“Melia, Captain of the Guard, and Lieutenant Reese, escorting Lady Anna. Our presence is requested.”
The guard dipped his head and stepped aside. The sun had not yet disappeared, but already candles dotted the dining hall and hung from candelabras. Mikael paced the room as four men and the king’s woman conversed in hushed tones near the table already set with dinnerware and full goblets of wine. I had seen the men before, but only in passing, when they were trailing behind the king. They were obviously advisors or councilors.
The mistress was, as ever, beautiful. Elegant. Her gown was a solid black masterpiece that barely covered her ample chest. The light from the surrounding candles shone in her sleek black tresses, tucked into a neat ball at the back of her neck. The men wore brown leather jerkins and matching breeches that didn’t fit with the military garb of Anolyn’s militia, but neither were they of the appropriate age for battle. Retired, perhaps?
Castiel, the king, and Melora were nowhere to be seen. Melia and Reese left me to take their assigned positions about the room, their rigid nature so against everything I had grown to know about them. Tension rippled in the cavernous space. I shrank into myself, hoping no one would notice me.
But it wasn’t to be.
One man stepped away from the group of five. He was the oldest one, maybe early sixties. Gray streaked the sides of his impeccably combed hair. Confidence—no, arrogance—wafted from him like a bad cologne. I lifted my chin a little higher as he neared.
He stopped, bowing low. “Welcome, Lady Anna.”
I tipped my head in acknowledgment then looked away. “You know who I am?”
He cleared his throat. “I make it my personal duty to know anyone who ventures near my king and prince. Now, may I ask just what it is you’re doing here?”
My spine snapped erect, my cheeks reddened.
“She’s here on my orders, Vega.” The king entered dressed in a black tunic, leather breeches, and matching boots. The belt that slung low on his hips displayed more weapons than I had seen him wear since my arrival. He didn’t address anyone else but sat at the head of the table without another word.
Vega pinned me with chocolate-colored eyes before moving to the table. Castiel had yet to come, but Reese tipped his head toward my spot and pulled out a chair to the left of the king. That earned me a few pointed looks from the others, especially Vega. He took the seat next to where I could only assume Castiel would claim, and the mistress chose to sit next to him.
A man with several gruesome scars on his face, jawline, and neck took the place next to me, settling in without so much as a word. He didn’t even try to make eye contact, for which I was grateful.
“I assume you took the time to get to know each other?” Riaan asked.
They glanced to each other. “Not formally, Your Majesty,” his mistress answered, returning her pointed attention to me.
“Then allow me,” the king said. Pointing to the one nearest to him. “Lady Anna, this is General Vega, my father’s most trusted advisor.” Vega’s eyes bore holes through mine, but I ignored his pointed stare. Riaan nodded to the man with the scars. “General Dag.” Then to another man that barely managed to remain buttoned beneath his girth. His bald head gleamed from the exertion of breathing. “General Beau.” Next in line was a man who appeared as frail and thin as a woman. His delicate facial features appeared far too pale to be from Anolyn. “General Amara.” Finally, the king’s fingers gestured to the woman. “And this is Madam Siana.” The woman inclined her head, her onyx eyes cold, calculating. The king continued. “All trusted advisors of my father, the once great King Cassius Anouk.”
“You do not claim the title of General?” I said, immediately turning my attention back to the woman. Now that we were properly introduced, my curiosity got the better of me.
She didn’t flinch, only sipped from a goblet of wine. “My kind are rarely part of the king generals.”
My brows raised as I measured that little bit of information against my own experience in the courts of Eira. “Very curious. A woman, not of the same ranking of the audience she is routinely seen with, and yet privileged to circulate with them. That makes you one of two things.”
Her eyes narrowed in warning. “And what would those be?”
“Because of your beauty, my original, incorrect guess was mistress—”
I paused, partly wondering at the glimmer of mirth in Siana’s onyx eyes. She sighed dramatically. “It’s not for the lack of trying.”
