Jana gracefully stood, folding her hands together. “Thank you all for coming,” she addressed her court. “May I present to you Princess Allyssa of Emperion.” Several people gasped with surprise. “As some of you know, my son, Prince Soma, has brought her here to aid in our negotiations with Emperion.” She smiled and glanced down at Allyssa, a smirk spreading across her face as she took in her hands and bruises.
“I hardly think keeping me locked in the dungeon is considered negotiating,” Allyssa spat.
The queen’s smile vanished. “I beg to differ. Your parents and I are negotiating for your life.”
“You’re wasting your time. My parents won’t agree to your terms.”
Jana took slow, deliberate steps down the dais toward Allyssa. She leaned in and whispered, “I have already sent them your nails. Your fingers and toes will be next. I think these gifts will be powerful motivators for your parents to cooperate.” She spun around and returned to the top of the dais, sitting on the Throne Chair once again. “There is one other announcement.” Her proud voice echoed in the large room as she addressed her court. “My daughter, Princess Shelene, has received an offer for a most advantageous marriage that will greatly benefit Russek.”
While the queen looked elegant and regal in her rich clothing and artful makeup, Allyssa knew she was as cunning as a snake. All of this—the members of court being present, the absence of the king, even Allyssa’s own appearance—it was all part of Jana’s elaborate plot to retake Emperion. Her parents had greatly underestimated this woman.
“People of Russek, I am pleased to announce my daughter’s engagement to Prince Odar of Fren. The marriage treaty is signed, and we will have full access to Fren’s mighty army!” Cheering erupted.
It felt as if Allyssa had been dunked in ice water. Her vison blurred, and she swayed on her feet. The soldier standing at her side grabbed her arm, keeping her upright. How could Odar have signed a marriage contract with Shelene when he’d already signed one with her?
Shelene smiled, and a man standing near the front of the crowd came forward, taking her hand and kissing it. Shock rolled through Allyssa as she realized the man was Odar. He wore a fine tunic with his hair neatly combed, not a bruise or mark visible on his skin. He must not have spent any time in the dungeon. So while she’d been sitting in filth with little food and water, being tortured and interrogated, he’d been navigating the Russek court. Apparently, her worry for his well-being had been for nothing.
Shelene beamed with admiration as Odar wrapped his arm around her waist. The people in the room spoke in low murmurs, exclaiming their gratification with the match.
“We are fortunate to have such a wise queen,” a man near Allyssa said to the lady at his side.
“Yes,” the lady agreed. “I had the pleasure of catching the couple stealing a kiss in the Dining Hall yesterday. They look so happy and in love.”
“And the size of Fren’s army . . .”
Allyssa didn’t bother to hear more because blazing anger coursed through her. Odar had kissed Shelene? She wanted to believe it was all a ruse in order to save her life. But what if it wasn’t? What if the real ruse had been Odar’s relationship with her so he could make it to Russek for the woman he really loved? He wouldn’t even look her way as he stood a mere ten feet from her.
Unfortunately, she did not have her father or Neco’s skill of telling when someone was lying or playing a part. She would have to navigate through her enemy’s court on her own with nothing but her wit and determination to save her.
Shelene laughed, and Odar kissed her forehead, his arm still wrapped around her delicate waist. Allyssa wanted to punch them both. Was this an act or not?
Trying to appear indifferent, she glanced at the queen and Soma. Their heads were together, Soma whispering in her ear. The queen looked at her daughter and then back at Allyssa. Soma straightened himself, the corners of his lips lifting infinitesimally. Were they watching her reaction to the prince and princess? They had to be. Otherwise, why have her here during the announcement? Which meant they didn’t fully trust Odar. Soma had spent enough time with them to be distrustful of his motives.
“Take the prisoner back to the dungeon,” Queen Jana ordered. “There is no need for her to be here any longer.” Her nose wrinkled, and she waved her hand before her face, mocking the fact that Allyssa smelled worse than horse dung.
