Freed

by Samantha Britt

  “Will you stop pacing, Lerick?” I murmured, trying not to be overheard by the guards standing on either side of the tall, gilded doors in front of us. My voice echoed off the shiny tile, bouncing against the walls as it traveled up the high ceilings, rendering my attempt futile.

  The elven palace was massive and opulent. Expensive portraits of past monarchs and their family members extended the length of the gallery where we waited. Their serene, beautiful faces stared down at me, as if peering into my soul to weigh my worth. It took all of my self-control not to fidget.

  Lerick wasn’t able to contain his nervousness.

  “What is taking so long?” he muttered back. His forehead creased with worry. “Why hasn’t the king summoned us?”

  Erwin spoke calmly, “We arrived at the palace less than ten minutes ago. Be patient.”

  Lerick pulled out a pocket watch, confirming the time. He shoved it back into his pants, then ran his fingers through his hair. He dipped his chin as if agreeing to be patient, and he stopped pacing. Thirty seconds later, he began tapping his foot, unable to stay still.

  I released a deep breath and turned to gaze out the window at the far end of the hall. I could see the Western sea, as well as the dock where we’d landed. The ships were small, but I swore I could see the spot where Erwin’s bobbed in the water.

  An official dock worker had approached the moment the sailors finished tying the ship to the dock’s wooden posts. I’d stood on the gangway, the strong breeze whipping the skirt of the fancy day dress Erwin had insisted I wear, as Erwin informed the worker that we were in En Langue for an audience with His Majesty. All Erwin had to do was identify himself and we were promptly escorted from the docks, right to a carriage which took us up the winding hill to the palace.

  I’d been grateful when Erwin didn’t reveal my true identity to the dockworker. He hadn’t needed to. As he’d said, his title could easily gain him entry to the palace. It wasn’t until we were greeted by the palace’s steward that Erwin needed to reveal who I was. I had to say, I didn’t think I’d ever seen such a look of shock cross someone’s face. I swore the steward’s heart was going to fail him as he eyed me up and down, struggling to regain the ability to speak. He hadn’t bothered to ask me to confirm what Erwin said. As soon as the male regained enough of his senses, he spun around and ran through the palace, shouting for one of the footmen to escort us to the grand hall to await His Majesty.

  And so, that was how we arrived in the gallery. As Erwin stated, we’d been waiting for our audience for barely ten minutes, but it might as well have been ten hours. I’d agreed to play a dangerous game. King Aquin would learn the truth of who I was, but I had to lie about so much in order to keep my siblings safe.

  You can do this. You can do this. You can do this. I chanted to myself, taking slow, purposeful breaths to regulate my heartrate.

  I might’ve been nervous, but I couldn’t let that change my mind. I couldn’t stand by and let Finn kill the Avelin king. It wasn’t even because he was my grandfather. I felt no loyalty to the male. Maybe that made me a bad granddaughter, but it was the truth. My concern lied with Finn, and the dangerous and destructive repercussions if he successfully assassinates his father’s enemy like I believed he planned.

  I tore my gaze from the window and ran my hands down the sides of my flowy dress. The act was unnecessary. The smooth, soft material seemed impervious to wrinkles. I glanced at my two escorts. Erwin and Lerick were also dressed finer than they’d been during our journey. Their mid-calf boots shined in the sunlight. Tucked into them here crisp black pants. Their shirts were made of the same wrinkle-proof material as my dress, both deep blue. The color matched the king’s banners displayed throughout the city.

  Erwin caught my eye. He raised a brow. “Everything okay, my dear?” He stepped closer and cupped my hand in his, easily playing the part of my sweetheart. Neither of the guards flanking the door so much as blinked, but I forced my lips into a sweet smile, further propagating the ruse. “Yes, just nervous to meet my grandfather after all this time.”

  One of the guards stiffened. Erwin and I saw, and we smirked at each other.

  I guess the steward had kept news of my arrival somewhat secret.

  By tonight, I doubted there would be a soul in the palace who didn’t know who I was.

