Freed

by Samantha Britt

  12

  I paced across the sitting room in my private apartment at Erwin’s estate. The plush carpet would be worn down if I didn’t stop soon, but too many thoughts whirled around my head to allow me the chance to sit down.

  Erwin sat calmly on the off-white sofa beside the unlit fireplace, resigned to let me work out my frustration and anxiety on his expensive carpet.

  His cool demeanor upset me.

  “Leith? Agent Leith who recruited Arlin into the rebellion? How long have you known?”

  “Lerick told me at the beach minutes before he told you.”

  “Gods, Erwin. Leith has been recruiting elves?” My voice raised. “This is bad. What if Lerick tells Leith I’m here?” He said the two didn’t exchange names, but that didn’t relieve my panic.

  “What do you fear will happen?”

  I fumbled for words. “I-I don’t know. He tells my parents? They come here and end up getting caught? Or Lerick is caught by draekon during one of his intel missions and he turns on the rebellion to save his own skin? Who knows! This entire thing is getting out of hand.”

  “From what Lerick said about this Agent Leith, I don’t take him as one to easily turn on his cause. He sounds dedicated.”

  “He’s turned against his own people. How can we trust him to not do it again?”

  “We?” Erwin raised a brow. “You’re speaking like you’re part of the rebellion.”

  “That’s not what I mean, and you know it.” I stopped pacing and yanked my hair from my suddenly too tight ponytail. The creased strands fell around me, and I pushed them behind my shoulders. “This is too much, Erwin. Everything seems like it’s spinning out of control, and I don’t know how to handle it.”

  “Let me ask you something.” Erwin leaned forward and held me in his stare. “Why not join the rebellion?”

  “What? Are you insane?”

  “For the sake of this discussion, let’s say I’m not.” Erwin didn’t break eye contact. “Why don’t you join the rebellion? Your parents run the show, and your brother has joined their ranks. Chances are Alorie has as well. Why not ally yourself with your family?”

  “B-because the rebellion is dangerous. My parents were selfish to leave us to start the foolish cause, and now they’ve dragged my siblings into it.”

  “Why is it foolish?”

  I scoffed. “Are you serious?”

  “Yes.” Erwin frowned. “Tell me, do you think King Roderick is a just ruler?”

  I thought of the humans in Caldiri. Their pain and suffered was condoned by the king in order for his fellow draekon, Lord Stanley, to conduct his cruel ‘social experiment’.

  “No,” I replied, crossing my arms. “Obviously, King Roderick is not a fair ruler.”

  “And yet, you begrudge your parents for trying to put an end to his reign.”

  Scowling, I bit out, “I begrudge them for abandoning us. They had to know how harsh life in Caldiri would be for us, but they didn’t care. They left us anyway.”

  Erwin reclined back and propped his hands behind his head. “Perhaps leaving you behind was the best thing they could do for you. Don’t forget, Lassandra was being hunted by King Aquin, and I’m sure Roderick had men scouring the country for Arthur. Soldiers don’t leave his army without permission and go unpunished.”

  I glared. “Why are you defending them?”

  “I’m only trying to get you to see there may be another side to this story than you are allowing yourself to see.” His hands remained on his head as he shrugged his shoulders. “Neither Lerick nor I have seen Lassandra in years, but what he says is true: Lassandra wasn’t the type of female to willingly abandon her children. Not after giving up her life as princess and heir in order to protect them.”

  My arms fell. “They think they’re the subjects of a prophecy, Erwin.” I closed my eyes and sighed before looking back at him. “They are risking their lives based on what they interpret from an old piece of paper.”

  “Doesn’t Prince Brion do the same?”

  “Yes, and I find it just as foolish and destructive,” I confessed. Brion believed he was destined to be the end of his father’s reign. Unfortunately, King Roderick believed it too. He’d treated Brion with cool indifference since the day he connected his eldest son to the prophecy predicting his doom.

