Freed

by Samantha Britt

  Not wanting to broach the subject while we had an audience, I simply said, “Of course, Your Majesty.”

  King Aquin looked proud. “Let’s eat,” he clapped his hands together. The sudden noise made me jump. Only Finn noticed. The king had already turned around to walk toward the dining table.

  Four place settings were positioned on the table. Blue, floral cloth napkins, tied together with a golden thread, were placed beside ivory china. Tiny hand painted vines adorned the rim of each dish. King Aquin sat at the head of the table. He gestured for me to sit on his left. Prince Finn took the seat next to me, leaving the seat across from me as the only empty chair. Erwin pulled himself from the window and slid gracefully into his chair as I unrolled my napkin and laid it over my lap.

  Platters of fresh fruit and biscuits had already been placed on the table. King Aquin retrieved the fruit and surprised me by scooping a spoonful onto my plate before serving himself. He passed the platter to Erwin who took two scoops, then my cousin reached across the table to give the fruit to the prince.

  The biscuits and gravy boat followed the same passing routine.

  “So, Prince Finn,” King Aquin began once everyone was settled with food. “You’ve already regaled me with tales of my granddaughter’s skills, but what else do you know about her that you could tell me? As I said, we only met yesterday, and I am eager to learn as much as I can.”

  Why did King Aquin treat Finn like a trusted confidant? He knew about King Roderick’s sanctioned attack on Erwin and the other peace envoys. The draekon ruler had murdered two of his subjects in cold blood. Why didn’t the king treat Finn as the son of his enemy and keep him at a healthy distance?

  “I’m afraid I don’t know much else about your lovely granddaughter,” Finn replied eloquently. He speared a pear and popped it into his mouth, chewing slowly, preventing him from saying more.

  “How unfortunate,” the king returned, cutting a piece of apple in two. “I had hoped to learn what citizens of draekon thought of the girl whom they had no idea is actually an elven royal.”

  The king was up to something. His words were careful, as was his tone. He was trying to get Finn to reveal something, but I couldn’t fathom what that might be.

  “My understanding is Amelissa was known as a hard worker with a kind heart and skilled healing abilities.” I could feel Finn’s attention on the side of my face. I bit into an apple and kept my gaze focused on my breakfast.

  Much to my dismay, the prince wasn’t finished. “I wasn’t in residence at the castle when Amelissa first arrived as a recruit, but it wasn’t long until she made herself known to me. Our first meeting left quite the impression, as I’m sure many others would also claim if asked.”

  I clenched my fork. What was Finn doing? He wasn’t actually going to discuss how I saved him after the rebel attack, was he?

  Erwin caught my attention. He lifted a brow. I didn’t know what it meant.

  The king folded his hands under his chin, intrigued. “Indeed? And what were the circumstances of your first meeting? Were you stunned by Amelissa’s beauty when she poured wine into your goblet at dinner?” The question sounded innocuous enough, but hard lines spread from the king’s eyes. I’d told him I first served the draekon as a kitchen server. King Aquin clearly did not like the idea of his granddaughter serving his enemy like a second-class citizen.

  Finn leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “Though her beauty was renowned in our castle, the first day I met Amelissa, it was not her beauty which took me by surprise, but rather her bravery and quick decision making.”

  King Aquin was taken aback. “In what context would you two have been introduced to warrant a demonstration of bravery?”

  I turned and shot Finn a pleading look, silently begging him to say what he was about to say.

  The prince smiled at me as if he completely misunderstood my urgent expression. “Amelissa and I first met after I’d been injured by the bolt of a rebel elf when the rebellion attacked our castle. I’d been certain I was going to be dealt a killing blow as I laid there, unable to help myself, when a stunning young woman with a determined brow and strong grip forced me to stand and helped me take cover in a nearby gardener’s shed.”

  My blood ran cold as Finn shared the story. I hadn’t looked away from him, maintaining my pleading stare until the last word passed his lips. Then, my eyes fluttered closed, and I braced myself for the king’s reaction.