As the soldiers grabbed her arms, Odar finally glanced her way. His eyes were filled with a mixture of pain and fury, reminding her of when he first arrived at Emperion as Jarvik. His words came back to her. Whatever I do at the Russek court, it is all to save you.
“You’re an arrogant pig!” she yelled at him.
“I don’t care what you say or think about me. I needed a way to enter Russek without my parents knowing. You proved to be quite useful.”
Shelene smiled and pressed her red lips to his cheek, completely besotted with him. His eyes remained hard and unyielding. Allyssa struggled against the soldiers holding her, trying to break free. The attempt was futile, especially with her injuries, but she had a part to play, and the queen needed to believe she was in pain. Allowing the hurt, fear, and hunger to consume her, she started to cry. Jana’s eyes lit up, her face smugly satisfied at the sight.
The guards dragged Allyssa down the aisle and out of the Throne Room. The second the door closed behind her, she stood up straight and forced the tears to stop. The Emperion court contained dozens of people seeking advantage, wanting someone or something. She’d always played the part of the dedicated princess. The Russek court was no different. Allyssa was just playing a different part in the game this time. And this was one game she couldn’t lose.
Chapter Eleven
As the days passed, Allyssa tried not to dwell on thoughts of her bloody nails being delivered to the Emperion court with a letter demanding the empress hand over her kingdom in exchange for her daughter’s life, of Odar kissing Shelene, or if a squad of Emperion soldiers were trying to find her.
Her body had healed enough from her last beating to resume her daily exercises. However, when a guard passed by her cell, she always stilled, not wanting anyone to know she was trying to maintain her strength and keep her mind sharp.
While she stretched her legs, the voices of several men echoed in the hallway outside her door.
“Are you sure?” one asked. “This is the maximum-security ward.”
She rolled her eyes. They’d put her in the maximum-security ward? At least Soma took her seriously enough to have her in a secure facility.
“Yes. He said all the prisoners,” another responded. “He needs more men for the front lines.”
Allyssa froze. Front lines? Were these prisoners being sent to fight in the Russek Army? She leaned against the wall, her hands covering her face. If criminals were on the front lines invading her kingdom, what cruel atrocities would they inflict upon her people? The mere thought made her stomach roll in disgust. She had to do something to stop this madness from happening.
“What about the girl?” someone asked. It sounded as if he stopped right outside her door.
“No, not her. But gather everyone else.”
She peered through the small, barred opening in her door. All along the hallway, cells were being unlocked and prisoners herded out like cattle. Some could barely walk while others fought with one another as they were taken out of the dungeon.
One man pressed his face against the bars in her door. She jumped back before he could grab her. His eyes gleamed with malice, and he smiled, revealing brown teeth. “This is mighty interesting,” he purred. “I ain’t seen a woman for a real long time.” A soldier yanked him away from the door, blocking the opening with his body. After several minutes, the soldier left. The dungeon went absolutely still.
***
Allyssa had just completed a set of twenty sit-ups when she heard a single set of footsteps echoing in the hallway. The slow, deliberate steps sent a chill through her, and she stood, fear
ing the interrogator was on his way. Metal jingled, and the door to her cell flew open, making her flinch. A soldier strode inside, his presence overpowering the small space. Dark red stains spotted his leather armor, his long, brown hair had been woven into hundreds of strands, and like other Russek soldiers, black markings covered his stern face.
His black eyes focused on her, scanning her from head to toe. She pushed herself flat against the wall, trying to put as much distance between them as possible.
“Your name?” he demanded, towering above her.
“Princess Allyssa of Emperion.” She lifted her chin, feigning confidence as she cowered against the wall. “If you’re here to interrogate me, don’t bother. I’d rather die than tell you anything.”
He glanced at her balled fists, so she forced her fingers to uncurl, revealing her scabbed-over fingertips. He showed no emotion as he focused back on her face. The way he held himself reminded her of Darmik when he prepared to go to battle, whether it be physical or verbal. It was the body of a warrior. She would never survive his interrogation.