  “Amelissa.” Erwin dropped his hands and sat up straight. “You are young. That is not an insult against you, merely a reminder that you have not lived in this world as long as others. Your parents… Prince Brion… they have seen the words of prophets come to life. They believe in the old ways. Your parents are working to make their prophecy come true, while Brion is fighting his. But one thing is certain, only the Mother knows what will truly come to pass. And when it does, where would you rather be? Hiding with your sister somewhere, hoping to never be found? Or beside the people you care about fighting for what’s right?” Finished with his speech, Erwin resumed his relaxed position and reclined on the couch.

  My head had been spinning, but now it felt like a jumbled, indecipherable mess. I didn’t know what to think.

  “The rebellion is a death sentence,” I murmured.

  “Perhaps not.”

  “King Roderick has sent Brion and his armies to find and destroy them.” I gave him an imploring look. “Brion won’t fail.”

  “Then you have a choice to make. Either you go help your family, or you allow Brion—a male you share a bond with—to destroy them.”

  “That is not fair.” I had no control of King Roderick’s orders or Brion’s decision to follow them. He was a general in the army. What was he supposed to do?

  “Life is not fair, Amelissa.” Erwin’s tone turned hard as stone. “You refuse to see it, but you have the ability to influence several players in this deadly game. You have a role to play, here, but you refuse to rise to the challenge.”

  “How did this become about me?” I pointed to my chest. “As far as everyone in Draek knows, I’m a human recruit from Caldiri. I worked as a kitchen runner, then a healer, until I became the princes’ secretary. I have no influence over anything.”

  “You share a gliminee bond with Br—”

  “Brion hasn’t communicated with me in a month!” I shouted, interrupting him before he could finish his thought. It pained me to say those words, more than I could have guessed. I swallowed back the emotion and said, “I have no way to influence the prince… even if I wanted to.”

  “Well, that’s not entirely true.” Erwin stood from the couch and walked toward the hall door.

  The sudden action gave me pause. “What are you doing?”

  “Showing you that you have a way to utilize your influence… if you choose to.” He opened the wood door and stepped aside, revealing the imposing frame of a dark-haired, dark-eyed draekon.

  The initial hope I was looking at Brion faded as I took in the male’s features and his almond shaped eyes. My lips lifted into a genuine smile. “Min?”

  “Amelissa.” Min, the draekon who made my recruitment from Caldiri as bearable as possible, stepped into the room. Erwin closed the door behind him, shutting the three of us away from the rest of his estate.

  I rushed forward and threw my arms around Min’s neck. Surprised, he stumbled back a step before finding his balance and returning my embrace.

  “I’m so glad you’re okay.” I told him. I’d learned the invasion of our ship on the Western Sea hadn’t truly been dangerous, but it was still good to see Min unharmed after the event. Erwin had said the elven pirates needed their actions to resemble a true invasion in order to throw suspicion off Brion. I’d feared that meant there could’ve been casualties.

  “I should be saying that to you.” Min stepped back, holding me at arm’s length, as he scanned me from head to toe. “How have you been?”

  “Well,” I assured him. “I’ve been well.”

  “I’m glad to hear it.” He smiled. The burden on my shoulders lifted ever so slightly. It was nice to see a familiar fa
ce—a kind, trustworthy face.

  “Why are you here?” I looked between the two males. “Are you here for the Gap Ball tournament?” I knew it was a dumb question the moment it passed my lips. Draekon wouldn’t be invited to a social event within Avelin territory.

  “The prince wanted me to check on you.”

  My heart thumped in my chest. “Brion?”

  Min’s smile fell. His arms released mine and he rubbed his chin. “Ah… no. Prince Finn.”

  Finn?

  “Finn knows where I am?”

  “He does.” Min turned away and coughed, clearly uncomfortable. I wasn’t sure why.

  “What’s going on?” I shifted my attention to Erwin. “What do you two know that I don’t?”

  Erwin leaned against the wall, crossing his ankles and his arms. He looked far less than pleased. “Brion told his brother where you are.”

  I’d gathered that. “But why?”

  Min cleared his throat. “Brion wanted Prince Finn to know in case something happened to him during battle.”

