Pawn of the Crown

by Cheryl Oblon

  “Faldar is spending a lot of time in your country. There must be a lot to learn. Maybe I’d benefit from a Lazrel education?”

  I felt a pull that nearly knocked me off my feet. “I’m sorry.”

  “Are you okay?” Tantil held me upright.

  “What’s wrong?” Nemal rushed over from talking with high-ranking Bachal military men.

  Tantil let Nemal take charge of me. “She got weak.”

  “I’m fine. I just suddenly had a flash.”

  “A vision? How thrilling!” The princess clapped. “Is it of a husband for me?”

  “I’m sorry. No. It wasn’t clear. I just felt like I’d been here before. Or I knew someone. I can’t explain it.” I rubbed my temples to try and clear the fog.

  Marel and Zoma raced up with wine and a bit of cheese.

  “We should take her to her room,” Marel said.

  Zoma nodded, and I agreed. “Sorry, I’m very sorry. I need to rest.”

  “I’ll walk you,” Nemal said.

  “No,” I protested.

  “Yes. If you faint, we can’t carry you that far,” Zoma replied.

  I gave up arguing and let them guide me. I’d never make it as a warrior. I nearly passed out from a burst of a vision. They’d never happened like that before. All I wanted was to sleep, but someone in that vision was calling to me.

  Chapter 12

  Late that night, I was frustrated. Nothing made sense. But, in a blink, everything changed.

  Someone was in my room. I sensed the presence, but didn’t open my eyes. I didn’t let on in any way that I knew there was an intruder. There was no real danger. I knew the man in my room. I felt a similar weakness as I had at the party, but pushed back and protected myself. I’d let my guard down too much earlier.

  He had every intention of putting a hand over my mouth. The second he sat on the bed, I sat up and mentally pinned his hands to his sides. He didn’t make a sound.

  My father was good at sneaking around.

  “I could call for help. Nemal would be here in a second or two,” I said.

  He shook his head. “You aren’t in any danger from me.”

  “Liar. You ran. Do you know how that makes me look? Escaping. Killing a guard. You ran here?” I wanted to pummel him, but what good would it do?

  “Lazrel won’t change. Here, I have a chance. I have protection.”

  “The Bachal king knows you? Knows you’re a traitor and a spy?” I demanded.

  “I haven’t met with the king much, but I’ve proven myself,” he said.

  “What must they think of me?”

  “It’s not all about you, Kimess. The world doesn’t revolve around your job. Your mother. There are bigger problems out there.”

  I shoved him off the bed. “I’m doing what my queen asks of me. I don’t make up my orders or do whatever I want. Far from it. I have to defend myself. Prove I’m not a traitor like you. Then, deal with your crazy sister and her theories. I hope she’s still in the dungeon.”

  “What did she say?”

  “You want me to help you? Tell you? You don’t care about her or me. You care about your cause. Whatever twisted goal you have set up in your head. Don’t lie and tell me you care about me,” I said.

  “I came here. I know your princely companions will kill me if they find me. They’re just across the hall. You coming here is very dangerous, but it could change our lives.” He stood.

  “Our lives? I like my life. I don’t want it to change. I don’t want war or a takeover.” I watched him carefully.

  “You don’t want to be queen?”

  “Queen? No. I’ve got enough responsibility. And if you think I’ll surrender to the Bachal if I were Lazrel’s queen, you’re insane. I’ll fight.” No way would I live the rest of my life like this.

  “No, you’ll not be queen there. I was so close. That fool Faldar. LeFawn had to volunteer.” Father sat on the bed.

  “You know about Faldar?”

  He grinned. “All the guards were talking about him and Remmy. He’s staying behind because he likes men. The engagement is a fake. I know it. You know it. The king knows it.”

  “That’s awful,” I said.

  “No, it’s not. They’ll break off the engagement, but not before you get him drunk. Seduce him. Marry him, and he’ll be safe. You’ll have someone you like on the throne here. It’ll help your queen, and you’ll be close enough. You can be queen here, a young queen. Mother of the princes. We can make it happen soon

  “Queen in a country that treats women like they have no worth without sons?” I held up my hands. “You’re crazy like Elani.”

