Kingdom of Lies (The Kane Saga Book 1)

by R. S. Williams

  Elijah turned his focus back to the room. They can never find the secrets of this place. The wealth of information here was too much. Their Master would have everything he needed to take the Royal Family down or worse.

  Elijah slipped the key from the desk onto the rope chain he had around his neck and two sealed letters into his pocket. He needed to speak with Merrick and his friends. There was no-one else he could trust with this information.

  27

  Wrongly Accused

  Elijah had a restless sleep that night. His dreams were filled with the guards finding out his secrets and coming to kill him. One dream he took over as king before they hunted him down. The Master became a huge grotesque man, saliva dripping from his mouth as he waited for the guards to bring Elijah closer.

  Morning light poured through his room’s small window, waking him up from what little slumber he had found. His dreams had disappeared and been replaced with an ache shooting down his arm. As he reached to massage the ache away, he realised the bandage covering his arm and shoulder was wet. A trip to the infirmary to see Naoko was overdue, and he needed a fresh covering for his shoulder wound. Then he could see Leon for a bit before they served breakfast.

  “Master Eli, how is your arm?” Naoko asked as she appeared from behind another patient’s curtain. “Does it need tending to?” She gave him a knowing look.

  “Uh, yeah, it’s been throbbing. I might need a bandage change.”

  “Come, let’s have a look.” Naoko led Elijah to a nursing stand. He didn’t exactly need a bed to lie on. She pulled up a chair, so he could at least sit down. “What have you been doing these past few days? I haven’t seen you visit Leon in a while.”

  Elijah detected some judgement in her voice but ignored it. He wouldn’t let it get to him. “I’ve been on a task set by the king to find out information. It’s been semi-successful.” He flinched as she pressed on the wound.

  “It’s healing nicely. All scabbed over. It looks like you tore the scab in your sleep, but it’s closed over, so, you don’t need another bandage on it. You will need to be careful you don’t catch it again though,” she advised him. “Leon is still in; he won’t be discharged for a few days and will need to rest for a few weeks.”

  “Why are you telling me this?”

  “Because I am hoping you’ll be able to talk some sense into him,” she said, placing her hands together in front of her. “He’s a very determined man, he wants to go back to training and re-build his strength already.”

  Elijah nodded. “I see, and he doesn’t believe you when you say he’s not strong enough yet?”

  “Exactly.” She cleared up her tools and put his bandage in a pile with linens for the beds. “I need to attend another patient. Hopefully, I won’t be seeing you here again, Master Eli.”

  “Wait,” Eli said. “I wanted to ask you about Gianna’s quick recovery.”

  He watched Naoko freeze. She slowly turned around to look at him. Her eyes looked him up and down before nodding. “Your cauterisation saved the wound but left the inside damaged.”

  “So you used magic, didn’t you?”

  She gulped and nodded. “Yes, my… friend knows healing magic, and she used it to save Gianna. That poor girl didn’t deserve to die at the hands of black magic, so we saved her.”

  “I thought…”

  “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t go around telling anyone about it. We saved her life, let’s leave it at that.”

  Elijah bowed his head as he stood and turned towards Leon’s bed. The infirmary was quiet this morning, the only sounds were the nurse’s feet and heavy breathing of the patients. Audible only if you stood still for long enough. It surprised Eli to see Leon was already awake, having thought if he was in the infirmary, he would take advantage of being able to sleep for however long he wanted.

  “Hey, how come you’re awake this early?” Eli asked as he sat down in the chair.

  Leon shifted in his bed, pushing his arms down and sitting himself up. “I could ask you the same thing.”

  “I can’t sleep. Restless, I suppose. Did you hear they have suspended me from Elite duties?”

  “Yes, actually I had. Gianna was here last night telling me about it. Sahab told her,” Leon answered. “Is there something you wanted to speak about? You’re not usually this fidgety.”

