“Oh? And why did you bring the princess here, Kieran?” To Lyneah's surprise, Rory did as his brother requested. Not only did he lower his blade, he returned it to its sheath. “You know I want to kill her.”
“She's a smart girl. I think you should listen to what she has to say.” When Kieran sat, he grabbed Lyneah's wrist and dragged her into the chair beside him. “I think you two need to have a chat. I'll be the peacekeeper.”
As a sneer creased her nose, Lyneah asked, “We're holding peace talks in the middle of a brothel?”
“But it's not a brothel, it's a pub!” Kieran corrected her.
Lyneah glanced back at Tobias, who had the attention of at least four whores, all of them scantily clad. It certainly looked like a brothel. “I'll have to save him later...” she whispered under her breath, then turned her attention back to Rory. “Mr. McCray, as I understand, you want to overthrow Queen Loreina, and you've gathered a considerable army to accomplish your goals.”
“Indeed,” Rory confirmed. He dragged a hand through his dark blonde hair before resting his elbows on the table. “But you're wrong. Not only do I intend to overthrow Loreina, I intend to overthrow the entire royal family. In other words... you.”
“You see, that's where you'll go wrong,” Lyneah said. “The royal family doesn't need to be overthrown... in fact, many commoners would not accept it if you ousted the royal family and assumed the power for yourself. A revolution may be necessary... but to overthrow centuries of tradition? If you did that, you would make many enemies for yourself.”
“I doubt it,” Rory disagreed. He motioned for a half-naked barmaid to fill his glass, which she did with a flirtatious smile and a wink. When she leaned over with the bottle, and her breasts were hovering over his face, Rory momentarily withdrew from the conversation.
“Mr. McCray,” Lyneah spoke again, trying to reclaim his attention from the tart. “I propose an alliance. Together, we can reclaim this country as our own. With your army and my status, we can rebuild it together. We can put an end to my mother's reign of terror, and we can do it with the full support of the people.”
Rory threw two shots of rum down his throat before he bothered with an answer. A short time later, he replied, “I don't see how this alliance would benefit me in any way. You'd use my army to claim the kingdom for you. How does that help me?”
“Well... I...” Lyneah was usually well-spoken, but she couldn't think of a decent answer straightaway. “You would... maintain power... o-over the army. My entire military would be yours to command!”
“Not good enough!” Rory shook a finger at Lyneah, as if chiding a child. “But while I'm thinking of a scenario that would actually benefit me, why don't you tell me about your mother? Clearly she's upset you in some way.”
“What hasn't she done to upset me?” Lyneah countered. “She overtaxes the people, and if they cannot pay, they're imprisoned for mere pennies. She's forcing me to marry Prince Malik, a young man I've never met who hails from a distant kingdom. She's decided it's alright to work with pirates... and some of these men kill people without batting an eye. And worst of all... though I have no proof... I believe she might be murdering my father.”
“Those are major offenses... but it's nothing in comparison to what she's done to us.” Rory exchanged glances with his brother. “Did Kieran tell you about Jonathan?”
“Jonathan?” When Lyneah looked at Kieran, he was shaking his head and pulling out his flask. “No. I don't believe he has.”
“There was once a third McCray brother,” Rory continued with the tale. “Jonathan McCray. Compared to us, he was always like a baby. He was seven years younger than me and ten years younger than Kieran... but he acted even younger. He was a gentle soul. He wasn't very bright, but he wouldn't harm a fly.”
“But I assume something happened?”
“Aye...” Rory looked down at the table, where his fingers idly twirled his shot glass. Lyneah thought she saw his jaw twitching; clearly, it was a story he hated to tell. “But one day, my little brother got hungry. He stole an apple and a tomato... that's all he did. If he had money, it wouldn't have cost him more than a few pennies. But do you know how he was punished?” When Rory raised his eyes, there were tears in them. “Your mother cut off his hand and tossed him in a cell. For two years, he wasn't released... and then he hanged himself.”
