Chapter 11
Ryleigh lifted the latch on the door handle. She and Dakota had left the others a safe distance away with the dragons while they crept toward the tower where Ryleigh had been imprisoned. With all of the savages fighting the Cymmeran Guard and the Death Dealers, they’d pretty much strolled right in. The latch gave, but the door stuck.
“Here, let me help.” Dakota reached past her and gripped the handle.
Together, they wrestled the door open.
Dakota hunched against the ice covered wall of the castle, his breathing harsh, plumes of vapor rushing from his mouth into the cold.
“Are you all right?” Slipping a hand beneath his arm, Ryleigh helped him stand.
He nodded and gestured for her to move through the doorway then followed her.
The click of the latch falling into place as the door shut echoed like a gunshot in the silence. Of course, there were no guns in Cymmera. “Do you want to wait here?”
Dakota looked up the curved staircase to the tower ceiling but shook his head. “I’ll be all right. I just needed to catch my breath.”
“There were no guards last time I was here.” She shivered at the memory.
“Go. I’ll be fine. I’m not sending you up there alone. Besides, Mia might need help.”
The young man barely had the strength to stand, yet sheer determination propelled him up the stairs. Dakota’s feelings for Mia wouldn’t allow him to give up. He remained silent, pain carved in every line of his face, as he trudged forward.
She increased her pace. If Dakota fell behind, she and Mia could catch up to him on the way down.
He didn’t.
They jogged up the remaining stairs, Ryleigh holding the heavy sword still to keep it from making noise and giving away their position. At the top, she paused and listened.
Nothing.
Small circles of light held back the shadows as she crept down the empty hallway toward the last door. Silence echoed loudly, ringing in her ears. She resisted the temptation to run. Better to make sure the other rooms were clear before freeing Mia. They’d still have to pass them on their way out.
She faced Dakota across the hallway, though she couldn’t make out his features in the shadows. He gestured her forward with a hand, and she peeked around the corner into an open doorway. Darkness beckoned. She ignored it. If there was something in there, leave it be. She just wanted to get Mia and get out.
Dakota checked the doorway on his side, but shook his head a moment later. Either it was clear, or he couldn’t see into the room. Either way, he moved forward past the opening. All stealth forgotten, he lunged toward the doorway at the end of the hall and flung the last door open.
Ryleigh surged through the doorway on his heels. “Mia?”
Light from the lanterns flickered in the chamber, illuminating enough of her surroundings to see the room was empty. And trashed.
“Mia?” She kept her voice low, but she was on the verge of screaming.
The overturned, shredded furniture was the least of the destruction. Splinters of the table she’d smacked her head on lay scattered across the room. The bars on the windows had been mangled and ripped from the walls. They lay in a twisted heap in the corner. Even the stone walls hadn’t been spared. Chips and chunks of stone littered the floor.
“I don’t think she was ever here.” Dakota rubbed a soothing hand up and down her arm. He kicked some of the rubble aside. “But it looks like somebody was pretty pissed off you escaped.” He shot her a quick grin that didn’t hold any real humor. “Let’s go, we’ll have to figure out another plan. She’s got to be somewhere.”
Okay, think. Where would Chayce have taken her?
“Come on.” Dakota took Ryleigh’s arm. “Let’s not waste time.”
She stared at him, unable to move. She’d been so certain she’d find Mia in the chamber.
“She’s not here, Ryleigh. Come on.” He guided her gently but firmly toward the door. “Hurry.”
Abandoning all caution, they fled back the way they’d come, jogging until they reached the bottom of the stairway, only pausing a moment before shoving the heavy door open and diving out into the cold. They crossed the clearing and slid into the woods undetected. Cold wind battered her, snow swirled around her, limiting visibility. She lowered her head and trudged through thigh deep drifts. They reached the clearing on the small plateau where they’d left the dragons and Dakota whistled.
The men emerged from behind trees and beneath brush and mounds of snow. They shook the snow from their clothing and sheathed their weapons, as they approached Ryleigh and Dakota.
