“What’s the matter?” Idina asked. “You have that look on your face again.”
“What look?” He didn’t realize he had a look.
“The one you get when you’re trying to work through something. It’s this funny little mark on your forehead.” She reached over and traced a line on his forehead as if to prove the point.
He batted her hand away, then laced his fingers together behind his head, observing the darkening sky. “It’s nothing important.” He shouldn’t even be thinking about Harley. Instead, he needed to focus on making sure Owen didn’t find out about the man he’d sent to Russek to make contact with Kerdan. Technically, as a prince, he had the right to set up a meeting with Kerdan. However, since he wanted to discuss the takeover, specifically Harley’s involvement in it, he thought it best not to mention it to Owen. Not only that, but Owen probably wouldn’t appreciate Ackley doing something behind his back.
“How did your assignment go?”
“It was uneventful.” Since his sister was going to marry Owen, and he was going to leave her here, he needed to make sure this continent was stable. If Melenia was invaded again, his sister would be the one slaughtered. And that was something he couldn’t live with. So really, he had a duty to meet with Kerdan, learn as much as he could about the mainland, and embed his own spies throughout Melenia. Anything less than that would be negligence.
“Harley seems nice.” Idina picked a blade of grass, twirling it between her fingers. “What do you think of her?”
“I didn’t really form an opinion. She didn’t talk much.” His sister rarely asked questions just to ask them, so he began wondering what she was getting at.
“No, I would imagine not. She just lost her brother, husband, aunt, uncle, and three cousins. I can’t even begin to fathom what she’s been through.”
“She seems young to be married.” Being the king’s niece would make her valuable, though. Which brought Ackley back to thinking about Harley being married to Commander Beck’s son.
“She’s eighteen.” Idina shrugged since that was a reasonable age to marry. Especially considering she was only seventeen.
Still, Harley felt younger than Idina. Gazing up at the sky, Ackley estimated it would take the man he’d sent to Russek about two weeks to establish contact with Kerdan and report back. That gave him two weeks to figure out how to get Owen to send him on another mission.
Idina twisted the blade of grass. “So…Harley…”
“Why do you keep bringing her up?” He eyed her sidelong.
“She’s Owen’s cousin.”
“And?”
“I’d like to have someone I can rely on.”
“You have Gytha.”
“I meant someone here in Melenia. The problem is, I can’t decide what sort of person Harley is. Which is unusual. Normally, I can read someone. But she’s been through so much she’s closed off right now.” Idina tossed the blade of grass on the ground, then stretched her arms out behind her, leaning slightly backward. “I figured you’d have a read on her. You spent a couple of days with her, and you’re good at this sort of thing.”
“She’d make a fine companion at court, but I don’t know about having her in your inner circle.”
“Why is that?”
“I don’t know how politically savvy she is,” he mused, trying to work through what was bothering him. Since Commander Beck was her father-in-law, and he’d turned out to be a traitor, Ackley had to examine the possibility that Harley’s husband had been involved in the commander’s activities. Harley very well could have overheard important conversations between father and son. Or, worse, she could have been an unwilling participant. Which led him to speculate if she could be trusted.
An involuntary sigh slipped out. He hadn’t intended on bothering with Owen’s cousin. However, if his sister needed someone she could trust, someone from Melenia who could advise her accordingly, it was his duty to assess Harley. He’d have to decide if she could be trusted. Because if she couldn’t, he’d have to get rid of her before she harmed Idina.
The following morning, the entire army set out, leaving the valley. They traveled all day, not covering much ground since they moved at an ant’s pace, driving Ackley mad. He wished they had horses.
The Melenia and Marsden soldiers remained mixed together. However, Ackley pulled a dozen Marsdens to stay at Idina’s side, putting Gytha in charge of them. With his sister well protected, he was able to walk with different soldiers, listening in on conversations, trying to learn as much as he could about Melenia and its people. He checked in with Idina every so often. Harley didn’t leave Owen’s side, seemingly uncomfortable traveling with so many men.
When they stopped around midday to eat, Ackley found his sister sitting alongside Harley and Gytha.
“Should I feel honored that you’re here with me instead of rubbing elbows with your soldiers?” Idina glared at Ackley.
He hadn’t thought his sister would be upset he didn’t walk with her. “I assumed you and Lady Harley could use the time to get to know one another.” Lowering his voice, he asked, “Was Lady Harley so droll you almost fell asleep?” He peered at Harley to see if she was listening in on the conversation.
Harley scowled at Ackley, confirming she’d heard him. He chuckled.
Gytha shook her head.
Owen joined them. “What did you do, Ackley?” he asked as he sat across from Idina. “Why are all the ladies looking at you like that?” He took a bite of his food. “It seems like they all want to kill you.”
“My brother, as always, is just being his charming self.”
Harley finished eating, setting her bowl aside.
Ackley withdrew a game from his bag, placing it before him and setting up the pieces. “Lady Harley, join me in a game of War.”
She peered at the board and pieces. “I don’t know how to play.”
