Sitting on a stool, she quietly ate her oatmeal. Owen’s bedroll, bag, and maps were neatly stacked near the entrance of the tent, indicating he hadn’t left on a whim.
Gytha folded her arms and stood in the corner opposite Harley, keeping a watchful eye on the spy the entire time.
Fifteen minutes later, Ackley and Owen entered the tent, not saying a word. Harley wanted to ask where they’d been, but she knew not to in front of the spy.
“Glad to see you’re back in one piece,” Owen said by way of greeting. “What news do you have?” Taking a seat next to the spy, he handed him a flask of water.
Shocked she hadn’t been asked to leave, Harley set her bowl aside. Her focus drifted over to Ackley, who faded into the shadows of the tent. If she hadn’t seen him enter, she wouldn’t know he was there.
“All villages along the border are burned. No survivors.”
“What else?” Owen asked.
“I rode my horse to Landania and met with my contacts there. Word is that after Russek invaded Melenia, they began mounting an attack against Emperion. As a result, Kricok, Fia, and Landania all joined with Emperion.”
“Willingly?” Owen asked.
“Yes. They signed a treaty and are part of Emperion now.”
Owen whistled. Emperion was already the largest kingdom on the mainland. Now with three additional kingdoms under their command, they were without a doubt the most powerful as well. No one would be able to stand against them.
“Have there been any battles between Russek and Emperion?” Owen asked.
“Not yet. Russek kidnapped Princess Allyssa of Emperion. There are rumors she’s been killed. Information is slow to come, but people are saying King Drenton of Russek is dead.” He took a long drink from the flask, gulping the water down.
“I assume Emperion killed the Russek king for kidnapping their princess?”
He shook his head. “My sources say it was an inside job. Someone in Russek killed King Drenton. There are rumors it was Prince Kerdan. Others say Queen Jana. When the king died, Kerdan ordered all Russek soldiers out of Melenia and back to Russek. Since then, Kerdan and Jana have been battling for the throne.”
“Anything else?”
“Emperion has soldiers stationed all along their border. They haven’t attacked yet. Probably because Russek is facing a civil war.”
Owen rubbed his forehead. After thanking the spy, he sent him to get something to eat.
Once the man left, Ackley stepped out of the shadows. “The question becomes, what happened to Prince Soma?” He withdrew his dagger, tossing and catching it by the handle. “You said he is Kerdan’s stepbrother?” He looked to Harley for confirmation.
Suddenly feeling self-conscious, her palms became sweaty. “Yes. Kerdan is Drenton’s son; Soma is Jana’s son.”
“So Russek intended to attack Emperion. They invaded Melenia for troops. Before they could attack, King Drenton was murdered.” He tossed the dagger and caught it. “Jana and Kerdan are vying for the crown, both claiming the other killed the king.” Toss, catch. “We happen to know that Soma tried killing Kerdan as well.” He sheathed his dagger. “And I thought my family was bad. At least we don’t have to deal with Russek right now.” He pointed at Owen. “Reclaim your throne, then we’ll worry about Russek. With a civil war brewing, you have time.”
“What about revenge?” Harley asked. Owen had promised her.
“When the time is right, we’ll strike.” Owen stood.
“It’s the perfect time to strike,” Gytha said. “Russek is weak and won’t expect us to attack right now.”
“We can’t attack until we know who’s our enemy and who’s our ally.” Ackley waved for Gytha to join him as he headed toward the exit of the tent. “Russek is a neighboring kingdom. We don’t want war to always be looming over our heads.”
“Or we can let Emperion slaughter them.” Gytha gripped the hilt of her sword as she followed Ackley.
“That’s a possibility,” Owen agreed.
Ackley paused at the tent flap. “There are other ways to handle this besides declaring war.”
