The grand dining room felt far too large for just two people, especially since only one of them was eating.
Duke Avner finished his meal slowly, moving with a grace that made every small action look important.
He set his silver utensils down with a quiet clink and leaned back, relaxing into the velvet cushions of his chair. For a few moments, he didn't say anything. He just sat there, watching the sunlight stream through the tall windows. Then, his grey eyes moved toward the door where Zora was standing.
"Come here," he said. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly across the long room.
Zora felt a small jump of nerves, but she didn't let it show on her face. She walked toward him, her steps light and even. She kept her head at a respectful angle, wondering if he needed more tea or if he was ready for her to clear the table. She stopped a few feet away from him and waited.
Instead of asking for a task, he looked at her with a curious expression. "Why did you decide to leave your small, comfortable village to work in the capital?" he asked.
The question caught her completely off guard. Zora blinked, her dark blue eyes meeting his for a split second before she looked down at the table.
She hadn't expected him to take an interest in her personal life. She knew she had to be careful with her answer.
She couldn't tell him the truthlthat she was a vampire who was terrified of being found by sorcerers. She couldn't tell him that her home felt empty after her foster parents were killed.
"I... I just wanted a change of environment, Your Grace," she said, her voice soft but steady.
It was a lie she had practiced in her head many times. "Since I don't have any family left in Gayle, I felt it was time to explore the world. I wanted to see what the capital was like."
She lied easily, her face remaining calm. She had spent years pretending to be a normal human girl, so hiding her feelings was like second nature to her.
Avner hummed in response and gave a slow nod. He didn't press her for more details, which made Zora feel a bit more relaxed.
However, a small part of her remained wary. She still remembered the day he had come to her village. Out of all the houses in Gayle, he had chosen to search hers personally. She still didn't know why he had done that, and she knew it wasn't her place to ask a powerful Duke such a question.
Sometimes, the way he looked at her made her feel like he could see right through her skin.
It was a heavy, knowing look that made her wonder if her secret was truly safe. She hoped she was just overthinking things.
If anyone ever found out she was a vampire, all the efforts her parents had made to keep her safe would be wasted. She pushed the worry to the back of her mind as the large dining room doors opened.
Damon, the ginger haired attendant, walked in along with Gideon. Damon was carrying several items that looked like wooden bows and leather quivers filled with arrows.
Zora looked at the equipment with interest. It seemed the Duke was planning to do some hunting or target practice.
Duke Avner rose from his chair, smoothed out his coat, and led the way out of the dining room.
Zora and the others followed close behind. Instead of going toward the study or his private rooms, the Duke headed for the large wooden doors that led to the backyard.
Outside, the heat of the day hit them immediately. It was a very hot afternoon, and the sun was shining brightly over the estate.
Zora felt the warmth on her skin, but she wasn't worried. She was incredibly thankful for the special earrings she wore.
They were enchanted items that protected her from the sun's rays. Without them, a vampire like her would have been in a lot of trouble in this kind of weather.
Because of the earrings, she could walk under the bright light without feeling any pain or weakness.
They walked across the wide, green yard toward the stables. The smell of hay and horses grew stronger as they approached.
Three horses had already been brought out into the sun. A stable man was busy checking their saddles and brushing their coats to make them shine.
Zora's eyes widened as she looked at the animals. This was unexpected. She had assumed that if the Duke were going somewhere, he would use a fine carriage with soft seats. Wasn't that what wealthy nobles usually did?
Avner walked steadily toward a massive grey horse. It was a beautiful animal with a long, jet-black mane that flowed like silk.
The Duke reached out and patted the horse's neck, his touch gentle. The horse seemed very excited to see him, nuzzling against his shoulder and acting quite clingy.
It was clear that the Duke spent a lot of time with his animal. He climbed into the saddle with a smooth, athletic motion, looking perfectly at home.
Kyle moved toward a sturdy brown horse and got on just as easily, looking like a man who had lived his whole life in a saddle.
Zora stood by the stable door, waiting for someone to tell her what to do. Damon turned to her and handed her the bows and arrows.