“The king wishes to see you,” he said, his voice rumbling deep like the ocean. “Alive.”
Her body prickled with cold fear. If the king was here, did it mean Russek had invaded Emperion? Did King Drenton intend to kill her or dangle her in front of her parents?
“Let’s go.” His command gave no room to argue, so she followed him out of the cell and through the dungeon, her mind in a fog, trying to figure out her next move. After they ascended the first flight of stairs, she paused, lightheaded. The man spun around and grabbed her, pinning her to the wall, the tip of a knife instantaneously at her throat.
Her temper flared. “Get off me.” She tried to push him away. He didn’t budge.
“Why did you stop?” He dug the knife into her skin. The weapon aggravated the recently healed wound on her neck, causing her to wince in pain.
“It has been weeks since I’ve had a proper meal. I simply paused to catch my breath.”
He withdrew the knife, studying her, making her feel naked and vulnerable before him. “If you stop again, I will kill you.”
When he released her, she rubbed her neck, feeling a trickle of blood. This man was no ordinary soldier. He could be an officer, although he looked a bit young to hold such a high-ranking position. He couldn’t be older than twenty-two. “Isn’t that what you’re going to do anyway?”
He stilled, not bothering to turn around to face her. His hands hung loose at his sides, his fingers twitching to grab a weapon. “What did you say?” he asked with a low, menacing voice.
“Your threat.” She swallowed, trying to think of a way to outsmart him so she could escape. “It doesn’t make sense since your king plans to slaughter me like a pig.” She wiped her bloody fingers off on her filthy pants, trying to calm her nerves.
“Are you implying my threat isn’t sufficient motivation to keep you in line?”
“No, I’m saying it’s impractical. King Drenton wouldn’t condone you killing me here in the dungeon. You should have threatened to chop off my hand. At least, that’s what I would have done.”
With his back still facing her, she couldn’t see his expression and had no way to read him. She just needed him to lower his guard so she could make a run for it.
“I don’t know what game you’re playing,” he finally answered, “but I will figure it out.” He spun around, pinning her against the wall again, a dagger in his right hand. He poked her bicep, sliding the dagger down her arm and slicing her sleeve open. A thin line of blood swelled on her arm. The dagger hovered at her wrist. “I suppose this hand isn’t necessary.”
The blood drained from her face. She hadn’t intended for this to happen. All she wanted was to distract him so she could sneak by him. “Release me,” she snarled, trying to squirm out of his grasp. His hard, unyielding body remained pressed against hers. She couldn’t even knee his groin.
“If you speak one more time or step out of line, I’ll chop off your right hand. Does this threat make sense to you, or do I need to demonstrate?” She shook her head, realizing she’d pushed him too far. “Very good.” He released her, sheathed his dagger, and resumed walking. He knew she was no match for him in her current condition. There was nothing to do but follow him up another flight of stairs. Maybe once they entered the main section of the castle, she could make a run for it. Hide somewhere until she could escape.
She was mildly curious to meet the king, wondering if he simply wanted to see her to verify her identity and presence. Or did he intend to do something with her? They came to an iron door guarded by two sentries, and Allyssa thanked the stars she didn’t try to escape earlier since she never would have made it past these two men. The soldier at her side pulled out a ring of keys, unlocking the door. Both sentries leaned away from him, rigid as a sword stuck in the ground. When the door opened, the soldier tossed the keys to one of the sentries, yanking her out of the dungeon and into a dimly lit hallway void of people. He resumed walking, his footsteps echoing. Slowly following him, she searched for a door, not seeing a single one.
He glanced over his shoulder at her. “This exit leads from the dungeon to the garrison. There is nowhere for you to go.”
Sweat beaded on her skin, and she became dizzy, her nerves reacting to the situation while her brain tried to block out the intense fear her body felt. They came to a dead end. He pushed one of the stones, which caused a section of the wall to swing open like a door. The soldier pulled her into another hallway, this one brightly lit and lined with several doors. He came to one guarded by four well-armed sentries and entered, dragging her in behind him. The door slammed shut, a sentry blocking it with his bulky body.