  I didn’t have to wait long.

  “Am I to understand,” King Aquin’s voice was eerily calm, like the air before a violent thunderstorm, “you claim elves are active participants in your continent’s rebellion?”

  The question shocked me. I opened my eyes and turned to observe the king. His expression was hard as he stared down the prince. Could he truly not know rogue elves worked with the rebellion? Or was his surprise simply an act to throw off suspicion that he sent men to aide his enemy’s enemy? How does the saying go? My enemy’s enemy is my friend.

  Erwin had told the princes that King Aquin had nothing to do with the elves who conspired with the rebellion. But the king acted as if he was hearing about elven involvement for the first time. It was nothing short of suspicious. As the king’s ambassador, Erwin would have written to the king about the rebel attacks and their flying elven co-conspirators. Wouldn’t he?

  Erwin cleared his throat and confirmed my thoughts. “Your Majesty, I wrote about the attack shortly after I was released from the castle dungeons.” He shot Finn a nasty glare. “I included news that the rebels appeared to have elves working with them during the attack.”

  “Did you?” King Aquin shook his head, chewing another piece of fruit as he tried to remember. “I can’t recall such a letter. Are you sure you sent it?”

  I watched Erwin stiffen. “I am quite sure,” he stated.

  “Hmph. How odd.” The king waved a hand, effectively dismissing the entire topic as if it was not major news that some of his citizens were fighting the draekon king—as if such involvement wouldn’t implicate the king, himself, in supporting the rebellion.

  Erwin stared with wide, shocked eyes. He wanted to say something, but his lips parted only to close again one moment later. He clenched his teeth, then stabbed a melon and shoved it into his mouth.

  I moved my gaze to the king. His expression didn’t reveal any concern. That led me to believe he was pretending not to know about the elven involvement. But why? Surely, he knew how odd his behavior was. It alarmed Erwin, and it would intrigue Prince Finn. I laid my hands on the table, too preoccupied to continue to eat.

  “So, you met Amelissa when she saved you from a grave injury,” King Aquin continued, easily shifting back into the original topic. “And you became smitten by her beauty, am I right?”

  Again, my cheeks flushed. “Your Majesty is too kind,” I murmured, wanting nothing more than for the conversation to move away from the subject of me for good.

  I picked up the sound of fabric brushing against fabric. Then, I felt a firm hand settle on top of my left hand. Shock zipped down my spine. I turned at met Finn’s gaze with a wide-eyed, inquisitive one of my own.

  In a soft voice, but not so soft it would go unheard by the elven males at the table, Finn said, “You shouldn’t be embarrassed by compliments. You are incredibly beautiful and also amazingly talented.”

  I felt like my eyes were going to fall out of my head.

  Finn, seeing my expression, only smiled. He retracted his hand, then said, “But His Majesty is right. I was smitten by your beauty from the moment I first laid eyes on you.” He winked.

  Prince Finn of Draekon winked at me. And he did so in front of King Aquin.

  For the life of me, I couldn’t figure out what was going on. Why was Finn acting so familiar? His actions bordered on flirtatious, and I didn’t know how the king would react to seeing a draekon treat his new-found granddaughter in such a way.

  One glance showed King Aquin wore a smug grin. His reaction s
hocked me almost as much as Finn’s actions. My head throbbed with confusion mixed with fatigue. What was going on?

  “I believe Amelissa may enjoy touring the palace gardens, Your Majesty,” Erwin rescued me from enduring anymore of the mindboggling conversation. He swung his attention to me and added, “There are many medicinal herbs and roots growing throughout the gardens. They were planted by your mother.”

  My smile was genuine. I would love to examine the medicinal ingredients. It would help distract me, and it would also give Erwin and I the chance to discuss our next move. I’d succeeded in intervening with Prince Finn’s plans to assassinate his father’s enemy. Now, would we return to Eelie? Or were we bound to stay in Avelin for a few more days? I would prefer the latter, but I didn’t think King Aquin would be willing to let me leave so soon after learning of my existence. He still hadn’t had the chance to question me about my mother, his missing daughter. I knew such an interrogation would need to happen before I could go anywhere.