“I blame myself as much as I blame Queen Loreina.” Kieran's voice was weak and gravelly as he confessed his self-hatred. “If I would've given him money... if he would've had a few spare coins in his pocket, it could have been avoided. I'll always hate myself for that. I... failed him.”
“Bloody hell, Kieran, it's hardly your fault!” Rory slammed his fist against the table in protest. “If what you say is true, Jonathan's death is my fault too! No... the blame lies with Queen Loreina and only with Queen Loreina. Every day, more and more people step forward with personal tales of her treachery. That's why I have so many followers. I'm the only one who's promised to do something about it!”
“I'm sorry to hear about your brother. But you must understand, I am a victim of Loreina as well!” Lyneah exclaimed. “I should be your friend, not your enemy.”
“Aye...” Rory leaned forward in his chair, stroking his chin as he considered her claim. “I suppose that might be true. Hmm.”
While Rory was lost in thought, Lyneah glanced over her shoulder, checking on Tobias. She assumed he would still need a rescue, but he looked surprisingly content by the attention he was receiving. There were two doxies on his lap, one on each knee. Another courtesan was standing behind him with her arms dangling around his neck, and his head was completely sandwiched between her breasts. With a grunt of disapproval, Lyneah turned away from the spectacle and crossed her arms.
“Well, Princess Lyneah...” After a moment of careful contemplation, Rory spoke again. “I'm glad I didn't kill you.”
“As am I,” she agreed with a snort.
“I do think an alliance could benefit us both... if and only if you agree to my terms.” Before he continued, Rory snatched the flask from Kieran's hand and took a swig. “Marry me. If you become my wife, we can take the throne together and rule the nation side-by-side.”
Lyneah's eyes narrowed at his proposal. Rory was certainly handsome, but he was little more than a peasant. His suggestion was outlandish, if not a bit offensive. “Do you actually want to marry me?”
“What I want is irrelevant,” Rory told her. “This is what we need, and it's really the only option that makes sense. You get the army you need to overthrow your mother, and I get the power I want. Everyone wins.” Rory brought his hands together, silently clapping for himself. He was truly impressed by his own genius.
“Are you sure you've thought this over?” Lyneah asked. She briefly glanced in Kieran's direction, thinking he would protest, but he simply looked amused. “Is this not a bit... impulsive?”
“It is impulsive. But believe me, I have thought it over.”
“It doesn't take him long to make decisions,” Kieran said. “But if I'm being honest, his gut instincts are usually good.”
“See?” Rory grinned, looking positively pleased by his older brother's praise for him. “When I make a decision, my decisions are good. When I have an idea, I always follow through. That's why I'm so successful. And... think about it for a moment, Princess. You already said you have a fiance you don't want... a fiance you've never even met. Marrying me can't be any worse than that, can it? Besides...” Rory raked a hand across his mouth and chuckled into his hand. “At least you're beautiful. I could do worse.”
“And you're not so bad-looking,” Lyneah said with a shrug.
“Don't downplay it, love. I'm gorgeous.” Rory ran a finger along his eyebrow, which was actually perfectly shaped. In fact, every inch of his face had been chiseled to perfection. He wasn't humble, but he had a reason to boast. “We'll have beautiful children, Your Highness. There's no question of that.”
“Oh God...”
Lyneah groaned. The fact that he was already talking about children made Lyneah's eyes swell. She didn't know if he was teasing her, but he sounded serious enough. “May I... take a day or two to consider your proposal?”
“Aye. Of course. But we both already know your answer.” Rory clasped his hands behind his head and laughed. “After all, what other choice do you have?”
“Kieran...” Lyneah whispered to the older McCray. “Do you think we could take our leave? I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed and I have a sudden need to lie down.”
“Aye.” When Kieran started to rise from his chair, Rory grabbed his arm.
“No... stay!” Rory exclaimed. “While you're here, both of you are my guests! Your lodgings will be free. Hell, the inns in Dovyr practically pay me to make use of them!” The grin on his lips intensified as he boasted. “I'll walk you to the inn across the street. It's decent enough for a princess, and the innkeepers adore me.”
