Captive of Raven Castle

by Jessica Greyson

  “Pappa, don’t let me go then. I will stay here by your side. Pappa, Pappa!” She clung to him, her heart feeling shattered. She could not hold to him tight enough.

  Slowly King Aric relaxed his grip on her and wiped away both of their tears.

  “Cassandra, my beautiful Cassandra.” He pressed a long kiss to her forehead, one that seemed to implant his love upon her forever. “I cannot decide whether you should go or stay. I will leave that for the council to decide.”

  She clung to him tighter. “Are you sure, Pappa?”

  “I was surprised by their reaction. If they want you to go, Cassandra, then you must go.”

  “Pappa, I...”

  “Hush.” Releasing his daughter from his clasp, he went to call the council. Cassandra had a sudden urge to run after him—to cling to his arm and never let go. But she stood where he had left her, watching his every move. By this suggestion she had practically broken his heart, and hers too.

  In a few minutes, the lords were sitting around the table.

  “Who will take Cassandra’s suggestion into consideration?”

  Cassandra found a wave of shock and fear pour through her as many of them nodded yes.

  “We will not take a vote tonight. I would like you all to consider it deeply. If there are questions you would like to ask Cassandra, please feel free to do so, either tonight or tomorrow. Any questions at the moment?” Cassandra noted how lifeless her Pappa’s voice seemed.

  There was a long silence.

  “Very well. We adjourn until tomorrow evening.”

  With a numb heart, Cassandra watched the men slowly disperse, leaving them once again alone.

  “What shall we do, Pappa?”

  “Pray, and that with all our hearts, that the best choice be made.” Taking her hands in his, he knelt on the hard, cold stone floor. Sinking to her knees, she bowed her head, her heart crying for the best choice.

  In complete silence, she listened to her father’s prayer: heartfelt, fervent, trusting. He did not ask for an answer one way or the other, but for peace no matter how it fell.

  Cassandra felt the presence of another person. Opening her eyes, she glanced up to see Taleon kneeling beside her father.

  When her father’s amen came, Cassandra opened her mouth, but found the words would not come, though tears came in their stead. In a moment she was pulled into her father’s arms and a firm hand slipped into her own. She did not have to blink back the tears to know it was Taleon. She looked at him. His head was bowed, but his grip was strong, as if imparting the strength she needed. Closing her eyes, the words came, burning with her heart’s craving. Just as she had uttered her amen, a lord entered and requested the king.

  “Taleon, make sure Cassandra gets back to her room safely,” he said, looking down into her face and wiping away the dampness on her cheeks, then, rising, he left.

  “With pleasure, sire,” said Taleon, not stirring. He watched King Aric leave before he spoke. “Are you trying to break your father’s heart?” Then he turned to her with a piercing gaze. “Because you are doing a pretty good job of it.”

  Cassandra looked at him, baffled. “Why would I do that?”

  He was silent, but his gaze was anything but quiet. Reaching over, he wiped a lone tear away. “You’ve cried for more petty reasons than this. How do I know you are not acting?”

  Cassandra’s jaw dropped at the force of the suggestion. “Do you honestly think I would betray my Pappa?”

  “You betrayed your uncle. What is to prevent you from doing the same once you reach the valley? What is to prevent you from going back to being the little weakling that came up here?”

  “Love and truth. I now have both in a way I have never experienced in my whole life and I will do whatever it takes to feel it again. Neither of those do I find in my uncle.”

  Taleon didn’t say anything.

  “I know I cannot convince you, Taleon. There is nothing I can say or do that will make you believe me.” She looked into his eyes, feeling hopeless.

  Taleon had her hand and was pulling Cassandra close so he could look directly into her eyes. “Give me your word.”

  “My word?”

  “Swear on your father’s name that you will not betray us.”

  “On my father’s name? Taleon, why I could never...”

  His fingers touched her lips. “Swear,” he barely whispered.

  Cassandra’s heart beat wildly. To swear on her beloved Pappa’s name seemed to break some sort of code of honor. If she were to break it, she would be shaming her Pappa’s name, but she did not plan on bringing dishonor and shame to him. His name also brought some sort of standard—a measuring stick for her own conduct. The gravity of the whole situation stunned her while her emotions pulled her apart.

  “Taleon, I swear to never bring dishonor or shame upon my Pappa’s name. And by my Pappa, King Aric the rightful ruler and King of Chambria, I swear to never betray my Pappa, you, or the kingdom of Chambria. I will take death more lightly than break what I swear to you.”

  Taleon was on his feet and assisted Cassandra to her feet.

  “Your uncle is an excellent swordsman. I think you need another lesson should you ever need it.”

  “But the council...”

  “You need to be ready for whatever comes. Now come, Cassandra. You need to be ready.”

  Chapter 27

  The next day, Cassandra spent most of her day in the armory with Taleon, just to keep her mind from what fate lay ahead of her. As evening was gathering, a lad appeared in the doorway.

  “You are both wanted in the council chambers,” he piped before disappearing.

  Cassandra looked at Taleon uneasily.

  He didn’t reply, even with his eyes, putting down his wooden sword and walked through the door.