Riaan choked back what sounded like a laugh, and I could feel Melia’s gaze boring upon me.
“My lady—” Melia began, but I cut her off.
“However,” I said, “knowing the king as I do now, I doubt he would participate in such salaciousness. Then your beauty is only of consequence and my concluding conjecture would be special forces. A select guard for the crown of Anolyn.”
One corner of the woman’s mouth tipped up and she inclined her head. “And the king’s personal assassin.”
I nodded, cataloging that piece of information. “Indeed?”
The king laughed out loud and clapped his hands as if he enjoyed my little show.
General Vega cleared his throat. “Your Majesty, why—”
“No questions until after dinner,” the king interrupted. “Believe me, we will not be eating much once we begin, and we’ll need our strength.”
Vega’s eyes grew large.
“Where’s my brother?” Riaan asked.
“Forgive me, Your Majesty.” The voice was sweet, childlike. I turned to see Castiel leading a girl to our table. She clung to his arm as if unstable on her own legs—a young miss with long, light-blonde hair that fell in curls over one shoulder to her waist. Pale eyes found mine, and she smiled.
I inhaled a gasp and pitched my gaze toward Melia. The question in my eyes was clear. She answered with only a single nod.
The seer was now a youth of no more than thirteen. Thin and gangly, with scrawny arms, she looked tiny in a dress that barely fit. I was not the only one to recognize her.
Chair legs scraped against the floor, one tipping over, clattering to the ground as the men and woman scrambled to their feet.
Setback
Melora halted her steps and Castiel too. He pulled the child-seer behind him as if protecting her, but it was not she who needed protection. The seer smiled up at him adoringly, and I clutched the arms of my chair.
Vega covered his heart. “What is the meaning of this?”
“Why is she here?” Madam Siana stepped smoothly away from the table, her hand shifting to the knife that would be strapped beneath the folds of her dress.
Fear and anger infused the room. It was gratifying that I was not the only one taken back by the seer’s very presence. Melia’s cheeks blushed pink, not from the shared emotions of the others.
“Sit down,” the king ordered.
Mikael at the doors shut everyone within.
Riaan straightened. “Melora!” He opened his arms wide, smiling as I’d never seen him do before. “What a pleasant surprise.” But behind his smile was something else—something foreign to his usually calm demeanor. Discomfort.
The seer watched the others reclaim their chairs before turning her full attention to the king. “Your Majesty.” She gave a petite bow. “But where is my daughter?”
“I’m here, Mother.” The captain stepped from behind a pillar.
The seer swept forward to awkwardly embrace her child who towered over her by at least a foot, then she tugged Melia’s hair pulled high on her head. “You look so… severe.”
“And you look young,” Melia said.
She waved a hand down the line of her thin body. “You too could have all this.”
Siana huffed her annoyance, gazing to the ceiling.
Castiel took Melora by the hand and carefully guided her to the table, but the seer shook her head at the offered seat and moved closer to the king.
“I believe you’re in my place,” sh
e said, eyeing General Vega.
He sputtered, his face turning an even deeper shade of fury, but quickly moved to the end of the table.
Castiel took his seat next to his brother and across from me, and finally his blue eyes flickered to mine, stealing my breath. Concern and something else I couldn’t understand mingled in his penetrating gaze. My heart thudded almost painfully inside my chest. It was only a moment before he looked away, but it was enough.
I dropped my gaze to my hands to hide the warmth in my face. Why was I acting like this? Was I still under the effects of the mead? But it wasn’t the mead or even Melora’s potion that was to blame.
Dinner was served. Steaming plates of roast and potatoes, vegetables and breads were brought to the table. All ate in silence. It appeared even the Generals and Madam Siana were unaware of the king’s reasons to gather us. With Melora there, I was all but forgotten, except by Vega who took turns glaring at both myself and the unwelcome seer.
Melora pushed her food around the plate more than eating it. Did seers even need to eat? Not much was known about them. She was the first I had heard of to change ages. In fact, their ages were unknown. Not many were ever documented, and those who were lived well past three or four hundred years before dying gruesome deaths by those who hunted them down. I had never heard of one dying by natural causes.