Lyneah looked away and rolled her eyes. Rory McCray was dangerously charismatic and overflowing with confidence. She was a bit surprised by the way he was. Before his face was known to her, she imagined him to be older, nobler, and infinitely more heroic.
“I need to collect my friend Tobias,” she told the McCrays. “Wait here a moment, if you would.”
When Rory and Kieran nodded, Lyneah crossed the room in search of Tobey. He was just as popular as ever, with four whores surrounding him. He was practically drowning in cleavage. And even though his face was blood red and blushing, he was grinning like a fool. Tobias was enjoying his newfound popularity far more than she expected he would.
“Ahem,” Lyneah cleared her throat when she stopped in front of his table. “Tobey... it's time to go.”
“Is this your girlfriend, Tobeyboo?” one of the harlots cooed. “Ooo, she looks like a right shrew!”
“Don't take him away from us. You can't take him away from us!” The second girl was clinging to his neck as she wailed in protest. “Tobey is precious! Too precious! He's the most precious person I've ever met! And he's such a sweetheart too! The sweetest!”
“Th-th-thank you, Molly.” He somehow managed to turn an even deeper shade of red as he thanked her for the compliment.
“Aww, even the stutter's cute!” squealed a girl with a tiny voice. “I just want to cuddle 'im and taste his tongue!” As if to prove her point, she ruffled his hair and kissed his head.
“Hell, I'd shag him for free,” said the fourth and final harlot, a woman with a much huskier voice.
“Oh, aye,” the girl named Molly seconded. “Me too.”
Lyneah had heard enough. She suddenly seized Tobias' arm and dragged him out of his seat. “Sorry,” the princess hissed, “but if Tobey's going to shag anyone, it's going to be me.” Then she took him by the collar of his shirt and pulled him out of the pub.
Meanwhile, Tobias' eyes had expanded to twice their normal size.
12
Kitt enlisted the help of Roderick and Miles to get her into the tower. No one was allowed into the king's bedchamber, and only a select few knights were permitted to get close. Roderick was one of the few on the short list, so when he was presented with an opportunity to guard the king's tower, he took it. He wanted to help Kitt in any way he could. Unbeknownst to her, she had him wrapped around her finger.
And Miles' help was necessary because he was excellent at picking locks. While Roderick kept his eyes on the hallway, Miles crouched by the door with his makeshift lock pick, which happened to be one of Kitt's hairpins.
“We better do this quickly,” Kitt whispered to her companions as they all hovered near the door. “I shudder to think of what might happen to us if we're caught.”
“Indeed, my lady,” Miles agreed. “I couldn't possibly agree with you more.”
They heard a loud click, which let them know Miles' lock picking was a success. Miles looked rather pleased with himself, since it took him less than a minute to crack the lock. Kitt held her breath as she pushed open the door and stepped inside.
For a king's bedchamber, the room was surprisingly small and sparsely decorated. On the bed in the center of the room, King Nikolai was on his back, looking as still and lifeless as a corpse. His face was so pale, he was almost a bit gray, like clay. Kitt crept to the bed and held her hand over his mouth, checking to see if any breaths were coming out of him. The king was still breathing, but barely.
“King Nikolai looks worse than I thought,” Roderick said. “Though old, I always thought of him as a vital, strong king. It's odd to see him in such a diminished state.”
“His lips...” Miles whispered. He held his monocle in front of his favored eye as he leaned closer to the king. “They're such an odd color. Do you think...” Miles sniffed the king's mouth, which had Kitt raising an eyebrow. “Do you think it could be poison?”
“Really?” Kitt winced at the thought. “Who would do that? Loreina? I know she's cruel, but do you really think she'd try to poison her own husband?”
Miles leaned back and stretched. Hunching over the king was bad for his back. “Queen Loreina is willing to execute the king's brother, is she not? Why would she hesitate to do the same to Nikolai?”
“But...” As he spoke, Roderick tried to pry open a locked drawer in the corner of the room. “Why would she use poison? Why wouldn't she kill him outright, like she's planning to do with Prince Lysander?”