  “Hmm.” Eli looked up at Leon. He knew he had spoken but couldn’t recall what he had said. The worry about the guards finding the trunk. “Sorry Leon, there is a lot going on. I don’t know who I can talk to about it either.”

  “Elijah, we may not have started in the right place, but I’d like to think we could become friends. You helped me save Princess Sienna’s life, and then you saved mine. The least I can do is be a confidant for you.”

  “Elijah.” Leon and Eli turned their heads to see Merrick standing behind. “Can you come with me, please? The king would like to see you.”

  “I’ll come back later, Leon,” he promised, standing up and following Merrick out of the infirmary. “Merrick, what has happened?”

  “It seems the Master has grown tired of waiting. I need to tell you something,” Merrick stopped talking and looked around. “But I cannot say it where there are wandering ears.”

  Elijah thought of his mother’s secret pond underneath the castle. Only three people he knew of knew how to get there, and they knew his secret, anyway. That would be a safe place to talk. “I know just the place, but you cannot show anyone.”

  Merrick looked at him with a mixture of surprise and confusion. He allowed Elijah to lead him through the Castle hallways and down hidden passages. Eli knew he had never been here before. The expressions Merrick made showed that clear as day. Finally, they reached the opening to the pond and Elijah ducked inside.

  “How did you find this place?” Merrick breathed. His eyes wide, taking everything in. “It’s breath-taking.”

  “Maevine comes here sometimes I think.”

  “You think? How can you be sure no-one else knows about it?”

  Eli put a hand on his uncle’s arm. “If you didn’t know about it, I highly doubt any wandering ears do.”

  “I don’t like it,” Merrick said with a frown. “But we have a safe enough place to speak as no-one else is here and there is only one entrance in or out.” He sighed, and they moved to the bench. “I wanted to talk about your parents.”

  Eli felt his heart drop into his stomach. There were a few words he thought he would never hear, and those were it. Eli never imagined getting some information on his parents other than what had been documented, or what he had found in the letters he stole from the North Tower. Which he still needed to look at. They were currently locked away in the desk drawer in his bedroom.

  “When this plot was originally discovered, no-one thought the right child would be you. There were over 400 babies born in the same year as you in Adelith alone. Many of them were recorded with marks on their backs. Over half of them were boys, it could have been any of them.”

  Merrick ran a hand through his hair, and Eli waited for him to continue.

  “Before any of the boys were killed, their mothers started receiving gifts. Flowers as first, then jewels. They spelled the jewels to glow if they came into contact with someone who had… magic.”

  Eli remembered the burst of energy that had pushed the Agents of Cyran back from Leon when they were fighting them in the main hall. Was that me? Do I have magic? “So, the boy foretold to be this Master’s undoing is supposed to have magic?”

  Merrick nodded. “Yes, very powerful, ancient magic. Your mother received a necklace as a gift for her birthday, only a month or two before you were born. When she put it on, it glowed with a bright green light. Hector and Rhohesia panicked. You were born, and they announced you as a stillborn. They were scared, they didn’t want you to be taken, killed or live in fear.”

  He stood up and paced in front of him. “He came to Adelith after he’d swept through Rheanydd, Jereg and Galaun, killing
any boy with a mark on his back from a mole to a scar. It took him nine years, and then he found you. He torched the castle, killed many innocent people, and Magda risked her life to bring you to me.”

  Pain burst around the front of his head and he clutched it in his hands. An image of him running, being dragged through the courtyard and running for the gates. Merrick’s arms caught him as his knees went weak.

  “Elijah, focus on me. Eli, I need you to focus, push the pain away.” His guardian’s grip tightened as they both sank to the floor.

  “This is your fault.” The words left Eli’s mouth without thinking. He clutched his head tighter “You are the reason all of this is happening to me.”

  “Let it out, Elijah. Push past the pain. Blame me if it helps. I would do it all again to keep you safe.”

  Whispers swam inside his head, begging him to give in. When he finally did, his mouth moved to speak words he didn’t understand and then the pain was gone.

