell of sulfur filled the air as he continued to decompose into a pile of black ashes. The ashes swirled into the air, whipping around the room. The candles snuffed out and they were plunged into darkness, A cackle seemed to echo from the very fabric of the darkness, encircling them, drowning them in the scent of sulfur and decay. Saffron clutched tightly to Elric, pressing her face into his shirt. His arms wrapped tightly around her.
Eventually, the candles sputtered back to life. They were alone with just the lingering scent of something rotten in the air. The man and his ashes…gone.
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Elric had forced the window open, protesting on its hinges, to rid the room of the sulfuric smell that still hung thick in the air. Cold wind and rain swept in, but it quickly dissipated the acrid stink. Saffron stood staring at the spot where the man had been, her brows drawn together in thought and her lip bit between her teeth.
“What are you thinking?” Elric asked, curious as to what could be going through her mind. Most women would have fainted at the sight. Then again, most women wouldn’t have come charging from the bathing room, dagger drawn. He was uncomfortable that she had now saved his life twice. It was unbecoming of a Prince to be the one being rescued instead of doing the rescuing. The thought annoyed him until he realized that she wore nothing under her dress. It clung tightly to her body, damp from the bath.
“I am thinking that this was obviously not a random attack but rather planned. He knew that you would be here,” she said and looked up at him. She cleared her throat to draw his attention away from her body and to her face. Her cheeks flushed at the apparent desire in his eyes, but she had no time for that, despite her treacherous body’s response.
Elric, lust still thick in his eyes, nodded. “It would appear you are correct, but why send him after me? It is not as if I am next in line for the crown,” he said and leaned against the bed.
“But you are Captain of the Guard…could Mira have sent him?” she asked, looking up at him, aware of his close proximity. She could feel the heat of his body brushing against her cold skin. With a shiver, she took a small step away. Now was not the time.
“I suppose…but unless she had him follow us for the past few days, I don’t see how she would have known we would stop here today of all days,” he retorted, his mind drawn away, momentarily, from Saffron’s evident curves.
“Unless…” she began, her face contorted with concern.
“Unless?” he asked, his eyebrow arched.
“Unless whoever it was that sent him, knew that you would be here.” She said and rushed to the door, bolting it.
“Are you saying that you believe that it could have been someone from our kingdom?” he asked, voicing his disbelief.
“After what happened to me at the castle, I would not discount it. Someone wants both of us killed and it seems to be someone who has rather intimate knowledge of your comings and goings,” she replied with a shudder.
Elric pulled her to him and she didn’t fight it. Instead, letting his arms envelop her. She sank into his warmth and he placed his chin atop her head.
“It appears that we have a snake in our midst. Let’s not return to the castle. Instead, we shall head to the front. I want to check on my soldiers. They gossip worse than old women. If the corruption is coming from there, we will know of it. It will also keep us out of the watchful eye from anyone at the palace.” He murmured into her hair.
“What do you say?” he asked and looked down at her, his eyes a dark, mossy green.
She nodded her agreement, the bells for the moment, silent.