“I can only make a guess,” Miles said with a shrug. “While Loreina is acting as the nation's sovereign, it would be easy enough to pin a crime on the prince and punish him for it. It would be considerably less easy to punish the sovereign himself.”
“Still...” Roderick kept tugging on the drawer, but it simply wouldn't open. “Why not hire an assassin? It would be easier.”
“Hmm.” Miles tapped his chin as he tried to make sense of the queen's motivations. “If the king passed quickly, people might expect Lyneah to take the throne. But if Loreina's been acting as queen while her husband is ill, people might be more inclined to accept her ascension. They might even pity her. And when he does pass away, she would no longer be thought of as the wife of the king, but as the queen herself. The transition would be much more smooth.”
“This is hurting my head,” Kitt said as she peeked under the bed. She didn't know what she expected to find there, but she had to look. Then she crossed the room and checked the wardrobe. Oddly enough, there were only a few articles of clothing stored inside.
“Step aside, Sir Roderick!” Miles said as he approached the locked drawer. “If you keep tugging on it like that, you'll rip off the handle, and they'll know someone was here.” Miles got down on his knees and proceeded to pick the lock.
“I feel sorry for King Nikolai,” Kitt said. “How long has he been ill? It's been months, hasn't it?”
“Over two months,” Roderick replied. “And... he's not ill, he's been poisoned.”
“This is only speculation, Sir Roderick. Until we have evidence in our hands, my theory is only a theory.” When Miles opened the drawer and checked its contents, he couldn't believe his eyes. He had to bring back his monocle to make sure he wasn't imagining things. “And... I do believe we have stumbled upon our proof.”
“What?” Kitt rushed over to the drawer. Before she could check it herself, Miles picked up a vial of silver-blue liquid and held it up for his companions to see. “Oh god... is that...?”
“Indeed. It is poison,” Miles confirmed as he carefully opened the vial and held it to his nose. “There is no mistaking it. This is a slow-working poison, but it is a poison nonetheless.”
“Damn...” Roderick whispered. He could feel his hands clenching, so he shoved them into the pockets of his coat. “So the queen is trying to kill the king?”
Miles nodded. “It seems very likely.”
“Should we not tell someone?” Roderick asked. “We can't let this go on, can we?”
“I am not sure how we would do that without incriminating ourselves, young man. And you, in particula
r, would not want to jeopardize your job by spreading rumors. Before we act, I will have to give this matter a great deal of consideration.”
“If we started spreading rumors, we would jeopardize more than Roderick's job,” Kitt pointed out. “We would surely be gambling with our lives. Especially me. The queen already harbors a great deal of ill will for Princess Lyneah.”
“Even so...” Roderick began, “it feels wrong to allow this to continue. What if we could save the king's life? Shouldn't we try?”
“Alas... he is almost certainly past the point of no return.” Miles shined his monocle on his vest before dropping it in his pocket. “I am sure it is just a matter of time.”
“Poor King Nikolai...” Kitt sighed, and right after she spoke, her eyes went wide. “Wait... do you hear voices in the hall?”
Roderick went to the door and opened it slightly. A sharp voice and footsteps confirmed his fears. When he turned around and locked the door, he looked panicked. “You're right! Loreina is heading this way!”
“Ohhhh...” Kitt groaned. Snooping where she wasn't supposed to had already unsettled her stomach. Dealing with Loreina was more than her nerves could withstand. “Miles, what do we do?”
“Hide!” Miles hissed. He was still on his knees after having cracked the lock, so he laid on his back and slid beneath the king's bed. “Get in the wardrobe!”
Kitt and Roderick leapt at his command. For a king's wardrobe, it was ridiculously small, and there was barely enough space for both of them. Kitt's chest was pressed against Roderick's as they struggled to squeeze inside. In fact, they were pressed together so tightly that she could feel his heart thumping against hers. When they heard the bedroom door unlock, Kitt whimpered softly. Roderick held a finger to her lips, encouraging her to stay as silent as possible.
“Kiss me, Marius!” Queen Loreina yelped as they stepped through the door. “Harder. Deeper.”
A Lost Princess (Belles & Bullets Book 2) Page 8