  Panic threatened to seize my heart and stop it from beating. “Is Brion okay? Has something happened?” Is that why I hadn’t heard from him since we said goodbye on the ship? The thought he might’ve been injured this entire time made my soul cry out in fear.

  “Prince Brion is alive and well,” Min stated. “He only shared your location with Prince Finn as a precaution. He wanted someone else to know—someone with the authority necessary protect you.”

  My forehead creased as my eyes narrowed. “I don’t understand. Am I in danger?”

  “Not that I’m aware,” Min told me. “As I’ve said, it was only a precaution.”

  I resigned myself to bottle my confusion away to uncork later. “Where is the prince?”

  “Brion or Finn?”

  I pressed my lips tight. “Brion.”

  “I don’t know,” Min confessed. “He leads a team through the Royal Forest, but I do not know his exact location. My last communication from him told me to find his brother, and he revealed he told him your location.” He paused, shifting his stance ever so slightly.

  “He also informed me the truth of what happened on the ship. I know Erwin didn’t abduct you… and I also know who your parents are.”

  Fear of what Min thought of me twisted my stomach in a painful knot.

  He must’ve seen the terror in my gaze. “Amelissa… knowing the truth changes nothing. For as long as you wish it, you have a friend in me. And your secret is safe.”

  I loosened a shaky breath. “I see.” I bit my cheek. “Thank you.” I tried to keep my emotions in check. I was glad Min didn’t consider me a disgrace, but I continued to worry for Brion’s safety.

  But I couldn’t let that distract me. Min was in Eelie—Avelin territory. His presence would, no doubt, be noticed by at least some of Erwin’s servants. I needed to know why he risked discovery to see me and then get him out of Eelie before it was too late. “You said Prince Finn asked you to check on me?”

  “Yes,” Min nodded. “I was part of His Highness’s escort to Avelin for renewed negotiations with King Aquin, but he sent me on this detour to ease his own mind about your wellbeing.”

  “Wait.” I held up a hand, replaying what he just said in my head. “Finn is on Avelin?”

  “Yes.” He glanced between me and Erwin. “You did not know?”

  I, too, looked at Erwin with wide, shocked eyes.

  “I had no idea,” Erwin replied. I believed him, and the situation frightened me.

  “How isn’t every guest at the tournament talking about this?” I asked, sensing there was more to this situation than we’d yet to figure out. “The prince of their enemy steps onto their shores, and no one utters one word?”

  “Perhaps it is a secret,” Erwin suggested. King Aquin might want to keep the negotiations private until he knows whether or not they are successful.”

  “But King Roderick threw Erwin out of the castle,” I remind him. Something didn’t feel right.

  “He actually tried to kill me,” Erwin corrected. “And he successfully murdered two of my men.”

  “Why would King Roderick permit Finn to come here to negotiate after attempting to murder an Avelin Ambassador?” It made no sense.

  Erwin stepped closer. “What are you thinking, Lissa?” He lowered his head to look into my eyes. “Why are you worried?”

  Did I look worried? I was actually terrified.

  “I-I think Prince Finn isn’t here to negotiate.” My confidence grew the moment I uttered the words.

  “What do you mean?” Min asked, stepping forward. “Why else would he be here?”

  Erwin continued to stare into my eyes. Understanding dawned, and I saw his mouth form a hard line.

  I inhaled through my nostrils and said, “I don’t believe Prince Finn isn’t here to reopen peace negotiations,” I licked my suddenly dry lips. “I-I think he’s here to kill the king.”

  II

  Avelin

  13

  Waves crashed against the sides of the ship, rocking it back and forth. I gripped the railing to keep from falling overboard. Of all the ways I might potentially die, I used to think starvation would be the worst. But now that I’ve traveled leagues of ocean and see the dark, seemingly-endless depths, drowning seemed the more horrific way to go.

  Another massive wave collided with the ship, and I gripped so hard that my knuckles turned ghostly white.

  “You should go below deck,” Lerick appeared beside me. His body bent and swayed with the movement of the ship. He was in no danger of losing his balance and plunging into the dark, cold abyss. “There is no risk of you falling overboard down there.”

