“I’m not going to kill you,” said Rasad, amused. At a sign from him, two of the guards seized Lucy’s arms. “I would have preferred your cooperation, but even without it, you’re extremely useful to me.”
Lucy glared back at her suitor-turned-captor, but underneath the brave front, her blood was running cold. She didn’t know what use the advisor planned to make of her, but she had no desire to find out.
“You won’t get away with this,” she spat. “Do you think we won’t be missed in Thirl? Our friends will—”
“I’m so pleased you brought up your royal friends,” interrupted Rasad with a smile that made Lucy’s skin crawl. “I’m very much hoping that you’re right, and that they will take an interest in your…situation.” His eyes lingered on her in mocking amusement. “One of them in particular.”
Lucy felt her face burning at what she had no doubt was a reference to Eamon. The last thing she wanted to do was to involve him in the consequences of her foolishness.
“Your own king will ask questions if we disappear,” she tried again. “He invited us to stay in his palace.”
“I invited you to stay in his palace, my dear girl,” Rasad reminded her indulgently. “And I will decide what becomes of you. He will accept whatever version of events I choose to give him.”
“He’s your puppet, is he?” Lucy asked scornfully. “Do you expect us to believe that you’re above all consequences? King Abner didn’t listen to you when you wanted to use me to destroy Lord Yosef.”
Rasad frowned, looking genuinely displeased for the first time. “Of course King Abner isn’t my puppet. I am his advisor, and I have earned his trust, but that doesn’t make him weak minded. I take offense at such a suggestion.”
“Really?” Lucy spoke flatly. “Of everything, that’s what offends you?”
“I have devoted my life to the service of His Majesty and our great kingdom,” said Rasad. He was still frowning, and he spoke as though he was admonishing a child. “Thorania is the strongest and most prosperous kingdom in either the North or the South Lands, and when my plans are fulfilled, it will be even stronger.”
He gave a scornful snort. “Certainly stronger than a flimsy little fiefdom like Kyona, which passes its crown from bloodline to bloodline like children sharing a ball. Kyona was too weak to protect its citizens from exploitation by Balenol, and Balenol was too weak to prevent the ruin brought on its people by Kyona’s retribution.” He stood a little straighter. “Such a thing could never be said of Thorania. And I would never have devoted myself to serving a king who wasn’t worthy of the role, like that indolent fool who ruled Balenol at the time of the slave revolt.”
Lucy remained silent. From all she had heard of King Siloam, the uncle of Balenol’s new King Giles, Rasad’s description was accurate. The slight against Kyona was less just, but she was too stunned by Rasad’s sudden outburst to think of an adequate response.
Rasad was watching her, and his features suddenly relaxed into a smile. “You’re right that I didn’t get the outcome I was hoping for out of Lord Yosef’s attack, but I’m glad King Abner didn’t blindly follow my advice. He wouldn’t be worthy of my respect or my service if he did. He has a strong mind, and he will make the greatest ruler Thorania has ever seen.” He frowned again briefly, staring into the distance as he added, “I do at times wish he was a little less short sighted regarding our isolation from—” He cut himself off, shaking his head. “No matter. Every problem has a solution, after all.”
Rasad looked between Lucy and Matheus, a small chuckle breaking out at their expressions. “You think I care only for my own interests, don’t you? You misjudge me. My plans are all to benefit Thorania. He turned to Lucy, a hint of eagerness back in his voice. “It’s not too late to change your mind, and work with me. The kingdoms of your parents are both unworthy of your service, but Thorania is not like them. It’s a magnificent kingdom, and you could help me make it even greater.”
Lucy met his gaze steadily. “From everything I’ve seen of Thorania, it is a magnificent kingdom,” she agreed, her eyes narrowing. “And from everything I’ve seen of you, the best thing for Thorania’s future would be if you have no hand in it.”
Rasad’s face darkened. “That was not polite, Luciana.” He regarded her for a moment in silence. “It seems your mind is made up.” He transferred his gaze to the four guards. “Bind them. Securely. I will need to think further about how best to proceed.”