“What happened? Where is the girl?” The older man, Tristan, the leader of Noah’s team, stepped forward.
“She wasn’t there.” Dakota kicked a mound of the wet heavy snow. “We’ll have to try something else.”
Tristan removed a glove and brushed the snow from his graying crew cut. “Any idea where else she might be imprisoned?”
Dakota shrugged. “Ranger mentioned the tortu…uh…chambers in the dungeon, but I don’t know how to find them. Besides, if she’s down there, Ranger will find her. No way he’ll leave without checking every chamber for prisoners.”
Jimmy shook his head. “Noah wouldn’t either. Even if they find Jackson right away, he’ll do a thorough search.”
“So what do we do now?” Ryleigh was perilously close to whining, and she tried to firm her voice. “I’m not leaving here without Mia.”
Dakota gripped her shoulder, squeezed. “Don’t worry, Ryleigh. She’s not getting left behind.” He frowned and lowered his hand to his side. “But we might have to change our tactics.”
He stared at Tristan as if sizing up the other man. “If we can’t find Mia…” He only hesitated a moment, his gaze drifting past the edge of the plateau to the snowcapped mountains. “We’ll find Chayce, instead.” He returned his gaze to Tristan’s. “I’m pretty sure I can get him to tell us where she is.”
“How will you find him? In case you hadn’t noticed, there’s an all-out war raging down there.” Tristan gestured over the cliff toward the sounds of battle.
Dakota walked forward, patted his dragon on the way past, then stood at the edge looking down. His shoulders slumped.
The other men waited, Jimmy and Tristan talking quietly.
Visions of Mia being tortured haunted Ryleigh.
Dakota had tried to be kind, to censor his words, but Ryleigh wasn’t stupid. She forced the images of Mia away. She had to blank her mind or think of something else, anything else, or she would surely go insane.
At a loss for what else to do, Ryleigh simply waited. She had no other choice. She had no clue how to lead an army, didn’t even know what to do next. She would have to appoint a leader. Someone had to be in charge.
She studied the men. Her men. Tristan was obviously used to being in command, and his men looked to him when it came time to make a decision. But he knew nothing of their world.
Then again, what did she know about being a queen?
Dakota turned and moved back toward them, strength and determination hardening his eyes. Could he lead an army? He appeared to be a child. Well, not really a child, but young. Like Mia. Yet, he’d lived in Cymmera for hundreds of years, trained to battle the creatures they’d now face, understood the dangers they’d come up against.
Right now, Dakota and Tristan seemed in agreement on how to handle the situation, but they could disagree at some point.
“Dakota and Tristan, could I speak with you both for a minute?”
Tristan gestured toward the dragons and said something else to Jimmy, then met up with Dakota and approached her.
Dakota spoke before she had the chance. “He’s not down there.”
Tristan glanced over his shoulder toward the cliff. “How could you possibly know that? There’s no way you could see who’s fighting down there.”
Dakota shook his head. “I don’t need t
o see. I know Chayce. He’s cocky, arrogant, and mostly a coward. After our army fought Daygan and his savages the last time, Jackson spent forever combing the remnants of the battlefield for Chayce’s body. Everyone assumed he was dead, because no one had seen him.” He stared hard at Ryleigh. “No one saw him, because he wasn’t there.”
Dakota could be right. Jackson had been so relieved when he returned and found Chayce safe in the make-shift infirmary. “Where is he then?”
Dakota grinned. “I’ll bet you anything, he’s sitting on his throne feeling important while his creatures die defending him.”
“So what do you want to do? Go to the throne room?”
Dakota was already nodding. “It’s the only place I can think of looking.”
“Won’t there be guards?” Tristan’s scowl mirrored Dakota’s.
“Maybe a few, but they can be easily removed.”
“Easily? Those things don’t seem too easy to kill.”
A shiver of unease crept up Ryleigh’s spine.
