by Jeanne Hardt
“I agree. I will arrange to meet with your father privately this evening.” He kissed her forehead. “Come now. We should join them.”
“Yes.” They linked hands and hurried along the rough ground to the others.
Sebastian helped Olivia over large heaps of broken brick and crumbled stone. It was hard to fathom the size of the battering ram that must have been used to bring down the castle. They had no moat or any other semblance of protection aside from the diminished walls.
Roderick rushed toward them, wide-eyed. “The steps of the tower are intact. Is that not remarkable?”
Olivia placed a hand to her heart. “I read in the royal ledgers that Queen Madeline had been holed up in a turret. She would have been heavy with child. Many men died protecting her.” She moved slowly to the structure and leaned her head against it. “How frightened she must have been …”
Feeling his wife’s pain, Sebastian’s chest constricted. He went to her and held her close. “You will never have to endure such torment.” When he shifted his eyes to Roderick, the man smirked, but quickly sobered.
“Please stop, Boden!” Queen Sonya emerged from the other side of the structure. “My insane husband decided to ascend. I doubt it is safe.”
“Worry not.” Sebastian hurried after the man, with Roderick at his heels.
Though the steps remained, they were far from sound.
Sebastian carefully went up, rolling his feet over rubble and crumbling stone. “Your Majesty! You should not climb!”
“Bah! I am almost at the top!”
The circular steps went on endlessly. The tower compared in size to those in Sebastian’s own dwelling.
“For a fat man,” Roderick grumbled. “He can certainly move.”
Sebastian stopped and faced him. “Mind yourself and be respectful. The man is your king.”
“I beg to differ, Highness. I answer to King Roland of Basilia. As the priests proclaimed, unlike the kings who reigned in this castle, Boden is not fully royal. That in itself disavows my respect.”
Sebastian grabbed him by the tunic and pushed him against the wall. “Without King Boden, you would have nothing. He brought you into his service in Padrida and made you a guard. Had it not been for him, you would have likely been a sheep herder or farmer. You owe the man a great deal.”
“I owe him nothing.” Roderick spat out the word.
“Highness?” Severin called out from below. “Do you require my aid?”
“No! Stay with the women!”
“Yes, sire.”
Roderick glared at Sebastian. “Do you intend to release me, or shall we stand here all day and worry your lap dog?”
Sebastian let him go with a shove. Roderick stumbled and landed on his rump, but shot right up again. “My king is waiting.” He pointed upward. “We had best join him. It would be a shame if he fell from the turret.”
“Yes. A fall of that sort would certainly end him.” Sebastian firmly grabbed Roderick’s arm. “Similar to a fall from the bridge in Padrida—though not quite so far to the ground.”
Roderick’s smirk returned. “Like the fall poor Donovan took, hmm?” The man kept his steely eyes glued to Sebastian’s.
“What are you not saying?”
Breathing hard, Roderick ran a hand over the scar on his cheek. The hate he had displayed when Sebastian had rendered it came forth once again. “Your status as prince may not have been stripped from you, but you will never measure up to Donovan’s quality,” Roderick hissed through clenched teeth. “Never.”
Sebastian’s heart pounded. Roderick knew something more.
“What is keeping you?” King Boden’s head popped into view. “You can see all of Crenia from the top of the tower. I am living proof these stairs are utterly safe.”
Roderick lifted his chin high. “What are we waiting for, Highness?”
Something needed to be done about Roderick and soon. The man was dangerous.
They ascended to the top together and joined the king. Yes, a fall from this height would end a man, but the incredible view could not be denied.
Boden braced his hands on the ledge of the chest-high wall. “Crenia must have been glorious in its day.” He pointed eastward. “Is that distant line of blue the ocean?”
Sebastian moved to his side, all the while keeping a close watch on Roderick. “Yes, it is.”
“I would like to go there, but not now. Perhaps on another venture.” He let out a long, slow breath. “I must return to Padrida on the morrow. I have never parted from my people for any length of time, and it troubles me.”
Roderick stood at the king’s other side. “Who governs in your absence?”
“Alwin. I trust him with my life.”
“Alwin?” Roderick scoffed. “You had best return quickly. The man might be a capable guard, but he is no ruler. You should pray there is no uprising.”
“Why would there be?” The king’s eyes narrowed.
Roderick pulled his shoulders back. “These are troubled times, are they not?” He answered the king, but kept his eyes on Sebastian.
“Be careful!” The queen’s yell rose high into the air and echoed around them.
“We should go down,” Sebastian said. “The queen is concerned for our safety.”
King Boden’s body slumped. “That woman is always worried. I love her with every part of my being, but she takes away all my fun. A man needs excitement outside his bedchamber. This is the closest I have come to it since the unrest with Donovan.”
Roderick chuckled. “Your need for adventure might soon be satisfied. One does not know what the future holds.”
“True.” The king gestured to the stairway. “I am no seer.”
Sebastian stopped him from descending. “You first, Roderick. I shall follow the king.”
Roderick grunted, yet did as told. Sebastian could not risk the man accidentally tripping the king and causing him to tumble down the lengthy stairwell.
