“You are a princess, and it isn’t just your burden, so I go with you. End of conversation,” he said, readying the second horse.
“Not the end of the conversation. How is it your burden exactly?” I scoffed.
“Number one, princess, if I ever wish to return to the kingdom and live to tell about it, I need to return you to Altair. Number two, I happen to care about one of the prisoners very deeply and will make sure she is freed. So let’s go. I hope you packed some extra food for me.” He mounted his horse, and I did as well.
“Besides, you’d be wandering the forest for days trying to find your way back. And I know a shortcut!”
Is he for real? I knew he was speaking about Annette. And I knew he was right about returning me himself. I just didn’t know why anyone would ever want to return to the kingdom and Altair on purpose. Maybe, secretly, he was just like Altair. Maybe they were friends. Maylon’s words keep ringing in my head, warning Riven to keep Faric away from me, that Faric was evil. But they are cancelled out by Annette’s pleading eyes and voice that urge me to trust Faric that he would keep me safe. She didn’t seem to know that Riven had been impersonating his brother at all. We spoke in private. Surely she would have mentioned that key bit of information had she been aware of it.
We’d been riding for several hours. The sun had been up for a while, and we came up to a small creek. The horses needed to rest and get a drink and some food. Their energy waned. We led them to the gurgling water and let them drink their fill. Faric fed them while I washed my face in the cool water and drank down as much of the cool water as I could cup in my hands. I could feel the water trickle down my chin onto my dress. It was already sticky and hot as summer had definitely begun to creep over the land. I wet my hands and ran them over the skin of my arms and legs, refreshing myself. I closed my eyes to relax and sat back, my arms propping me up while I stretched my legs far in front of me.
“You look hot, princess,” said Faric, sauntering confidently over. “I am hot, Faric. Your eyes do not deceive you.” I smirked. Take that!
He smiled and said, “So Wesley, huh?”
“Yeah. We’re married,” I said, trying to dig some dirt out from beneath a fingernail.
“About that, you know I’m not really married to Lillian, right?” he asked, raising his brows. “I didn’t technically marry her. Riven did. So I have no obligation to her.”
“You don’t deserve someone like Lil anyway. She deserves someone who will love her. She’s special and good. She deserves more,” I said, glaring at him openly. I couldn’t believe what a jerk he was. I never thought about him and Lil, but he was just so arrogant. So cocky.
He laughed. “Yes, Solara. How could she possibly love someone like me?”
“I didn’t mean there was anything wrong with you, Faric. I just know you have no feelings for her, and she deserves more. She deserves someone who will love her.” I looked at the water bubbling over the smooth stones. Doesn’t everyone deserve love? True love. “You deserve to love and be loved by someone as well. The union would be unfair to both of you if upheld.”
He cleared his throat. “Thank you. I’m sorry. I was trying to be rude and annoy you, but I appreciate your honesty. I, however, must disagree with you. I do not deserve the love of another. Especially of someone as good as you profess Lillian to be.” And with that, he turned and walked away from me, downstream. What happened to him? Why would he assume he didn’t deserve love?
I paced back and forth, trying to stretch my legs and back as much as possible. After fifteen minutes, Faric returned and threw me an apple and said, “We would eat while riding. We apparently we’re making good time, but I knew that we couldn’t get there fast enough.”
“Faric,” I asked as we rode side by side, eating our apples.
“What’s the plan once we get to the kingdom?”
He cleared his throat and chewed and swallowed the last of his apple. Chucking the core into the woods, he wiped the juice from his chin with his sleeve and looked over at me. “Well, I think I’ll tell the guards at the wall that you’re my prisoner and that I’m returning you to Altair per his orders. I’ll demand an audience with Matthias as he is now in charge of the kingdom’s security and hopefully will be able to negotiate with Altair, exchanging you for Wes, Lillian, and Annette.” He looked away from me.
“What about Rachel? Did you hear of anyone named Rachel? She’s Wesley’s sister. She was married at the same time we were.” I hoped Altair had left her alone but doubted that as he seemed determined on taking everyone else that meant something to me.