Lucy and Matheus struggled, but they were unarmed and outmatched in strength. Within minutes, the guards had them both bound at the hands and feet, gags shoved into their mouths. At a sign from Rasad, the guards all left the room, no doubt stationing themselves outside the door in case the prisoners tried to escape.
For a moment there was silence, Lucy trying vainly to think of a way out while Rasad stared thoughtfully at the closed door to his study, his expression focused, and his fingers steepled.
“There are many options,” he mused aloud. “None of them perfect, of course, but still serviceable.” He returned his eyes to his silent audience, watching furiously from the floor where their captors had dumped them. One of Rasad’s eyebrows went up as he took in their state. “That was unnecessary,” he said, crossing the room with smooth strides and removing Lucy’s gag. “I didn’t mean for them to silence you, my dear. Has anyone ever told you what a musical voice you have?”
“Has anyone ever told you that you’re a snake?” Lucy spat, over the top of Matheus’s muffled growls.
Rasad chuckled as he also removed the younger boy’s gag. “You sound like Lady Yasmin, Luciana. I would love to know what she said to you during your little training session at the palace. Was it then that you stopped trusting me?”
“I never trusted you,” Lucy snapped. “And I didn’t need Lady Yasmin’s warnings to know you were up to something.”
“Really?” Again that maddening eyebrow went up. “I was under the impression that you weren’t quite sure what to make of me. That you found me…how shall I put it? Magnetic.”
Lucy flushed in mingled embarrassment and fury at how easily he had read her. She had thought of him in just such terms more than once.
“I find you despicable,” she said angrily. “And if I needed any proof that you’re mixed up in something evil, the dead dragon hidden below your bedchamber is more than enough.”
“Dead—what?” Matheus spluttered, his eyes growing wide.
“He was in league with our dear old uncle,” said Lucy grimly. “He’s got the body of the poor beast who gave its magic to Scanlon, and he’s been experimenting with how to use it to manufacture magic for himself.”
“Such a crude explanation,” said Rasad, pained.
“He’s got magic?” Matheus asked, clearly horrified.
Lucy shook her head. “Not in him, like Scanlon did. He just uses objects, like Father’s rock.”
“So you admit that your uncle had magic, do you?” asked Rasad casually. “I thought it was all a load of nonsense, made up by your weak minded prince to excuse his bad decisions.”
Again Lucy flushed. “How do you know about—?”
“My dear child,” Rasad interjected indulgently. “There’s very little I don’t know about you, or any of your companions. Do you think I invited you to my kingdom, to my home, without doing my research?”
He chuckled. “Not that much research was needed. Your little prince made it so delightfully easy to read the whole story on his face every time you were around. I have him to thank for making it clear from the very beginning just how useful you could be to me.” He smiled fondly as his gaze lingered on Lucy, and she had never longed for her weapon more. “But as I got to know you, I warmed to you for your own sake, of course.”
“You used me from the start,” said Lucy, her chest heaving. Her mind ran rapidly over every interaction between her, Eamon, and Rasad. It was so clear in hindsight how he had manipulated every word, every look, to play on Eamon’s jealousy, bringing out the prince’s least
mature side, and making himself look wise and measured by comparison. “You used both of us.”
“Used is an ugly word,” complained Rasad. “I’ve already told you that my plans are not for my own selfish gain. If I could bring you into them, why shouldn’t I do so?”
Lucy opened her mouth to repeat that she wanted no part in Rasad’s plans, but she froze mid-word as a thought occurred to her. “You used me,” she repeated slowly. Her face hardened in accusation as she again remembered the magnetic appeal that Rasad had held from the moment she met him. “You used magic on me,” she said. “You…I don’t know, bewitched me or something!”
“Bewitched you?” Rasad actually threw back his head, laughing more heartily than she had ever seen him do before. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“I meant,” said Lucy, gritting her teeth, “you used some kind of magic to make me trust you, to turn me against Eamon.”