When they reached the bottom, Olivia was waiting. She sat on one of the lowest steps, crying.
Roderick eyed her, then passed by without uttering a word. A wise choice.
King Boden knelt beside her. “My sweet girl. I fear this has been too much for you.”
“Oh, Father …” She circled his neck with her arms and held him close.
Sebastian took a seat next to her and placed his hand in the middle of her back. “Your mind remains on Queen Madeline?”
Olivia’s eyes pushed out more tears and she nodded. “As I sit here, it is as if I feel her pain and the fear—how did she endure it?”
“It would seem being here has given you a better understanding of how our people suffered,” King Boden whispered and released her. “Your great-great-grandfather left Crenia to protect her and their unborn child. He was wise enough to know they could not overcome Basilia. He chose not to sacrifice the lives of those he held closest to his heart.”
Olivia shifted toward Sebastian. “Take me from here. It hurts too much to stay.”
He stood and helped her to her feet.
King Boden frowned and walked from the tower, and Sebastian led Olivia after him.
These ruins had always troubled Sebastian. He had come here as a boy with many questions, but never before had he grasped its painful significance.
When they returned to the waiting carriage only one thought remained.
Never again.
Sebastian would do everything in his power to keep peace in the realms, even if it meant giving up his birthright forever.
Chapter 14
Frederick stood fuming in the middle of the courtyard, facing his uncle’s enormous castle.
Marni circled an arm around his waist and leaned into him. “You have no cause to be angry any longer. You are guaranteed the throne. Everyone at the ceremony heard the priest’s proclamations. No one would dare challenge you.”
“My uncle is one and forty and in exceptional health. Our child will likely be grown and ready for his
own throne by the time I am named.” He faced her squarely. “I want to rule while I am still young enough to relish it.”
She glided her fingers across his chest. “Less responsibility will grant you the opportunity to enjoy your son when he arrives. Please, Frederick, be content.”
He shoved her hand aside. “I cannot.”
The king’s sentries stood at every entrance, and whenever Frederick moved anywhere near them, they glared and positioned themselves in front of the door. He had tolerated this behavior for years.
Marni’s head bowed low. His abrupt action had hurt her—something he had never done before.
He took her hand and cradled it over his heart. “Forgive me. I should not render my frustration on you.”
“I understand.” She lifted her head and looked at him with pity.
So beautiful.
If not for her, he would certainly go mad.
He kissed her forehead, then pointed at one of the damnable guards. “How am I to learn from my uncle when his men will not allow me passage?”
She tipped her head to one side. “I have never comprehended why they treat you so. Was it not your choice to keep yourself from your uncle’s dwelling?”
“Yes. However, he has always seen me as a threat.” Frederick released a disgusted chuckle. “Perhaps he fears I will slit his throat in order to take his place.”
Marni pursed her lips and shook her head. “You speak foolishness.” Her brows wove. “If I were to approach the entrance, would I be stopped?”
“They would have no reason to keep you out.” He smiled at his exceptional bride and cupped a hand over her rounded belly. “An expectant mother poses no threat. Do you wish to make a plea on my behalf?”
She lifted her chin high. “I will do whatever I can to aid you. Your happiness is all that matters.”
He drew her into his arms and kissed her deeply. If she managed to attain the freedom he needed in order to go about as he pleased, he could find a way to accomplish his devious task.
Frederick paced on the walkway beside the royal garden. Marni had been inside the castle much longer than she should.
If his uncle harmed her in any way, there would be hell to pay.
“He shall pay regardless,” Frederick muttered under his breath. The thought of what was to come brought a smile to his face.
He had despised his uncle for as long as he could remember. Roland had always paraded about as if he were God, lording over Frederick’s father.
Maybe Frederick needed to merely shame the man. If he could find a way to show the Basilian people, their king was far from perfect, that alone might ruin him and force his abdication.
Discrediting him might be easier than covering up murder.
“Hmm …” His mind twirled rapid thoughts.
Every man had a weakness, but what would it take to bring Roland to his knees?
“Frederick!” Marni’s joyful cry turned his head and brought him hope.
She hastened to his side and flung her arms around him. “I had the most splendid conversation with the queen.” Marni’s eyes sparkled in the sunlight. “As you know, Queen Helen truly rules the lands.” She leaned close. “Your uncle does whatever she asks of him. So naturally, I implored her to have him instruct the guards to allow you entry. You are family, for heaven’s sake. I assured her you pose no threat.”
If Marni learned the truth of his banishment, she would think otherwise. “Was she agreeable?”
“She promised to speak to him. And once that bit of business was discussed, we spoke of babies and all the joy you and I have ahead of us in raising our child. She is enlisting her seamstress to sew some garments for our baby. Is that not wonderful?”
“Yes, but …” He had no desire to ramble on about infants, including his own. “When will she speak to the king?”
“Soon.” She stroked his cheek. “She vowed to send word, once everything is settled. Honestly, I find this entire ordeal ludicrous. Can they not see how loyal you are? My father would never treat anyone in our family in such a wretched way.”
“Uncle Roland and I have never had a rapport.” Frederick nonchalantly chuckled. “I confess, I was not always a good boy. He did not appreciate my youthful pranks, especially when they involved Sebastian.”