"Only one attendant is needed for this trip," Damon explained quietly. "You should go with the Duke. I have other matters to take care of inside the mansion."
Zora took the heavy equipment from him, her heart sinking just a little. She wasn't in a position to refuse a direct order, so she just nodded as Damon walked away along with the aide.
She turned around and realized that the Duke and Kyle were already waiting for her. She looked at the third horse, a massive, beautiful white mare that stood tall and proud.
Zora felt a wave of nervousness. She had seen horses in Gayle and Lardin, but she had never actually ridden one.
How was she supposed to get up there? She stepped toward the horse hesitantly. She tried to imitate what she had seen the Duke do, reaching out a hand to touch the animal's nose.
But the horse simply tossed its head and stepped back, avoiding her touch completely.
'Doesn't it like vampires?' Zora thought with a bit of a frown. 'What a picky horse.'
She looked up and saw the Duke watching her.
There was a clear look of amusement in his grey eyes, as if he found her struggle entertaining. She frowned at him, then glanced at Kyle.
The vassal didn't even bother to hide his smile, he looked like he was about to burst into laughter. Zora felt her face heat up.
She wasn't a timid person, but being laughed at by two powerful men while she struggled with a horse was a bit much.
She turned to the stable man, clearing her throat awkwardly to get his attention. "Mister, can you please help me? I... I don't know how to do this," she admitted.
The stable man gave her a kind, fatherly smile. "Of course, miss. Don't you worry."
He took the bows and arrows from her and set them safely to the side.
He began to pet the white horse, speaking to it in a low, soothing voice. He explained to Zora that horses were very sensitive animals.
They could smell fear and nervousness, and if the rider was tense, the horse would be tense too. He showed her how to stand and how to hold the reins so the horse would trust her.
Once the animal had relaxed and lowered its head, the stable man helped Zora place her foot in the stirrup and guided her as she climbed up.
Zora sat on the back of the horse, feeling very high off the ground. She gripped the leather reins tightly, her knuckles turning white. She felt like she might fall off at any second.
She wondered why they were making her do this. Surely Damon knew how to ride. Perhaps it was because riding was part of her new job as an attendant, and she would have to learn eventually.
Once she seemed settled, Avner and Kyle began to move their horses forward at a slow walk. Zora tried to follow, but she didn't know how to signal the horse to move.
She gave a small tug on the reins, and the white horse took a sudden step forward. The movement was jerky, and Zora lost her balance. Before she could grab onto anything, she slid right off the side of the saddle.
There was a loud thud as she hit the dirt. "Ow!" she cried out, feeling the sting of the impact.
She lay sprawled on the ground, her face burning with pure embarrassment. She didn't even want to get up and face the Duke.
She rubbed her hip as the stable man rushed over to help her up. From the corner of her eye, she heard a sharp snort.
Kyle was trying his best to hold back a loud laugh, his shoulders shaking with the effort. Zora turned and gave him a sharp glare, not caring about his high position at that moment. It wasn't funny to her.
The stable man checked her over to make sure she wasn't hurt. "Are you alright, miss? Let's try again. It's all about balance."
He guided her back onto the horse and spent a few more minutes explaining how to sit and how to move her body with the horse's rhythm.
Zora was a very fast learner, and once she stopped being so nervous, she began to get a hang of it. She adjusted her grip and felt the horse settle under her.
Finally, they were ready to go. Zora was amazed that the Duke had been patient enough to wait for her to embarrass herself and learn. He hadn't said a word of criticism the whole time.
If she could have seen his face more clearly, she would have noticed a small, amused smile playing on his lips as they started to move toward the far side of the estate.
They rode toward the gated section of the tall stone fence. Zora blinked in surprise as she recognized the area. This was the exact spot where she had climbed over the fence a few nights ago to hunt in the woods.
She hadn't realized there was a gate here. Why were they going into the forest now? As the heavy iron gate swung open, Zora followed the Duke into the shadows of the trees, wondering what he was planning to do in the very place she went to hide her true nature..