“I’d like a moment to speak with the princess alone,” Marek said, his voice hoarse.
“Try talking some sense into him,” Mayra said as she stormed out of the room. Madelin meekly followed Mayra, crying as she walked past Marek.
Once the door closed, Marek held up his hands. “Before you start yelling at me,” he said, “at least hear what I have to say.”
“Very well,” she said, folding her hands together and waiting for him to continue.
“We’re going to war,” he said. “We are starting to organize the army and move soldiers into position to fight Russek. You’re doing your part by marrying Prince Odar of Fren. I want to do my part, too. I can’t stay in this castle while everyone I know is fighting for our kingdom. I’m a trained soldier. You need me fighting for you.” He ran his hands through his hair. “There. I’ve said my part.”
“I need you here, guarding me. You’re the head of my personal guard. There is no one I trust more than you.” Protecting her might not be the most exciting job, but it was a position of value and respect.
“There are others who are qualified. You’ll have no trouble filling my spot.” He went over to the window, leaning on the ledge, looking outside at the pouring rain. “Protecting you is an honor, but I want to be where the action is.”
A lot of men his age probably felt the same way. Her parents had managed to keep Emperion out of any major scuffles for the past twelve years. He’d never seen or experienced war before. The battles she’d studied and the wars Darmik had told her about were all vicious, bloody, and brutal. How could she possibly allow Marek to fight on the frontlines? How could Neco or her parents be okay with this?
“What did your father say when you told him?” she asked, taking a seat on the chair near the hearth. The fire roared nice and high, warming her room.
“He was furious and said my position is here.” Marek turned around to face her. “But you outrank him. You have the power to let me go.”
“Marek … .” She didn’t want to let him go. It was selfish of her, but she felt like being selfish with her dear friend.
“You don’t understand. Your father and my father are going.”
The room swayed before her. “What do you mean, they’re going?” she demanded, her heart thundering in her chest.
“To the frontlines to fight.”
She thought she was going to vomit. Her father couldn’t lead the army into battle—what if he died? Leaning forward, she rested her head on her hands.
“Your Highness, are you okay?” Marek asked, kneeling before her.
“Yes,” she answered. “I just need a moment.”
“I’ll get my sister.”
She grabbed his arm. “Wait,” she said. “I understand why you want to go.” He needed to protect his father, and so did she.
Their eyes locked, and they stayed that way for a minute. “You’re not going to try and talk me out of it?” he whispered.
“I want to. But no, I’m not.”
“Will you sign my orders?”
She nodded.
“Thank you.” He left to find Mayra.
She sat there, staring into the fire. The sound of men marching pounded in her head. War was coming. Those she loved would die. She had to protect her family and her people.
***
Allyssa was almost to the meeting room when she heard angry voices around the corner. Slowing her pace, she gave the signal for her guards to fall back and remain silent. She stopped at the corner and leaned against the stone wall, listening to Jarvik and Prince Odar arguing with one another. Allyssa knew she shouldn’t stand there eavesdropping, but she couldn’t make herself move.
“I forbid it,” Jarvik said, his voice low and angry.
“Why? What’s changed?”
“We shouldn’t be having this conversation here.”
“No one’s around.”
Jarvik sighed. “Stick with the plan … but back off.”
Prince Odar chuckled. “Why can’t I have a little fun? It’s not as if you like her. So why do you care?”
There was a thud as if someone had been thrown against a wall. “That is none of your concern,” Jarvik said, his voice low and dangerous. “Remember, this is a business deal, nothing more.”
“I thought it was more about getting revenge for what Shelene did than business,” Prince Odar replied. “Besides, I think things have changed.”
“This situation is already dangerous and complicated enough. I don’t need you adding to the fray.”
“Fine,” he said. “Anything else?”
“No,” Jarvik snapped.
“For the record,” the prince said, “I think you should tell her. I know you’ve become distrustful, but I think this one is worthy. Don’t ruin it by being deceitful.”
Allyssa heard footsteps approaching so she hurried down the hall away from the men.
Inside the meeting room, large maps hung on the walls. One was covered with red marks, showing where enemy soldiers had been spotted. Another indicated where the Emperion base camps were hidden. The evidence of imminent war sent a chill through Allyssa as she took her seat next to her mother, waiting for the meeting to start.
“There’s been a change in plans,” Darmik said, standing. “We’ve just received a letter from Russek.”
The room went silent. Every single duke and all the members of the Legion sat staring at the empress and emperor. Rema lifted a piece of paper, handing it to Darmik.
He cleared his throat and read:
Empress Rema and Emperor Darmik,
I won’t waste time with pleasantries. As you know, I desire your kingdom, and Emperion will be mine. Out of kindness, as you have shown in the past, I will give you an option. If the two of you step down from the throne, along with your daughter, I will allow you to leave the kingdom and live in exile on Greenwood Island.
However, if you should mistakenly feel you can actually win against my mighty army and remain in power, I will have no choice but to forcibly remove your entire family, which will result in your untimely deaths.
