“He can lie all he wants, but I know he’s scared,” Thane said, glancing over at her. “He won’t be the only one either.”
“I know,” she nodded. “But the law is absolute. We’ve taken in numbers of other criminals, I don’t see why this one should be any different.”
“Because she is different. She’s the Black Queen, remember?”
“That name,” Cam scoffed. “She’s the queen of the Obsidian Isles. You’d think people could be a bit more creative in coming up with a nickname for her.”
“I believe the name comes from the blackness of her heart and not the land she rules, especially since she’s a foreigner to them.”
Cam glanced down at the sleeping body bouncing behind them, her eyes passing over the bare skin of her shoulders. The salt-filled air rolling off the sea, and the constant cloud cover, gave the people of the Obsidian Isles dull skin that was rough and weathered. The queen however was smooth with an even, olive tone. Her complexion, paired with her dark mahogany hair, made her a stand out among the people she reigned over. It was no wonder why King Gerrod had chosen her.
“You’ve heard the rumors, haven’t you?” Thane asked, bringing her gaze back forward.
“Some of them,” she answered, “but it’s hard to tell the facts from the exaggerations.”
“I heard she can summon fire from under the earth, and that she can rip a man’s heart from his chest with her bare hands. Although, those do seem unlikely.”
“I’m not sure,” she smirked, “but when she wakes you’re free to ask her about it. I only hope she doesn’t decide to use you as an example of those powers.” Thane shot her an annoyed look from the corner of his eye and Cam chuckled to herself.
As the sun began to drop in the sky, the horses came over the top of the hill, exposing the valley below them. At the heart of it, the dark stone wall cut through the white birch trees, creating the barrier shielding her home. The gray capped turrets clashed against the pink and purple swirled sky. To the south the water glimmered in the distance; the Halton Sea wasn’t far, and in the afternoon light the glare almost blinded her. A road emerged from the port village of Wynlis and carved its way across the land like a river, guiding travelers to the castle. It was a smooth path compared to what they were on now, which forced them to trudge over the low plants and rocks of the hillside. She weaved her mare through the trees, and with each step her home grew closer, and a small weight began to drop in Cam’s stomach.
“I’m doing the right thing,” she said out loud, reassuring herself.
“I know,” Thane nodded. “In all the years we’ve known each other, I’ve never doubted your judgment.”
“I can only hope my father agrees.”
He reached his arm out over the distance between them and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “You need to trust your choices as much as the rest of us do. You know what’s right, and you’re going to make a great queen someday. Stop second guessing yourself.”
“I know,” she nodded. “You’re right.”
“Aren’t I always?” He laughed.
Cam shook her head at him, and with another click of the tongue, her horse began to trot down the hill, headed towards the Ashen Castle; headed towards home.
Three
A warmth spread along Rya’s side, while a gentle weight on her chest kept her pinned in place. Her eyelids were heavy, struggling against her as she willed them open, desperate for one more moment of peace. The dim light of the room burned, and she sat still for a moment, blinking away the white spots in her vision.
What is this place? She’d had flashes of memories—the forest border, the assassin behind her, the voices from the woods. The thoughts swirled together in her mind, mixing into a jumbled mess and making her head ache. She couldn’t recall any details about the people who rescued her, but based on her current surroundings, she guessed they weren’t lowly woodsmen.
Lush fabrics and over-sized furniture decorated the humble room, each combating the coldness of the thick stone walls. The door to her left sat ajar, open just enough to show the darkness waiting on the other side. Next to it, the fireplace burned with the embers of the night’s fire, providing the heat she’d felt before. Along the same wall hung a copper framed mirror, the clear glass reflecting the twinkling stars in the window opposite it. The sight of the night sky made her question how long she’d been asleep in the room. A few hours? A day?
Her body was stiff and her muscles all hummed the same dull ache. She moved to sit up, pushing herself with her hands only to flinch when the pain in her wrist was quick to remind her, she couldn’t. She removed her arm from under the covers laying over her, examining the white wrapping running from her fingers to her elbow. Throwing back the blankets with her other hand she looked down at the rest of her body. Someone had stripped away her old clothes and placed her in a fresh, thin nightshirt. The various scrapes and scratches along her now bare legs had been tended to as well, and her entire body had been scrubbed clean. With a weak hand, she reached up and ran her fingers over her forehead, feeling the few rough stitches on her left temple.
“Great,” she grunted. “That’ll scar.”
She swung her legs over the side of the bed, placing the soles of her bare feet on the cool floor, and a shiver ran through her body. She leaned forward to test the strength, uncertain if her weak legs could handle the rest of her weight. The door was only a few steps away, and her desire to have answers outweighed her pain. If she could make it to the hallway, maybe she could find out where they’d taken her. The sooner I know where I am, she thought, the better. She took a deep breath and pushed herself up.
Once standing, her legs began to wobble under her. She managed a single step, pausing before the next. Her muscles ached and her head was throbbing, but she shuffled another foot forward, ignoring her body’s pleas. Another step and she was able to reach the handle. She pulled open the door in one swift motion, collapsing against the frame to keep herself upright while her legs trembled in protest.
