Mark of Fate

by K. T. Webb

  “No matter how long you stare at his bedroom, you will not find the answers you want.” A former Makt soldier who had gone out of his way to help them was approaching as he spoke.

  “Yes. That is the problem. The only person who can truly give me the answers I need is dead,” Legacy replied with a sad smile.

  “I think you may be surprised where you could find answers in this place. Come, let me show you to a room that may help.” He gestured for her to follow.

  “Wait. I apologize, but I do not recall your name. I have met so many in the brief amount of time I have been here.”

  “No apology needed, Your Majesty. My name is Evander. I have been in this castle since I was about Prince Noble’s age. My father was General Alaric, an imposing man who was accustomed to getting his way. I cannot say I was sad to see him die.” Evander sounded only slightly apologetic in his words.

  “Well, Evander, it is nice to meet you, officially. I understand what you mean regarding your father. I did not know mine the way you knew yours, but I think we all know my father’s death did nothing but improve Alderwood.”

  Evander nodded stoically. “I believe we may still find those who mourn their deaths. Not everyone believed them to be wrong. Your sister and her Gildi will have their work cut out for them as they travel to spread the news.”

  Legacy knew he was right. It troubled her to think of the challenges Honor would face without her support. In her head, Legacy understood the reasons she was to stay behind in Pallisaide while others risked their lives to eradicate what was left of those who remained loyal to Junius. In her heart, she wished to be there with them every second.

  Evander led her down the hall and around a corner to a hallway lined with artwork depicting the history of Alderwood as commissioned by their late king. Legacy found herself slowing to study the twisted images. Junius had truly believed the Kingdom of Man was superior to the other kingdoms. Many large paintings depicted man triumphing over nature and beast time and time again.

  “Your Majesty,” Evander said calmly in an effort to get her attention. She was too busy staring at the wall to realize Evander had stopped in the middle of the hallway. He had been facing her, waiting for the Queen to catch up to him. Legacy walked right into him. Embarrassingly enough, she landed herself right in his arms.

  “Excuse me, Your Majesty. I should have alerted you to my position sooner.” Evander stepped back slightly, crimson creeping up his neck.

  Deep brown eyes with a hint of gold flecks looked down at Legacy. Muddy brown hair fell over his forehead when he caught her. For a moment, a grin played across his face and the hint of a dimple appeared on his right cheek. It took Legacy a few moments to regain control of herself.

  “Oh, no. I’m sorry. I was not watching where I was walking. I was too busy thinking about the best way to dispose of these monstrosities.” Legacy tried to smooth the front of her dress but realized Evander still had his hands firmly on her waist.

  He dropped his hands and stepped away from her as quickly as he could. Legacy could not help but feel self-conscious at the thought of being in close proximity to a man. Her childhood had kept her interactions with anyone limited. Renata wanted her to focus on learning about Alderwood and how to allow the wild magic to flow through her. She had not met another member of the Kingdom of Man until the day Honor and Rowan walked into the caverns at Kilgore.

  She attempted to hide that her discomfort had less to do with disliking that Evander had invaded her personal space and more to do with how much she liked that he had.

  He cleared his throat. “This is what I wanted to show you.”

  Evander gestured toward a statue standing in a most inconvenient place. It was in the center of the hallway just beyond where they stood. The walls seemed to curve around it, creating a roundabout for anyone walking past. Legacy was unsure what to make of the stone monument. As she stared at it, she realized it was modeled after a young girl. She circled the perfectly carved child; everything about the oversized statue seemed to emanate sadness.

  “Who is this?” Legacy asked.

  “Legend has it that this is Princess Karenna, sister of King Leonitus. She died tragically when they were children. Have you heard the story?”

  Legacy’s stomach tightened. “Who erected this statue?”

  Evander shrugged. “It has been here as long as I can remember.” He studied her for a moment before speaking. “Why does it trouble you?”

  “There are many things the people of Alderwood do not know or understand about Leonitus and his son, Junius. I find it both morbid and disgusting that either of them would have been responsible for this monument. I can only hope it was placed here by her parents.” Legacy shivered as a cool breeze passed around her.

  “Hmm, perhaps sometime you can enlighten me. I was always told she drowned in the river; it was a terrible accident.”

  Legacy turned to look him straight in the eyes. Her words spilled out like cold steel striking a stone. “Believe me when I say no one connected to Leonitus or Junius lost their lives without reason.”

  “I believe you.” Evander bowed his head slightly.

  “I am sorry, please show me what it is that you think may help me understand why my father allowed Noble to live secretly in captivity.”

  “Of course. Well, this statue is more than meets the eye.” Evander stepped forward, he reached for the top of the stone girl’s head and pressed down.

  A wave of nausea washed over her as water began to pour from the eyes, ears, and mouth of the stone girl. It was both grotesque and heart-wrenching. Clearly, this answered her question about who had placed the statue; even centuries after her death, the poor little princess was being mocked.