Harley wondered if he referred to assassinating their enemy. It was an intriguing idea that he’d hinted at before. Instead of war, a stealthy invasion to end those responsible for killing her family. That way hundreds of Melenia soldiers wouldn’t have to die. Before lifting the tent flap, Ackley looked right at her and winked, as if he knew her thoughts.
Once Ackley and Gytha were gone, Harley shook her head, unable to believe she’d just agreed with Ackley—the assassin-prince.
Owen came over, sitting on a stool beside her. “Today we’re going to pass by the road leading to Penlar. I’ve asked Ackley to escort you there to see if your parents are alive. I will continue on with the army. When you’re done in Penlar, you can rejoin us.”
Standing, she ran her hands down the front of her dress. “Don’t you think someone from Melenia should take me?” she asked, giving him the opportunity to voice any of his concerns about her parents.
“I trust Ackley.”
But not her or her parents. Forcing a smile on her lips, she said, “I’m surprised you’re letting me travel alone with a man. Aren’t you afraid people might get the wrong idea?”
“You’re a widow. You have no virtue to protect.”
While true, the simple statement felt like a slap in the face.
“I’m sorry,” Owen stammered. “That came out wrong. What I meant to say is that Ackley is a prince, and he won’t take advantage of you or the situation.”
She almost laughed. Owen should be more concerned about her and Ackley trying to kill one another rather than anything romantic happening between them. They were about as different as night and day.
“If I don’t get a chance to see you again before you depart, safe travels.” He wrapped her in a hug. “Ackley is a good man, and he will protect you.”
Harley wished she believed that.
Ackley
Ackley and Harley had been traveling on the same dirt road all afternoon since breaking away from the army. The scenery gradually changed from dense forestry to low rolling hills, making Ackley feel exposed. Once in a while he thought he saw something in the distance, only to realize it was a burned house or village. At one point, he thought he saw a person on horseback. When he pointed it out to Harley, the rider was gone.
Harley led the way so he didn’t have to worry about her lagging behind or falling without him knowing. Not once did she complain or ask to rest. He thought Harley would have at least tried to make small talk as they traveled. She was a woman after all. He hadn’t been around one so silent before. Not even Gytha was this quiet. And it wasn’t like Harley had problems talking to men. He saw her speaking with Ledger on several occasions. It was just Ackley then. Regardless, he liked knowing who he was working with. Surprises were never a good thing. And he found Harley a hard woman to read.
He considered saying something. Maybe if he spoke first, she would warm up to him and be more comfortable. However, since they’d be traveling together for several days, he decided not to force conversation. It would come. Eventually. Besides, he was never one to fill the silence just because. It would only come off as being inauthentic. And there was as much to be learned from the refusal to speak as there was from speaking.
That night, he found a cluster of boulders that provided some cover. They laid their bedrolls out, then ate a small meal. Since it was just the two of them, a fire was too dangerous to risk.
Harley snuggled under her blanket. Ackley wished he hadn’t woken so early this morning to accompany Owen to that town. It would make staying up all night watching over Harley that much more difficult. But he hadn’t wanted to miss the chance to meet with those civilians who used to work at the castle. He needed to hear their accounts of what happened during the takeover to see if it aligned with what Harley had said. While he hadn’t found any inconsistencies, what these servants reported seeing was a hundred times worse
than what Harley let on.
He glanced at Harley, finding her already asleep. Her mouth was slightly parted, her hair spread out around her head. She never wore it pulled back like Gytha. Since it was so thick and long, it seemed to always be a tangled mess. He suspected it wasn’t normally that way. She was probably used to wearing fancy dresses and having her hair impeccably done. Traveling with an army didn’t afford her those luxuries. But it did afford him the opportunity to watch her from afar.
Her behavior came across prim and proper, always the perfect lady, even dressed as a commoner. However, there were moments when her eyes flashed with anger, hurt, and fire. It was in those moments that he believed he saw a glimpse into who she really was. The part of herself that didn’t conform to society, so she kept it hidden from the world. What he wouldn’t give to free that side of her.
