Chapter 57: to eat
"I’m glad we got that out of the way," Thalso said, his tone shifting toward formality. "Now, another warning. Everything in this castle must be earned."
Kaedros didn’t fully grasp what that meant, and frankly, he didn’t care. He was filthy, hungry, drained in body and mind. And he wasn’t the only one. Taria looked like she had crawled through a desert storm, limping on her right leg with dried blood staining her armor.
Only Rauk looked somewhat refreshed, thanks to Keeper’s strange healing.
"So..." Taria licked her parched lips. "Drink?"
Thalso nodded and turned toward one of the many tall doors lining the stone hall. "The doors on these walls lead to different parts of the house. Each with its own purpose. Some will not open to you until you earn the right. And be careful of the ones that do open willingly."
He pushed the door open. "This is the Garden. You’ll find food and water here."
They followed him through,and immediately stepped into what looked like a forest.
"What?" Taria blinked, stunned by the massive trees, some as wide as towers, their sprawling branches stretching into the misty heights.
The rustle of leaves and the chirping of birds mingled with the soft buzz of insects. The air was fresh, earthy, and alive.
"Where is this?" Rauk whispered, amazed. If he hadn’t walked through a castle door just seconds ago, he would’ve sworn this was a natural forest.
He turned to look back, but the doorway had vanished, only a faint shimmer marked its boundary.
"Is this still the castle?" Kaedros asked warily. He couldn’t even Imagine the type and amount of power that was in use.