Chapter Fourteen
“What have we here,” a rough-sounding man said in the dark as Alicia tried to wake. Disoriented, she had no idea where she was. She lay on something hard. When she tried to rise, chains attached to cold metal bracelets that wrapped around her wrists prevented her from moving too far.
She came to the sinking realization she was most likely in a dungeon as the smell of damp earth and decaying matter assaulted her.
The man struck a match, then lighted a lantern. A bulldog-looking man with dark brown hair and cold gray eyes stared at her.
Was he a dark fae?
He wore no medallion. But then he wouldn’t. Not if he was just a guard or something.
She glanced down at her clothes. Gone were Ritasia’s beautiful sea green gowns, her hair clips and the golden medallion emblem of the Neferon minor royalty. Now Alicia wore a dingy brown wool tunic and brown trousers and a pair of moccasin-like leather shoes.
Alicia’s stomach revolted as the bile rose to her throat when she breathed in some more of the nauseously putrid odor. Her throat was parched, and she wondered how long she’d been in this prison.
“Dragon fae,” the man sneered.
“Where am I?”
He motioned to the door. Another man, this one tall and thin, escorted a woman into the room. Her ash blond hair was woven into a single braid that trailed down her back. Her eyes were nearly the same olive green as Alicia’s and widened to see her as a splinter of recognition flitted across them. Did the woman recognize her? As in, she looked familiar like a relative of someone the woman already knew?
Alicia’s skin crawled with the idea that she might be known by a race of fae she’d never met.
The woman wore clothes similar to Alicia—fae prison garb? She appeared to be not much older than Alicia. And she was a prisoner, too, as her hands were manacled. The woman took a deep breath and bowed her head slightly in greeting.
Alicia had only seen males do that when they greeted royalty or lords that outranked them. She was certainly not royalty. And if she had been, the woman should have curtseyed to her. Was the woman trying to signal her in some way? Her eyes remained riveted to Alicia as if she was trying to determine who she was, or where she had seen her before.
“Do you know this dragon fae?” the bulldog of a man asked, his voice irritatingly gruff.
“She is not one of my people,” the woman said, with firm confidence.
And yet Alicia sensed the woman meant just the opposite. She could have sworn the woman recognized her.
“She has the archery skills of one of your kind,” the man argued.
“That may be so, but I have never seen the woman before in my life.” She stepped closer to Alicia. “Let me see your hand.”
Alicia showed her the palm of her hand, wondering what that had to do with anything. The woman squeezed her hand, then whispered, “Make a fist.”
Alicia did as the woman commanded. As soon as she did, she felt a thin metal object in her hand. A key? Was the dragon fae trying to help her to escape?
Why wouldn’t the dragon fae escape herself using the key? Why aid a total stranger?
Because, though the woman said she didn’t know her, she assumed the woman thought otherwise. And Alicia had found the fae were inordinately curious creatures.
“I don’t know her,” the woman said, matter-of-factly. “She might have been at one of the minor kingdoms. She is not from the royal kingdom of Morcalon.”
“Put this one back in her cell,” the guard said.
The woman tilted her chin up with a proud air, then cast a nearly imperceptible smile at Alicia.
The other guard roughly escorted the woman out of the cell, and Alicia felt for her, wanting to protect her at the same time.
“Where am I?” Alicia asked, turning her attention to the bulldog guard.
“The dungeon where all good dragon fae belong.”
“The dungeon at Venicia?”
“It would have been the first place Prince Deveron would have looked. No, you are far from there. But you will not interfere with Princess Lorelei’s plans to wed the dark fae prince any further.”
“What will become of me?” She shouldn’t have asked. She imagined the guard wouldn’t really be privy to court justice. On the other hand, she couldn’t help but want to know how bad things could get.
He smiled a despicably sinister smile. “You wouldn’t want to know.”
Yeah, she did…well, kind of. She had to know how desperate she should be.
But she also wanted him to remove his ugly carcass out of the cell and leave her alone so she could unclench her fist and see if the dragon fae did indeed press a key into her hand.
“Sleep well, false princess. Word will be sent at once to Queen Irenis. I’m certain she will want to know more about you and your relationship with her son, spy. Rest assured, she won’t be as nice as me.”
He walked out of the room and slammed the door shut.
A warm sunlight began to glow faintly in the distance through a large low window. Why would they have windows with no bars?
Because the fae who were prisoners were manacled and had no chance at escape. Besides, if a prisoner did manage to free his or herself, she wouldn’t need a window. The prisoner would just transport herself. If they were a whole fae, unlike her.
She shivered. The chill in the air cloaked her in a frigid blanket. As soon as he left, she opened her hand and smiled to see a small key. She twisted it in the lock on her left manacle and heard a click as it unlocked it, felt a smidgeon of relief—she was far from being free—then she quickly worked on the other.
But if the door were locked and guarded, she’d only have the window as a means of escape. Hopefully she didn’t reside in a tower with sheer sides, no way to climb down, and a hundred foot or more drop to a rocky death.
She threw the manacles aside and hurried to the window.
She was no longer dizzy, though her stomach growled, and she felt she’d swallowed tons of cotton, her mouth was so dry.