“It’s easy.” It would prove to be an excellent way to assess her, since he suspected her to be more shrewd and intelligent than she let on. “I’ll teach you.”
Harley glanced at Owen who was engaged in conversation with Idina. “All right.”
Ackley quickly explained the game. Each person started with nine pieces on opposite ends of the board. The board was divided into squares, for a total of eighty-one. The goal was to get your pieces to the opposite end of the board. If you landed on an opponent’s piece, you claimed that piece and it went out of play. The person who had all of their remaining pieces to the other end first, won.
Harley’s eyes narrowed as she studied the board. After a minute she said, “Who goes first?”
“You.”
She nodded and made her first move.
Ackley noticed she started with no clear plan in place. She’d move random pieces, watching to see how he responded. After five minutes, he realized she’d shifted strategies and was now mirroring his moves. There were several ways to win. But he didn’t care to win. He wanted to assess her. He switched tactics and started moving his pieces to the middle of the board. Fifteen minutes in, Harley sat there staring at the game.
“Are you going to move?” Ackley asked. “It’s your turn.”
She absently nodded. A minute later, she started making moves on her own, no longer mirroring him. She now shifted most of her pieces together toward the middle. Twenty minutes in, she started sacrificing her pieces. Thirty minutes in, she had two pieces left. One piece slid into the square on his side.
Ackley had about half his pieces on her side. Harley hadn’t taken any of his pieces, but he’d taken seven of hers. She pushed the one piece toward him, wanting to sacrifice it. If he took it, she’d win, so he refused to touch it. She chewed on her bottom lip, narrowing her eyes. He kept moving his pieces toward her side. If she didn’t start taking his pieces, he’d win. Harley moved that one piece back to her own side, where it had started, instead of moving it toward his side. If she moved it to his side, once her last piece was in, she’d win. So why was she moving it bac
k to where it had started?
Ackley let it play out. Once it reached the square at her side, she looked at him. He realized the only way for him to win was to take that piece so his own piece could go there. The second he did, the game would end in a tie because they would be simultaneous winners. He’d never seen anyone force his hand like that before.
“Why?” he asked. She could have just slid that piece to his side and won.
“Why not?” she countered.
“You could have won much sooner,” he pointed out.
“I didn’t think the point was simply to win or lose. Isn’t this about strategy?”
“It is.” He had to hide his smile.
“Sometimes, if you look at things differently or take another approach, there is a way for everyone to win. There doesn’t have to be a loser.” She stood. “Thank you for the game.” She turned and walked away.
Ackley watched her go. She’d confirmed his suspicions. It would be a waste to have Idina use Harley as a confidant. There was a better, more appropriate, position for someone like her.
That night, once camp had been erected, Ackley joined Owen in his tent.
“I know,” Owen said by way of greeting. “You don’t need to complain to me.” Owen was stretched out on a bedroll in the corner of his tent, maps strewn about next to him. A single candle lit the space.
“Maybe there’s something we can do to quicken the pace.” Ackley sat on the ground, contemplating their options.
“Unfortunately, there isn’t. But there is something you can do.”
He had Ackley’s attention. “Do tell.”
Owen sat up on his bedroll and reached into his bag. Pulling out a flask, he uncorked it and took a swig. He held it out to Ackley.
Ackley shook his head. He never drank.
After putting the cork back in, Owen tapped his finger against the flask. “You, of all people, must suspect what’s at play here.”
One of the problems with coming to another kingdom like this was that Ackley didn’t know the politics or the players and felt half blind. Instead of saying any of that, he settled with, “Enlighten me.”
“You know the saying keep your friends close and your enemies closer?”
Ackley had never been one for friends.
“You’re one of the Knights of the Realm,” Owen said, a slight tilt to his words most likely caused by the alcohol. “You have to know what I’m up against.”
Ackley still wasn’t following.
“My cousin,” Owen prompted.
Ah, Harley. The sole survivor. Even though Ackley had questioned her about the takeover, he still wondered how she’d managed to survive when her brother, husband, and family hadn’t. “You don’t trust her?”
“I trust her. It’s everyone else I don’t trust.”
“Are you referring to the minor detail about her being married to Commander Beck’s son?”
A smile slid across Owen’s face. “That would be the one.” He pointed the flask at Ackley. “I knew you’d get it.”
“We know Commander Beck was a traitor, but what about his son?” He’d tried coaxing information about the man out of Harley. However, she hadn’t wanted to talk about him at all. There was definitely something amiss there.
“I don’t know. Lyle didn’t live at the castle, and I barely knew him.” Owen put the flask away. “But that wasn’t who I was referring to.”
“Who else don’t you trust?”
He rubbed his tired face. “I don’t know if Harley’s parents…arranged anything with Commander Beck.”
“Harley’s mother is the queen’s sister?”
Owen nodded.
Then getting rid of the royal family did nothing for Harley since she was not in line for the throne. That simple fact cast doubt on Harley’s parents being involved. On the other hand, Commander Beck was a power-hungry man who thrived on violence. Even though he hadn’t been present during the takeover, it didn’t mean he wasn’t involved in it.