  Was he mocking me? I couldn’t tell.

  “I tried,” I told him,” But I get nauseous down there.”

  He raised a brow. “Can’t you just use your healing abilities to make yourself feel better?”

  “It doesn’t work like that.” At least, I didn’t think it did. I’d never tried to use my powers on myself before.

  “Hm.” Lerick looked out across the tumultuous ocean. “Perhaps your skills are different from Erwin’s. I know he can heal his own injuries and cure his ailments.”

  Interesting. I might need to work on that skill. It could come to handy in the coming days. Especially if I was right about the reason Finn traveled to Avelin.

  Silence settled between us. I was surprised when Lerick didn’t leave.

  I hadn’t wanted my newest cousin to join Min, Erwin, and me as we journeyed to Avelin. For all we knew, he didn’t want to help save the king. He could be accompanying us for intelligence to pass on to the rebellion. But Erwin wouldn’t hear of leaving him behind. Erwin and Lerick were the only ones on our ship who knew their way around the Avelin palace. Guards would recognize them, and hopefully grant us entrance. If not, we had a more covert, pirate-like plan. That’s where the rest of the ship’s crew came in.

  I looked at the crowd of sailors gathered on the ship’s port side. They sat on empty wooden crates and barrels, playing a game of cards. Like Lerick, their bodies adjusted fluidly to the movement of the ocean. I only recognized two of them. Tuck and Wynn were two of the pirates who “abducted” me from Brion’s ship. I’d been locked in the ship’s cell as a protective measure against our invaders. It’d been Brion’s idea. It turned out the locked cell did little to protect me. The two pirates had used their elven abilities to get me out with very little trouble.

  Sensing my attention, Wynn looks up from the cards in his hand. The sun shined off the scar marring the right side of his face, but he looked friendly enough as he waved and smiled in greeting. “Hello, Miss Amelissa,” he hollered across the deck, drawing the attention of every sailor within earshot. “Why don’t you come on over and play a hand.”

  My face heated under the unexpected attention. We’d been at sea for two days, and no one except Erwin and Lerick had taken the time to speak with me. Beside Wynn, I watched his fellow sailors
shift and grumble their displeasure at his impromptu invitation. I decided to not turn down any kindness sent my way.

  “Be right there,” I hollered back. Wynn’s smile grew while I noticed Tuck, my less kind abductor, frowned with intense displeasure.

  “You know how to play cards?” Lerick questioned with doubt. The smirk on his lips said it all.

  “Some.” My best friend, Jem, and I had ventured into Caldiri’s tavern and played a game or two with our fellow Caldirians. I wasn’t very good but, seeing as how I only gambled free healing services or herbal teas, losing hadn’t affected me too much. I bit back a laugh as I remembered the time Jem had wagered free fence repair to a local farmer in exchange for a sack of potatoes. It hadn’t seemed like a fair trade. Potatoes were far more valuable than mending a fence, but the farmer wisely took the bet.

  Looking back, it’s easy to see why. The farmer played two pairs of draekon knights, trumping Jem’s hand of three foot soldiers and one colonel. It took Jem two weeks of working during his off hours to finish that fence and repay his debt.

  “What are you thinking about?”

  I blinked away the memory. “What?”

  “You’re smiling,” Lerick pointed out.

  “Oh.” I let my lips fall. “Nothing. Just thinking about Caldiri.”

  “And that makes you smile?”

  I understood his confusion. So far, I’d only described Caldiri as a poverty-stricken region populated by suppressed people. “I was thinking about a friend,” I told him. “He and my siblings were all that made growing up in Caldiri bearable.”

  Before he could press for more information, I released my tight grip on the ship’s rails and slowly walked toward the group of sailors.

  The deck rocked. I held my arms out and widened my legs to help me maintain balance. It didn’t help. A tall wave crashed into the ship, spraying water over the deck, and causing such a tilt that I fell to my knees. My skirt was soaked, and embarrassment flooded my cheeks when I heard some of the sailors snicker.