“What do you think, Kaia?” Vidar asked, making me jump. Several men turned and looked at me.
I hadn’t heard a word that had been spoken in the past five minutes. “I don’t know. Please explain it one more time.”
Vidar’s eyes narrowed. I gave him my full attention, ignoring Anders and the expression of shock written across his face.
Vidar said, “We’ll send in men here, here, and here.” He pointed to the map. “Then you and Anders will enter through here.” He pointed to another spot on the map. “The two of you will make your way to the dungeon while everyone else keeps the soldats distracted. Once the guards are neutralized, you’ll use your power to break the magical ward keeping the Krigers there.”
“What if Kaia is captured?” Anders asked, his voice low.
“Aren’t you the one who’s always telling me how strong and capable she is?”
“The plan sounds simple enough,” I said, interrupting them. “Let’s do it.”
Anders stiffened beside me. “Are you certain?”
“You’ll be there with me. What could possibly go wrong?”
***
“Kaia,” Vidar said, gently shaking me awake.
“Where’d everyone go?” I sat up and looked around the empty room. My back was stiff from having slept on the hard floor.
“After finalizing plans, everyone left. It’s just you and me.” He pulled me to my feet.
“What about Anders?” I’d fallen asleep with my head on his shoulder and his arm wrapped around my lower back, holding me tightly against him.
“He has a few things to take care of before tonight.”
“Is there time to practice?” I stretched my arms above my head. My bo staff rested against the wall, calling me.
Vidar smiled, and his eyes sparkled with mischief.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Your father wants to see you before tonight.”
I ran for the door. The thought of seeing Papa during this trip hadn’t occurred to me.
“Wait,” Vidar said, laughing. “You can’t walk on the streets carrying a bo staff.”
“I’m not leaving it here.”
“Fine,” he mumbled, taking it from me. “I’ll put it under my shirt and pants like before.” He slid it under his clothing.
“Thank you.”
His finger tilted my chin up so I was forced to look into his eyes. “Do you not want to marry me because you have feelings for another man?”
My breath caught—he couldn’t possibly think I was in love with someone else because that was preposterous.
“Kaia?”
“I’m only sixteen and not ready to marry.”
“Are you refusing me?” he asked in disbelief. “Knowing that Grei Heks said all will be lost if our bloodlines aren’t mixed to produce a child before Morlet is killed?”
“We need to focus on the Krigers right now.”
His hand dropped from my face. When I was around Vidar and he pressured me about getting married, it felt wrong. It couldn’t possibly be because I was developing feelings for another man, could it? Because if Grei Heks said Vidar and I were supposed to be together, then surely it would feel right—like using my bo staff did.
“Let’s go,” he muttered.
We left the apartment building, neither one of us speaking. I kept my head down as we traveled from the south end of the capital to the western sector. Vidar led me to a gray four-story building. We entered and climbed two flights of stairs, went down a hall and into a small, musty room. Several beds were shoved haphazardly against the walls, a table stood in the middle of the room, and shelves filled with food and books took up the remaining wall space.
Situated in the corner of the room, my father was sitting on a chair. When he saw me, he slammed his book shut. I ran over and wrapped my arms around his neck.
He kissed my head and held me at arm’s length. “You look good.” He smiled. Vidar cleared his throat, and my father glanced at him. “It’s good to see you, too. Thanks for taking care of my girl.”
“It’s my honor,” Vidar replied as he removed my weapon from his clothing.
The three of us sat at the table. Papa reached his hand out, and I clasped it. Although faint, the wheezing was still there, and his skin had a sheen of sweat on it.
“How are you?” I asked. “Are you being well cared for here?”
He attempted a smile. “My dear, sweet girl,” he muttered. “I just wanted to see you one last time. And here you are.” His eyes filled with tears. “I’m sorry I won’t be there to see the Krigers rise.”
I shook my head, refusing to believe Papa was going to die. “You looked good the last time I saw you. What happened?” His pocket was bulging with a bloodstained handkerchief.
My father patted my hand, wheezing. “Although the medicine has helped, it’s not a cure. My lungs are failing.”
“I hate that working in the mines has done this to you.” Anger and pain warred inside of me.
A ghost of a smile flitted across his face. “Please don’t be sad.”
Tears slid down my cheeks, dropping onto the table. “Don’t leave me. I need you.” My heart constricted as if someone were crushing it.
Papa’s eyes darted to Vidar and then back to me. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about being a Kriger sooner.”
“You were just trying to keep me safe.” I released his hand and wiped my cheeks.
“Your mother would be so proud of you. You’ve turned into such a beautiful, strong woman.”
At a loss for words, I hugged Papa, resting my head on his chest, wishing we could stay like this forever.
“I have one request.”
“Anything.”
“End this,” he said, wheezing. “Kill Morlet, and restore peace to Nelebek. You must save our family from this wretched curse.”
“I promise.”
He kissed the top of my head. “I know you can do it.”