Even as she said the words, she heard the irony in them. She had refused to acknowledge that Eamon had been induced by magic to trust Scanlon, to turn on those he cared about. Was this how it had felt for him? It was more horrible than she’d imagined. And the revelation of Rasad’s dabbling in magic hadn’t really changed her mind about Eamon’s story. It had only forced her to confront the reality that, if she was honest, she had always known Eamon was telling the truth.
However bad Lucy felt, Rasad’s next words made her feel even worse.
“My dear, dear Luciana.” The hateful man was still chuckling. “No magic was necessary. My artifacts are powerful and limited in number. I don’t use them lightly, and certainly not if I can achieve my means easily without them. Almost as soon as I met you, it was perfectly clear to me that you could be brought to my point of view with very little persuasion.”
“I don’t share your point of view on anything,” Lucy growled.
“Don’t you?” Rasad smiled. “Well it certainly didn’t need my help to turn you against your prince. And I think you do share my views on the inferiority of both Kyona and Balenol.” He shook his head. “I was so hopeful that you would willingly join my plans. You have as much cause as anyone to wish to see both kingdoms fall. Both have rejected you, haven’t they? I didn’t have to plant the seed of bitterness in you. It was already strong and healthy.”
“Kyona hasn’t rejected me,” said Lucy. Her eyes were stinging as Rasad casually pressed on her deepest insecurities, but as she spoke the words she knew they were true. “And neither has Balenol.”
Rasad’s smile was infuriating. “Really? My own observations suggest otherwise.”
Lucy glared back at him, again seeing all her conversations with Rasad in a new light. It was galling to realize how skillfully he had played on her humiliation every time someone in Balenol spoke spitefully of her, how subtly he had encouraged her bitterness. The advisor had outmaneuvered her in every way, and she had never felt more foolish. Or more angry.
“A few narrow-minded or jealous courtiers don’t represent the kingdom,” she retorted. “Balenol’s royals welcomed us like family. Which we are! And Kyona is my home. I have a family there, a community where people care about me. Our family may not be noble, but the king and queen themselves host me in Kynton any time I go. I mean, the princess is my best friend!” Lucy could hardly believe her own stupidity as her words came faster and faster. Why had she ever let herself believe she was an outsider? “And the prince is—”
Her throat was suddenly thick, and she couldn’t continue. But Rasad was only too ready to finish for her.
“In love with you, the poor soul.” The advisor’s eyes raked over her form, bound as she was. “He little knows what a tease you are.”
“Don’t talk about my sister like that!” Matheus struggled against his bonds, but it was clear from his wince that his wrists were tied as tightly as Lucy’s.
“He’s not even worth your indignation, Matheus,” said Lucy scornfully. She drew a deep breath as she looked back at Rasad. “And unlike you, Eamon has every reason to complain that I led him on. But he’s never done it.” She narrowed her eyes. “But never mind that. I can see now that you tried to manipulate me into wanting to punish both Kyona and Balenol. But why? I thought you only cared about Thorania’s interests.”
“I do,” said Rasad comfortably.
“Then why have you been trying to turn Lucy against our own kingdom?” Matheus challenged. He was still pale, but his expression was fierce as he continued to struggle against the rope around his wrists.
Lucy’s gaze had been drawn to the writing desk in the corner, but she returned it to Rasad. “I read Isidore’s journal,” she said abruptly. “I know all she cared about was punishing the kingdom that had abandoned her, and the one that had exploited her. But what do you care about that? You really expect us to believe you’ve carried her grudge for generations? And you say Lady Yasmin and her brother are foolish to dislike you because of an old land dispute.”
“Of course I’m not carrying a grudge,” said Rasad, sounding astonished. “I have my faults, Luciana, but pettiness isn’t one of them.” His mouth twisted, a hint of scorn showing through his calm. “My Kyonan ancestor certainly succeeded in teaching her descendants to resent the other kingdoms. I was raised myself in the belief that Thorania shouldn’t concern itself with anything beyond our borders.” He paused. “Our current borders, I should say. But my forebears were painfully short sighted. Who cares about some supposed insult from ancient history?”