  “Everything will be all right.” Erwin’s eyes deepened, silently reminding me to mind what I said. We’d gone over our story several times, and I felt confident I could speak with the king without giving away any information about my family members, the rebellion, or my half-draekon blood.

  A loud groan filled the air as the tall doors began to swing out. Erwin squeezed my hand firmly, then released it. I straightened my spine, steeling myself for what was to come.

  The guards stepped to the side and faced one another as the doors finished opening. The palace steward appeared in front of us. I kept my gaze on him despite the urge to scan the room behind him. Erwin had pressed upon me how crucial is was to be measured in everything I did or said in the palace. King Aquin was notoriously good at reading people, and I didn’t want to give him anything to read.

  The steward stopped his approach just outside the threshold of the grand hall. Then, he surprised us all when he lowered himself into a deep bow, bending his head so his face looked towards the floor.

  I wanted to look at Erwin for an explanation, but I resisted. I watched the male’s respectful gesture with a blank expression, determined not to reveal my surprise.

  “My lady,” the steward spoke reverently, raising himself from the bow, but keeping his head titled down respectfully. “His Majesty welcomes you to Avelin and requests the honor of an audience with you.” He stopped, clearly waiting for my reply.

  I willed my voice to be even. “I’d be honored.”

  The steward finally lifted his chin. He stretched one arm out as he stepped to the side, gesturing to the room behind him. “After you, my lady.”

  Without hesitating, I stepped forward. I felt both guards watching me as I moved past them, but I didn’t spare them a glance. Erwin had briefly taught me the etiquette in the elven palace.

  Nobles, royals, humans, and servants were not deterred from mingling with one another, but only in social situations. At important events such as an audience with the king, protocol was strict. Guards were never to speak while on duty. Their task was to remain vigilant and undistracted by whatever transpired around them at all times. I wondered if the guard who’d subtly reared back would’ve been punished for even that small reaction.

  I entered the room, blinking as I tried to adjust to the brighter space. When my eyes focused, I noted eight marble columns bordered the long hall, four on each side. Windows lined the room, three quarters of the way up the three walls. A quick glance over my shoulder confirmed the wall with the entry doors did not have them. I turned back around and continued walking. Erwin and Lerick maintained their distance two steps behind me.

  Two large groups of elves and well-dressed humans split the room, leaving a wide aisle between them. I used their ear shape to identify them. Erwin had stressed the importance of eye contact in Avelin. Back on Draek, I’d gone out of my way to avoid eye contact with almost every draekon I’d encountered. Doing so in Avelin was considered a severe sign of disrespect. My gaze swung from one side to the other, and my neck turned with slow, well-paced timing.

  Gasps and whispers floated in the air. I appeared unaffected. I was the epitome of poised, playing the part I needed to play. I didn’t need to call on my advanced hearing to know they were discussing my appearance, remarking on my likeness to Princess Lassandra.

  The walk seemed miles long, and the crowds never-ending. There were definitely more nobles and royal guests at the palace than in Draek. The size of the murmuring crowd even trumped the number of guests at Jona’s companion ceremony. And, as a draekon duchess, Jona’s celebration hadn’t been a small affair.

  Why were there so many people in the grand ha
ll? Had we arrived in the middle of a royal speech or something?

  At last, we reached the end of the walkway and I turned my attention to the male standing in front of me. I was surprised. I’d expected the king to be sitting in an elevated throne, similar to King Roderick’s.

  For a moment, I wondered if perhaps the regal male with an authoritative air was someone else, but the gleaming silver crown on his head confirmed his identity, as did his familiar deep blue eyes framed by thick lashes. They were Arlin’s and Lorie’s eyes. They were my eyes. And they were locked onto me, looking at me with equal parts wonder and disbelief.

  I stopped just beyond the edge of the crowd, careful to maintain eye contact despite the desire to hide myself from the intensity of the king’s emotions.

  All of the whispers and mutters had ceased. The hall grew unnervingly silent. Still, I did not look away from the king—my grandfather. Erwin and Lerick stood slightly behind my shoulders, one on each side, and their proximity lent me strength. I wasn’t alone. Whatever was about to happen, I could handle it.