  For a moment, Cassandra hesitated before following him. She was sweating from the exertion. Her hair was a mess and she was altogether in a disgruntled state. They couldn’t be kept waiting, though. So sweeping back her hair and tucking the loose strands back into the loosened weave of her braid, she ran after Taleon.

  When she reached his side, he remained silent. Suddenly there was nothing more in the world that she wanted than to hear him speak to her. But in a moment, they were at the council chamber, and he was sweeping the doors open for her.

  With a quiver in her heart, she entered. All of the men rose to greet Cassandra. Her father was smiling and beckoning her to his side. She retreated to him with joy, slipping her hand into his. As long as she was by his side, all would be well.

  “First of all, before the men ask you questions, we would like to give you a temporary seat at the table.”

  Cassandra looked up at her father surprised, then glanced around the table. The only empty chair was completely on the other side of the table from him. She would have to stand on her own two feet. There would be no comforting presence, no hand to cling to beneath the table if she was nervous. It was all her.

  Taleon stood waiting behind the chair.

  “Now, go take your seat, my darling.”

  Masking her fear with a smile of confidence, she walked around the table and was ready to take her seat when her father took his.

  

  Taleon pushed in the chair for her; then mutely walked into the alcove to watch. He found himself battling resentment. She was sitting at the council table, something he had never been allowed to do. They had asked for his advice and questioned him, but never offered him a chair. And now she!

  His throat constricted, making it impossible to swallow.

  He had been overlooked time and time again, and now she, she...

  Taleon could not even bring himself to say her name in his mind.

  Under a critical eye, he watched as they pressed and plied her with questions.

  With care and quick thought, she rose to the occasion, scaling their queries and concerns with relative ease. Yes, she had a plan.

  How long has she had a plan, d
oes she really intend to use it? Can I really trust her? Is everything she has done in Raven Castle just a façade to lure us into safety?

  Taleon wondered. He couldn’t help it. For nearly three hours they questioned her, probing her innermost thoughts and ideas, countering, quizzing, trying to trip her up in her own words, but she did not fumble. Either she was much better than he had thought, or this was genuine. She would be true to the last.

  When the questions were all over, the men looked around, thinking.

  Then King Aric spoke. “Cassandra, we have some more things to discuss. Please retire to your room.”

  “Yes, Pappa,” she said, rising.

  The men rose as well.

  She glanced around the table before lowering her eyes and offering them a royal bow. “I am your servant. Do as you see fit, my lords.” In a moment she had turned and left the room.

  Something pulled at his heart. What, he did not know, but it pulled him to go after her. But he was determined to stay and hear what was to come.

  The door closed. Her footsteps faded away before anyone spoke, and it was not the king.

  “Shall we put it to a vote, my fellows?”

  The answer was unanimous. They had made up their minds.

  King Aric spoke. “I cannot vote on something my heart is so deeply tangled in.”

  The men nodded.

  “All in favor rise. Opposed, remain seated.”

  Every man stood save King Aric. Slowly, oh so slowly, he rose to his feet. Taleon’s heart twisted in his chest.

  “I stand with you, my men. If you see fit to send her, then it should be so.”

  The men took their seats. There were still other matters to discuss.

  King Aric motioned Taleon to his side.

  “Go to Cassandra. Tell her I shall be with her shortly.”

  “And if she should ask?”

  “Tell her.”

  With a nod of understanding, Taleon left.

  How will she react? How much should I tell her? Will she want to know that the choice to send her was unanimous?

  Hesitantly he knocked on the door.

  “Come in,” the answer was soft and relaxed—entirely what he had not expected Cassandra to be.

  Slowly he opened the door. Cassandra was leaning out the window, her expression peaceful.

  “There are promises beyond those hills, aren’t there? A people waiting to come home.” Cassandra turned around and faced him with a smile. “Is my Pappa happy with their decision?”

  “Why do you want to know if he is happy?”

  “If he is happy, then I am happy. I only want to do what my Pappa wants, nothing more. I am glad to be staying here for a while longer yet—until my Pappa’s standard flies all over Chambria. Then all will be well with the world.”

  “How do you know that you are staying here?”

  Cassandra looked at him happily. “Pappa told me last night he would come himself to tell me if I was to go, and you are here, so I am staying.”

  “Cassandra.” Taleon’s voice was grave.

  She looked at him, paling.

  “You are going.”

  Shock flew through Cassandra’s body. She sank to the floor, covering her face in her hands.

  “No, Taleon, it cannot be. It cannot.” She raised her head and looked at him, tears streaming down her face. “If I go, I will break my father’s heart. I can’t do that.”

  Something propelled him across the room and to his knees before her.

  “Cassandra.” Where was his voice? Why was it suddenly gone? What should he say to her? God, please help.

  He began again, taking her damp hand into his. “Cassandra, they believe it will save the people. They are sending you. It was unanimous, Cassandra, not a single vote against you. They want you to go. They believe you can do it.”

  There was a long silence in the room.

  “Do you believe I can do it, Taleon?”

  Why on earth do you have to ask such a question of me?