“I don’t know about her, but I will inquire as to her whereabouts and condition and will also negotiate her release if she is being held prisoner with the others.” He stopped the horse. I halted mine as well.
“What?” I asked. “Why did you stop?”
He looked over at me and almost winced. I was taken aback by his expression. “Solara, I cannot guarantee your safety once we enter the kingdom. I—”
I interrupted him. “I know. I’m not asking you to keep me safe once we arrive there. I know Altair. I know what he wants, and I know that he’ll want me even more when he sees my new freaky eyes and new tattoo. He’ll know I’m the chosen. He isn’t stupid. Out of his mind, maybe, but not stupid. I know he murdered the council members. I’m not walking blindly into this. I know what I’m up against. Once we arrive at the gate, I want you to think nothing else of me. I would appreciate it if you would negotiate for the lives of my friends. They’re my only family and the only ones who’ve ever loved me. I don’t wish to be the reason for their deaths. I wouldn’t survive it. But I can survive Altair. So just help me get them out of here. Go find Riven and the others. I’ll be fine.” I pressed my lips into a false smile, praying he couldn’t see that it wasn’t forced.
“What will he do to you?” he rasped, still looking away from me.
“It doesn’t matter. I just want them safe. Faric, please look at me.” He turned and I caught his turquoise gaze. His eyes were a bit darker than Riven’s. Hmm. Maybe that’s how I can tell them apart. “Hey, please just get my friends out of there. Get them to safety. If I can escape, I’ll meet you back at Jacob and Ruth’s. Wait for me there?” He pursed his lips and cursed under his breath.
“Okay?”
“I promise that I’ll get them out of there, but Jesus, Solara. I don’t know if I can leave you there, especially with your history with him. I can handle a lot of things, but violence against women is not one of them.”
“I’ll be fine. I just want them safe. Just take them to Jacob’s.” And with that lie, I kicked the horse and took off over the next hill.
It was pitch black out. It seemed that shadows moved all around in the darkness. They were at home. My ring felt hot against my skin. My breath grew ragged, and my pulse quickened. We were close. Very close. I could feel it. Maybe my mother warmed the ring for me when evil lingered nearby. Altair certainly qualified.
“Dawn is just a few hours away. We should wait for daylight before approaching the wall. It’ll be safer. They can see us coming,” offered Faric.
“No. The sooner we get to them, the better. Let’s go.” I said, squaring my shoulders and putting my brave face on.
“Fine. We approach slowly then. Less threatening that way.” He nodded, clenching his jaw.
“Okay.” I straightened myself and tried to seem taller, prouder, and less afraid.
“Oh and, Solara,” he said, jumping off of his horse and helping me down from mine. “Your eyes aren’t freaky. They’re beautiful.” His gaze held mine.
What? He is like that guy we read about...Jekyll and Hyde. “Oh. Um. Thank you.” I stammered.
“We’ll leave the horses here.” He lashed them to a tree and threw a couple of apples on the ground for them. “Give me your hands.”
I held them in front of me, and he tied them with the gritty harsh rope that I’d grown to loathe. He grabbed my arm and led me forward toward the
looming stone wall ahead. It somehow seemed taller and more foreboding than when we’d exited not that long ago. A guard on top of the wall spotted us first and yelled for us to stay still, not to move, or we would die. Two from the ground surrounded us, arrows nocked in their wooden bows, ready for the kill. They circled us like vultures ready to peck the meat from our bones.
“What business have you with the kingdom?” yelled the taller of the two men.
Faric jerked me forward and said, “Altair sent me to find this woman. I’ve brought her to him and now wish to see Matthias about my reward.”
The stockier guard approached and looked me up and down, missing teeth greeting me through his sickening smile. “Altair wants this woman?” he snarled. “No wonder, a looker she is,” he said, approaching me. He lowered his bow, and as he reached out to touch my face, I kicked my feet forward, taking his leg out from under him. He buckled to the ground and I spat at him.
“Don’t you dare touch me you pig!” I screamed.
The taller guard grabbed my elbow and jerked me forward through the gate. He yelled at someone to help his friend, who was still writhing on the ground, shouting profanities at me as I was led away. I’m pretty sure I caught an “I’ll kill you,” in there somewhere.