  The sound of stone grinding against stone echoed off the walls in the vestibule. Chills ran down her spine, spreading through her body until Legacy was covered in goosebumps. Water soaked the statue until it pooled in a basin at her feet; once the bowl filled, the water drained, and a metallic clicking sound alerted Legacy to a trap door opening.

  “Amazing.” She circumvented the monument until she encountered an opening in the stone floor.

  “Once, when I was younger, I saw the king skulking about the castle late at night. At that age, I thought everything was an adventure; I followed him. When we came to this hallway, he activated this statue and took the stairs down into that opening. I do not know what is down there, but I know it must have been something the king wanted to keep away from prying eyes.”

  Legacy stared down into the darkness. Light flooded in from the oversized windows that lined the curved exterior wall, resting only on the top stair tread. She took a deep breath, glanced at Evander, and began her descent.

  When her head had disappeared entirely below floor level, Legacy began to have second thoughts. What if she was venturing into something dangerous? She wondered if she should find Honor before going any further. Legacy shook her head, dismissing her doubts. Soon, Honor would be gone for an extended period, and it would not be an option to accompany her sister. Legacy needed to stop being afraid and start being the Queen. The stairs seemed to spiral on forever into the darkness. Wherever she was going was rooted in the bowels of the castle.

  “There is a lever to close the door from the inside!” Evander’s voice carried from somewhere above her. “Wait for me, I cannot let you go alone. What if he had some beast down there?”

  Legacy tried not to let her relief show, even though he would not be able to see her in the absolute blackness. When Evander came up behind her on the stairs, he scooched past her to put himself in the lead. Legacy pursed her lips. Just because she was the Queen did not mean she needed someone to protect her. She wanted to push past him to reclaim the lead just to prove she could, but she knew it would seem rude.

  “We should have brought a torch,” Evander commented.

  Legacy rolled her eyes. Renata had taught her how to tap into the wild magic, they would not ne
ed a torch, but Evander had no way of knowing. With a deep breath and a slow exhale, Legacy allowed herself to become a vessel. A soft, warm glow emanated from her skin, flooding the surrounding area with enough light for them to find their way.

  “How did you. . .?” Evander wore an expression of awe and reverence.

  “It took years of practice and focus to use the wild magic. As long as I show respect to Alderwood, it will help me when I am in need.” Legacy shrugged as though the explanation was simple.

  Evander shook his head and ran a hand through his golden hair. “You are amazing, Your Majesty.”

  A smirk forced its way onto her face. Perhaps she should make more friends who said whatever they were thinking. Too many people had been afraid to speak their mind upon discovering her identity. It was as though they thought she would punish them for having a mind and using it. Really, Legacy felt quite the contrary; people who refused to speak for themselves had allowed two generations of horrendous rulers to nearly destroy their world.

  They eventually reached the bottom of the winding stairs and stepped onto the ground below. It appeared the floor was made of the same tan stone that constructed the entire castle. It was much colder than even the draftiest hallways in the palace; they had to have gone below even the now-defunct dungeon.

  “It looks like a corridor. Perhaps we should follow it? Would you like to lead, Your Majesty?” Evander offered his arm as a gesture for her to go before him.

  After considering it for a moment, Legacy decided she would like to be the first to explore the area her father had kept from prying eyes. She nodded her appreciation to the soldier, who was quickly earning her trust. Legacy stepped ahead of Evander. It was impossible to tell how long the subterranean corridor went on. Legacy decided she would simply follow the narrow hall until they reached something that seemed worthy of such an intricate hiding place.

  “Tell me, how long have you known you were to become queen?” Evander attempted to fill the silence.

  “My entire life has been planned from the moment of my birth. Renata made sure to raise me with the knowledge that I would one day claim my birthright. Things changed after I received my mark. I became more focused on what the future looked like and how I would come to this point.”

  “Hmm. The idea of growing up in the caverns the way you did seems like something from a storybook.”

  Legacy had often felt the same way. Looking back now, she had not been allowed to have much of a childhood. Between learning the history of Alderwood, unlocking the secrets of the wild magic, and being introduced to members of the other two kingdoms, her life had left little time for the frivolity of play.

  At the age of twelve, Legacy rebelled. She ran away from Renata, but it had not worked out the way she had planned. Juniper, the wise old dryad, found her in the woods alone. Rather than returning her to the caverns immediately, he taught her about the Kingdom of Earth. The more she learned, the more her connection with Alderwood grew. No one forced her to return to Renata. Legacy knew it was where she was meant to be. The mark she received at sixteen brought more questions than answers, but Legacy was prepared to stay the course until her destiny was fulfilled.

  “It was not as bad as it sounds. There were definitely times when I considered how much better life would be outside, but in the end, I knew I was where I was meant to be.”

  Evander began to respond to her just as he shouted in surprise. Legacy whirled around, searching for her companion, but he was no longer with her. Unease began to creep from her toes until it reached her head, filling her ears with roaring terror. She forced herself to take a deep, steadying breath. The light coming from her was not enough to show her what lay beyond a three-foot circumference. Legacy had to begin searching for him without the assistance of a more adequate light source. She reached her hand toward where she thought the wall should have been. When she encountered nothing, her heart began to pound.