  “Cassandra, I am not the one whom you should be asking that.”

  “Then of whom should I enquire to receive your opinion?”

  The words stung.

  “Cassandra,” he said reprovingly.

  “I am sorry, Taleon.” Her hands squeezed his, then loosened, asking for release.

  He held on.

  “Why does my opinion matter? You have the approval of a dozen other men.”

  “You are a better man for the job than I could ever be, Taleon. I...” the words died on her lips.

  “You spoke up before I had a chance to volunteer.”

  “I wish you would have silenced me.”

  “How could I? It all came out before I had the faintest clue you were going to say anything.”

  “It came out before I even thought, really. Now what am I going to do?” The question was rhetorical. She pulled away and stood up, hiding her face in her hands. “I must do this.” Her shoulders straightened. “I will do this. My uncle shall never see the destruction about to fall on his head. This war will be over and my father shall sit on the throne.”

  “And you after him,” Taleon murmured.

  Cassandra turned to him. “Let’s hope so.”

  There was a long silence.

  “Will they wish to see me yet again tonight?”

  “Your father will, but they still had more business to talk over.”

  “I won’t be able to mention this to anyone, will I? They must all believe that I have betrayed them.” She bit her lip, keeping back the tears that shone in the corner of her eyes. “The poor people. How will my Pappa bear it?”

  Taleon stood and came to her side placing one hand on her shoulder. “He will bear it as he has for the last thirteen years of your life.”

  Cassandra pulled away. “But he shouldn’t have to.”

  “But he will. He loves you. He loves the people, and you will work as a team to destroy Archibald: one on the inside, one on the outside. It will all be over before you know it.”

  “Be there for him. Be there like you have been for the last...forever. You mean an awful lot to him, you know.”

  “You mean more.”

  “Taleon.” Cassandra’s words died on her lips. Reluctantly she turned to face him. “I am his daughter and I always will be, but that doesn’t make you any less important to him than me. To be very honest, I am jealous of you at times. You understand my Pappa in a way that I crave. You know him inside and out; I am practically a stranger to him and his ways. All I have is my blood connection. You have something deeper, something I want but will never have. I might have parts of it, but you have something I can never attain. Watching you sword fight the other day, my father defending me and you leading the charge—you have something special, Taleon, and just because I am his daughter doesn’t mean you don’t have a special place in his heart. You are his son, Taleon.”

  Taleon shook his head. “I am not his son, Cassandra, and I never will be. Now good night.” Walking to the door, he closed it firmly and walked to the top of the castle. He needed to clear his head. Cassandra understood him better than he thought possible. She knew what he was suffering from in some small way, but still....there was so much more.

  Chapter 28

  Cassandra sank down in the chair and closed her eyes.

  Why is it so important that I have Taleon’s approval? Why can’t the council see him? Was everything I said to Taleon a complete loss? Oh God, preserve me and do with me as thou seest fit. Why do I feel such a cloud of doom and death about me? Why? Oh please help.

  It was in praying that Cassandra fell asleep in her chair.

  The hand that gently stroked back her hair woke her. Opening her eyes, she saw King Aric hovering over her.

  “Pappa!” she exclaimed. Sitting upright, she wrapped her arms around his neck.

  He gathered her in his arms and held her close.

  Cassandra hid her face against his chest, nestling herself under his chin, thus hiding h
er face from him.

  “Cassandra, what do you think of the choice we have made?”

  There was a long silence.

  “I don’t know what to think, Pappa. I didn’t think they would actually send me—that I would return to the valley before you were once again secure as its king.”

  “Neither did I, but it has happened and we must face whatever is to come.”

  Cassandra nodded, sinking as close as she could to him. King Aric held her tight.

  “Oh Pappa, don’t ever let me go.”

  He held her closer than ever. “I can’t do that, my darling. You have been called away to a duty and I know you perform it strong, and steadfast.”

  “I will, Pappa, for you, for the people. I will not fail them.”

  He pressed a kiss to her forehead.

  “I love you, Pappa.”

  “I love you, Cassandra.”

  They stayed like that until Cassandra fell asleep on his shoulder and he tucked her gently into bed.

  When Cassandra woke up the next morning, life felt strangely empty but so full. There was so much going on, so much that was going to happen, a life unknown. Reluctantly she rolled out of bed, braided her hair, and straightened out her rather wrinkled attire. She sagged into the chair by the window. All she could see were green mountains and valleys. It was not satisfactory. Cassandra left her room and climbed to the top of the castle.

  There below her was Chambria. The light had yet to creep over the mountains and dawn on the valley. The city lay in a shadow, cold and uninviting. The valley was trapped in darkness while the sun was shining fully on Raven Castle—shining on the steel colored stone in all of its glory. Cassandra knew from experience that the sunlight shone dazzlingly bright on Raven Castle, making it glisten in the morning’s awakening.

  A shiver ran through her spine. What would her life be like once she returned to the valley? She hated the thought. She could not stop shivering, but stood there staring at the valley, her teeth jarring against one another in her head.

  In a few minutes she knew she wasn’t alone. Taleon was standing behind her.

  “Good morning, Taleon.”