Allyssa found herself in an enormous room. The ceiling, covered with wooden arched beams, towered four stories above her. Gargantuous chandeliers with hundreds of candles lit the room in a soft light. Banners displaying the royal family’s crest hung on the walls. The soldier, still holding onto her, stalked down the center of the forty-foot room to a large fireplace with several chairs and sofas situated in front of it. A squad of soldiers dressed in plain armor stood around the perimeter of the room. Each step Allyssa took brought her closer to the king and yet, she couldn’t make her legs stop. Some innate part of her urged her on.
When they reached the sitting area, the soldier released her and said, “Your Majesty, may I present Princess Allyssa of Emperion.” He moved to the edge of the room near the other soldiers.
King Drenton was standing next to the fireplace, a heavy black fur cloak upon his shoulders, which matched his black hair. He turned to Allyssa, a red hue to his cheeks. Although he didn’t have any marks on his face like his soldiers, he did sport a neatly trimmed beard. Queen Jana was sitting on a winged chair, a goblet in her hand. Prince Soma lounged on a chaise across from the queen, staring at the ceiling. On the sofa, Princess Shelene and Prince Odar sat next to one another.
“Come closer,” the king said, tossing a pair of gloves on the low table. He must have just arrived home. Although she hated to listen to this man, she moved between the chairs to stand before him. He folded his arms across his broad chest, observing her. “The queen tells me her son brought you here.”
Interesting that he didn’t use Soma’s name, nor did he refer to him as his stepson. The fire crackled, all eyes on her. “He overtook my carriage as I journeyed across Emperion. He kidnapped and drugged me with a paralyzing substance.”
King Drenton’s eyes narrowed. “And what about Prince Odar?”
“He was accompanying me in the carriage.”
“Why?”
Was King Drenton trying to verify Odar’s story to assure he wasn’t lying and his engagement to Shelene could proceed? Allyssa almost laughed. Almost. Once the king had what he wanted from her, he would either kill her or use her against her parents. She dared not look at Odar. “I was traveling with Prince Odar, his squire, and three guards.” She folded her arms across her chest, imitating Kin
g Drenton’s stance.
“I didn’t ask who you were traveling with, but why you were with the prince.” Although he spoke in a pleasant manner, there was a subtle undertone of fury just below the surface.
If she didn’t cooperate, he would snap, and she had no desire to see this man’s temper right now. “I was on my way to obtain the king and queen of Fren’s permission to marry their son. Only, I didn’t know the prince and his squire had switched places, deceiving me.” Her words were clipped, angry. It was imperative the king believed everything she said.
“Did you sign the marriage contract?”
“Yes.”
“And did the real Prince Odar sign it as well?”
Russek could not learn that she was legally engaged to Odar—that he’d signed the contract as himself and not as his squire. She shook her head. “Jarvik signed it.” The truth. Only, he’d signed as the witness.
The king held out his hand to his wife. She gracefully rose and took it. “It appears all you’ve said is true,” he said to her.
“Of course it is,” she cooed. “I would never lie to you.” She kissed the corner of his mouth.
“I hereby approve of the marriage.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Shelene said, smirking at Allyssa.
Keep your face blank. Don’t show any emotion.
Hands slid over her shoulders, making her jump. “What are our plans for the princess?” Soma asked from behind her. She hadn’t even noticed him move from the chaise. Just his nearness made her skin crawl.
“Wife, what did you intend to do with her?”
Jana took a sip from her goblet, stalling. “I was going to keep her locked in the dungeon until you returned and decided her fate. I assume you will dispatch another letter to Emperion. Hopefully, she will be the motivation they need to acquiesce to our demands.”
“I suppose it’s a good thing I returned a few weeks early.” He rubbed his hands together. “I am pleased Soma brought her here. He is not as…useless…as I claimed him to be.”
Cage of Darkness (Reign of Secrets, Book 2) Page 9