“All boys misbehave.” Marni linked her arm into his. “You are now a grown man. An honorable man. Your uncle will do right by you.” She gestured to the path. “Let us return home and wait. I am most certain we can find something more pleasing to bide our time than standing here in the garden.” She slowly blinked and worked her lower lip with her teeth.
“Most definitely.” He rushed her away.
He could think of no better way to ease his mind as well as his body.
Olivia’s parents had been gone a full day, and her heart already ached from their absence. She had forgotten how much she enjoyed having them near. If only their kingdoms were not so far apart. Then again, the close proximity of their lands sparked one of the key reasons for the wars of long ago. Abundant land prompted greed.
Distance, it seemed, was a good thing.
Before her parents’ departure, Sebastian had told her father Donovan could still be a threat and warned him to be wary. Her father had not acted overly concerned about the possibility, stating that if Donovan lived, he would not dare show his face in Padrida.
If only she could so easily dismiss Donovan.
With her parents’ return to Padrida, Sebastian had been more loving than ever. But since the priest’s proclamation forbidding Sebastian’s ascension, the sparkle in his eyes had vanished once again.
She prayed she could find a way to bring it back long before their baby came. If not, surely the arrival of their child would accomplish it.
“Are you about ready?” Sebastian yanked on his boots. “Father asked to speak to both of us, so I fear there is some urgency.”
“Yes. I can do nothing more to enhance my appearance.” She set aside her hairbrush. “One day soon, I would like a lady’s maid to help with my hair. Someone similar to Rosalie.” She swiveled on her chair to face him. “I asked Mother to tell her our news. Our child will come soon after hers.”
Speaking the words prompted a flood of thoughts. Olivia hoped she would be able to go to Padrida as she promised and make certain the healer tended to Rosalie. Traveling so late into her own pregnancy would not be easy.
“Olivia?”
She looked up to find Sebastian staring at her. “Yes?”
“You were elsewhere just now.”
“I confess, I was.” She stood. “I have been troubled over how to tell your parents about our child. I honestly believe your mother will never smile at me again, regardless of the fact that I shall make her a grandmother. As much as the news should be celebrated, how can she be joyful over our coming baby, knowing it will not be granted title?”
“It will still be her grandchild.” Sebastian took both of her hands in his own. “Mother has a big heart. She grieves for me, but she does not blame you. She cares a great deal for you, Olivia. Eventually, she will accept the situation as it is.”
“And your father?”
“He is handling matters as best he can. He desires to have the law changed, but in order to do so, all realms must agree. A simple majority will not stand for something so crucial.”
Just as Olivia feared. “Oros will never comply. Not when they have so much to gain if Frederick takes the high throne.” She rubbed the backs of Sebastian’s hands with her thumbs. “Perhaps we can bring Thanwine into our favor. Yes, Angeline’s heart is aching, yet I feel I can win her trust. I can sympathize with her, having experienced my own heartbreak.”
Sebastian’s head drew back. “You cannot be serious. I am the reason for her poor disposition, and you are a reminder of what she cannot have.”
“And because of that, my concern for her would be seen as genuine. Possibly even admirable. Would it not?”
“That or insanity.” He rele
ased her, frowned, and ran his hands through his hair. “Do you find her trustworthy?”
“She has given me no reason for distrust. Besides, I saw her with Tesher, which gives me hope. Though he is years younger, they have a similar youthful spirit. It could prove to be a suitable match, and one which would take her mind from you. I could encourage her to pursue him—show her that love is attainable.”
Sebastian studied her closely, and she smiled. She could tell he had not expected this from her, and it pleased her to know she retained a bit of mystery.
She coyly tipped her head. “There is another who would benefit from this arrangement.”
“Who?”
“Jonah.”
“Jonah? How would a pairing of Angeline and Tesher affect him?”
“When your sisters showed me the passageways, Allana spoke of Tesher. She believes they are meant to be bound. And yet, she indicated feelings of fondness for Jonah.” Olivia rested a hand on Sebastian’s chest. “Tesher would not be an issue, if he claimed Angeline.”
Sebastian’s eyes narrowed. “Why did you not tell me sooner of Allana’s interest in Jonah? The man has been tripping over himself, trying to find ways of winning her favor.”
“Yes. She told me as well.” Olivia laughed at the memory. “How he almost plummeted into the moat.”
“Poor Jonah is bewitched by her. Regardless, nearly three years must pass before Tesher is of age to marry. Angeline will not grow any younger, and I doubt King Callum would approve of the pairing, but he would readily welcome his son’s courtship with Allana when the time comes.”
She glided her fingertips across Sebastian’s chest, grinning. “Tesher looked quite smitten with Angeline. A king’s wishes are often cast aside, when a prince falls in love.” She kissed his cheek.
“I cannot argue your point.” He smirked and gestured to the door. “Let us not keep my parents waiting—for us, or for our news. Shall I tell them, or would you prefer to?”
Her heart pounded at the mere thought. “You should. You know them much better than I, which gives you a good understanding of when to reveal it.”