  “I’m not. You like Faldar. You know his secrets. He can’t be himself here. You know that. LeFawn can’t keep a secret, and she couldn’t live here. You can. You’re strong enough to improve things for women.”

  “You don’t want to change things for women,” I said.

  “But you do. You’ll never totally achieve equality in one generation, but once Faldar is king, you’ll influence so much. Then, you can negotiate a merger of this nation with Lazrel. You could be queen of both.”

  “You’re insane. That makes a little more sense than what Elani said, but it’s still a power grab. It would fail. I’d be killed,” I said.

  His eyes glazed over. “Elani doesn’t believe you’ll side with me. You’ll see the opportunity. I know you will.”

  “Why are you here, then? Why are you helping them? Are you planning to take over Lazrel now? I’m the backup plan?”

  “No, I’m laying the groundwork. They’ll trust you if they trust me. A powerful woman on the throne is scary for men, but if they think I’m pulling the strings, they’ll think you’re a good daughter. Your powers are compelling.”

  “They want to breed my powers into their shifter princes? You’re making promises you can’t deliver,” I said.

  “There is no time deadline. We have a treaty. Why should I waste my life in hard labor when I could change our lives? It’d be better for both of us.”

  He believed it.

  “I’m not going to have a fake marriage. I’m not going to live here. I don’t want to be queen,” I said.

  His face hardened—part sadness and part anger. “You need to think about it. Reflect, and you’ll realize I’m right. Your mother raised you to not jump on things. Not to rush into decisions. You’ll have to be home to make this work anyway. Please, don’t stress about it. Just give it some thought.”

  “Thought? You’re also forgetting I have built-in birth control.” I pointed to my arm. “So, getting pregnant is impossible without my defying the queen and having it removed.”

  “You have a point. I need to think about a way to resolve that.”

  “I’m not making suggestions. I’m pointing out how insane this is. I won’t be queen here, and if you’re putting out the idea that I’m trying to be, you’re endangering my life. And Faldar’s life,” I said.

  “Most people suspect Faldar. So handsome and a prince. He should be married by now, or enjoying the attention of lots of young women. His sexuality is technically a rumor, but not a shock to anyone except his parents. It’s a joke.”

  I sighed. “Then he shouldn’t come back.”

  “That’s impossible. He will be the next king. His father is already nervous about him being away. If you want to help that prince, you’ll give him the marriage and children that’ll keep him safe. Or go home and be a seer. The war will come and we’ll see how that plays out.”

  “You’re staying here? Leaving your sister alone in a dungeon?”

  “They’ll let her out eventually. She helped me after I escaped, but she didn’t commit any crime herself.”

  “That is technically a crime.”

  “Lazrel places the highest value on the family. Magical families rule. The right to rule is about blood connection, not who has the most power. Family first, right? Elani can make a plea that
she couldn’t refuse helping her brother. She gave me food and shelter for a bit. It’s not like she gave me weapons or helped me escape. If she’s making up things, she’s trying to save herself. What did she tell you?”

  I rubbed my eyes. “It doesn’t matter. You’re not coming back.”

  “If I go back, they’ll kill me. Here, I have a chance. Whether you go along with this or not. If you can’t make it happen, at least, I tried to help. Faldar is a joke, but he’s kinder than this father. He’d be a popular king. I have nothing against him. Neither do you. I’ll be well liked here for trying to help him.”

  “Like there is nothing in it for you. You’re trying to use me.”

  “Making you queen is using you. You are your mother’s daughter. All you want is what the queen wants for you. There are more opportunities out there. Yes, you were born to privilege and rank. That doesn’t mean you can’t want more.” He leaned over.

  He and Elani were related. They both wanted more. Wanted better. Aunt Elani liked that her brother married a high-ranking woman. But my father was pushing me higher than my mother had gone.