  “It’s passed. Merrick, I didn’t mean…”

  “It’s alright. I knew we never should have come here. You were safe, I made sure of it, but that damned trickster.” Elijah didn’t know exactly who he was referring to, but he assumed it was Daighu. Or it could have been Nolan. Both of them played a part in getting them back here.

  “What about the boy who is coming here pretending to be me?”

  “You need a decoy. If this prophecy, or foretelling whatever we want to call it, is true. You,” Merrick said, grabbing his head. “You are the one who can defeat him. There’s something inside you which can stop him, that’s why he wants you dead.”

  Eli nodded, his heart beating in his chest. “But if he knows I am alive, what are they searching for?”

  “Who was looking for what?” Merrick’s expression darkened. “Tell me you haven’t been snooping around the castle now that you’re suspended.”

  Elijah looked to the floor and kicked some dirt with his feet. He never could lie to Merrick. “I found a riddle in one of the royal lineage books. I followed it and found Hector’s study, but so did three guards. They were talking about the master.”

  “Did they get inside?” Elijah nodded. “Do you know what they were looking for?”

  “No, I hid under the desk after shoving as many papers as I could into a trunk.” He pulled out the key from around his neck. “They took something from one drawer but left this. He left in a hurry.”

  “So they may go back there. This is not good.” Merrick stood up and paced again. “Can you tell us anything about them? What they looked like? How they spoke?” Elijah could practically see the cogs turning inside his uncle’s head.

  “They were wearing the same uniform, but they were like any other guard. It was hard to tell from so far away, and where I hid.” The words fell from his mouth in a fumble. “One of them had brown hair, I think.”

  “It’s okay. We will have to go back there, but we can’t do that until nightfall. Do not go back alone. Meet me back here at midnight, we will go together.”

  “I better go and get some breakfast, anyway.”

  Merrick grabbed Elijah’s arm as he went to walk out of the garden. “I will protect you until I have no breath in my body.” His eyes held Elijah’s gaze, urging him to understand the emotions Merrick was feeling.

  “I know you will.” With the release of his arm, Eli walked through the corridors to the servant’s kitchen.

  The room was full of steam and a mixture of warm bread and hot broth smells. At the table, Maevine was sitting alongside Sahab and Gianna was on the opposite side. Elijah sat down next to them and the cook placed a bowl of porridge in front of him.

  “Where have you been this morning? Normally you would be in the training yard,” Maevine said. “I was looking forward to seeing you.”

  “Well, I’m not on duty anymore, you can see me whenever you are not needed with Sienna,” Elijah said. He smiled and dug his spoon into his food.

  Maevine nodded. “We could go on another horse ride. There’s so much of the grounds to see.”

  “Sounds like the perfect way to keep me distracted.” He shifted his position and spooned some porridge into his mouth. It was warm, and there was a small taste of honey mixed into it.

  “At least your day will have some action to it,” Gianna said. “Sienna has been quiet for the past day. She barely leaves her rooms unless summoned by the king.”

  Strange. Sienna loves a sunny day; she would have spent it in the garden. “Have you tried talking to her to see what’s wrong?”

  “Eli, she won’t open the door. Sometimes that maid, Lilliana I think it is, comes out to speak with us, but she wants to remain in her room.” Gianna sighed. A bit of honey hit the back of his throat and Elijah coughed.

  “Are you alright?” Sahab asked, slapping him on the back.

  “Yeah. Just trying to breathe my food instead of eating it,” Eli managed to cough out.

  As they finished breakfast, the librarian came in to get his own food. Elijah watched as he spoke to the cook, his mind wondering to their earlier conversation. Did he even need Buisan’s help?

  “Buisan, good morning,” he said, interrupting their conversation.

  “Master Eli,” Buisan answered with a bow of his head. Buisan’s golden eyes were brighter than they had been the first-time Elijah met the man. “How are you?”

  “Very well, thank you, Buisan. How is the library work?” Elijah was making small talk, and he was not very good at it.