The following day was much the same as the previous one. Harley didn’t talk as she led the way to Penlar. When evening approached, they came to a fork in the road.
“It’s getting late,” Harley said, speaking for the first time. “Do you want to go straight to my parents’ manor or find a place here to sleep for the night?”
They hadn’t stopped for food the entire day. Ackley kept waiting for her to ask for a break, but she’d forged on without a word. “How far away is their home?” He scanned the horizon, not seeing any signs of a city nearby.
Peering over her shoulder at him, she raised her eyebrows. “It’s not far from here. We’ll be there before dark if that’s what you’re worried about.” She smirked before taking the dirt road to the right. “What?” she asked. “No snarky remark about not being afraid of the dark? I just attacked your manhood. Aren’t you going to defend it?”
He blinked, surprise rippling through him. She was toying with him. He didn’t think it possible. For the first time since they’d met, Ackley felt as if Harley had the upper hand, and it left him unbalanced. He’d have to be careful with this woman. Especially since he noticed the way his breath quickened when she looked at him.
Harley stopped just ahead of him at the top of the rise. With her hands on her hips, she stood there waiting for him.
Ackley adjusted the bag on his back as he joined her, observing the view. Stretched out below, a sprawling city filled the landscape. It had to be several miles wide—by far the largest city he’d seen in Melenia. The buildings didn’t appear destroyed nor did they have any evidence of being burned.
“Smoke is coming from the chimneys in several of the homes,” Harley pointed out. “There must be people here.”
Squinting, Ackley looked closer. People were out and about, walking along the streets. He eyed Harley, waiting for some sort of reaction from her.
Chewing on her bottom lip, she peered up at him. “Do you think Russek missed Penlar since it’s so secluded?”
He shrugged. “It’s possible.” More likely, Harley’s parents were involved in this mess somehow. So what did they have to gain from destroying the royal family? On the surface, nothing stood out, especially since Harley and her brother had been at the castle during the invasion. But one thing he’d learned was that anything was possible—especially when it came to people seeking and clinging to power. Even though Owen insisted Harley was loyal, Ackley had to at least consider the possibility that she was in league with her parents.
“All this time, I thought they were dead,” she whispered. “I assumed I only had Owen.” Tears filled her eyes. “They’re alive.” She smiled and headed along the pathway winding down the hill and into the city below. She had a bounce to her step Ackley hadn’t seen before.
While Ackley knew there weren’t any Russeks down there, he still felt exposed on this deserted road. Anyone in the city would see them coming. Maybe that was why the city had been designed this way. Regardless, he had that feeling he got when he was being watched. All senses on alert, he followed Harley, keenly aware of every sound he heard and movement he saw.
“My parents’ estate is over there.” She pointed up ahead of them and to the right. “All the farms are located on the northern side where the lake and forest are.”
“And your house with Lyle?” He’d noticed she never used the word home when referring to it.
“It’s on the south side, right where the city ends and the open land begins.”
“On the opposite side of the city,” he commented. “Did you want to get as far away from your parents as possible?” He said it like a joke but wondered if there were any truth to it.
“The captain in charge of Penlar is always stationed next to the garrison.” Her words came out monotone, all emotion stripped from them.
Ackley wondered what sort of man had Harley’s husband been. She was only eighteen, so he had to be at least ten years older than her to hold the position of a captain. Owen had mentioned he couldn’t stand the guy, which meant Ackley probably wouldn’t have liked him either. Harley said it was an arranged marriage and that she didn’t care for the man. Ackley couldn’t imagine being married to someone he didn’t love and respect, let alone like.
They reached the first set of buildings. Most of the stores had dingy windows that were so dirty, he couldn’t see through them. Many of the apartments didn’t even have windows. People hurried from one place to another, dirt kicking up from the street. They kept their heads down, not acknowledging either Harley or Ackley as they passed.