Dakota didn’t seem to notice her discomfort as he continued. “Savages are strong, but there are ways of killing them if you can catch them by surprise. Their skulls are softer than human’s, easier to penetrate in spots.”
Nausea threatened.
Tristan only nodded. “All right, then. Let’s go.”
Ryleigh fought the sickness back. “Wait a minute. I wanted to talk to you both about something.” She worked to keep her voice level and not sound apologetic. This was the right choice. For now. “Dakota, when this mission is completed, do you plan to return to the Death Dealer squad?”
He nodded. “Of course.”
“I’d be honored to have you as a permanent member of my army if you’re interested.” Whoa. Where had that come from? She didn’t plan on staying in Cymmera permanently.
A blush crept up his cheeks. “I’m flattered, Ryleigh, but I’ve trained a long time to make the Death Dealer squad.”
She pushed the thoughts aside. It didn’t matter right now. All that mattered at the moment, was finding Mia and Jackson and making sure they were okay. “It’s all right, Dakota, I just wanted to make sure. I need to put someone in charge.” She grinned. “Someone besides me. Someone who actually knows what they’re doing.”
Of all the men with her, she trusted Dakota the most. He cared for Mia, was her friend. He’d do anything in his power to defend her. “Dakota, I’d like you to lead this mission, since you are the most knowledgeable about the situation.”
He bowed his head. “Of course, My Queen, thank you.”
Wind whipped her hair into her face. She brushed it back with a snow-covered hand. Ice crystals clung to her cheeks. “Tristan.”
He stood at attention.
“I’d be honored if you would lead the Queen’s Army once this mission is complete and you’ve had sufficient time to train in our world.” She waited, hoping he’d accept her offer to remain with them. And, if he stayed, maybe Noah would stay too. Melted snow dripped down her face into the collar of her sweatshirt.
Tristan glanced at Dakota before turning back to her. “I’d be honored. Thank you, My Queen.” He bowed his head as Dakota had.
“Great. Thank you, both. Now. Can we please find Mia?” She headed for Kalayah.
Dakota held up a hand to stop her. “We’re going to walk in. The dragons will be safer here, and I’m hoping we can enter the castle undetected without them. If we can take him by surprise, it’ll be easier. If he has time to summon his guards…” He shrugged. “Not so much. We’d have to fight our way in, and Chayce would probably run before we ever reached him.”
“Very well.” She started back toward the woods.
Dakota fell into step beside her and leaned close. “Is there any way I can convince you to return to Cymmera, or at least wait here?”
She pinned him with a glare. “Not on your life, Dakota.” And kept walking.
Her thighs ached from trudging through the deep snow. At least the burn kept her from focusing too intently on Mia’s fate. And Jackson’s. What she wouldn’t give for a cell phone right now, so she could call and see if Ranger and Noah had found Jackson yet. Would she know if he was dead? Would she feel the loss? She felt certain Mia was still alive, but that was probably because she was unable to accept anything could have happened to her little sister, rather than some cosmic connection.
Things had gotten too far out of control.
A tear slipped from the corner of her eye and froze almost instantly. She’d stopped shivering a while ago, but not because she was able to regulate her body temperature as she could in Cymmera. She was probably just numb.
She stuck her hand into her pocket, her fingers hitting something hard. The Divination Stone. Elijah had said it would work as long as it was with her. She pulled it out and sought answers.
She weaved the small stone between her fingers, unable to decide what she needed to know most. Heat tingled in her palm. She’d just let the stone decide, or the fates, or the queens of the past. Whoever would offer guidance at this point. A swirl of black circled the inside of the stone. She paused, looked deeper.
An image formed. Jackson. She had no doubt is was his silhouette in the stone’s center, recognized him instantly. But who was the woman beside him. Small. Delicate. Mia? No. This slight figure didn’t have Mia’s mass of curls. Someone else. Jackson put his arm around the figure and pulled her closer.
Jealousy flared. Hot and angry. Had he left her? Found someone else? Adrenaline surged through her system.