“If I could be so bold,” Vidar said. “I know you’re concerned about your daughter’s future—especially since you won’t be there to protect her.” My father’s jaw quivered at the truth of Vidar’s words. “I have a solution. Give me your blessing to marry your daughter. I promise to take good care of her. She will want for nothing.”
It felt as if I’d been punched in the stomach. My father was going to die—now was not the time for marriage proposals.
“This is a dream come true,” Papa whispered. Another punch to my stomach. I looked at my father and saw the unspoken words in his eyes. He wanted this for me. “To know she’ll be loved and taken care of.” His smile softened the lines around his eyes as his body relaxed with relief.
“Do I have your blessing then?” Vidar asked.
“I would be honored to give my daughter to you, but she has no dowry, no money.”
“Your daughter is more than enough.”
“It is too good to be true,” Papa said. “Then yes, you have my blessing.” My father shook Vidar’s hand.
“Thank you.”
“It is I who should thank you,” Papa said.
Balling my hands into fists, hurt filled me. I was a person, not a piece of property. Yet, seeing how happy this made my father, I couldn’t deny him that. “Thank you, Papa.” I forced a smile.
“We need to go,” Vidar gently said.
“I’ll be in the mines tonight to make sure you have a clear path to the dungeon,” my father said.
“You should stay here and rest,” I urged him.
He shook his head. “I will be there protecting you.” There would be no changing his stubborn mind.
I stood and hugged Papa. “I love you.”
“Be safe,” he said.
I nodded and hurried out of the room, unable to look back.
Before leaving the apartment building, I stopped and glared at Vidar. “I can’t believe you just did that.”
“We�
��ll talk about it later. Come on, we’re going to be late.”
“Where are we going?”
“A local tavern,” he responded. “We’re meeting some people there.” He peered out at the main street. When it was clear, we exited and started walking. Vidar hunched over and leaned on the bo staff for support as if he were an elderly man.
“Aren’t you going to hide my weapon?”
“It’s my walking stick,” he said. “When we arrive at the tavern, I can’t very well sit with it under my clothes.” He gave me a lopsided grin, and I wanted to hit him. He was far too chipper over the stunt he just pulled with my father.
“We’re here,” Vidar said as he shoved a wooden door open, and we stepped inside a dark tavern. The long, lacquered bar at the front, the round tables, and the scantily clad women were all familiar. Of course, it made sense we’d come to this tavern since there was an entrance to the underground tunnels here.
We went to a table at the back where Vidar nonchalantly slid my weapon on the ground next to my feet. A serving wench brought us two mugs of ale.
“I’ve been here before,” I said, pulling my mug closer to me.
“You don’t strike me as a tavern sort of girl.”
I snorted. “I’m not. Anders brought me here before we escaped from the capital. This is where we bedded.”
Vidar spit out his drink. “Where you what?” he shrieked.
I chuckled. “Didn’t he tell you the story? That’s how we managed to get past the soldats. We pretended I worked here as a harlot, and he was a patron.”
Vidar cocked an eyebrow. “I don’t picture either one of you pulling that off.”
A young woman entered the tavern. Vidar turned his head, watching her glide across the room. She headed our way, tossing her blond hair over her shoulder and walking tall, exuding confidence. She appeared to be in her early twenties and wore a nice dress indicating she was from a merchant family. Her eyes briefly scanned me before resting on Vidar. He smiled, and she winked as she passed by, sitting at a nearby table.
“Do you know her?”
Vidar tore his eyes away from the beautiful girl. “Her father is one of the leaders,” he softly replied. “She’s meeting us here with two other men.”
“Then why is she sitting over there?”
“So she doesn’t draw attention to us.”
I traced my finger along the top of my mug, not drinking any of the strong-smelling ale. I may not have had any experience courting or flirting, but that didn’t mean I was blind. Vidar obviously had feelings for that girl. “Can we talk about that stunt you pulled with my father?”
“You mean our engagement?” His eyes strayed to the beautiful girl once more.
“Yes,” I replied. “I’d like to speak to Grei Heks so she can sufficiently explain all of this to me.”
“When I talked to her, she told me that your blood is tied to all of this. When I asked her to explain, she patted my cheek and said that love is fickle and makes us do crazy things. She told me that when all of this is said and done, your line will carry on with mine.” He stared down at his full mug. “We don’t have a choice. Now that we have your father’s blessing, we’re officially engaged.”
He chugged his ale. “At first, I teased and flirted with you because I thought Anders liked you.” He slammed the empty mug on the table. “I thought if I showed an interest in you, it would force him to act on his feelings. He’s never taken notice of a woman before.” He glanced over at the blond girl at the next table and then back to me. “If you are to be my wife, I don’t want to see you with another man. I want our engagement announced. However, we can wait and have the ceremony after you’ve spoken with Grei Heks on the matter.”
My father’s face invaded my thoughts. He had looked so happy with the idea of Vidar marrying me. I folded my arms. “Fine. You can announce our engagement tomorrow. After we’ve rescued the Krigers.” He opened his mouth to argue, but I held my hand up. “This is not negotiable.”