The hallway outside the door was dark and narrow. Small glass sconces had been lit sometime during the night, but their flickering did little to shed real light into the space. Rya squinted, following the muted color of the carpet running to the end of the hall where it made a sharp turn, when two figures appeared in the darkness.
“What are you doing?” A young man’s voice asked, his shadow jogging towards her. The other figure, smaller than the first, followed close behind. Rya turned, trying to dart back inside the room, but her muscles failed her. She crashed to the hard ground inside the doorway with a groan. The stone was cold on her face as she lay waiting, begging her legs to push her forward, and cursing them when they refused.
“You weren’t even awake a few hours ago.” The man fell to his knees at her side, hovering over her. His straw-colored hair hung down around his face, long enough to brush the top of his shoulders. He frowned down at her. “You can’t go running around like that.”
Behind him a young woman stood with a smirk. The familiarity in her face caught Rya by surprise, and a short yelp escaped the queen’s mouth.
The boy scooped her up into his arms, the ends of his hair tickling her face as he held her to his chest. He carried her the few feet to the bed, laying her gently against the headboard. “You need to take it slow. You don’t need to hurt yourself any more than you already have.”
“Where am I?” Rya demanded. She was afraid to meet the girl’s eyes as she covered the queen’s legs with blankets. “And who are you?”
“You’re in the Ashen Forest,” the boy answered. “Can you remember anything from before?”
“I remember passing the border, but after that it all gets a little hazy. Where exactly have you taken me?”
The girl leaned back against the wall, her arms crossed over her chest. “You’re in King Mikkel’s castle, as a guest. All things considered you should count yourself lucky. Not everyone wanted to bring you here.”
&nb
sp; Rya sighed. “I see my reputation has proceeded me. I’m surprised you even picked me up off the ground. I would have expected you to leave me there rolling around in pain.”
“I would never leave a lady in distress,” the young man replied. He smiled at her while he rubbed the stubble along his jawline. “Neither would Princess Camreigh. She was in the woods when we found you and she insisted you stay here with us.”
“You two were in the forest?”
“I was,” he answered before gesturing to the girl next to him. “Norell doesn’t hunt with us, but she’s been taking care of you since we brought you back.”
“I’d hate to know what you did to be punished with such an assignment.”
Norell frowned, pushing herself off the wall. “I volunteered.” Without another word, she stomped from the room, leaving Rya alone with the young man.
“I apologize for her. She can be a little protective at times.” He paused, his gaze locked on the empty doorway before shaking his head. “You really should get some more sleep. I’m sure tomorrow will be a busy day now that you’re awake. People are bound to have questions.”
“About that,” she asked, “how long was I unconscious?”
“Three days. Well, I guess four since it’s practically morning now. In addition to your injuries, and the exhaustion, you ended up fighting a pretty nasty fever for a while. You’ve been through a lot Your Majesty.”
“Please, call me Rya. After saving my life, I think you and I can do without the formalities.”
“Thank you Your—Rya. I’m Thane, and it’s a pleasure to meet you. Like I said, though, you need more rest.”
“You might be right,” she yawned. The pain spread all over her body, banging against her insides like a drum, draining her energy with each strike.
Thane gave a small bow as he excused himself, closing the door behind him.
Rya slumped down, resting her head on the pillow. Four days were gone and lost forever. At least she’d ended up in the royal palace. It was the safest place in the Ashen Forest, which meant Nix couldn’t touch her. As long as she could stay, she would be out of his reach and able to plot her next steps. The sleep started to weigh down her eyelids, and as she drifted off once more, she promised herself one thing—she was going to do whatever it took to keep herself safe.
Four
Cam paced outside her father’s throne room, peaking through the gap in the doors with each pass. It was right off the entry hall, and between the thick oak separating her, and the chatter of the servants as they worked, she could only hear bits and pieces of the conversation. It had been almost an hour since Guthry had slid by her with a glare and hobbled down the aisle to her father. His shaky legs and hanging skin showed his years, but his eyes were as sharp as they’d ever been. She didn’t care if he had been adviser to two kings before Mikkel, she hated him. The fact he was allowed inside while she stood waiting only made the feeling stronger.
“We need to remove her immediately,” his shrill voice called out. It had been the third time he’d yelled those words. Cam knew his intentions, and the anger grew in her chest. Unable to hold back any longer, she pushed open the doors, storming down the length of the room towards the men.
The throne had been carved from the largest tree in the forest hundreds of years before, but under her father it looked like a child’s seat. His thick limbs and wide shoulders made him twice the size of any man and, combined with his mass of red beard, he terrified anyone who didn’t know him informally. Cam took in the gentle look on his face and she knew this outburst wouldn’t be enough to upset him. It was the old man waiting at the end of the aisle that would be the problem.
“What are you doing?” Guthry sneered as she stopped next to him. He raised his ancient hand, waving a finger in her face as he addressed the king. “She’s the one who caused all this. She brought that witch into your home.”
“I wasn’t going to leave her,” Cam answered, swatting his hand away. “She was in trouble, and I helped her. It’s what the Ashen do; we’re the protectors.”