  “Ambassador Erwin.” I felt Erwin’s body stiffen. The ambassador stepped forward, now slightly in front of me, drawing the king’s gaze from me.

  “Your Majesty.” He bowed in a fluid, quick move before straightening once more.

  “I am glad you finally decided to visit after your return from Draek.”

  Did I imagine it, or was there a hint of reprimand in the words?

  Erwin, once again, bowed low. “I apologize for not coming to deliver my report sooner, Your Majesty. Many things hindered my arrival.”

  “Indeed.” His eyes flickered to me briefly then returned Erwin.

  A frown marred the king’s handsome face. Like all elves, he didn’t look his true age. I couldn’t picture what a centuries old male would look like, but someone with barely any wrinkles around his eyes and mouth wouldn’t be it. King Aquin didn’t look a day over forty, though I suspected he was older than King Roderick. The draekon king looked to be in his mid-fifties. It was very possible draekon and elves did not age the same way. For all I knew, King Roderick could be the older one. I’d have to do some research about the two races’ physiology when I had the chance.

  “Yes,” Erwin continued. “As I wrote in my letters, King Roderick of Draekon broke peace negotiations when he ordered his men to kill me and my fellow elves. I barely escaped the castle with my life.”

  A chorus of protests and angry hisses sounded behind us. I seconded their disapproval. It had been evil for King Roderick to order an attack on a guest under his roof. Especially one who was supposed to be protected by the sanctions of peace negotiations.

  King Aquin lifted a hand. The crowd fell silent once more.

  The king crossed his arms and titled his head, observing us. Distracted for a moment, I noticed the sway of a long, thin ponytail. His hair was slicked back into the style, but it didn’t look feminine against his strong brow and masculine features.

  “I’m aware of King Roderick’s betrayal. What I do not know is why it took you so long to come here and deliver the report in person.” Once again, the king’s eyes swung to me.

  I was confused. Surely, the steward already told him who I was. That’s the reason we were standing in front of him.

  Right?

  Erwin cleared his throat and shifted his stance. I couldn’t tell if his nervous display was an act or not. “During my time in Draek, I came upon a fellow elf. She lived among draekon, unaware of her heritage. When King Roderick’s men attacked, I knew I needed to get her safely out of the city before anyone figured out who she was. That is the reason behind my delayed arrival.”

  I wanted to pat myself on the back for keeping a blank face. Erwin didn’t rescue me from the city. He’d staged my abduction while Brion and I sailed across the Western sea, heading for Mar. I’d been skeptical of his flimsy explanation when he’d shared it on the ship, but Erwin assured me there was no way King Aquin would learn the truth. The pirates he’d tasked with my abduction weren’t exactly the sort to go report their crimes to the authorities.

  “This is that elf?” The king continued to speak to Erwin, but he didn’t look away from me, making me even more grateful I managed to hide emotion from my expression.

  “She is.”

  “Where is she from?”

  I might’ve been nervous, but that didn’t stop me from being irritated that the king talked about me as if I weren’t standing right in front of him. I bit my tongue to stop myself from saying something brash, like how he could just ask me where I was from.

  “Mar,” Erwin delivered the lie effortlessly.

  “How did she end up in Draek?”

  My eyebrow twitched: the only evidence of my annoyance. Seriously, why didn’t the king ask me the questions?

  Unfortunately, the king noticed. I shouldn’t have been surprised. He’d been eyeing me the entire time. It was almost like he was waiting for me to do something so he could address me.

  “Is something wrong, young lady?”

  Young lady?

  My mind flashed to growing up in Caldiri, back when my guardian, Papa Gil, was still alive. He’d called me young lady whenever I did something he disapproved of. Usually, it had something to do with dirtying my clothes or ripping them beyond repair when trailing after Lin or Jem like a desperate puppy. I hadn’t minded getting dirty if it meant I could hang out with the boys.