The image faded.
She shoved the stone into her pocket, the agony of heartbreak battering her.
“Psst.”
What the…? Ryleigh stilled. Listened to the wind howl through the forest. Then slid toward the shadows at the base of a tree and glanced over her shoulder.
Dakota held his hand in front of him, palm down, and lowered it.
Ryleigh crouched, lowering herself as silently as possible into the snow. She gripped the handle of her sword but prayed she wouldn’t have to use it. She had no feeling left in her fingers. Pressing her back to the tree, she kept her gaze firmly locked on Dakota and listened intently.
The other men must have taken cover, because they’d disappeared from sight.
Dakota pointed past the tree she was cowering behind, then placed a finger against his lips.
Oh, please. Like she’d really make any noise right now. She started to huff out a frustrated breath, then froze, trapping the air in her lungs, not wanting whoever was there to see the puff of vapor. She angled her head downward and breathed into Jackson’s sweatshirt.
A sound startled her from her thoughts. She strained to listen.
Wind blowing, trees creaking, sporadic cracks and thuds as branches gave way beneath the weight of accumulated snow.
A crunch broke the silence, what could have been a foot breaking through the pristine layer of snow. Then a clang. Definitely metal on metal. A sword hitting something? No. Different.
Dakota dove toward her, knocked her to the ground, and rolled. An arrow pierced the tree a fraction of an inch from his head.
A mouthful of snow gagged her as he grabbed her arm and pulled her around the other side of the tree, then shoved her forward. A dirty taste filled her mouth, moldy, stale.
Dakota yanked her to her feet and propelled her through a narrow gap between two closely spaced trees.
They ran, or at least tried.
She strained to wade through the drifts.
Dakota gestured toward a clearing. He had to be crazy. They’d be sitting ducks out there. And where were her soldiers?
Swirling snow almost blinded her, reducing visibility to next to nothing.
Dakota gripped her arm, none too gently, and shoved her into the clearing.
Six men strode toward them through the snow. Not her men, but strangers.
A scream from behind her.
Pulling her swo
rd from the scabbard, she whirled toward the sound.
Two savages tried to wrestle free of Ryleigh’s soldiers. They wouldn’t make it.
She returned her focus to the advancing warriors.
Dakota stepped in front of her.
“No.” She sidestepped and shot him an apologetic look. “I can’t see with you in front of me.”
“There’s nothing to see. Your army will be finished dispatching the savages in a minute. They’ll be here in time to fight for you.”
The men moved closer.
Grunting still sounded from behind her.
She didn’t dare turn. Instead, she held her ground. Braced herself.
“Aim to kill, Ryleigh. There’s no time to play games.” Dakota steadied his stance beside her.
Twenty feet away, the strangers surged forward, keeping in a perfect V formation, their leader in front. At least, she assumed he was the leader from the elaborate design on his shield. The others carried only weapons, with no decoration.
Though they wore helmets, their faces were exposed. Something familiar about one of them. She’d seen him before. Didn’t know him, but had seen him in Cymmera when he’d been part of the Guard.
Her gut churned. How could she fight to kill these men? Oh, no! No! Please, stop. Don’t do this. Her silent plea did nothing to stop them.
They charged, weapons raised.
Ryleigh froze.
Dakota met the attack, sword lifted.
A few of her men dove past her and into the melee, but the sounds of battle still raged behind her where the savages had attacked. Her men were outnumbered. There was no way they could win this.
Her breath rushed in and out. Fear held her immobilized as the fight thundered around her. She longed to slap her hands over her ears, to curl into a ball and bury her head beneath a blanket. To feel the warmth of the flames crackling in the fireplace. To surrender herself to Jackson, allow him to claim her and take care of her, protect her.
Whoa, where did that come from?
She shook the thoughts off. Something was wrong with her. In this midst of a war, she wanted nothing more than to sleep. Exhaustion? No. Different. Hypnotic.
Lost Princess Page 19