  “I would love to see them. Thank you.”

  Erwin lowered his chin, a smug smile tugging his lips. “You’re welcome.”

  24

  “What do you make of Prince Finn’s behavior at breakfast?” Erwin and I were walking through the gardens, having just left the king and Finn after the meal. The prince’s official welcome to King Aquin’s Court was to take place later that day, and both went off to prepare for the occasion.

  Erwin’s fingers traced the lines on a wide leaf from a tropical tree. “I think His Highness was flirting with you.”

  I lightly punched his arm.

  “Ow,” he feigned injury. “Hey. You asked. Why am I getting hit for being honest?”

  I shook my head and rolled my eyes, pulling a wide grin from his lips. “What I wanted to know is what you think was the reason for his flirtatious behavior? What’s his motivation? Surely, he knows King Aquin might disapprove of such familiarity.”

  “Perhaps Prince Finn is trying to get a rise out of the king.”

  “But why?”

  Erwin shrugged, walking down the path until he reached a bush covered with bright pink roses. “Maybe the prince wants the king to act against him. It would give him cause to retaliate, and perhaps his retaliation will allow him to follow through on his dear daddy’s orders.”

  “No,” I said strongly. “Finn wouldn’t kill him. Not after our conversation last night.”

  Amusement lit Erwin’s features. “You think you have that much influence, do you?” His implication was obvious. I ignored it.

  “I’m being serious, Erwin.” I tugged on his arm when he took a step to move farther down the pebbled path.

  “As am I, Lissa. Prince Finn is either instigating an argument with King Aquin, or he is flirting with you because he harbors feelings for you. Which would you prefer I speak about?”

  I cringed. “Neither.”

  Erwin raised a brow. “Then instigating an argument, it is.”

  I averted my eyes, resting them on the bright roses. “They’re my favorite flower.”

  “Your mother’s too.”

  I looked back at him. “Really?”

  His mouth curved up. “Yes. Lassandra loved roses. She would trim the bushes herself, cutting away excess foliage to allow for her beautiful roses to thrive.”

  A memory of a man bringing a bundle of wildflowers into our home played in my mind. “I know they aren’t roses, Sandra, but I hope you like them just the same.”

  I took a deep breath. That was the first memory of my father I’d had in a very long time. He brought my mother flowers, and I remember her fawning over the gesture before she kissed him deeply. There was no denying the affection between them.

  Erwin watched me. “Lissa?”

  I blinked to clear away the memory, returning my attention to the roses. “It’s nothing. Just thinking about my parents,” I admitted.

  Understanding crossed his face. “I didn’t mean to cause you distress.”

  “You didn’t,” I assured him with a smile. “It’s nice to learn things about her. You said she tended the roses. Did she also take care of the herbs?”

  “She did.” Erwin gestured towards the side of the garden pressed against the palace wall. “That entire section is dedicated to growing medicinal herbs, roots, and leaves. Any elf with a healing affinity is allowed to browse the selection, taking what they need.”

  His eyes dimmed. “Caring for the gardens was one of the few things King Aquin allowed Lassandra to do. Even then, she was forced to let no less than four guards accompany her. Slowly but surely, His Majesty drained the vibrant life right out of his daughter with his overbearing rules and smothering edicts. It was hard to watch the light fade from Lassandra’s soul.”

  I choked back emotion, grieving for the mother I barely remembered. No one should be forced into a life they didn’t want, that included Census recruits and elven princesses.

  I stepped back, prepared to continue my tour through the garden, when it was Erwin’s turn to stop me. His hand fell heavy on my shoulder. “Lissa, you need to be careful.”

  My eyes widened. “Me? Why?”

  Erwin glanced over his shoulders, confirming we were alone. “Something is not right with the king.”

