Delusions of Loyalty (The Braykith Series Book 2)

by Jennifer R. Kenny

  Both of his parents and many others who had perished would take legends with them into the lands of Xado. Should they meet again, would Darius even think of asking his mother for those tales? It seemed foolish to obsess about their hidden stories after death. He wondered if people would find it odd that Darius held no questions in his mind concerning their unnatural deaths. His mother had been murdered by rebels, and his father was killed in self-defence.

  The news of Barret’s death had been delivered to him gently by Grant, accompanied by a soft hand on his shoulder for support as Darius was told of his father’s final moments. However, Darius had only felt a strange stillness in his chest followed by peace in knowing his father’s death had been witnessed, and he will not be returning to haunt him. By Grant’s own facial expressions, Darius supposed his exterior would be out of place, however, if Grant had been in Darius’ place for all his life, then he would understand it.

  Darius never felt the reason to question the reports because he had witnessed the steep fall of his father for months with no one to protect him. His father going mad with power had simply meant that Crimah would no longer be a place he could seek out. It was far more complicated than that, but Darius did not have the words to articulate that. All Darius could rely on now was the knowledge that even if Crimah had survived beyond the rebellion, who would dare welcome the offspring of the tyrant who had ruled with fear in his final days?

  It was a future that Darius had never imagined for himself, and he struggled to feel comfortable now that he was being relentlessly confronted with it. Years of understanding the intricate nature of Crimah’s politics now left him quite useless in Braykith.

  Evangeline had done her best to save his life, but Darius felt he could not quite rely on her for help in the future. They might not have been close, but Darius could see that she had her own demons to deal with, and Darius was not a fool. He knew that this did not fix the years of neglect between them. Far too much had been missed between them to ever make Darius and Evangeline allies now in the face of demise. Darius could not even think of a topic they could safely discuss out in the open. Everything felt taboo or tainted, and Darius hung his head for a moment before he forced himself to look up again as if he did not feel the weight of the world on his shoulders.

  Sighing, he readjusted his clothing although it did not need it.

  The corridor was quiet, and just when he felt that no one would be coming by, he heard the hushed whispered of girls. It was the only thing he felt sure on. The noise was unmistakable and reminded him instantly of Evangeline, Viviana, and Teagan as they had walked around the manor and ignored him completely until they needed him. As the group turned the corner, he had almost expected his memory to come to life before him. Instead, Darius realised the girl at the lead must be Princess Adeline.

  Her clothes were immaculate, a pale pink dress that cinched around her waist, and appeared to have a cap sleeve jacket attached to the dress itself. The skirt was made of silk and hit the floor at such a length that the peep of her shoes could be seen as she casually strode into the room with her girls hanging onto her every word. Seeing them together Darius instantly knew that this was not the same relationship Evangeline had formed in her youth, but instead Adeline was surrounded by other young girls who were attracted to her station. Darius wondered if Adeline was aware of the contrast or if she remained oblivious?

  As if attracted by his thoughts, their eyes met, but he was quick to drop them. Darius forced himself to look instead at the windows. It seemed like a far safer option than to somehow deliver his thoughts to Adeline. Doing his best not to attract their attention further, he tightened his shoulders when Darius heard the girls go quiet. He hated the awkward silence as the laughing joke turned into whispered mutterings in his direction. Darius looked studiously in front of him and only seemed to blink when he heard his name.

  “Yes, your majesty?” Darius smiled politely, unsure what the protocols were when a soldier was addressing a member of the royal family. He had been able to briefly witness his sister with the other royals. However, Evangeline called them by first names. It seemed rude if he followed the same rituals. Forced to make the decision quickly, Darius went with the ultra-formal introduction he had been taught as a child and hoped his lower station now did not affect his intentions.

  “I wasn’t sure if it was you,” Adeline said, frowning as she studied his face. Behind her were three girls who had fanned out at an equal distance. It looked odd to Darius, like a dance or learned ritual rather than a casual standing position. He felt judged, but he felt satisfied that his clothes now were less offensive than the ones he had arrived in. All of the girls were dressed impeccably, but only Adeline seemed to look at him directly.

  “I had imagined it would be obvious when you have new staff, Princess Adeline” Darius stumbled over her name, doing his best not to engage but again struck with the notion that etiquette meant he needed to be attentive to the princess’ needs.

  Adeline laughed first, a polite chuckle that her girls chimed in with but stopped when Adeline did. It was eerie, and Darius looked at each girl in turn. None of them would look at him or meet his eyes. They seemed almost bored and ready to move on to whatever plans they had concocted for the day among the chaos. Darius wished they would move on as well, but Adeline was not so eager.

  “I do not interact with the help often. Father does not approve of it, and most of them are boring.” Adeline shrugged. “However, most of the things I hear about you I am not sure if I should believe them.”

  Darius was surprised that people spoke of him at all, and yet he should not have been, considering the dramatic nature of his entrance to the Braykith Kingdom. “Do they say anything nice about me?” he asked hopefully, and Adeline laughed again.