  “All is well. Books are put away finally.” Buisan stared deep into Elijah’s eyes. “No one should be able to find things they shouldn’t.”

  Elijah gulped loudly. Gianna looked at him with a confused expression on her face. Eventually he would have to tell her and Leon who he really is. But now was not that time. All they needed to do was protect whoever was coming to be with him until the master was dead.

  “But that is something for another time. Ah, thank you,” said Buisan to the Cook who brought him a package of food. “Master Eli, I will hopefully see you in the library, remember if you need anything at all, please come and see me.” Buisan bowed his head again and swiftly left the kitchen.

  Elijah’s eyes followed him until the librarian was out of view, and something hit his face.

  “Elijah, what is the matter with you?” Maevine asked, laughing at Gianna throwing bits of bread at him.

  Sahab reached over the table and slapped him on the shoulder. “What did he mean about putting away things, so people don’t find things they shouldn’t?”

  “You already know Sahab,” Elijah reminded him. “The books with the Royal Lineage in. The ones we found those servants looking through.” Elijah was staring at him, hoping he got the silent message he was conveying through his eyes.

  “Oh yes, I remember now. And the prince who is coming to stay.”

  “Do you really think he is the one?” Gianna asked.

  “Don’t you?” Elijah gulped. Gianna shrugged.

  “There’s talk of Hector and Rhoheisa’s son being alive, and people loyal to this Master have been looking in the library to find connections.” It impressed Elijah how close to the truth Sahab’s lie was.

  Gianna sighed. “We know all this, but how do we know this boy is really their son? He’s been gone eleven years, anyone could claim that title and never be able to prove it.”

  “But why would you if you knew it would mean your death?”

  “Good point.” She didn’t say anything else, just sat in silence eating her porridge.

  Maevine stood up and took her bowl to the table to be washed. “Elijah, fancy going for the horse ride now? Mary and Aylee are with the princess and I was going to see my mother, anyway.”

  “Sure.”

  Outside was a beautiful day. The sky was bluer than he had ever seen it, with the sun’s rays beaming down, warming everything it touched. The grass seemed greener than before, and the previous week’s rain had made the fields flourish with colours.

 
Keela neighed as he walked up to her and stroked her nose. Maevine smiled. In the stall next to Keela was her horse, but Elijah could never remember its name.

  “Is Sienna alright?” The words came out of his mouth before he had a chance to stop them.

  “Honestly, I wouldn’t know. I have been helping in the kitchens as three of them have gone down with water fever. Although one of them was poisoned from tasting the king’s food.”

  Elijah looked up. Did I just hear that correctly?

  “Sorry, did you say poisoned from tasting the king’s food?”

  “Happens more regularly than you think.” Maevine didn’t show any signs of shock as Elijah did. She carried on doing up the reigns and then led her horse out of the stall. “Rival kingdoms try to get the upper hand. I’m sure King Roderick returns the favour.”

  “That’s not something that happens daily Maevine, you could try to not act so casual about it.”

  “Sorry, I guess living here you kind of get used to it.”

  “Who would be a rival of King Roderick, anyway?” Elijah hadn’t been told of anyone. “Do they know who, or why?”

  Maevine turned to face her horse and opened her mouth to speak, but closed it again.

  “Maevine? Are you in here?” Aelea walked into the stables. “There you are, oh and Eli. How are you?”

  “Fine, thank you.”

  “Maevine, your father was wondering if you had any free time tomorrow. He’s been given the day off, Davnar is covering his shift, and he thought we could all go out somewhere together. Maybe the market?” Aelea’s voice was sweet, Elijah could tell she adored her son above anything else. He found his mind wondering if his mother had felt the same way.

  “Get out of the way, Merrick!”

  All three of them turned to the doors. Shouting, some audible, some not, was coming from the front of the stables. Elijah instinctively reached for his sword, but all his weapons were still in his bedroom. He had thought there would be no need for them today.

  “He’s not the one you’re looking for. I’m telling you Elijah wouldn’t poison the king.”