  Alarm poured into my veins. “Is this about the rebel attack?”

  He nodded. “I know he got my letter describing the elven involvement.”

  “How?”

  “Because he wrote back to me, telling me to keep my distance from the criminal group. He’d urged me not to do anything to unintentionally implicate myself. He even went so far as to command me not to investigate. He said it was to keep me above speculation… but now I’m not so sure.”

  I sucked in a breath. My mind raced with possible explanations until it landed on the most probable. “Do you think King Aquin sanctions their involvement?”

  “I don’t know,” he sighed, dropping the hand off my shoulder. “But his denial at breakfast sent up warning flags. King Aquin is up to something, but I do not have enough information to know what it is.”

  I bit the inside of my cheek as I contemplated Erwin’s words and his earlier warning. “Do you think King Aquin means to harm me?” I’d thought introducing myself had been too easy. I should’ve expected something like this to come up.

  “No,” Erwin didn’t hesitate to reassure me. “King Aquin believes you are truly his granddaughter. He plans on hosting a gala for your birthday in five days. There, he plans to formally introduce you to the realm. He would never harm you.

  “Well…” Erwin trailed off as another thought came to mind. “He would never intentionally harm you, just as he hadn’t intended to harm Lassandra. That is why I urge you to be careful. The king is up to something. But whatever it is, I don’t doubt he will use all of his influence and resources to shield you from any danger which means—”

  “Which means he won’t hesitate to lock me away like he did my mother,” I finished his sentence.

  Erwin’s lips pressed together. “I promise to do everything I can to ensure that doesn’t happen. King Aquin respects the old ways and ancient magic. As your Kyrie Spirit, he may be more inclined to defer to me on matters of your safety.”

  “You think the connection has that much importance?” Unlike the other times our connection had been brought up, no awkwardness grew between us. I wanted answers, and I trusted Erwin to give them.

  “To King Aquin, it does,” Erwin replied. “And to other members of the Court, it does. Should the king try to use his authority to make you do anything you don’t want to do, as your Kyrie Spirit, I can intervene when I otherwise would not be able to. I’ll be able to help you in the way I wish I could’ve helped your mother.”

  I felt his sadness press against me. Without thinking, I stepped forward and slipped my arms around his back.

  Erwin stiffened. I tightened my hold and muttered against his shirt, “Thank you.”

  I wanted to tell him it wasn’t his fault he couldn
’t help my mother. I wanted to say that I felt sure my mother would never hold his actions against him. She had to have known he was following the king’s orders and he couldn’t defy them without greatly risking his own safety. Erwin was my friend, and I hated to see my friends in pain.

  But I didn’t say anything. No matter how much I wanted to reassure him, I knew my words wouldn’t be enough. The guilt Erwin harbored had been a part of him for many years. I couldn’t fix it, but I could offer him my support. Just like he offered me his when I needed it.

  Erwin stood unmoving for several seconds. When I didn’t immediately pull away, he gently wrapped his arms around me, returning the embrace. “There’s no need to thank me.”

  “I say there is.” I gave him a final squeeze, then stepped out of his arms.

  “So… a birthday party?” The sadness lingering in the air dissipated as I changed the subject.

  Erwin smirked, clearly amused. “Oh, you have no idea. His Majesty is planning quite the affair in honor of his beloved granddaughter and her introduction to proper elven society. Everyone who is anyone will be invited.”

  “And when were you going to tell me this?” I faked anger, propping my fists on my hips.

  “The king only told me of his plans this morning. Apparently, he was up all night finalizing the details with his steward.”

  “Great.” Just what I needed, an elaborate show to draw attention to myself. There would be no hiding my identity when returning to Eelie. That admission made me sad.

  “Don’t worry,” Erwin reassured me, no doubt seeing the gloom in my frown. “I will be there, as will Prince Finn and Lord Min. You will not be alone.”

  “I’m not sure Finn’s presence will be that reassuring,” I found myself saying before I thought through the words. I cringed, but Erwin only laughed.