Chapter 84

The guard looked at Arran and Darkfire suspiciously . “You were invited by the Governor?” he asked, some doubt in his voice .

“We were,” Darkfire said . “So are you going to let us in?”

The guard didn’t answer, instead whispering something to one of the other guards, who quickly entered the gate .

Some moments passed in silence as Arran and Darkfire waited . Finally, a man emerged from the gate . Dressed in a blue silk robe and with his black hair elegantly coiffed, he looked like a high-ranking official or noble .

“Darkfire and Ghostblade?” he asked, a practiced smile on his face .

“That’s us,” Arran said curtly, slightly annoyed at the wait .

“Excellent,” the man replied with a nod . “I’m the Governor’s steward . Please follow me inside . “

He stepped inside the gate, Arran and Darkfire following close behind him .

Within the walls, they found a large garden filled with neatly trimmed hedges, several fountains, and numerous marble statues .

With just a quick glance Arran could see that all the statues seemed to depict unusually well-endowed nude women, and he instantly found himself wondering just what kind of man the Governor was, to have his garden decorated like this .

He had no chance to give the statues a closer look, however, because the steward hurriedly led them to the palace itself, which looked even more imposing up close than it had from a distance .

The steward led them through the palace doors, passing several guards on the way . Once they entered, Arran saw that the palace was even more lavish on the inside than on the outside . Elaborate murals decorated the walls, and he was stunned to see that the ceiling was covered in gold plating .

Yet what really caught Arran’s eyes were the statues that stood on the side of the hallway . Carved from pristine white marble, they all depicted curvaceous women and couples in various states of undress, engaging in activities that could only be described as obscene .

“What the hell is this place?!” he whispered to Darkfire, who looked to be as astonished as he was .

“I don’t know, but I don’t think that’s even possible,” Darkfire said, pointing at a statue that depicted a woman with curves so exaggerated it looked like she could topple over at any moment .

“Please refrain from discussing these matters in the palace,” the steward said . Then, in a lower tone, he added, “And yes, the Governor’s tastes are quite… specific . “

“That’s one way to put it,” Arran said, glancing at a statue that showed three women contorted in a position that was not just extremely lewd but also, he thought, physically impossible .

The steward led them through several large hallways, each clearly decorated according to the Governor’s tastes . As Arran passed the statues and paintings, he stared in amazement, several times only barely able to keep himself from gasping in shock .

When they reached the dining hall, Arran was relieved to see that it lacked the decorations that filled the rest of the palace . Had there been any statues like the ones in the hallways, he was certain he’d have choked on his food during the meal .

As he looked around, he saw that the dining hall was filled with several dozens of people, spread across three long tables that were stacked with all sorts of food and drink .

On a small dais at the far end of the dining hall sat a large man, dressed in flowing silk robes in a variety of bright colors, and Arran immediately knew this would be the Governor .

The man was large in every sense of the word, tall and round-bellied, smacking his lips as he tore the meat of a roasted bird leg with his teeth .

“My Lord Governor,” the steward announced as they entered, “I bring you the fighters Ghostblade and Darkfire . “

“Ah good! My final guests for the day are here!” The Governor tossed aside the bone he held, then wiped his hands on his clothes . “Come, let me get a look at the two of you!”

Arran and Darkfire walked toward him, the rest of the people in the hall turning their heads and eying them with some curiosity . Many of them looked to be fighters, although some seemed to be merchants or nobles, and a few looked like they could be Shadowflame novices .

When they reached the dais upon which the Governor sat, he regarded them with an appraising eye, as if they were a pair of prize horses and he was a merchant considering a purchase .

Finally, he nodded in approval . “Good, good!” he said . “The two of you will do well in the next auction . Now sit down, and eat!”

Arran exchanged a look with Darkfire, who seemed as unimpressed with the Governor as Arran was .

Still, there was no point in causing trouble, so they gave the Governor short bows, then found seats at the tables . There were few empty seats, and Arran ended up at a different table than Darkfire, next to a young woman he suspected was a Shadowflame novice .

When he sat down, she gave him a curious glance . “I take it you and your friend are the ones who caused the big stir yesterday?” she asked, a smile on her lips .

“I suppose,” Arran said . “Though we just had a few small sparring matches . “

“No need for false modesty,” she replied, an amused glint in her eyes . “You are obviously skilled, but I think you will find that the tournaments offer much more of a challenge . “

Arran was about to ask about the tournaments when suddenly, the doors to the dining hall opened and the steward once more stepped inside .

“My Lord Governor,” the man called out . “The young Lady Tirrand has arrived . “

“My beautiful daughter,” the Governor spoke loudly . “So good of you to join us!”

Arran turned toward the entrance, curious to see what the Governor’s daughter would look like . He hoped for the girl’s sake that she hadn’t inherited her father’s looks .

To his surprise, he immediately recognized her — it was none other than the girl he had seen that morning in Darkfire’s room, although now, she was wearing a dress rather than a bed sheet .

At once, he looked over to Darkfire . Seeing his friend red-faced and wide-eyed, staring at the girl in utter shock, he nearly choked trying to contain his laughter .