  Legacy crouched low to the ground. Beside the spot they had been when walking, she found a gap in the wall that extended a few inches into the floor. He must have lost his footing when he stepped on the missing area of the floor. She did not dare lean too far over the edge of the opening. What could she do to help if she fell also?

  “Evander? Are you hurt?” she called into the darkness.

  “Only my pride,” he replied in a voice that sounded like he had been injured more than he was letting on.

  “What happened? Where are you?”

  “From what I can feel, some kind of pit. It may have been designed to keep out unwanted guests. There appears to be nothing down here with me, but I would appreciate some help back up, just in case.” Scuffling sounds indicated he was attempting to climb the sides of whatever he had fallen into.

  “I will try to help, but I cannot see you. You may have landed beyond my reach.” Legacy glanced around her, trying to find anything she could use to pull him to safety. She did not dare take any steps toward unfamiliar territory.

  “The walls are too smooth for me to climb. There are no footholds.”

  Legacy bit her lip. If there was no way to climb out, she wondered if there was something down there to make sure he never made it out alive. If some beast was there, it may be sleeping between meals. She had to think of something quickly. Legacy felt the weight of her skirts as she tried to kneel to get a better look at the depth of the pit. She was not dressed for this type of adventure.

  “I can see the light coming from your skin. You must not be too far above—" Evander’s voice trailed off when a low rumbling began to vibrate the corridor. “I would like to retract my previous statement; I no longer think I am alone down here.”

  The urgency in his whisper shook her to the core, she leaned farther than she should have to peer over the edge. A ripping sound alerted her to the inevitable. The skirts had ripped, she was irritated by the noise but inspired by the tear in the fabric. “Be very quiet and very still. I think I have an idea,” she replied in a quieted tone.

  Silence is never genuinely empty when one is desperate. Legacy hastily removed her skirts and began to artfully tear them. She tied the pieces together tightly, hoping against hope they would hold his weight well enough to get him to safety. The rumble below had been replaced by the snuffling sound of an animal searching for food it could smell but not see. There was no way to know what sort of creature could be lurking in the darkness below. She had little time to enact her plan.

  Legacy gingerly ran her hand along the solid wall before the gap that had claimed Evander. She recalled passing an archway that jutted out from the otherwise smooth walls—a means of supporting the significant weight of earth and castle above them. Now, she knew she could take advantage of the lip to brace herself as she pulled Evander back to the corridor. Legacy leaned forward and whispered the plan to Evander.

  “Are you crazy?” he hissed in response.

  “I really do not see how you are in any position to question my idea right now. If you would rather, I could just go back the way we came and leave you for whatever creature is drooling over the smell of you down there.”

  Evander wasted no time in changing his mind. “Proceed.”

  Legacy lowered the makeshift rope, hoping it would be long enough to reach Evander. Once he was able to get a firm grasp on it, he gave the rope two tugs. On his signal, Legacy wound her end around her back, holding the loose end and the taught end in either hand. She made her way around the corner created by the arch. When she was in place, she tugged two more times to signal that she was ready for him to begin his climb. She set her feet firmly on the ground as she leaned back against the wall at a slight angle. The right side of her body pressed against the stone arch in preparation.

  Within a few seconds, Evander was climbing. Legacy wanted to scream at the pain shooting through her right arm. He was not an overly large man, but his weight was more than her body could lift. She gritted her teeth against the pinching shooting from her bicep th
rough her shoulder. Just when she thought she could take no more, the rope jerked, jamming her against the wall hard enough to take her breath away.

  “What are you doing?” she grunted through her clenched jaw.

  Another jerk of the rope nearly sent Legacy flying away from the relative safety of her position against the wall. She doubled down and pulled as hard as she could. Visions flashed through her mind of a moist creature resembling an oversized mole, gnashing its teeth at Evander’s feet. Every time he kicked at the creature in her vision, the rope jerked against her grip. Legacy pulled again, bringing Evander just out of the creature's reach. She realized she was somehow seeing what was happening in that pit while it was happening. Now, the steady tug of Evander climbing back to her felt like nothing compared to the jerking movement of whatever was down there.

  Once she heard Evander panting at the same level as her, she sank to the floor. Her legs could no longer hold her weight. Her body ached in places she had never known existed.

  Angry snarls and desperate scratching jarred her back to reality. The creature had made it to the corridor too. Legacy knew without a doubt the animal she had imagined was exactly what now crawled toward her in the dark. Her skin no longer glowed against the pitch-black corridor; she could not help but think it may be better if she was not staring at whatever was now breathing dangerously close to her. The slurping sound she recalled began to pierce the air as the creature covered her arm in thick slobber. Legacy lacked the energy to fight; she did not even know if Evander was still alive or if the beast managed to kill him before rounding on her. Just as she sensed sharp teeth pressing against her severely bruised right arm, a slicing sound assaulted her ears, and the heavy wet breathing ceased.