He scoffed. “She doesn’t need protecting. She’s evil, with magic greater than any we’ve seen before. She will inflict horrible curses onto the people of this forest, and when she does it will be your fault.”
“She’s been unconscious since we found her, what exactly do you expect her to do?”
“I expect many things now that she’s awake.”
Cam’s mouth dropped open. “She’s awake? Why didn’t anyone tell me?”
“I heard she came-to just before daybreak. To me, that’s plenty of time to plot something sinister.”
“Right,” Cam replied, rolling her eyes. “I’m sure the first thing she did after being knocked out for a few days was jot down a villainous plan.”
“Don’t make light of this,” Guthry warned. “She will destroy our home.”
“If the Ashen Forest is truly your home,” she retorted, “then you’ll remember how we behave here. Or has it been too long since you were a criminal on the run yourself?”
“She’s right,” Mikkel nodded, finally adding to the argument. His voice boomed in the open space. “You came here as a young man fleeing his home, begging for someone to help you. The Ashen took you in and gave you safety. My grandfather liked you so much he made you a royal adviser. None of that would have happened if we were to turn away those in need.”
“Your Majesty, I was running from a lord for sleeping with his wife, I wasn’t chased from my own kingdom for murdering a king. She’s killed a member of royalty before, what’s to stop her from doing it again? You are an imposing force, and the princess can take care of herself, but what about your son? What’s to prevent him from being the target of her powers?”
Cam snapped, “you leave Eirik out of this.”
“I’m only pointing out,” he continued, ignoring her anger, “the Black Queen has magic stronger than any of our weapons. We can’t fight it, and she uses it against people as a form of amusement. The stories I’ve heard would turn the strongest man’s stomach.”
“Rumors and stories,” Cam groaned, throwing her hands in the air. “Can you provide any real proof of these stories? Or are you relying only on the drunken tales you hear second hand in the taverns?”
“Her reputation is proof enough,” he spat back. “Mark my words, you allow her to stay and with a snap of her fingers this whole castle will be in flames.”
“Oh, that won’t be happening,” a soft voice laughed. Cam turned around to see the queen standing in the open doorway, wearing a dark green dress and a teasing smirk. Two guards flanked her sides, but with a nod from Mikkel they relaxed their shoulders and turned to step out. Rya walked forward. Her hands had been hanging at her sides, but as she sauntered down the aisle they swayed with the rhythm of her hips. Cam couldn’t take her eyes off her, fixated on her gliding towards them until she came to a stop between the princess and Guthry.
“It’s a pleasure to see you on your feet,” Mikkel smiled, bowing his head towards her.
Rya returned the gesture. “Sir, if you allow me to put your worries to rest, it’s because of your hospitality and your daughter’s bravery that I am here today. Seeing as I owe you both my life, I can say with absolute certainty I won’t be setting anyone on fire.”
Cam covered her mouth, choking back a laugh. As Guthry shouted his disapproval, the queen gave her a quick wink.
“This is outrageous,” the old man barked. “She’s making a mockery of you and your court.”
“Enough,” Mikkel warned, glaring at him. With Guthry’s mouth shut the king turned his attention to Rya. “My apologies, but we’ve had some concerns about your arrival. While your situation is more sensitive than some, I can’t give you special treatment. Each person seeking safety in our land stands here before me. I will interview you, and if I feel you’re worthy of staying, you’ll be under our full protection. Just know that if I allow you to remain in the forest you will be held to our laws, and th
e punishments can be harsh. If you’re willing to agree to all those rules, I can continue with a few questions.”
“Of course,” Rya nodded. “I’ll answer whatever I can.”
“The accusations against you are quite serious. They’re saying you murdered your husband, King Gerrod, in order to take the crown for yourself. Is there any truth to this claim?”
“He was barely my husband, but no, I had nothing to do with his death. Gerrod has had a bad heart since his youth and failed to adhere to the mender’s advice. As far as I’m aware he passed without any outside assistance. If a plot to end his life existed, I had no hand in it.”
“These rumors have led to your own people chasing you from your kingdom and sending you on the run. How do you explain that?”
“They are being misled by the leader of the Isles’ temple, Father Kasen. If he truly believed I was to blame for the king’s death, why would he wait three years to bring the charges against me?”
The king looked perplexed. “What would this man have to gain by falsely accusing you?”
“He’s been trying to control me since I was named queen, and I’ve never allowed him to gain hold. After years of failing it seems he’s decided replacing me is easier. I believe he plans on having me executed and allowing Prince Gavin to take my place on the throne.”
“Lies,” Guthry interrupted. “Everyone knows the prince of the Isles was kidnapped and then murdered years ago. This only proves her deceitfulness.”
“No,” Rya replied. “Since his disappearance people have spread rumors of the prince surviving, and I believe Kasen has located him. It’s why he chose now to strike. Even if Gavin was to return, the only way he could take the crown is if I give it to him, or in the case of my death. Kasen believes these false charges will be enough to send me the gallows.”
The Poison Within Page 2