“Is this city similar to other large cities in Melenia?” Ackley asked casually. What bothered him was how much this city looked like northern Marsden where poverty was rampant. It wasn’t until he’d traveled to Axian, in southern Marsden, where he’d seen what wealth and prosperity really looked like.
“I wouldn’t know,” she answered, the words clipped and angry. “I’ve only ever been here and to the royal castle. Until the takeover.”
A woman with a young child on her hip rushed by. When the woman glanced at Ackley, her eyes widened. She entered the store across the street, slamming the door behind her.
“I’m wondering if Russek passed through here,” Ackley mused.
“Why do you say that?”
A man with a limp lumbered by, staying as far away from them as the street would allow. Up ahead, two kids in tattered clothes ran from one building to another. A man behind the nearby window pulled the curtain shut. “The people seem wary.”
“They’re always like this.” Lowering her head, she hugged herself as if warding off the chill.
They turned and headed north, just about to exit the main portion of the city where most of the buildings were located.
“What sort of man was the late king?” Ackley hadn’t considered him being mean or ruling with an iron fist since Owen didn’t exhibit any of those traits.
Her brows pulled together. “He was my uncle. He loved his children and doted on them. I visited them often. He always made me feel welcome.”
“How did he treat those outside his family?”
Her brows drew together. “I never saw him interacting with his subjects, if that’s what you’re asking. When he threw parties for the nobility, he always seemed to be the center of attention. They all acted as if they loved him.”
He hadn’t known Harley long, but he knew she chose her words carefully. To say they acted as if they loved him spoke volumes. He could only deduce that King Coden was a fairly weak ruler. “And your parents? They’re in charge of this province?”
“Yes.” She hesitated as if she wanted to say more, but prevented herself from doing so.
“And?” he prompted.
“They’re older and aren’t as involved as they used to be. We’ve had some uprisings and things of that nature. But that’s to be expected in a place as large as this. That’s where Lyle came in. As captain of the soldiers stationed in Penlar, he made sure to keep the peace and arrest those who caused problems.”
Now they were getting somewhere. “Who’ll rule after your parents? Would it have been your brother?”
She shook
her head. “He was a member of the king’s personal guard. When he took up the position, he gave up his right to rule Penlar. The duty then fell to me.”
“So both you and Lyle would have complete control over Penlar.”
“I’d never thought about it before.” Her hands started visibly shaking. “I don’t know if I can do this.”
“Do what?”
She clasped her hands together. “Tell my parents that their only son is dead. And it’s my fault he died.” A crow flew overhead, cawing.
Ackley’s eyes narrowed. “Won’t your parents be happy you’re alive? After what’s happened, they probably assume both you and your brother are dead.”
“True.” She adjusted her bag. “But my brother sacrificed himself by taking Owen’s place so Russek would think they had the entire royal family. It afforded me the opportunity to escape. My parents won’t understand that. They will only see it as my brother coddling me and insist it’s my fault he died. In their minds, I should have sacrificed myself to save Hollis.”
It was the first time she’d said her brother’s name in his presence. The way it gently rolled off her tongue spoke volumes about the love she had for the brother she’d lost. “If your parents don’t understand his sacrifice, that’s their problem, not yours.” Anger welled inside of him, and he had to tamp it down. He hated the way she always made him feel overprotective.
“This way.” She turned down a road leading them away from the crowded, dense city buildings and to the large estates with acres of land. The sun had just set and darkness started to roll in, bringing with it a thick, low fog.
Ever since they’d reached the first set of buildings, Ackley had spotted five men tracking them. Now that they’d exited the city proper, those same men still followed about twenty yards behind. All five wore black pants and navy tunics, and each had a sword strapped to his waist. “What do the uniforms of this city’s soldiers look like?”
“The tunics are dark blue and the pants are black. There’s a small crest of the king’s shield embroidered on the right shoulder. Why?” She started to turn around.
Sword of Rage: Reigning Kingdoms, Book 1 Page 14