What was the reason for her sudden appearance? Had Riaan called for her? I refused to believe it was because I had spoken her name aloud.
When everything was cleared away, the king threw his napkin to the table and leaned back in his chair. “There’s been another murder.”
I flinched.
Castiel slid a glance my direction, then asked, “Who? And why wasn’t I told sooner?”
Riaan cleaned his nails, feigning nonchalance. “Oh, did I say murder? I meant murders. Seven more people have been found dead, their bodies broken and dumped in the forest. They were brought to the throne room to be inspected by our healer.”
Castiel’s jaw worked. “And the culprit?”
The king smiled. “The Demon Daughter.”
My breath caught in my lungs. I tried to not squirm, to not give away anything to cast blame upon me, as I was sure the king had already done.
Castiel’s eyes pinned me in place, but it was to the king he spoke. “And the reason you didn’t allow me entrance?”
“Your whereabouts had to be verified.”
And if his whereabouts had to be verified, then mine did too.
“That goes for all of you,” the king added. “Those who brought the bodies say there are witnesses.”
The others murmured to their neighbors, aghast—all but the seer, who peered about the room as if bored.
General Dag crossed his arms over his chest. “But if there are witnesses to seeing the demon herself, why do we need to be interrogated as such?”
“The face was not seen, just a so-called specter. But the town is spooked. They are sure that it was her.”
“You know our loyalties. Why question them?” Siana asked, her voice a measured calm.
Vega slammed his fist upon the table. “Of course, we’re loyal. There must be something that can be done. Surely this is an attack straight from Eira.”
“I agree,” Madame Siana said. “Johan is sending his attack dog, and the bitch needs to be put down. I’d be happy to perform such a task. In fact, I’ll put them both down. All you have to say is when.”
My nails dug into the napkin at my lap.
“Ladies and gentlemen, calm down. There was a day that I might have agreed with you, but that day is not today.”
“Is this girl the witness?” Vega asked, staring at me from the end of the table, his voice accusing.
“No.” Riaan smiled again, a wicked glint to his eyes—and suddenly, I knew what was coming. He nodded toward me. “This is the Demon Daughter.”
I schooled my expression even as shock ripped through my body. An equally stunned prince flinched, meeting my steady gaze. There was a moment of silence before all hell broke loose.
General Vega jumped to his feet at the same time as Castiel. Both men drew their knives. Next to me, Dag attempted to seize my arm and I reacted on instinct. I twisted fast, clamping one hand down on his wrist. I jerked up hard at the same time as I pushed against the back of his elbow. His face slammed into the table with a crunch.
The assassin moved. Faster than a snake’s strike, her knife flew. I hauled to the side, knowing I wouldn’t be able to dodge it completely and waited for it to strike my shoulder, but it careened off at an angle, impaling itself into the seat next to me.
Magic infused the air.
Faster than I thought possible, the prince soared over the table to protect me as General Beau reached to grab me. Castiel’s powers threw him to the ground.
I shoved Dag away, releasing him as the prince backed me toward the wall where Melia stood, waiting to receive me.
“Put away your weapons,” Riaan said, but his voice was barely heard over the shouting.
Vega lowered into a crouch. “This is the one that killed your father, Riaan. That killed my king.”
I stammered, clutching to Castiel’s back. “Wait, what?”
A wave of anxiety coursed through me. No one, not even Johan, knew who had killed the previous king of Anolyn. It was said he was betrayed by his own.
Castiel held out a hand, as if to calm a panicked horde. “That is rumor only.”
“But rumors start from somewhere, my prince,” Siana said darkly, shifting to protect the king. She turned to him, a promise in her eyes. “Say the word and she’s dead.”
“Stand down,” the king ordered, but her stance remained rigid.
General Beau gripped the top of his chair, already out of breath and looking like he would faint, but Amara remained in his seat, watching the scene play out.