“What do you mean ‘current’ borders?” Matheus asked ominously. “Are you saying King Abner plans to invade Balenol? I don’t believe it.”
“Neither do I,” said Lucy. But even as she said it, she remembered the huge military force camped right outside Thirl at that very moment, and it was all she could do to keep her face impassive.
“Always thinking so small,” Rasad mused. “Is there no one who shares my vision?” He sighed. “King Abner doesn’t always share my vision either. But he’ll come through at the crucial moment. You’ll see.”
“I thought he wasn’t a puppet on your string,” said Lucy acidly, trying to hide the fear bubbling in her stomach.
For a moment Rasad looked genuinely regretful. “I do wish I could convince him without needing to—” He sighed. “But I’m wise enough not to fight a losing battle. It’s worth just one little push to turn him into the emperor he was born to be.”
Lucy and Matheus exchanged a look, but neither of them spoke.
“But why am I troubling you with matters that are already settled?” Rasad said politely. “The question we need to answer is what to do with you.”
Chapter Thirty-One
“If you’re going to kill us,” said Matheus belligerently, “why not get it over with?”
“Whoa, whoa,” Lucy interjected. For all her oldest brother was usually more level headed than the younger two, every now and then their father’s impetuousness came through. But whatever plans Rasad had to make use of her, she had no intention of letting Matheus throw his life away.
“I quite agree, Luciana,” said Rasad humorously. “I see no need to be so hasty.” He looked her over thoughtfully. “Yes, I think Prince Eamon is a good place to start. I’m sorry that we can’t be partners, Luciana. Truly sorry. But it is fortunate that your lack of vision won’t significantly hinder my plans.” His gaze passed from her to her brother. “I hate to inconvenience you, but would you mind waiting here while I get myself organized?”
The siblings just glared at him, unwilling to enter into his charade. Rasad slipped through the door to his study, not even bothering to threaten them with capture or punishment if they tried to escape. They were in his power, and they knew it as well as he did.
“Are you all right, Matheus?” Lucy asked as soon as they were alone.
Her brother met her eyes for a long moment, the anguish of Cody’s loss and their own perilous situation swirling unspoken between them. Then he rolled his shoulders with a sigh.
“Yes. Yo
u?”
Lucy nodded absently, trying again to think of a way out.
“Well, this isn’t good,” said Matheus.
Lucy shot him a look. “Not great, no. What happened to waiting in your room?”
“I can see that’s what you did,” said Matheus, and Lucy let it drop with a grimace. “What are we going to do?” Matheus pressed on.
Lucy shook her head slowly. “I don’t see what we can do.” She wriggled her wrists behind her, but it was clear that she wasn’t going to be escaping her bonds anytime soon.
“We could try calling for help,” said Matheus doubtfully. “There are a lot of people who work here. Maybe someone would be willing to intervene.”
Lucy barely held back a snort. “This is Rasad’s world, Matheus. His empire. No one is going to stand up to him on our behalf.”
“All that talk about King Abner being born to be an emperor,” said Matheus uneasily. “What did that mean?”
“Nothing good.” Lucy’s voice was grim. “Did you hear him talking about Thorania’s ‘current borders’? And saying that we were thinking small when we talked about Thorania invading Balenol?”
“Yes,” said Matheus. “But surely he wasn’t talking about Kyona. Thorania couldn’t hope to extend its territory into the North Lands, could it?”
“I don’t think King Abner has any such hope,” said Lucy. “Just Rasad.”
“But surely it’s not possible,” protested Matheus.
Lucy stretched uncomfortably in her bindings. “I don’t know what’s possible,” she admitted. “I don’t know what kind of magic he’s harnessed. He clearly plans to use magic on King Abner, to convince him to march on Balenol.”
“Yes,” said Matheus slowly. “That’s what I heard, too. He said that King Abner would change his mind at the crucial moment. But when is that moment?”
“I have a bad feeling that it’s soon,” said Lucy. She met her brother’s eyes, wishing she could protect him, knowing she couldn’t. “Matheus, I’m so sorry. This is all my fault.”
Downfall of the Curse Page 33