I expect your answer within a fortnight. If you don’t agree to leave, we will march into your kingdom, destroy your farms and villages, and murder every Emperion we come into contact with.
King Drenton of Russek
The room remained silent. Allyssa went over the letter in her head. It was rather oddly worded, especially the part about showing kindness in the past and being offered exile instead of being slaughtered outright.
Darmik paced back and forth behind Rema and Allyssa, the letter still clutched in his hand. “I want all the dukes to return to their residences. Prepare your land for war. Protect the children and elderly. All able-bodied men must be ready to fight.”
The five dukes nodded and left the room.
“We will continue to finalize the marriage treaty between Princess Allyssa and Prince Odar. I believe our armies united will be enough to stop Russek.”
“As for the members of the Legion, do any of you object to us going to war to protect our land?” Rema asked.
“I, for one,” said an elderly man, “am honored to serve in the Legion. If we need to go to war to protect our kingdom, so be it.”
A chorus of, “Here, here,” rippled around the room.
“Thank you for your trust and support,” Rema said as she stood. She began walking around the table. “You all should know, I have a contingency plan in place.”
The door flew opened and Audek, Madelin’s father and one of her parents’ closest friends, entered the room. “Your Majesty,” he said.
“Thank you for coming, Audek. As I was saying, the emperor and I have taken precautions should Emperion ever be threatened. I want each and every one of you to know that no matter what happens, the royal line will be preserved. That is all I can say on the matter right now.”
She went and stood next to Darmik, the two of them holding hands. “We will meet tomorrow to continue to strategically p
lan our attacks, but for now, the meeting is over.”
Rema firmly placed her hand on her daughter’s shoulder, keeping her in place while all the Legion members left the room. Once everyone was gone, Audek shut the door.
Audek rarely came to court. He lived on the outskirts of town in a modest home with his wife, Vesha. He was one of her parents’ most trusted friends since he came from Greenwood Island and was instrumental in restoring Rema to the throne. Allyssa always enjoyed his company because he liked to make jokes and play pranks—he wasn’t stuffy like most of the nobles she knew. Madelin had a dash of her father’s wit about her.
“Allyssa,” Rema said, sitting once again next to her daughter, “there is something we must tell you.”
Darmik came and sat on the edge of the table on the other side of his daughter.
“Should I, uh, be here for this?” Audek asked.
Rema reached out for his hand. “My dear friend, thank you for your loyalty over the years.” She smiled, and his face reddened. “I need you to go and see Trell. He is the only one besides Mako who knows where Nathenek is. Find Nathenek and tell him that we’re entering stage one.”
Audek knelt on the ground. “Yes, Your Majesty.” He stood and left the room, winking at Rema before he closed the door behind him.
“What is going on?” Allyssa asked. “Who is Nathenek and what is stage one?”
Her parents exchanged worried glances. “Honey, you must know that we love you very much,” Rema said. “We never meant to be deceitful, but sometimes, as a ruler, you have to do things that are in the best interest of the kingdom.”
Darmik reached out and placed his hand on Allyssa’s shoulder. “We never wanted to lie to you,” he said. “But we had to do what was best.”
“When I took the throne,” Rema said, “I promised to always preserve the royal line no matter what. My own mother sacrificed herself so that I could live and carry on the line. Sometimes, we have to make such sacrifices. It is part of being a ruler.”
Allyssa had no idea what her parents were getting at, but she was suddenly scared.
The door opened, and Neco slipped into the room. “Sorry to interrupt, but I have some vital information that can’t wait.” He tugged his right ear and tilted his head.
Darmik jumped up and ran out of the room after Neco.
“We’ll continue this conversation later,” Rema said to her daughter as she stood and kissed Allyssa on her forehead. Then she, too, hurried from the room.
Allyssa sat there stunned, having no idea what her parents were about to reveal. She wanted to yell at them to come back and force them to tell her. Throwing her hands up in the air, she cursed.
***
“Given the threat from Russek, your father should increase security around the castle. We shouldn’t be able to enter and exit so easily,” Jarvik said as he and Allyssa walked along the street, heading deeper into the city. The rain had stopped, but everything was still wet, the streets littered with puddles.
She’d been thinking the same thing, but she hadn’t wanted to say anything to her father until after she met with the assassin tonight.
“Just so we’re absolutely clear, you’re not to follow or fight with any criminals this evening. Understood?”
This was the tenth time Jarvik had said something on the matter. She wasn’t sure what bothered her more—him ordering her around, or constantly saying the same thing so many bloody times as if she were incompetent. “I said I’d behave and I will.”
“I already have six soldiers at the inn,” he continued. “An additional two are ahead of us and two more are behind.”
“You don’t plan on hovering over me at the inn, do you?”
“No,” he said, “but I will be close by. Don’t look at me. Just pretend like I’m not there—that you don’t even know me.”
“The assassin could already be watching us.” She scanned the buildings around them, wondering if there were any threats lurking in the shadows.
“Figure out what he wants and leave. I’ll have him followed.”
She stopped walking and folded her arms, waiting for Jarvik to realize she wasn’t next to him.
