Linnet and the Prince

by Alydia Rackham

  “I am Linnet, second daughter of King Peliar and Queen Ealasaid,” I hissed. “I have been trained since I was born to bring men to their knees to protect my sister.” I drew my own little knife out of my belt and flicked it open. I pressed it between his shoulder blades and leaned down toward his terrified, quivering face. “You were right. I was sent to Nazre to kill a prince,” I hissed. “But I would rather kill a king.”

  And with that, I threw my weight down on the heels of the knives and plunged both blades straight through his back and into his heart. He thrashed once, and then stopped moving.

  I pulled my own knife loose and stood up. Blood ran down my hand. Trembling, a thrill running through my whole body, I remembered the sight of all those women, all those little children, hauled into captivity, beaten and sold as slaves. I thought of Queen Kali, and all Niro’s innocent wives and daughters. I thought of Rajak. And I lifted my chin at the sight of Niro lying dead.

  I bent and wiped the blade and my hand off on one of his luxurious fabrics, tucked the knife in my belt again and left the room. I knew what I had to do next. It was a gamble, but it was the best bet I had.

  I slammed the door behind me, making Steward Jahin jump. He started toward me.

  “Rani Linnet, did the king—”

  “The king is otherwise engaged,” I said, not looking at him as I strode down the stairs. “Take me to Commander Hashim.”

  LLL

  “Commander Hashim,” Jahin rapped on Hashim’s barracks door. “Commander, the princess is here to see you.”

  The door yanked open, and Hashim stood there barefoot, wearing his trousers and a loose shirt. He frowned at Jahin, then at me.

  “Is something wrong?” he wondered.

  “Yes,” I answered. “I need to speak to you. Alone.”

  Hashim glanced at Jahin, but Jahin inclined his head and backed away.

  “May I?” I asked. He nodded, and stepped aside. I entered his palatial drawing room, and he shut the door behind him.

  “How may I serve you, princess?” Hashim asked, facing me. I steeled myself.

  “I just killed the king.”

  Hashim’s eyes flew to mine. His mouth worked for a moment, his eyes flashed, and then he turned aside and covered his mouth.

  “I went to him for help and he tried to kill me,” I said into the silence. “I killed him with the knife he was trying to use.”

  Hashim stared at me.

  “And so you came to me?” he cried. “Are you mad? Do you know I should kill you right now?”

  “Fine—you may do it later,” I snapped. “After we save Rajak’s life.”

  Hashim went still.

  “What do you mean?”

  “My mother has begun an attack on Nazre. Niro knew this, and has mustered an army—”

  “Yes, I know—”

  “But what no one does know is that a group of assassins from the Highlands have come and kidnapped Rajak,” I said.

  “Kidnapped him!”

  “Yes. He was sleeping in my chambers, I left for a moment because I could not sleep, and when I came back, he was gone,” I said. “I met one of the assassins in the hallway. He hit me in the head and locked me up—”

  “Why would he do that?” Hashim demanded. “If he was one of your own people?”

  “He knew I would fight him to protect Rajak—he could not let me get in the way,” I growled. “But if he had killed me, he would have had to deal with my mother.”

  “How did you get out?”

  “I picked the lock on my cell,” I said. “I went to Niro to tell him what had happed, but he would not listen. He said Rajak had merely gone to the wine country. Then he tried to kill me because he thought I was the assassin.”

  Hashim’s eyes narrowed.

  “What are the Highland assassins called?”

  “The brothers. Or the Bràithrean.”

  A new light entered Hashim’s eyes.

  “I know of the Bràithrean,” he breathed. “But I wonder why they did not kill Prince Rajak in his bed.”

  “Perhaps it was because of Niro,” I mused.

  “What?”

  My head came up.

  “Perhaps they had not expected the king to return so quickly. Perhaps they did not want to be trapped inside Nazre when the alarm went up that Rajak was dead.”

  “And so they took him out to kill him in the wild, to make it look like bandits murdered him!” Hashim realized, grabbing his boots from the floor and ramming them on.

  “But where would they take him?” I hissed, pressing a hand to my forehead.

