When Sabre arrived at the palace gates, he was not surprised to find that he was expected. He only hoped he would be slung into the same dungeon as Tassin, while she awaited Torrian’s arrival. Then at least he had a chance of freeing her. The guards demanded his weapons, so he handed over his knife, hoping that if he co-operated, he would be treated better than if he kicked up a fuss. He would be no good to Tassin if he became embroiled in a major conflict with the palace guard, who would undoubtedly win through sheer dint of numbers and his reluctance to kill. The grizzled, craggy-faced sergeant eyed the wrist laser.
“What’s that?”
“An ornament.”
“It could be used as a weapon. Remove it.”
“I’m Queen Tassin’s man-at-arms. Surely I should be allowed to keep my weapons?”
The sergeant shook his head. “The Queen has no need of protection within the palace. You’ll get them back when you leave.”
Sabre unclipped the laser, switched off the power pack so it could be handled safely, and gave it to a pimply-faced soldier who took it as if it was a basket of vipers. As the soldier bore it away, Sabre asked, “Now will you take me to the Queen?”
“No, now you’ll go to the dungeons.”
“Where’s the Queen? Is she also in the dungeons?”
“Certainly not,” the sergeant said. “She’s probably having tea with the King and Prince Victor.”
“Then why am I going to the dungeons? What have I done?”
“You’re a commoner. She’s a queen. As to what you’ve done… nothing yet. It’s what you might do that we’re trying to avoid.”
A soldier shackled Sabre’s hands behind his back. “You mean when Torrian arrives.”
“Precisely.” The sergeant looked startled. “How do you know King Torrian’s coming?”
“Call it an educated guess, since he’s trying to capture her.”
The officer frowned. “But you obviously didn’t warn the Queen. Well, you’ll get no chance to tell her now.”
Two soldiers grasped Sabre’s arms and marched him around the side of the palace, where a square of barracks enclosed a sandy training arena. Spreading fruit trees overhung from the gardens, attracting swarms of insects, troops of monkeys and flocks of birds. Fallen fruit gave off a sweet tangy smell, and the monkeys scampered from their feast to leap into the foliage. The soldiers took him into a formidable building and marched him along a corridor and down a flight of steps. They thrust him into a cell, not bothering to remove his manacles. As soon as the door closed, Sabre sat down and worked his hands around his rear so they were in front of him, then took stock of his cell.
A barred window near the roof let in light, and dirty straw covered the floor. A hole in one corner gave off a foetid stink of stale urine, indicating that it was used as a latrine. The sturdy door, made of seasoned wood, would take considerable strength to break, but was the only exit. Settling in the furthest corner from the smelly hole, he waited for the cover of darkness to aid him in his bid to free the idiotic Queen. The prospect of searching the palace daunted him, but there was no other way.
The Cyber Chronicles - Book I: Queen of Arlin Page 38