He swung around to face her. “Why’d you stop?”
“Is everything okay with you?” she asked. She recalled his argument with Prince Odar earlier today, wishing he’d tell her about it. But he would never confide in her, especially since they weren’t friends.
“Yes, why?” he asked, his eyebrows pulling together as if he was trying to solve some mystery.
“You haven’t stopped talking since we left the castle, and it’s exhausting.”
He shook his head. “I’m the exhausting one? I’m worried because if anything happens to you, it’ll be my head on the line.” He started walking again. “You’re the exhausting one, not me.”
She jogged to catch up to him. “Nothing is going to happen.”
“You’re about to meet a man you know nothing about except for the fact that he took down your guards and mine as if it were nothing. So yes, I’m very concerned.”
“If I wanted a lecture, I would’ve brought Marek with me.”
“There’s a reason he’s always lecturing you,” Jarvik replied. “You’re reckless, impossible, and infuriating.”
The inn was just ahead. The last thing the two of them should be doing was arguing. “Make yourself scarce,” she said, not wanting to be seen with the squire in case the assassin was watching.
He slowed his pace, allowing her to walk a few feet in front of him. The assassin hadn’t specified a time to meet, he’d just said for her to come here alone tonight. Shoving open the wooden door, she entered the inn and headed straight to the tavern on the bottom floor of the establishment. Most of the tables were taken, and the bar was packed. She made her way through the patrons, searching for the assassin.
As she passed by a table where three burly men sat, one reached out, grabbing her around the waist. Before she even thought about what to do, her dagger was out and at the man’s throat. “Release me,” she demanded, not even blinking.
He let go, putting his hands up in surrender. “Apologies,” he muttered. “Didn’t mean no harm.”
She slid her dagger back in place and continued searching the tavern. A serving wench carrying a tray filled with mugs of ale approached Allyssa. “I was told to give this to a girl wearing a long cape and hood.” She held out a piece of paper.
Allyssa took it and read: Room 205.
Blimey. He wanted to meet in a private room, so there wouldn’t be any witnesses. She stood there, trying to figure out the best course of action. The smart thing would be to turn around and leave—go home and tell her father what had happened. He could investigate further if he felt the need.
However, if she didn’t meet with the assassin, then he’d find someone else who worked at the castle and proposition them. If he was sent to kill the royal family, she needed to know about it so she could protect her parents. Given the threat from Russek, she had to consider that the assassin might have been sent by King Drenton. Therefore, she really had little choice—she had to meet with him.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Jarvik enter and take a seat at a table in the back corner. Shoving the paper into her pocket, she casually strolled through the tavern, moving closer to the stairs. She had to be quick before the squire or one of his guards realized what she was about to do and stopped her. Nearing the steps, she bolted up them two at a time to the second floor. Room 205 was located at the end of the hallway.
Allyssa was about to knock on the door when it creaked open a few inches and she was yanked inside.
Darkness surrounded Allyssa, and she couldn’t see a thing. Fumbling for her knife, it wasn’t there. She reached down for the one in her boot, but it was gone as well.
Blasted.
Someone banged on the wooden door to the room. “Open up!” a man shouted. She couldn’t tell if it was Jarvik or not.
Fingers curled ov
er her mouth, and she felt a body behind her. “Do exactly as I say,” a man whispered in her ear.
She nodded.
“Get rid of whoever is out there. Now.”
The assassin led her forward in the dark. The door opened a few inches, and Allyssa saw a man standing there. Behind him, she glimpsed Jarvik on the stairs, his face white and panic stricken.
“Can I help you?” she asked. The assassin squeezed her arms, and she had to stifle a yelp. She knew if she screamed, Jarvik would storm in there and rescue her.
“I’m looking for a barmaid,” the man said, swaying on his feet as if drunk. His eyes however, were keen and alert. He had to be one of Jarvik’s guards. “Long, blonde hair, fine body, if you know what I mean.”
“I’m sorry, I haven’t seen her.”
“My apologies,” he slurred. He moved to the next door and banged on it.
The assassin closed the door and released her. There was a scuffling sound and a candle was lit, casting a soft glow over part of the room. The man stood in the corner, hidden in shadows. He wore a cape concealing his face and obscuring his body.
Allyssa shivered. “What do you want?” she asked.
“I’ve seen you entering and leaving the castle. I assume you work there?”
Thankfully, he hadn’t figured out who she was yet. “Yes,” she answered.
“I have a proposition for you,” he said, speaking with an accent that indicated he wasn’t from Emperion. He had a slight drawl, like the northerners did.
“What makes you think I’m interested?” she asked.
His head tilted to the side. “I know you’ve been coming and going from the castle. Don’t you think it’s safe to assume I’ve been watching you? Both you and your friend, Grevik.”
She reached for her weapon that wasn’t there.
The assassin tsked, shaking his head. “You can’t harm me—not when your friend’s life hangs in the balance.”
If he harmed Grevik, she’d kill him.
“Sit,” he ordered, pointing to the sagging bed cot.
Cage of Deceit (Reign of Secrets Book 1) Page 15