  “Wait—wait,” Hashim stopped and held up a hand. “You said Niro told you that Rajak had gone to the wine country?”

  “Yes,” I nodded.

  “Why would he do that after what Mahanidhi’s sons did?” he wondered.

  “He didn’t,” I reminded him. “I told you, the Bràithrean—”

  “—just gave away their position,” Hashim realized. “They are setting up the alibi.”

  “What are you talking about?” I demanded.

  “Many travelers are attacked by bandits while following the Winding Way down to Casim,” Hashim said. “Because of this, very few are brave enough to travel it in the dark.”

  “Brave like Rajak,” I whispered. Hashim nodded slowly.

  “That is where they have taken him.”

  “Then let’s go! We have no time to waste!” I lunged at the door and pulled it open.

  “You are a Highlander,” Hashim said. I spun to face him. He watched me closely.

  “Why do you wish to save him?”

  “Because he is my husband,” I said. “And I love him. Now come on!”

  LLL

  We did not wait, we did not discuss with Jahin or anyone else. Hashim just sent a message to the second in command of the army, saying: “Do not engage unless fired upon,” and then he raced with me to the stables.

  “Can you ride bareback?” He shot the question at me as we burst through the doors and ran down the aisle between the stalls. I flung open the door to Al-Hadiye’s stall.

  “And without reins,” I answered.

  “A Highland woman,” Hashim shook his head as he opened his own horse’s stall. I urged my horse out, then used a rung of the gate to step upon and mount her. Hashim emerged the next moment atop a tall black stallion, and shouted to the slaves at the door to open it.

  “What do you plan to do once we overtake them?” Hashim asked as we trotted toward the exit.

  “I will tell them that the reason to kill Rajak is a myth, and that they must let him go,” I said, gripping Al-Hadiye’s mane. “If they do not listen, I will kill them.”

  “With what?”

  I narrowed my eyes at the young sunlight that poured into the stables.

  “I have a good horse and a knife that has killed a king. That is enough.”

  “You have me as well.”

  I looked at Hashim. For a moment, I marveled at the change in his gaze. Then, I nodded, and we rode out into the blood-red light of the breaking day.

  LLL

  I rode my horse as hard as she would go. She stretched out to her full length with every stride, flying down the hill, down the road, down to the canyon. Hashim’s mount pounded right behind me. I gritted my teeth and held on. My heart beat in time with the hoof beats, and the wind rushed around me, urging me on.

  We swung around, barely keeping our seats, and turned the corner that led into the canyon. The thunder of our passage banged against the stone walls.

  “Hut, hut!” I cried, urging her faster, faster. We rounded another corner, kicking up rocks and skidding, nearly toppling. Al-Hadiye pulled in air and expelled it like a blacksmith’s bellows. Hashim kept next to me, ever steady.

  And then I saw them, caught half in the rising light. Seven men, all cloaked in the shade of sand. They walked quickly, like ghosts. And in the midst of them, they dragged a young, black clad man.

  Rajak.

 
“Stop!” I screamed. “Stop, stop!”

  The cloaked men whirled and saw me. One holding Rajak’s arm whipped him around to face me, then flung him to his knees. I recognized Aedus—he shouted at the others. They grabbed Rajak’s shoulders, and one of them gripped his hair and yanked his head back, exposing his neck. Aedus drew a long knife.

  “No!” I slowed Al-Hadiye, but did not wait for her to halt before I slid off, struck the ground with both feet, staggered, but ran toward them. “Stop!” And I lowered my shoulder, knocked one assassin out of the way and flung myself onto my knees before Rajak, wrapping my arms around his neck and pressing my forehead to his throat—I was directly in the way.

  “Princess, you have lost your mind!” Aedus roared.

  “I found the other half of the prophecy!” I shouted. “It isn’t Akhtar—it isn’t about raising someone from the dead at all!”

  “Be quiet girl, and get out of my way.”

  “You be quiet, you ignorant fool!” I barked, lifting my eyes to glare at him, and taking fistfuls of Rajak’s tunic. “You have no idea what you almost did.”

  “You are a traitor, child,” Aedus’ cold eyes narrowed.