  “Frequently.” She pressed her lips together, judging him and Darius could do nothing but allow Adeline to make her assessment as her eyes looked him over from head to toe and back again. She reached out and pulled a section of his curls forward before she released it. The shortness of his hair intrigued her. The style was banned in her kingdom, and to see it on Darius made him seem more dangerous in her eyes. “My mother told me that you are not a prince.” She finally said.

  Darius shook his head. “My father was an Earl.” He tried to talk up the legacy he had been born into, although with the current state of things it did not seem quite as impressive as it once was. Since his father had turned against his allies and his family, the title and name of Crimah seemed mostly laughable. “He might not have been a King,” Darius cleared his throat softly. “But he ruled his lands as one would expect from their King.”

  “I find it hard to believe,” Adeline said, her voice stern for one so young and Darius was forced to fight himself and hold back the laugh that threatened at her determined posture. She seemed utterly convinced of this fact. “Do you find me comical Darius?”

  It appeared his hardest efforts were not strong enough and she could see right through his thoughts and correctly guessed that Darius did not take her seriously. “I assure you, my father was quite influential once upon a time, and the acts he performed during the war, the actions that also benefitted your father, will be remembered far longer than I shall live.” Darius felt at odds about defending his father with his current actions still weighing on him so heavily. There was no escape from the conversation, and Darius would not just ignore Adeline as she spoke.

  However, Darius was concerned on what was being overheard by others. The girls behind her had not changed from their position, but that did not mean they did not understand what was happening just in front of them. Darius had just been granted sanctuary in Braykith as Glais’ squire. Any fight to defend his heritage against innocent conversation could be seen as treason by some. Darius needed to be more careful and not increase the target that was already being used against him.

  “I know your father was an Earl and he left behind some fascinating history,” Adeline admitted, although t
he details of war did not appeal to her. The songs and stories of the Crimah army demolishing Zorelian with their guerrilla tactics did not entertain her, but she knew of them. “Your sister, Eva, should have made me think of it before, but what I meant was you don’t look like you are not a prince.”

  The sentence was unsettling to the ears, but Darius did not correct her. That would certainly have been rude. “And what should a prince look like?” he asked.

  Adeline shrugged, and one of the girls giggled, but no one paid her any attention. “A lot like you. Which is why I think you look odd.”

  Darius was stunned for a moment, not sure if that was meant as compliment or insult. He tried not to take her seriously, but it was growing increasingly harder to remain stoic with the emotions attached to the subject of this conversation. Needing to change the subject, and hopefully cause Adeline to put her attentions elsewhere Darius let loose one of his own secrets. “Did you know there was talk once of us getting married?” he asked Adeline softly, using the quiet of the room to make his question seem like so much more than what it was.

  Suddenly the girls all seemed frozen, almost like they were holding their breaths and immediately Darius knew it was the wrong thing to say. He did not smile at his small victory.

  The girls were all staring at Adeline. Feeling that she was the focus of their attention, she turned on the spot to confirm that they were indeed waiting for her reaction. “Surely not.” She finally answered.

  “Surely so.” Darius retorted. “My father wanted an even trade. Eva for Glais, and you were supposed to come to Crimah.”

  Adaline looked behind her for support, but her friends had lost all abilities to communicate. “My father wouldn’t allow it.” She stammered. The idea of marrying a man, even one who appeared reckless like Darius with his short curly mess of pale hair was not something she imagined for herself.

  “He did not,” Darius heard Adeline give a heavy sigh of relief, but he did not feel offended as he went on. “But the idea was discussed at length and appropriately planned before your father ultimately decided not to.” Darius shrugged, looking to the left and away from the girls as if the idea of being married to Adeline did not sit well with him either.

  In truth, while Darius would never be given the opportunity to speak his mind on the subject, he didn’t have a strong opinion either way on his wife. He had always assumed one would be found for him, and now it seemed impossible. Who would want to marry a coward? Darius could think of no one and leaving Crimah meant more than leaving his family heritage. It also closed off the idea of continuing the traditions.

  “Well, there you have it.” Adeline backed up, still looking at Darius with a mix of interest and pity. Adeline watched him for a moment longer before turning and walking away. Her friends followed her, but they were still silent. No laughter or talking echoed from the walls.

  Darius grinned to himself. He was certain this news would haunt her for some time.

  CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

  Evangeline stopped outside of the house that sat on the very outskirts of the city. She did not think anyone could dare live in such a place. The garden was overgrown with weeds and moss had been free to grow over the brickworks. Looking over her shoulder, Evangeline noticed once more how isolated the building was from the rest of Braykith. Because of the haunting nature of the curse, it was not unusual for citizens to travel far every day to find fertile land, but this seemed excessive even for the general character of the people.

  Thomas paused beside her as she came to a standstill. They did not need to share words because the tension was answer enough. Evangeline and Thomas had been chasing rumours all day, and now it seemed that the name had brought them to an abandoned home. Thomas frowned, but he would not turn back just yet. They needed to know for sure that no one indeed lived here.