  The king spoke to me with the same reprimanding tone, and I couldn’t understand what motivated his less-than-welcoming attitude. I hadn’t expected him to jump for joy, but why wasn’t he at least acting happy to have learned he had a granddaughter?

  Why didn’t the king ask me questions about my mother—his long-lost daughter? Didn’t he want to know if she was alive?

  “Nothing is wrong,” I managed to find my voice, and I kept eye contact at the same time. I’d really come a long way since those first days working as a kitchen servant in the draekon capital.

  “No?” He narrows his gaze. “I believe you are frustrated.”

  What was the point in denying it? Erwin had warned me the king was good at reading people.

  “I suppose I am slightly frustrated.”

  In my peripheral vision, I saw both Erwin and Lerick tense.

  “What frustrates you?”

  At that moment, I knew he was challenging me. I had no idea what the king hoped to discover with his prodding, but I decided to trust my gut and reply honestly.

  “I’m frustrated you are asking Erwin about me when I am perfectly able to answer the questions myself.”

  The listening crowd gasped. I fought the urge to roll my eyes. That wasn’t rude. The king asked the question. Was I supposed to lie?

  A flash crossed the king’s eyes. Could it have been approval?

  “Apologies.” Again, the crowd gasped.

  Seriously? They needed to work on keeping their composure.

  The king continued, “You must understand, I’ve known Lord Erwin his entire life. I trust him implicitly. Whereas you… Well, I don’t know anything about you.”

  Except I was your granddaughter.

  I realized that wasn’t fair. I shouldn’t have expected the king to willingly accept the news of my existence without some skepticism. I didn’t know why he wanted to have this matter discussed in front of Avelin’s noble population. Again, I suspected our arrival unintentionally coincided with some important event. An event which discouraged the king from dismissing his court.

  With those thoughts and his reasoning in mind, some of my frustration fled. “Of course. I understand.”

  Again, I was certain his eyes shined with approval. “Tell me about yourself.”

  The entire room held their breath. Some leaned closer, eager to hear the next part of our conversation. They were eager to learn if I was actually who the steward said I was.

  I took a deep breath and braced myself to deliver the truth of my past, while also taking care not to reveal too much.
>
  “My name is Amelissa.” Erwin had instructed me to never utter the surname Allaway. The link to my draekon father would be easy to make. “I grew up in Draekon as a human healer. I didn’t know my parents. They left me to the care of a guardian when I was only five years old.”

  King Aquin frowned. “You do not know your parents?”

  I paused. “My memory holds glimpses of their faces and happy memories,” I replied honestly. “But I would not say I know them.”

  “You say you do not know your family,” the king’s gaze shifted to Erwin. “But my steward reported a marvelous claim was made as to your identity.”

  I didn’t know where to go from there. How could I prove who my mother was?

  “I remember my mother’s name as Sandra,” I announced. “I never remembered my father’s name. That one name and my child memories are all I had left of them after they abandoned me.” I kept myself from using words like we or us. I couldn’t reveal Lin and Lorie.

  Erwin shifted, drawing everyone else’s attention. Including mine. “That is where I come in. Shortly after Amelissa was recruited to the capital—”

  “Recruited?” The king interrupted with a furrowed brow.

  “Humans are forced to enter a yearly recruitment pool, the Census, when they reach the age of sixteen,” Erwin explained.

  The king didn’t look surprised. He knew about the Census on his enemy’s continent. His people were, after all, responsible for its creation after levying their curses on the draekon.

  King Aquin growled low. “I am amazed King Roderick’s people still allow him to control their fates so easily.”

  I bit my tongue. To defy recruitment selection was to make yourself an enemy of the king and his army of draekon. What did King Aquin expect humans to do? And what did he expect other draekon to do? Without recruits, there wouldn’t be enough people to run the capital. Not only that, but there also wouldn’t be enough people to mate with the dwindling draekon population.

  The king gave me a cursory glance. “I sense the elven power within you, though it is not as strong as I’d expect,” he said, shocking me. I maintained a neutral expression. “How did you manage to go undetected among the draekon in their capital?”