  “No, she isn’t,” Hashim’s cool voice came from behind me. I did not take my eyes from Aedus.

  “Do you place no value on your life, Badi?” Aedus glowered at Hashim, as all of the assassins reached for their weapons.

  “I am merely here to tell the truth,” Hashim answered. “And I know she is not a traitor—she killed king Niro.”

  Aedus’ head swung around, and he stared at me.

  “You did?”

  I did not answer him. My heart was pounding too fast with relief. I turned and dared to lift my head off Rajak’s chest and look into his eyes. His face was bruised and his lip bled, but his eyes were clear and bright, and gazed right back into mine with joy and disbelief.

  “Rajak,” I gasped, taking his face in my hands. “Are you all right? Are you hurt?”

  He beamed at me, and barked out a laugh.

  “I—”

  He stopped. He caught sight of something behind me.

  And he grabbed me, jerked me around, and threw himself into a kneeling position in front of me. He bound me up in his arms with a grip like iron. And then I felt a sharp thud.

  We both jerked. Rajak’s arms began to tremble. I knew I had been shot. I could feel the hot blood seeping through my hands…

  I frowned against Rajak’s collar. I had expected more pain…

  I leaned back. My eyes flew to Rajak’s. He smiled weakly. And twin tears spilled down his cheeks.

  A vast hole opened up in my heart. All the heat drained from my face. My eyes drifted down his strong chest—

  To see the head of an arrow protruding from just beneath his heart.

  “NO!” I shrieked, clenching his tunic in my hands. “Oh, no! No, no, no!”

  “Shush, shush,” Rajak whispered, his hands coming up to cradle my face. The men around us erupted into a flurry of motion and alarmed shouts. I saw none of it.

  “Rajak!” I wailed, hot tears spilling and scalding my cheeks.

  “Linnet,” his soft voice sang my name. “You came to find me?”

  I took him by the neck and crushed my mouth to his, kissing him deep and hard, my entire body on fire. He answered me, and our warm lips moved together for just a moment, before I felt his skin grow cold beneath my hands.

  I withdrew, just inches, and he sucked in a breath that rattled. My quivering hands stroked his cheeks, his strong brow, and I ran my thumb across his lips. My eyes locked with his.

  “Of course I came to find you,” I choked. “I had to tell you…” I grabbed his collar again, white-knuckled. “But I can tell you later. We have to get help for you—”

  He blinked slowly. His face had lost all its color.

  “Linnet…” His hands captured my face again, gentle and soft. He ran his thumbs across my cheekbones, wiping my tears away. I could not move, but my lip trembled, and tears flowed all the more. His black eyes glimmered, and his quiet mouth smiled.

  “Thank you,” he murmured. He blinked again, and just two more tears fell.

  “Rajak, no—” I shook him. His eyes unfocused.

  He went stiff, lost balance and thudded onto his back. The arrow snapped in half. His feet kicked out in a hard spasm.

  “Linnet?” He fumbled for my hand as he stared at the sky, blank.

  “I’m here, I’m here,” I cried, bending over him and squeezing both his hands. His face twisted, and a trail of dark blood ran from his lips down his chin. I froze.

  “Rajak?”

  His brow relaxed. His hands went limp. And the light went out behind the most brilliant eyes I had ever known.

  For just a moment, I did not breathe. I did not move.

  And then an inhuman howl tore through me, ripping through my chest and slamming my entire body with agony. I called his name over and over. I leaned over his motionless face and wailed—I pressed my forehead against his breastbone and felt no answering pulse.

  I hauled myself to my feet and whirled around, murder racing through my shattered, incoherent thoughts. As if it was happening too slowly, I saw the assassins running back up the canyon. The horses had fled. But Hashim was running with the Bràithrean—toward a man who hid in a crevice of the wall.

  A man with a scarred face.

  Thanatos.

  Thanatos threw down his bow, and turned to scale the rope that hung down from the top of the canyon wall. I let out a savage, wordless roar and charged after him. I heard someone call my name. A woman’s voice. I ignored it.