“I need to discover my aunt and uncle’s loyalties. If I send one of my men, they’ll learn nothing. I need to send Harley.”
“You need to send Harley to test her parents?”
“Exactly. But Harley can’t know what you’re doing.”
“I’m doing?” If he wanted Ackley to accompany Harley to Penlar, this would work out exceptionally well. It felt as if he were being handed a gift.
“Yes. You will go with her to assess them.”
“I’m not sure Harley will like that idea.” She seemed intent on staying with Owen and not stepping foot in Penlar. “I can go without her.” He could speak to her parents and glean information; he didn’t need Harley for that.
“Just tell Harley you’re checking to see if her parents are alive.”
“She’ll want to know why me and not someone from Melenia.”
“Good point.” He tapped his hand on his thigh. “I’ll tell her I only trust you to protect her. It’s true you know.”
“And if her parents are dead?”
“If there’s anything left of their house, search it. But if they’re alive, I need to know if they made any sort of deal with Commander Beck.”
While Ackley certainly understood why Beck would have wanted his son married to the only niece of the king, he didn’t know why Harley’s parents would agree to it. What did they gain from marrying their daughter off to the commander’s son? He stood to go. “What about on your father’s side of the family? Does the king have any brothers who might want the throne?”
“No. He was an only child.”
“And you’re certain you trust Harley?”
“Yes, why do you ask?”
Because she was the sole survivor and far more savvy than she let on. “Have you considered that her loyalties may have changed once she married?”
“They haven’t.”
“How can you be certain?”
“You trust your sister, don’t you?”
Ackley nodded.
“I trust my cousin like you trust your sister.”
For Ackley, it wasn’t that simple. He didn’t trust easily—even when it came to family. A result of being betrayed by Eldon, his own brother. However, he had come to respect Owen, so he didn’t argue any further. He would go with Harley, not because Owen wanted him to analyze her parents, but because he had plans of his own.
Harley
Tossing and turning, Harley couldn’t fall asleep. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Lyle leering at her, teasing her, telling her how worthless she was. Then his face was replaced with the Russek soldier who’d tried to rape her. Frustrated, she sat up. Idina and Gytha were in the tent with her, both of them sleeping. Harley stood and wrapped one of her blankets around her body. Knowing there would be a soldier standing guard outside the tent, she lifted the edge near her bedroll, crawling underneath it.
She stood between her and Owen’s tent, listening. Not hearing any voices, she moved to the back and headed away from the tents. She walked with purpose, hoping no one stopped her. If anyone did, she would say she had to relieve herself. At the edge of camp, she went straight, not wanting to get lost. When she was far enough away, she sat in the thick grass, it coming up to her chest.
So much had happened in such a short amount of time that she was having trouble processing it all. She didn’t know how she felt. Her heart hurt, that much she knew. Rage also filled her at the injustice of it all. Helplessness also kept wedging its way in. Her life had been flipped upside down, and she didn’t know who she was any longer. When Owen had offered to take her to her parents, she’d balked at the idea. To have their deaths confirmed would sap the last of her strength. To entertain the idea that they were alive required too much hope. Now she understood why Ledger hadn’t wanted to go and see if his mother and sister were alive. Sometimes not knowing was better than dealing with reality. There was another emotion that kept working its way in—guilt. Guilt that she lived. Guilt that she was happy her husband had died.
>
“What are you doing out here all alone?” Ackley asked, startling her. He sat next to her, waiting for an answer.
She was tired of always doing what others wanted and expected of her. A tear slid down her cheek, so she wiped it away. Lyle always asked her questions like that. When he found her reading a book one day, he’d asked her why she bothered reading. When she said she enjoyed it, he ripped it from her hands and tossed it in the hearth, claiming a woman had no business reading. After that, she hid her books and only let him see her do useful activities such as knitting. Strange she thought of that now.
“I saw you leave your tent, so I followed you.”
Under the dark night sky, she couldn’t make out his features. It reminded her of the first time she’d met him when he’d purposely remained in the shadows. “I couldn’t sleep, Your Highness.” Maybe if she gave him an answer, he’d leave her alone.
“It’s just Ackley.”
She still couldn’t believe she’d slapped him the night they met. Even though he’d completely deserved it, he was a prince and could have her thrown in the dungeon for doing such a thing. She found it intriguing that he hadn’t revealed his title to her that night, nor did he want her using it now. “Tell me, Ackley, how are you both a prince and an assassin?”
“Right now, I’m only an assassin. And I want you to tell me what you’re doing out here.”
Goosebumps covered her skin. She thought he came after her because she was a woman all alone. Now she was starting to suspect it was for another reason—he didn’t trust her any more than she trusted him. He probably didn’t trust anyone. Although, he appeared close with his sister and Owen clearly liked him. Other than Gytha, the soldiers seemed half in awe and half scared of him. Exhaustion overcame her, and she answered truthfully. “When I close my eyes, I see monsters.” She couldn’t believe she just admitted that to Ackley.
Sword of Rage: Reigning Kingdoms, Book 1 Page 12