  “Remain here,” Thomas told her. “Perhaps there is a clue as to where this woman has gone.” It was an empty promise but one that Evangeline did not argue with. Nodding, she stayed where she was as Thomas started to circle the home. Evangeline watched him until he was out of sight, disappearing behind the house. Evangeline, realising her arms were crossed over her chest, forced them down. There was no relaxation to be found, and she shook her hands but still there was tension.

  Looking at the house, she expected to see someone looking back at her, but the windows were well grown over. Evangeline turned away, but the itching feeling of being watched forced her to turn back towards the door. Movement from the corner of her eye had her moving quickly, but it was only Thomas. It did not relax her, but Evangeline was glad to no longer be alone.

  “The house is much the same the whole way around,” Thomas reported with a frustrated sigh. “If Gretchen did live here, she is long gone.”

  “There is someone within the house,” Evangeline said.

  “You saw them?” Thomas looked at the house again, but it seemed completely devoid of life. Evangeline shook her head, but her eyes were drawn once more to the old and seemingly abandoned house. “I can feel it.” She told him. “Like someone is watching me.” She took off towards the house and Thomas dutifully following behind her.

  “Please, for your safety, allow me to speak to her,” Thomas asked. Evangeline nodded and took a small step backwards. Thomas knew that Evangeline believed the name Wick presented was one that offered hope and a cure, but Thomas could not be so confident. A mysterious name and the tag for a flower that had almost mythical capabilities seemed like the work of a delirious mind.

  In truth, although he did not share it with Evangeline, Thomas had been surprised to find that the name Gretchen did indeed belong to a woman and that she was a healer of some kind. She had been labelled a witch by her peers, but Thomas did not believe in such nonsense. There were no witches within Braykith. The dark heart of the Braykith curse made it impossible to summon anything as they were designed to. The air was tainted with it even after all this time. Witches knew better than to attempt magic here.

  He knocked on the door with three sharp taps of his knuckles. “Madam, I am from the royal guard and wish to speak with you.” He announced. Finally, he heard a shuffling of footsteps and stepped back just enough to seem polite when the door was finally opened.

  A timeworn woman stood there, but she was not weak or frail. She stood tall, holding her weight on a cane and yet still looking dignified as she observed both Thomas and then Evangeline with sky blue coloured eyes. “If you have come to cure the woman of an unwanted pregnancy, then I hope you have the money.”

  Thomas blinked, shocked as she continued to stare at him. “Um, no, I assure you that is not what we seek.”

  She rose a sceptical eyebrow, looking at Evangeline again but seemed confused by what she saw there. “Are you certain?”

  “Quite certain,” Evangeline said, moving only slightly behind Thomas for protection. Her eyes could see more than just what was in front of her, and Evangeline wondered if Gretchen could see her unique heritage.

  Gretchen nodded. “I apologise. More Braykith soldiers then I like to count come looking for that.”

  “We have a far more interesting quest,” Evangeline spoke up. “I am looking for Belltower vines.” She said, and instantly the woman changed. Looking past them, Gretchen searched the direction they came before shuffling them into her house and slamming the door shut behind them.

  “Belltower is extremely rare and dangerous,” Gretchen told them, but it wasn’t to talk them out of their desires but to ensure they had the name correct. “A less threatening plant known as the Bell Climber existed that works well for nausea and headaches.” Gretchen offered a solution to their odd request.

  Evangeline shook her head, knowing that i9t had been the word Belltower that had come out of Wick’s lips, and not anything else that may sound similar. Evangeline had no idea just how dangerous this vine could be, but she could not admit that to this woman. Evangeline believed that if she gave any indication of not being worthy of this plant that G
retchen would ensure that she would never get her hands on it. Wick had told her the name, and she would never believe Wick would say anything unless it were worth the effort. “My friend has been poisoned. It is the same poison that killed my mother. She barely managed to say your name and the plant before she lost consciousness.”

  Gretchen silenced her with nothing more than a look. “Your mother?” she asked. She grabbed a nearby lantern and held it up to Evangeline’s face in an effort to see her better. The windows were covered over with dense plant growth, and no natural light had found its way into the home in many years. The heat from the lantern seemed intense on her skin, but Evangeline did not move away. “You are Lady Evangeline, Prince Glais’ new wife?”

  “I am,” Evangeline answered.

  “I am sorry to hear of your mother’s passing,” Gretchen said, and Evangeline and Thomas shared a look. Gretchen seemed so sincere in her condolences. Evangeline wondered if Gretchen had known her mother personally, but the dire situation within the castle had her keeping her curiosity to herself this time. “Does Glais know you are here and why?” Gretchen interrupted Evangeline’s thoughts.

  “He does.” Evangeline was quick to answer. With nothing to lose, she gave Gretchen the story of what was happening at the castle when she left. “The poison had threaded through the castle in the food. This plant may save dozens of lives.” She tried to plead her case but fell silent after it seemed that Gretchen did not care for her stories.

  The old woman was watching Evangeline closely, studying her frame and making observations that Evangeline was not sure would prove to be in her favour or not. “Your father almost caused the extinction of this plant.” Gretchen was cautious that his daughter might have the same intentions.

  Evangeline shook her head. “I never knew anything about it even existing until Wick.”