The tall guard ordered for another to get Matthias immediately and ushered me into a small hut just inside the gate. He tied me to a wooden column in the center of the room and ushered Faric outside with him. Faric was able to steal one glance back at me before exiting. His eyes were stormy and dark. His jaw clenched.
Before long, I could hear men talking outside the hut. A young man entered with black hair that skirted his shoulders, dark skin covered his toned figure, and his pale brown eyes were striking.
“Solara, I presume,” he said as he approached me slowly. I kept my eyes trained on the ground as he drew near. I knew I could only hide my eyes for so long but planned to try to hide them for as long as possible anyway. I wished God had picked someone stronger than me be the chosen. My body began to shake as he approached and grasped my chin, drawing my eyes upward. He gasped. “Well, what have we here?”
I woke up in a dark room on a cold stone floor. The only light filtered in through a small crack under the door—a prison cell. My mouth was dry, and my lips cracked. I could taste the metallic unmistakable flavor of blood in my mouth. My wrists were raw, but my ropes were gone. I struggled to sit up, wondering how long
I had been here. The last thing I could remember was Matthias and his discovery of my lilac irises. My body begged for water. I could barely hold my head up. Cotton lay heavy on my tongue. I clawed the wall, pulling myself upright. I felt my way around the small room. And when I say small, I mean three feet by four feet maximum.
Heavy footsteps approached. The door swung open, and I shielded my eyes from the influx of light and backed as far as I could away from the dark shadows that approached. Only they weren’t shadows; they were men. They each grabbed an arm and dragged me from the room. It was just as well. I don’t think my legs would have carried me at this point anyway. I was dragged up a winding stone staircase to another floor and into a large room, where three women awaited me with a steaming tub of water.
My head bobbed on my shoulders as I fought to keep it up. The women looked at me with guarded eyes. The men placed me on a cot in the corner of the room and told the women that I was to be prepared immediately and that they would await me outside the door. Prepared? Prepared for what?
The ladies cautiously approached. I croaked out a request for water but have no idea if they gave me any. I just recall waking up, clean, in a dark-blue gown, fitted around the bust and its fabric then falling lithely over my hips and on to the floor. My body and hair had been washed. A growl erupted from my stomach.
“Here is some bread, dear,” said an older woman as she hesitantly smiled down at me. She helped me sit up and handed me a small cup of water as well. Sitting down on the edge of the bed, she slowly took me in. “You look lovely. Master Altair will be pleased.” Master Altair? Had I landed in some alternate weird universe? I mean, I know that Faric explained how he had slaughtered the council and took power, but Master Altair? Please.
The door burst open. Matthias entered. His hair was pulled back into a small braid. He walked over to me as I bit into the bread and took a sip of water. His eyes were wide, and he almost seemed afraid of me. I lunged forward at him, and he jerked backward in response. I couldn’t help but giggle.
He cocked his head to the side and then chuckled with his deep voice. “Think you’re funny, chosen one?”
I just smiled sweetly through my closed lips, still chewing my bread. After swallowing, I looked at him and said, “Why so afraid of me, Matthias? I don’t bite.”
“Are you sure of that?” He laughed, still nervous.
“Quite,” I assured him.
His smile dropped. “Master Altair has requested your presence in the courtroom.”
My heart rammed my chest. “Courtroom?” I squeaked.
“Yes. It appears that Faric has requested the release of several prisoners in exchange for your return. The request shall be heard immediately, and Altair has requested that you attend the hearing.”
I nodded and stood up, brushing breadcrumbs from my midnight-blue gown. “Do I need to bind you, or will you behave, Solara?” he asked, raising his brows. He expected an honest answer.
I decided to give him one. “I won’t resist. Take me to the courtroom please.” He stood, looking at my eyes for a moment and then placed his hand on the small of my back, ushering me toward a flight of stairs. We traveled up two floors and came into a hallway lined with crimson carpet. Guards stood outside a tall set of wooden doors. As they opened the doors for us, I could hear voices, but as Matthias ushered me in, all noise ceased. The old saying ‘you could hear a pin drop’ repeated itself in my head over and over, as we strolled through the parting crowd. I could see Faric to the left ahead of me. His eyes met mine, and he popped the knuckles of both of his hands.