Peering out the window, she found a narrow ledge that skirted the building. Good thing she wasn’t afraid of heights. She looked down. The cliff had plenty of crags for handholds and footholds. It appeared easy enough to climb down the sixty feet or so to the base of the cliff where forest ringed the tower.
When she leaned her head farther out, she could make out another window. Another cell? Maybe the one where the dragon fae resided? She had to return the key to her and help her escape also.
Alicia was glad now for the clothes she wore. It would enable her to climb down the mountain so much more easily than if she was wearing Ritasia’s gowns.
Her heart sank as she thought about Ritasia and Deveron. Even if she escaped the prison, then what? She had no idea where she was, or where she could go. And without her father’s help, she couldn’t even return to her human world.
She climbed through the stone window and clung to the cool, rough stone face as she made her way along the narrow ledge to the next window.
The sun lightened the sky further as the cool breeze began to warm.
She could do this. When she reached the window, she listened first, to ensure no guard was in the room. Not hearing any sound, she peeked in.
In the cell, just as stark as Alicia’s, the dragon fae female reclined on a hard wooden plank. Her gaze shifted from the ceiling to Alicia as soon as she began to climb in through the window.
“Why do you come for me?” The fae hurried off the bed. “Escape!”
Alicia strode across the floor, her heart hammering with worry they might get caught. “How could I do that when you so generously aided me in escaping?” She shoved the key into the fae’s manacle.
“What is your name?” the fae asked.
“Alicia.” She opened the first of the manacles, then worked on the other.
“Alicia,” the fae murmured. “Princess Alicia.” She curtsied.
The woman had mistaken her for a p
rincess.
“I’m Countess Salimina, at your service.”
“I’m afraid you’ve mistaken me for someone else.”
“There is no mistake.” The countess glanced down at the floor, then took a steadying breath. She shifted her attention back to Alicia. “Meet me at the gates of Crislis Castle. I’ll escort you inside. The kingdom of Morcalon awaits you, though I do not know the reception you will get there. Still, they’ve been forewarned and will be expecting you.”
Forewarned? About her? Now what?
The countess gave another royal courtesy, then disappeared.
“Wait!” Alicia circled the floor. “I can’t travel like that.” She hadn’t expected the fae to vanish so quickly. But would the countess have aided Alicia’s escape had she known Alicia was only half fae? Or was that what the fae meant about not knowing how the dragon fae kind would receive her? Would they wish to destroy her like Queen Irenis undoubtedly would?
Voices near the cell drew Alicia’s attention. Men’s voices. The bulldog fae’s gruff voice.
She bolted for the window.
Chapter Fifteen
Alicia had no idea what the forests of the fae kingdom here would be filled with, but it couldn’t be as bad as the dungeon she attempted to flee.
When she dangled a leg over the windowsill, a key jangled in the lock of the metal door to the cell. She nearly fell off the ledge when she jumped through the window. Would they find her here?
She began the arduous climb down the steep cliff face.
“The dragon fae’s escaped! Check the other one’s cell!” the bulldog fae shouted.
She realized then, no one would expect her to climb out the window. She would have transported herself like the other fae did. At least that’s what the guard would assume.
A door slammed against the wall in her former cell.
“She’s gone from here!” a man shouted.
Curses followed.
“Get a dark fae tracker! They’re the only ones who can track a faery dust trail.”
They’d never find her. She smiled. No fae dust. But then her smile faded. What about the countess? Would they catch her?
She gripped the ledge as she stretched her foot lower to reach another rock jutting out—a perfect foothold.
She’d inched down eight feet maybe when a man shouted, “The dragon fae, who was being held for Queen Irenis, left no trail.”
“What?” the bulldog fae shouted. “That’s impossible.”
“Yes, it is. Quite impossible. And yet somehow she’s managed it. The other I can follow.”
“I want the one Queen Irenis is sending an escort for. She’ll have all of our hides over this.”
The other man said, “I can do nothing about the one. There is not a speck of fae dust to follow.”
“Find the other. Maybe where she’s gone, the other has followed.”
“At once.”
Alicia hoped the dark fae wouldn’t locate the countess. She assumed no one would find the half human who couldn’t leave a faery dust trail.
But she was dead wrong.
Though plenty of foot and handholds aided her long, tedious journey, her arms wearied from the climb. She guessed she’d already climbed for a good half hour when she thought she heard a horse’s soft whicker.
Horses meant riders. And riders meant humans. Or so she assumed. Faeries didn’t ride horses, did they?
But what if they did? What if they were the fae who owned the dungeon? She glance up to survey the tower. Stone walls rose on either side of the tower enclosing a fortress. She could see three more towers. Which fae owned this castle? Were they from a minor or one of the major kingdoms?
The horse whinnied again. She shouldn’t look down. What if dozens of fae soldiers waited for her to fall to her death, or if she made it to the bottom of the cliff, arrest her?
What choice did she have? Return to the dungeon tower window and be clapped again in irons? Or could she find her way around the ledge skirting the castle walls? Then what?
Whoever stood below her watched every move she made. Though she was surprised no one seemed to alert the guard in the dungeon.
