Fearless Read Online Free PDF

eat something –’
    â€˜Stop!’ I don’t mean to yell at Mela. She’s only doing her job, and so far she’s been nothing but thoughtful and kind. ‘Look, um, can you just go for a walk until the meals arrive. I really need to be alone right now.’
    She sighs. ‘I’m sorry, Ebony, but I’m not allowed to leave you unattended.’
    â€˜What?’
    â€˜I’m under orders.’
    â€˜Ah, so you’re really not a handmaiden but a prison guard who happens to be good at making beds and untangling knotted hair. Are you packing a weapon somewhere under that dress?’
    â€˜My role is to keep you company,’ she explains calmly, ‘and to ensure you have everything you need at any time.’
    â€˜Will you be sleeping with me too?’
    Her face goes red.
    Damn it.
    â€˜No, my lady, I didn’t mean to infer –’
    â€˜Mela, you seem like a lovely person, but as my good friend would say, this is bullshit . ’
    â€˜Ebony, two highly trained soldiers are outside your doors right now, guarding this apartment.’
    â€˜I have guards outside my door? They weren’t there when we arrived.’
    â€˜They are there now, and I guarantee neither of them can untangle hair, or do any number of other things I will be doing for you. Would you rather one of them was in here attending your needs and helping you adjust to your new environment?’
    I stride up to the front doors and throw them open, both at once. Two Throne soldiers in their full black armour, helmets on, weapons at the ready, swing round to face me, their movements lightning fast and deathly silent. I look up, and up, to silver eyes peering at me. Mela comes and stands beside me, and when I don’t say anything but just gawp and stare, the guard shifts his gaze to Mela. ‘Is there something we can do to assist, my ladies?’
    With an open palm Mela points to the guard who just spoke. ‘Ebony, this is Captain Elijah.’
    â€˜At your service,’ he says, bowing his head.
    Mela points to the other one. ‘This is Captain Lhiam.’
    â€˜It is an honour to serve you both, my ladies.’
    â€˜Uh-huh.’ They stare at me with slightly puzzled expressions, as if they’re trying to get a read on me. I point to one, then the other. ‘You two look alike.’
    â€˜We’re brothers,’ Captain Elijah says.
    â€˜Oh. Well, thank you, captains, but, ah, Mela is looking after my needs adequately.’
    The meals arrive. Mela wheels the trolley inside and closes the doors with some murmured words to the guards, but I’m not listening. My head is spinning. How do I get out of here now? How is Nathaneal going to find me? I’m eight floors above the ground, with Throne guards everywhere, even outside my door.
    A sense of desperation is making me nauseous. I need torest. I’ll think about it all tomorrow. I start moving towards the bedroom when Mela points with her elbow to a door on the other side of the living room. ‘My room,’ she says, carrying her tray of hot food . ‘In case you need me.’
    â€˜Fine,’ I mutter, lifting a limp hand and giving her a weary wave, noticing how it’s growing darker outside. Night is falling quickly.
    I walk into my room, curl up in the foetal position on my bed and watch Mela through the narrow gap of my open door. She puts the tray on the edge of a low table in the living room. When she stands up, she bumps it with her knee and it falls to the ground. Food spills out as china breaks. I would get up and help her clean the mess, but I’m bone weary and call out instead, ‘Are you OK, Mela?’
    â€˜Clumsy, that’s all. I suppose it’s just as well you didn’t want a meal.’
    Her joke is lame but still helps me to crack a small smile. ‘I don’t want to be disturbed tonight, Mela. Can you do that for me?’
    She comes to my door.