  Hashim leaped up and grabbed the rope beneath Thanatos’ feet. Thanatos kicked at him. He slipped. Aedus raised his knife, and took it by the tip of the blade. He twisted, and flung the knife. It spun through the air like a bolt of lightning, and struck Thanatos between the shoulder blades. The murderer screamed, let go of the rope and tumbled. Hashim was upon him. My vision flickered. I stopped, and fell to my knees. I heard my name again, nearer this time. Lifeless tears ran down my face. I stared straight ahead. Someone came from behind me, took hold of my shoulders. I collapsed, tumbled forward. The arms caught me, pulled me in. I smelled heather and ginger, remembered this soft touch. And then I broke into anguished sobs in the arms of the woman I knew as my sister.

  Chapter Nineteen

  For a long time, I could not hear anything happening around me, and I saw very little. I sat on the road next to Rajak’s body, his cold hand held in both of mine. Hashim had spread a shroud over his face and chest, so I could no longer see him. I had screamed at that, but Hashim said it must be done. And so I went numb, and would not speak or move.

  I absently noted the arrival of some travelers—an old man and his wife—who stopped and set up a wall-less tent above me, and spoke with the Bràithrean, with Hashim, and my sister. The other assassins fanned out.

  My sister never left me. She kept an arm wrapped around my shoulder, and leaned her head against the side of mine. There was someone else with her—a young man. It took me a while, but I eventually recognized him as William the Tanner. William, Hashim and Aedus’ voices darted back and forth above my head, with interjections by the old man and woman. I assumed everyone was being informed of what had happened. I did not listen. I just stared at Rajak’s shroud, slow tears trailing down my cheeks.

  “There’s no reason,” I whispered. “I found the other half. There’s no reason…”

  I heard the voices around me go silent.

  “What?” Aeleth asked in my ear.

  “I found the other half,” I repeated, closing my eyes. “There’s no reason to kill him. It isn’t Akhtar…”

  “What is she talking about?” I felt Aeleth twist to look at Hashim.

  “I’m not sure…” he murmured.

  “The riddle!” I raged, my scream banging against the walls of the canyon. “The stupid riddle on the wall—the ridiculous nursery rhyme that everyone has been breaking
his head about for the past thousand years!” I sucked in a harsh breath. “It doesn’t mean what anybody thinks it means—there is no reason to kill him!” My words broke into a wordless wail, and I pressed his hand to my face.

  “The riddle on the wall?” Aedus said. “Does she mean the saying about the Shining One?”

  “It sounds like it,” Hashim acknowledged. I heard Aedus shift, pace one way, and then back again.

  “I confess I am at a loss,” Aedus sighed. “Your people are my enemies—make no mistake—but I have taken a vow not to murder an innocent man, no matter his race.”

  “You almost did,” Hashim growled.

  “I was informed by the queen that he was a murderer who was nightly ravaging her daughter—that he was about to resurrect a bloodthirsty tyrant!” Aedus shot back. “I was not sent to kill a beloved husband.”

  “Who was the man who shot him?” William asked.

  “Thanatos,” Hashim grunted. “King Niro’s right hand.”

  “Why would Niro kill his own son?” Aeleth cried.

  “He didn’t,” Aedus said. “He was shooting at your sister. The prince got in the way.”

  “He saved her life,” Aeleth gasped. Aedus paused.

  “Yes.”

  “I knew it,” Aeleth held me tight. “I knew it as soon as I got your message, Linnet.”

  I lifted my weary head and met her eyes. She smiled at me. She was more beautiful than I remembered, with the sun shining on her golden hair and in her sapphire eyes.

  “I knew it was true,” she said, a tear brimming up and falling. “I think have only heard you say ‘I love you’ three times in my life—once to Father, once to Mother, and once to me. I knew that if you said it twice about this prince, you had to mean it.”

  “Is that why you came?” I whispered. She nodded.

  “Oh, yes! I convinced Mother to hold off the attack—they are waiting at the base of the Black Steps. William and I came to Nazre to try to stop the brothers.” She lifted her eyes to someone behind me—probably Aedus. I let out a short breath, then returned my gaze to Rajak.