Were they humans then?
She couldn’t help herself. She looked down.
Men and women dressed in typical fae garments—tunics and breeches for the men, sheer, silky gowns for the women, identified them as fae. At least thirty rode horses, six of whom were women.
A hunting party? Several had bows and arrows.
Did she serve as the most interesting prey for the morning’s catch?
Several of the fae who observed her antics laughed. Okay. So they were undoubtedly courtiers of the castle—owing to the fancy fabrics used in making their clothes.
And she was their morning entertainment. No wonder no one alerted the guard. Whoever heard of a fae making an escape attempt like a human would?
That notion sent a shard of ice into her heart. If they realized she was only a half-fae, whoever was in charge might give the order to terminate her.
She hesitated, undecided as to what to do next. But the longer she held on to her precarious holds, the more tired she became. Still, she had no intention of climbing down all that way, just to be taken prisoner again.
Alicia reached to her right instead of down.
Everyone was completely silent below her.
A rock pulled loose and skittered down to the base of the cliff.
A woman gasped.
Then silence.
Alicia grabbed for another rock and moved a couple of feet sideways. She glanced down. Her party of observers watched, but none had moved.
Her efforts were futile. She knew they’d follow her once she’d covered enough distance. Certainly if she reached the ground, they’d quickly surround her.
She looked up. The walls seemed to touch the clear, blue sky. But small windows cut into the coarse, ivory rock, caught her eye. Bedchambers maybe? Could she run freely through the castle in prisoner clothes and escape some other way?
She had to risk it. Though by now she wasn’t certain her arms would hold out long enough for her to try.
She began to climb upward.
A murmur of conversation ensued. The fae were undoubtedly trying to figure out what she planned now.
“The prisoner is attempting to reach our bedchambers,” a woman said, her voice excited. Then she laughed.
Several laughed with the woman.
So the windows did lead to bedchambers.
“You look so serious, Prince Raglan. Do you worry about her?” another female asked.
“I wonder how the woman escaped our prison tower and what she is doing, scaling the cliff side like a monkey. Very queer, don’t you think?”
Several chuckled while others uttered agreement.
A monkey? Her blood heated. What would they think if they realized she was a half-fae instead?
“Whatever was she condemned for in the first place?” the prince asked. “Does anyone here know?”
Several said no.
So this Prince Raglan wasn’t in charge.
Alicia wondered if he might be intrigued enough with her to keep her out of Queen Irenis’s grasp, if Alicia managed to get herself recaptured.
She looked down at the fae, not sure which the prince had been. Several wore gold medallions, but she couldn’t make out their symbols.
“What kingdom is this?” she asked.
No one answered her. But several fae’s mouths dropped open. Did they think she acted totally rude to address courtiers in such a manner when she was but a lowly prisoner?
To heck with them. She continued her climb upward.
“Why she is heading for your chambers, my prince,” a woman said.
Great. She shifted farther to the right. If she could, she’d find a lady’s chambers and borrow one of her gowns. Then she’d attempt to slip past the guards unnoticed.
“No, no, now she’s headed for Lady Lucien’s chambers.”
; Laughter resounded.
A lady’s chambers. Just what she needed.
But she figured, too, the fae would instantly transport themselves to the lady’s chambers, and she’d be apprehended at once.
“Should I inform the guard, Prince Raglan?” a man asked.
“No. This one has been much sport.”
Again, she thought of how much the faeries loved to play with the humans. Only this time she assumed they thought she was a fae.
“But if she gets inside—” The man’s words were cut short.
Alicia glanced down to see a dark-haired fae wave his hand to silence another.
He must have been Prince Raglan. She stared at him for a moment. Why did he seem so familiar? His dark brown eyes and hair, and his powerful, broad-shoulders and tall stature—all reminded her of someone, but she couldn’t make the connection.
She turned her attention back to the climb and inched her way up some more.
Then the prince spoke again. “If she gets into Lady Lucien’s chambers, I want a dark fae tracker on hand. Just in case.”
“But won’t that spoil the chase?” a lady asked.
“I wouldn’t want to lose the prisoner before I even find out what onerous crime she’s committed.”
Well, she hadn’t committed any crime before this, but as soon as she could get hold of one of Lady Lucien’s gowns, they’d consider her a thief, no doubt. However, they had stolen her gowns—Ritasia’s rather.
When she reached the ledge, she paused to take a breath. Her arms and legs trembled with the strain of the climb. How was she going to be able to escape this place with a circus of observers watching her every move?
“Why is she hesitating?” a man asked.
No one responded.
Alicia took a deep breath. It was now or never.
She rose on the ledge, then peered in through the window. Lady Lucien’s chambers were decorated in robin egg’s blue and shimmering gold. Alicia climbed in through the window.
Clapping and cheers from down below followed.
She dashed across the tapestry-carpeted floor and threw a chest open. Then she pulled out a blue gown and golden sandals. Standing, she spied sparkling hair clips decorated in sapphires. And next to these, a golden medallion embossed with the sphinx. Alicia grabbed them, then climbed out of the window. As she expected, the fae had all vanished.
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