The assassin, on the other hand, circled us, her gaze set on me.
“Stay back,” Melia warned her.
The woman smiled widely. “And what are you going to do about it, sweetling?”
Melia’s eye narrowed.
The king tsked. “Look at her, Siana, Vega. She’s a child.”
I flinched, my face on fire. “I’m not a child.”
The king gave me an exasperated glare. “Maybe not anymore, but Vega, look at her. She’s only seventeen. My father died five years ago. Would a twelve-year-old girl have been able to best such a seasoned warrior and magician?”
My breath stopped in my lungs. The king had been a magician?
Vega glared. “Perhaps a demon—”
“Take your seats, you fools, or I’ll have you thrown in the dungeons. Do you honestly believe I’d dine with my father’s murderer? Stop upsetting your prince. Brother, sit down now.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked, refusing to move from the protection of Castiel. “Why didn’t you tell me that the kingdom of Anolyn thinks I killed your father?”
“You did!” Vega bellowed.
“Enough!” The king’s voice echoed from the walls.
Slowly Vega lowered to his chair, his eyes moving from one guard to the other. Finally, he spoke. “Forgive me, Your Majesty.”
The room was silent. My heart squeezed painfully within my chest. “I—I didn’t kill your father.”
The king turned to me, his face red. “I know. The moment I saw you, I knew it had all been fabrication. We didn’t have much information about the warrior girl from Anolyn. We weren’t even sure it was you when you arrived—the princess with such a terrifying name. Not until Castiel finally coaxed it out of you did we learn your hesitancy to even claim such a ridiculous title. While I’m sure your skills are quite the thing, I knew you hadn’t done it.”
“We both knew,” Castiel said.
Emotion welled inside my throat and stung my eyes.
The king stood, his arm lifted my direction. “Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce Princess Ilianna of Eira. She has been a guest in our home for
over three months now.”
“Three months?” General Amara asked. His soft voice held disbelief and awe.
“And you didn’t tell us her real identity?” Siana asked. She glided to her seat but never took her gaze from mine.
“She wished for her presence to stay unknown, and for good reason.”
The assassin huffed. “Then she’s smarter than I first gave her credit for. But do you think it’s wise to unveil her? Many will want retribution for their fallen king.”
“They’ll be informed of their incorrect beliefs and the importance of this union between kingdoms. Many have already seen her and worked with her, thanks to Captain Melia. They will come to the same conclusion as we have.”
“And what is that?” I asked.
His chin lifted a fraction. “That you are not the murderer of my father or an immediate threat to Anolyn.” He turned back to his council. “I believe someone is trying to sabotage this peace King Johan is seeking by creating a fake Demon Daughter.”
“How do we know it wasn’t her?” Vega asked.
“Vega.” Castiel’s voice warned, but it didn’t stop the general.
“The king and prince may have accepted this girl is not the killer of their father, but that does not mean she’s not the killer now.”
“The princess has only ever killed in battle,” Riaan said.
But that wasn’t true. Castiel knew of the others now, too.
The king continued. “And she has been watched closely.”
“You don’t think she could have snuck out to do it on her own?” Siana asked. If there was someone in the room that would understand that, it was an assassin.
“Or maybe she has someone doing the work for her,” Dag said.
“I guess that’s a possibility, but why?” the king asked.
Vega crossed his arms over his chest. “To incite a war she never wanted to be over. If her uncle wants peace, she must not want it. Princess Ilianna is as bloodthirsty as her uncle once was. She should be hung as an enemy to Anolyn.”
“Princess Ilianna is a guest in my home, as are you all. She has been under direct supervision by my captain of the guard and the prince himself. She has been guarded day and night. She has not been allowed to leave this castle unescorted. Demon Daughter or not, the princess cannot walk through walls. Whoever is killing these men is not doing it under her orders. She has agreed to our reasons to keep her identity unknown and she has been a good guest. If her uncle wants peace, then he will get it, and I will not allow revolutionists or evil to stand in the way of that.”
Of Blood and Deceit Page 18