Royal Chronicles of Denmark, Books 1 & 2

by Kiki Leach

  I tuned away as it all began to sink in. I didn’t want to admit aloud or even to myself that it all made perfect sense in a sick and twisted way, but it did. It truly did.

  “My God in heaven. He despises his own son that much.” I rattled my head in disbelief and anger. “If he was so hell bent on driving him mad, why give him the false hope of a victory? Why not allow him to lose and then taunt as he so often does anyhow? I’m assuming John’s presence would’ve occurred either way.”

  “There is no pleasure in kicking a handsome prince while he’s already down, is there? Much more amusing and self fulfilling if he believed he had won or rightfully earned something that never belonged to him and never will. Allowing Denmark to win gave Norvack a sense of entitlement, and peace in believing that he had finally earned the king’s respect.”

  “He didn’t,” I said.

  “He didn’t. However, the king was certain his son would come to such a conclusion the moment he learned the battle had been won by his men, and he did. Unfortunately, the prince was so foolishly unaware that the war was only a calm before the first of many storms.”

  “Is this why John was never meant to lead their army into war that night?”

  He nodded.

  I shuffled across the room and folded my arms. “It was all a ploy.”

  He winked and pointed. “Precisely.”

  “These men sacrificed innocent lives, all in the hopes of ridding the world of Norvack. Why?”

  “England for his choosing to marry you and not the princess as promised since birth. Belarus, because of his never ending obsession with his first born.”

  “Then John was never meant to take over the throne. Is he aware of any of this?”

  “No. He truly believed that he was saving Norvack’s life when he struck his horse that night and forced him to fall from it, which is why he chose to fight against the king’s wishes. Belarus has been using him as a pawn in this game ever since. He’s been nothing more than this chess piece, moving around the board at the will of both kings. Though it may not matter, seeing as he may have had plans of his own to destroy each member of this family stone by stone.” He took the piece between his fingers and slid it to the back of the board, as if he had won a game against himself. “An astonishing world you were courted into, is it not?”

  “It’s not.” I looked back at him and sneered. “If not John, then who would take Norvack’s place?”

  “Perhaps the heir, were you to conceive.”

  “And if not?”

  “The king has no other bastard son’s I am aware of.”

  “What about daughters?”

  I whirled around and he made a face, but remained silent.

  I stiffened and frowned. “Does the king have other children?”

  He gradually lifted then lowered his shoulders and eyed the ceiling. “Perhaps. Perhaps not. He would never allow a woman to rule in his place even if it were so.”

  “Does that mean you’re aware of the truth?”

  “It means I am aware of many things, Mistress. Such as your killing his first born son, if he is in fact dead.”

  “You are on a list, Sheriff,” I stated. “One that seems to grow as time goes on. The only person still seemingly unaware must remain that way as he is the only one with enough power to destroy me before the entire country. Unless you prefer the taste of your own tongue from the back of your throat as opposed to between your teeth, you shall continue to remain silent.”

  “I appreciate my tongue where it is,” he answered in a snide tone.

  “Use it to inform me of why you truly chose to return.”

  “The truth shall reveal itself in due time.”

  “You shall reveal it in due time, once you’ve retrieved what you’re after.” I leaned down on the table and smiled at him. “What are you here for?”

  He chortled and drank the remainder of his spirits. “In due time,” he said again. “Perhaps you should find your husband in the meantime. However --” He reached for my hand. Instinctively, I snatched it away. “If you inform him of the war --”

  “I won’t. At least, not at this moment.”

  I stared at him, questioning. As he glared back at me, I could see the wheels turning in his head.

  “I’ll return in the morning,” I informed him.

  “Remember what I said.”

  “Etched across my heart in blood.”

  I closed the door behind me and leaned back, thinking. He was planning something; he had made it so clear without even trying. If I were as powerful as he once claimed, I would have known what.

  I walked through the palace for what felt like hours searching for Norvack, yet found him nowhere. When I finally saw Esme standing in the corridor on the first floor, looking out the window near one of the libraries, I tapped her shoulder. She nearly jumped from her skin, but relaxed when she realized it was only me.

  “I’m sorry,” I said. “I didn’t mean to frighten you as I did.”

  “It’s alright,” she answered, her voice soft, sad.

  I looked out of the window and noticed the snow blowing much harder than before, as well as the sky darkening. The winds had managed to pick up and snow swirled high into the air, creating tiny funnels that seemed to bounce from one side to the other.

  “It’s only gotten worse as the day has gone on. I can’t imagine how anyone could survive out there in this. We can only hope that she’s found.”

  I soured in confusion. “That ‘who’ is found?”