He bit his lip. “No one argues with me like you do.” I wrapped my hands around my mug, waiting for him to agree. He scratched the back of his neck. “Okay. We’ll wait and announce it tomorrow.”
Two men walked into the tavern. One sat down at our table, and the other sat with the blond girl.
“This is a friend,” Vidar informed me. “He’s here to tell us what’s going on in the castle. The other man will help us navigate the tunnels. The girl will report to her father, so he can inform the others.”
It felt as if everyone in the tavern was watching us. It had to be my imagination playing tricks on me. I kept thinking soldats would storm in at any moment and arrest us. I’d be taken before Morlet, tortured, and killed.
The man cleared his throat. “Reports indicate that the king hasn’t left the castle,” he said. “There are rumors he’s sick. He has men scouring the capital for the last Kriger. Whoever captures her will be rewarded a bag of gold.”
I knew Morlet wasn’t sick—he was recovering from healing me.
Vidar’s eyes narrowed. “Have patrols been going door-to-door?”
“No.”
“Something’s not right,” he mumbled.
“I agree,” the man said. “The king should be tearing the capital apart searching for her, and he’s not.”
“Regardless,” Vidar said, leaning forward on his elbows, “we’re still on for tonight.”
“Very well,” the man answered. “I’ll give the word.” He stood and left without saying goodbye.
“Interesting fellow,” I commented.
“He obtains information quickly. He’s an asset to our organization.”
“Now what?”
“Follow me.”
Reaching for my bo staff, I grabbed it and followed Vidar up a flight of stairs. The girl and the man she’d been sitting with casually trailed behind us. Vidar went into the room with the entrance to the underground tunnel. The man stood watch outside the door while the girl and I went in.
When the door closed, the girl asked, “The two of you are engaged?” She carefully pronounced each word, indicating she was cultured and well educated.
“We are,” Vidar answered, giving no indication he was going to introduce me to her.
Shock flittered across the girl’s face, but she quickly hid it. “My father said as soon as it’s dark, he’ll get men into position. No one will move until the signal is lit. If nothing happens by midnight, he’ll call off his men.”
“Excellent,” Vidar said.
She pulled on knit gloves. “Anders said to tell you he’ll meet you at the blacksmith’s shop near the mines’ entrance. Make sure the girl—I mean your fiancée—has her weapon.” She briefly glanced at me. “And don’t return to the original apartment.”
The lines between Vidar’s eyebrows deepened. “Has the room been discovered?”
“Anders saw soldats watching the place.”
I don’t know why, but the idea of Anders talking to this girl irked me. My hands tingled with power, so I loosened my grip on my bo staff, not wanting to accidentally hurt someone.
“Does he think our plans have been compromised?” Vidar asked.
“No,” she responded. “I need to tell him you’re on your way. Be careful, and good luck.” With her chin raised in the air, she spun and left.
“Wait here,” Vidar said to me while rushing out of the room after her.
Crossing my arms, I paced back and forth. How well did Anders know this girl? Were they friends? Vidar and the girl—whose name I still didn’t know—were arguing on the other side of the door.
A sharp searing pain exploded in my head, and I tumbled to the ground, dropping my bo staff.
“Kaia!” Morlet cried.
I forced myself to remain in that room, so we didn’t fully connect to one another. Pain swirled around in my head and extended down my body. I focused on the wooden floor beneath my palms, my vision blurring a
nd my arms shaking.
“You can’t escape me,” he purred. “I will have you. It’s your destiny—you don’t have a choice.”
“No! I have a choice,” I ground out through gritted teeth.
“Kaia!” Vidar said, placing his hand on my back. The pain instantly disappeared. “I thought I was close enough for the medallion to protect you.” He pulled me to a sitting position.
“I didn’t fully connect with him.”
“You’re shaking,” he said, hugging me.
I wrapped my arms around him, thankful for his presence.
“We need to get moving. We’re on a tight timeline.” He helped me stand.
I was anxious to be on our way in order to get my mind off Morlet because when he had yelled my name, his voice had been filled with utter desperation. I envisioned him on his knees, pleading for me to return to him. And sympathy was something I couldn’t afford to feel toward the man I was going to kill.
Chapter Twenty
Clutching my bo staff, I descended the ladder to the dark tunnel.
“The name’s Askel,” the guide said, lighting a torch. “If you must speak, whisper. Let’s go.”
I followed him, Vidar behind me. We walked in silence about a quarter of a mile before turning into another tunnel. The ceiling of this particular one felt lower, and it was rounded. The sides and ground were polished, smooth rock. This tunnel had to have been carved by water. We continued in silence. After a mile or so, we turned into yet another tunnel. The sides of this one had uneven chisel marks and it was more square-shaped, indicating it was manmade.
When we came to a ladder, Askel stopped. “This leads to the blacksmith’s shop,” he whispered. “The blacksmith told me he’d close early for us.”
He placed his torch on the ground, then kicked dirt on the flames. At the top of the ladder, he opened the square door an inch and peered out. Satisfied with what he saw, he threw the door open the rest of the way and climbed into the shop.
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