  I knew I was weak from the games my father had played with my head earlier and recently. He had the advantage of years of practice. Still, I tried to get a mental grip and hold on him.

  He mentally pushed me back. “You know you’re not strong enough for that now. I’m not stupid enough to show up when you can grab me.”

  I sighed. “How do I get in touch with you if I need to?”

  Smiling, he backed toward the door. “I’ll pay a few visits. I’ll be close by, looking out for you.”

  My head throbbed. My father’s ideas made no sense, yet his plan only lacked willing participation. I’d half expected him to offer to kill the king once I’d had the heirs. Then, Faldar would be in power, and things could change faster. But he didn’t go that far. He didn’t trust me.

  I sure as hell didn’t trust him, either. He might have another plan that benefited him solely.

  I sat there for a few minutes and caught my breath. I had to tell Johey. But the truth was weirder than what we’d suspected. My father wasn’t conspiring against the queen, which was what I’d originally believed. He was conspiring in a completely different way. He had to be stopped.

  Slipping out of bed, I went slowly. My head still felt off. He could block me, so attempting to push myself into his mind failed most of the time. I’d tried plenty of times when he was in the dungeon. If I caught him off guard or weak, maybe I could get in. I’d tried to grab him, and he’d had to use a lot of energy to break free.

  I sensed him and shoved into his thoughts without regard to his reaction. He fought, but I pulled up every ounce of determination and frustration I had to fuel me. Once inside, there was so much going on in his thoughts, it was hard to decipher. He truly believed he’d be helping me. He really thought he loved me, and I’d be better off.

  Emotions were easy, but plans were harder to pin down. How high did he want to climb? His grandson would one day be on the throne here. It was maddening. I had to back out of his mind and found myself on the floor of my bedchamber. Scrambling, I grabbed my shoes and a shawl.

  Quietly, I slipped passed Anela, who slept buried under the blankets. Johey had dismissed his hall guard, and I tapped on the older prince’s door softly. Nemal had talked of his favorite uncle often, and I’d probed his mind off and on to put myself at ease. The man was military through and through. He made me feel safer and wouldn’t react as extremely as Nemal would.

  The door opened a fraction. He saw me and opened it wider. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. Well, something. Can we talk?” I asked.

  He let me in. “Your father?”

  “I should let you go after him. He just left a few minutes ago. I tried to hold him, but he was so strong. He’s got odd plans.”

  “Hold on.” Johey grabbed his tablet and typed instructions. “Our security men are going after him now. They’ll check the castle exits.”

  “They won’t find him. He’s made friends in the castle. With the people here. He’s not out to attack our queen or bring down our country. He just wants to stay here,” I said.

  “But they want to take us over,” Johey said.

  “Want and are able to are two different things. Their industry isn’t as impressive as they want us to believe. The pollution is bad. They have a lot of men, but I haven’t seen many ships. We’re the last country they want war with because we’re helping them.”

  “They have ships and weapons. They aren’t letting us see all that they have. Looking weaker than they are makes us cocky. They’re fierce warriors. Your father is siding with them because men will do better here. He thinks they’ll win.” Johey poured some wine.

  I took the cup. “Thanks. I was hoping there was less to worry about.”

  “I’m sorry, there isn’t. Faldar needs to come back and assert his power. Get everyone’s respect and have an heir.”

  I looked at Johey with a grin.

  “I know. But they have the medical technology to make a baby that’s half Remmy and half Faldar. Implant it in a surrogate. Breeding is one thing they do well here. If Faldar gets the country behind him, things could change for the better, and we’d be safer.” He gulped his wine.

  “I’m holding you up. Go hunt down my father. Please,” I said.

  Johey shook his head. “My men are on a follow only order. He’ll have a pattern in and out of the castle. We know he got to you. They’ll be waiting for him to do it again.”

  “I asked for a way to get in touch with him, but he refused. He doesn’t trust me,” I said.