  “Brigita. I was informed she had left the palace.”

  “Alone?

  “Yes.”

  “Why?” I asked. “And where on earth would she go?”

  “Back to Hadenville, I believe. No one is certain why she chose to go, and at such a time as this.”

  “My God.” I pressed my hand to my head. “When did she go?”

  She shrugged. “This morning, I believe. She spoke with the queen and not long after, no one was able to find her anyplace. The queen found a note atop her pillow indicating that she needed to return home for good.”

  “Wonderful. This is…” I stopped and took a deep breath. “I need to find Norvack, perhaps we can go in search of her together.”

  “Norvack is gone, Cinder.”

  “What?”

  “He went in search of her the moment he learned she had disappeared.”

  “Why didn’t anyone come for me?” I screamed, my voice shaking as I panicked.

  “The queen said she would alert you the moment she found you. I assumed she had the moment you came to me.”

  “Until I began asking questions? Someone should’ve found me much sooner.”

  “No one was certain of where you were, Cinderella.”

  I dropped my head, thinking for only a few seconds. “I need your cape,” I said.

  “You’re not planning to go looking for her as well? Oh Cinder, many men have gone in search of her, even John.”

  “The latter isn’t saying much. He more than likely went in search for other reasons than her.”

  “What kind of reasons?”

  “I don’t know. I don’t know -- listen. I am in need of your cape. Please. I fear to know the reason why she disappeared, but would give my own life to hear the words come straight from her lips and no one else’s.”

  She hesitated before removing it from her neck and draping it around my shoulders.

  “It may not be the help you are in need of,” she said. “The winds seem very violent.”

  “I’ll be fine,” I replied, placing the hood upon my head. “I’ll be much better once she’s found.”

  As I headed out into the cold and snow, the wind hit me across the face harder than a hand. I could feel my cheek swelling, but was determined not to stop.

  I headed for the stables to seek a horse, but as expected, none were willing to move from place. Norvack’s stallion was the only one that was missing. Once outside the stables, I tried peeking between the blowing
sheets of wind. It struck harder and harder each time I moved forward. My feet continued to sink deeper and deeper into the snow. It was nearly impossible for anyone to have made it off the palace grounds in weather of this nature, let alone all the way to Hadenville. Perhaps the furthest one would get was near the gates. And so I went in that direction, calling out for Brigita and Norvack, and even John as I moved. I fell a few times, but managed to stand up again and continue on.

  As I got closer to the gate, I saw someone standing near it. I raced toward him as fast as I could despite my feet sinking, wondering if it were Norvack or even John. I was out of breath by the time I reached him. Even as the snow slammed into his body, he didn’t move a single inch one way or another.

  “Norvack!” I hollered.

  He never turned around.

  “John!”

  He continued to remain still.

  He was wearing an enlarged hood on his head. I wasn’t certain he could even hear me, but I was determined to continue on, no matter.

  “Have you seen a woman?” I asked, moving closer. “Her hair is blond and her eyes are as blue and beautiful as an ocean.”

  “I’ve only seen you.”

  His voice was rough. Guttural.

  “Sir, please! Are you a servant? I don’t seem to recognize your voice. Allow me to see your face?”

  I looked down toward his feet then, and noticed small drops of blood coating the snow where he stood.

  “Are you’re bleeding?”

  I reached for his shoulder but he turned too fast and held a sword to my chest. I stood as still as a statue, fearing that a single move in any direction would send the sharp tip of the blade directly into my heart.

  “I don’t know what you’re in search of,” I began, my voice rattling. “But I mean no harm. If you are in need of help, I can request a member of my husband’s court to lead you inside.”

  “A member of my court,” he said. “MINE!”

  I frowned and lowered my head a little to get even a glimpse of his face.

  “Please allow me to see your face, Sir.”

  He laughed to himself and lowered his arm, but the hood remained in place.

  “Allow you to see my face?” He stepped forward, which only frightened me more.

  And then he gradually raised a hand to his face, while still holding quite tightly onto that sword with the other. After a few tugs, it fell back and I gasped in terror, clutching my mouth and falling back into the snow. My breathing was inadequate, nearly non existent. My heart felt as if it had stopped beating in utter fear of making another noise before him. I looked deep into his hazel eyes and rattled my head in complete disbelief.

  “My God,” I cried out. “My God, my God!”

  Before me stood what appeared to be a man I was certain to never see again.

  Because he was dead.

  Before me stood what appeared to be Willem Belarus I.

  And he was holding Norvack’s blade directly at my heart.

  COMING SOON in the Royal Chronicles of Denmark Series:

  Book 3: Her Royal Decision

  Book 4: Her Royal Conclusion