Book 3: Where She Will Die

Rainer

I walk quickly down the hallways, trying to be as unnoticeable as possible. Unfortunately for me, Castle Pestera being a smaller castle has a more limited number of guards and servants, so it’s harder to blend in. The guards all talk and joke around in between their shifts as there’s really not much to do. Even staring at the waterfall outside can get boring after a while.

“Hey, new guy,” one of the guards calls out. “Where are you going?”

I hold up the metal pitcher I’d taken from the kitchens. “I’m just bringing water to the king’s new feeder.”

“Who put you on feeder duty?”

I shrug, letting them try to work out whether I’m lying or not on their own. “I don’t have time to chit-chat. If I let the feeder die of dehydration, it’ll be my head on the chopping block.”

The guard steps into my path, blocking me from moving forward.

“Look, new guy, if Sergei finds out you’re not really assigned to the new feeder, and you’re j