“Solara, how nice of you to join us,” said Altair as we approached him. I cringed at the sound of his voice. He sat behind a large wooden desk, feet crossed and propped upon it, fingers intertwined behind his head. Cocky jerk. He motioned for Matthias to bring me forward. Matthias seated me next to Altair, who had removed his feet from the desk and sat up straight, looking at me as though I were his next meal. The hunger in his eyes was intense, and my stomach revolted, sending vomit to the back of my throat. I hated it when he looked at me like that. Truthfully, I hated it when he looked at me at all. I fixed my gaze into the crowd, refusing to look over at him. He snickered. I flinched as he barked, “Bring in the prisoners.”
A set of doors swung open on the left side of the room, and guards walked Annette, Rachel, Wesley, and then Lillian into the room and in front of Altair’s desk. In front of me. They were forced to their knees. Their eyes lit up when they saw me but confusion set in when they took in my eyes. Annette looked very weak. She bobbed back and forth, trying to stay upright. The others were younger and stronger and had survived the dungeons thus far.
“Faric,” said Altair, “state your case.” Faric stood up and walked toward Altair’s desk. “Master Altair,” he started. I was already sick. Master Altair. How disgusting. “I have returned Solara to you. In exchange, I ask that you please free the prisoners in front of you, placing them into my custody, sir.”
Altair looked over the four bent in front of him and then stood up. I jerked forward in my seat. He looked down at me, and his eyes caught on my back. He moved to my side, his beady gaze boring holes into the tattoo design. His cold fingers slid over my skin as he traced the portions of the mark left visible by my dress. He bent down to my ear, and I cringed as I felt his warm breath on my neck. “Interesting turn of events, chosen one.” He laughed.
I trained my gaze on him, and he slightly jerked backward. Undoubtedly, my gaze had freaked him out. I knew he had been told of the changes of my outw
ard appearance, but seeing them himself must have been different than he’d anticipated. Suddenly, I decided I liked my eyes. I liked anything about me that freaked Altair out.
My eyes met Wesley’s. My breath went out of me. It seemed like forever since I’d seen him. He voluntarily drank the potion and fell into deep slumber to keep me safe. Lillian looked completely terrified as did Rachel.
“What do you think, Solara? You are, after all, the chosen.” He spat.
I didn’t hesitate. “Let them go, Altair. You have me. You don’t need them anymore.”
His laugh echoed throughout the hollow room. “I have you? I have you?” he screamed. “Yes, Solara. I have you. You would be wise to remember that. Try to escape, and I will have you and everyone you love killed. Understood?” he fumed, towering over me.
I nodded. “Now”—he turned toward my family—“what to do with you?” He went around to the front of the desk and paced slowly back and forth, apparently in thought.
Faric looked at me, apprehension dripping from his features. His eyes were clouded, dark, and dangerous. “Master Altair,” offered Faric, “I will remove them from the kingdom if it pleases you of course.”
Altair stopped pacing and walked over to Faric. “Yes. It would please me. You may take them from the kingdom. They are banished. However, I have unfinished business with your brother, the trader. Where is he?”
Faric looked Altair in the eye and said, “I don’t know. He had abandoned the girl. I found her in a cave, Master Altair.”
Altair looked at him sternly. “Well, find him, return him to me immediately, or you will suffer his fate as well. Understood?”
“Yes, Master Altair. I understand. I swear to return my brother to you at once. I will find him, sir.” Faric shifted on his feet.
“Very well,” Altair strolled over to the prisoners once more.
He grabbed a knife from his boot and stood behind Wesley. My heart clenched. No. Don’t hurt him.
“Altair!” I yelled. “Don’t. You have me. Please. Don’t hurt him. You have me!” I yelled frantically, moving from behind the desk. His eyes locked on mine, and his upper lip snarled. He grabbed Wesley by the hair, yanking him back. His hands were bound behind his back. I locked on Wesley’s green eyes as I ran toward him. But with one quick swipe, Altair opened this throat.
Pariah (The New Covenant Series) Page 19