  “He shouldn’t. We shouldn’t trust him. He’s buying time. Trying to get you on his side to protect him. He’s good at what he does.”

  Rubbing my eyes, I reviewed the exchange. “I really think he wants to stay here. Maybe get his sister over, but he likes it better where men are in charge.”

  “Our orders are to bring him back,” he said.

  I rubbed my forehead. “Dead or alive. Probably going to have to be dead. You’re right, Johey, he’ll probably want to talk, again. You guys be ready to grab him.”

  “Next time he shows up, you send me a message from your tablet. Anything. SOS, jumbled words, whatever it is, you don’t message me ever, so I’ll know it means your father has shown up. Act like you’re turning it off. Be casual.” He nodded.

  “He can read my thoughts. I can block him, but then, he can block me. It ends in a migraine, but I managed to get through. Unfortunately, I received nothing specific about locations or plans. It was more emotions. But I avoided a full migraine by getting into his head.” I touched my temple.

  “He’s what set you off at the party?” Johey poured me more wine.

  “Yes, I should’ve known. He probably entered the castle and got a glimpse of me. I didn’t see him but felt it.”

  “Don’t blame yourself. That guy is a mess. He still has a following in Lazrel, but he’s making inroads here. He’d be a great politician if we allowed such things.”

  “That’s probably his end game. Whichever country he ends up in, he’ll try to get someone he knows or can manipulate in a position of power. Or get closer to the ruling family. If he can’t get power himself, he’ll convince them to appoint him to something or have elections for small things. Like towns need mayors.” I shook my head.

  “We’ll get him first. He’ll be in the dungeon before you’re home, I promise.” Johey smiled.

  “You can’t keep that promise, I’m afraid. I hope you get him but, if you do, you’ll have to kill him to drag him back.” I shivered and pulled my shawl around my shoulders.

  “I understand. I’m not afraid of that.”

  “I should get back to bed,” I said.

  Johey walked me to the door. “Nemal will be annoyed you didn’t wake him.”

  I handed him my cup. “No reason for all of us to lose sleep. Good night
. Wait.”

  “What?”

  “Anela, my servant. Her mother is very ill. If you get a chance to travel among the people, I wonder if you can find her. If you get my father and take him back, I want you to take her mother back and put her with Julianne, for now.”

  “You’re asking for trouble.”

  “I’m not doing what my father says. I’m doing what’s right in my mind. One old sick woman isn’t going to start a war. The Bachal won’t care about it. I’ll take Anela home with me. Pay for her, if I have to,” I said.

  He nodded at me. “I’m proud my nephew likes you so much.”

  I grinned at him. “I will prove my loyalty because it’s true. My father seems determined to prove me a traitor or lure me to that side. He’s power hungry and doesn’t care how he gets it or who he hurts. Your family is more mine now, but I will always take care of the fifth family. So, you’ll try to find her?”

  “I’ll find her. It won’t be hard. They have good records, and we can get a look at where Anela’s mother is housed on their grid. It’s not a nice place, I’m sure. Don’t worry. I’ve been familiarizing myself with the country and know how to blend in. No one will get in trouble. Get yourself some sleep. Good night.”

  “Good night.” I slipped back across the hall and wondered how I’d get any sleep. I needed to put a bell on my bedroom door to warn me if someone entered.

  Instead of heading right for sleep, I decided to try again at the trance. I didn’t feel my father was close by, but I had the strength and resolve to put myself into that state. Being tired, being ill, or being stressed could all impair my gift. Magic was a power, but mine was so interconnected with my mental state that some people never would understand how tricky it was to be in my head.

  Controlling my breathing and my thoughts, I blocked out everything else. Bachal wasn’t a place I wanted to stay or even let linger in my mind. I focused on the same question as last time. My brain expected to go to that same place, and the picture image returned. I pushed it away, needing a blank canvas.

  No expectations, I reminded myself. He was out there somewhere. Not too close, not close enough or me to simply sense on my own. I wished he were in the dungeon where I could track him down easily. The frustration crept in and I fought it.