“No. There are rumors he is still controlling a portion of the army. However, Jana has the backing of the noble class who control another portion of the army. There is fighting within the kingdom.”
“We got out just in time.”
“There is more.” Odar cleared his throat and shifted on the bed. “Around the time we escaped, Russek attacked Emperion on your northern border. There were two days of intense fighting before someone gave the order for Russek to withdraw.”
Her ears started ringing. “How many Emperions died?”
“I don’t know the exact number, but it is believed to be several hundred.”
“Who ordered the retreat?” Had Jana wanted the additional protection?
“Kerdan.”
He’d honored their bargain even after they failed to kill Jana?
“He managed to call them back before the news of the king’s death reached them.”
“What about Fren? How many lost?” She prayed Marek, Neco, and her father had not been at the forefront fighting and that they were alive and well. She needed to return home immediately.
“We did not engage in the fighting.”
Because the treaty wasn’t in effect until they married. She balled her hands into fists, and an awkward silence hung between them. “I need to leave.”
“Once you are well enough, I will arrange for a unit of the Fren Army to escort you home.”
Closing her eyes, she tried to control her rising panic and fury. “Surely I am well enough to ride in a carriage?” Instead of lying around here like an invalid while her kingdom mourned hundreds of deaths.
He rubbed his temples. “I will make the necessary arrangements. You will, however, need to meet the king and queen before you leave.”
Their approval was needed for them to marry. “Do you want to have the ceremony before I go?” Would she be returning home alone or with him at her side?
Odar looked down at their joined hands. “Duty will always come first with the two of us, won’t it?”
“Yes.” Very soon, their duties would be the same, allowing them to stand side by side in unity, instead of being divided between their respective kingdoms. Her soldiers had died while Fren stood idly by. Never again.
“You should sleep,” he said, his eyes avoiding hers. He stood and exited the room, leaving her with the strangest sensation that something had changed between them.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The healer smeared a thick, chunky paste on Allyssa’s arm. The cool substance soothed her skin, making the wound numb. An involuntary sigh escaped her mouth.
“You’re quite lucky the infection is on the mend,” the healer said. “When you first arrived, I thought I’d have to remove your arm. Now look at you—the coloring is back to normal, and the wound isn’t pussing any longer.” After wiping her hands off on a towel, she wrapped a white cloth around Allyssa’s arm, covering the wound.
Allyssa kept her head turned, unable to even look at it. Her skin had been stitched together, making a section of her arm look like misshapen fabric sewn by a two-year-old. Not that she was particularly vain, but she would have a nasty scar, making it necessary to keep her upper arms concealed in order to avoid gossip.
“The string keeping your skin together can be removed next week.” The healer rolled Allyssa’s sleeve down and took a step away from the bed.
“What about my ribs?” They ached as if kicked by a horse. She just wanted to feel normal again—if that was even possible after what she’d been through.
The elderly woman kindly smiled. “I’m afraid they’ll take a bit longer to heal. Nothing can be done for bruised ribs except keeping your torso wrapped. Same with your leg.”
“Can I travel?” Being stuck in bed was making her edgy. Knowing what her kingdom had been through and that her parents still believed her to be dead was chipping away at her bit by bit. She couldn’t remain in Fren much longer.
“You are free to resume normal activity so long as you don’t overdo it.” She patted Allyssa’s good leg, oblivious that she was a princess. “Anything else, dear?”
“No, that will be all. Thank you for your kindness.”
“Here are some herbs in case the pain becomes a bit too much for you. However, I suspect you won’t need them. You’re a strong one.” She set a jar on the table and left.
Carefully climbing out of bed, Allyssa stretched her sore leg and wandered over to the armoire. She ran her fingers over the delicate fabric of the dresses that had been delivered earlier in the day. It had been at least a season since she’d worn something so fine.
“You shouldn’t be standing, miss,” Becka said as she entered the room, carrying a tray of food.
“The healer said I could resume normal activity.”
She set the tray down. “That’s wonderful news.”
It was time to play the part of the princess, meet the king and queen of Fren, and return home to Emperion. As much as Odar might want to keep her hidden at Fren’s palace, it wasn’t the right thing to do. And she had no intention living her life locked away in some room just because it was safe. Taking a deep breath, she stood tall, her back straight and her chin raised. “I want you to assist me while I dress.” Her voice turned firm and authoritative. She was done taking orders from other people.
“What about your food? It’s going to get cold.”
“You will address me by my given name, Crown Princess Allyssa of Emperion.”
The servant’s eyes grew wide and she curtseyed, bowing her head. “Yes, Your Highness. I…I’m sorry I didn’t know sooner. Please forgive me.”
While Allyssa hated to put on airs, it had to be done. If she learned anything during her time in Russek, it was that she was not only honored to be the heir of Emperion, but she also wanted to lead her kingdom. Before, she’d resented the formalities that came with the title and position. Now, she understood and welcomed the role she needed to play.
“I am without my ladies-in-waiting and need someone to attend me.”
“I would be honored to help, Your Highness.” Becka rushed over to the dresses and lifted the yellow silk one off its hooks.
Although Allyssa could stand and walk about the room with minimal pain, she had difficulty stepping into the dress. The servant loosely cinched it around her torso, taking care not to hurt her. Allyssa stared at herself in the mirror, barely recognizing the image before her. A sallow face, sunken eyes, and her usually tan skin had a sickly yellow hue to it. She quickly averted her eyes.
“If you’d like, I can apply some dusting powder,” Becka suggested, “and braid your hair in the latest Fren fashion.” A smile spread across her face.
“That would be lovely. Thank you.” While Becka fussed over her, she wondered what the Fren court would be like. Odar had said it was similar to Emperion’s. Would the king and queen be kind? She couldn’t recall Odar talking that much about his parents, just little tidbits here and there. Suddenly nervous, she began fidgeting with her fingers.
“Did you bring your crown, Your Highness?”
“No.” She had never attended court without it. The crown used to feel heavy—like a cage tying her to her destiny. Now, without it, she felt naked and yearned for the one thing she’d fought so hard to break free from.
“There,” Becka said proudly. “Now you’re presentable.”
“Please inform the king and queen that I wish to speak with them.
“Of course, Your Highness. Please wait here while I fetch a messenger.” She curtseyed and left.
Where was Odar? She hadn’t seen him since yesterday when he poked his head in her room for a brief moment. It would be nice to have him by her side when she met his parents. However, sitting in this room, waiting for him to arrange the meeting, wasn’t an option. Her parents needed her, and she would not be caged any longer. Pacing before the fireplace, she not so patiently waited for Becka to return. After what seemed like much longer than necessary, the door swung open.
T
he servant stood in the hallway, accompanied by a dozen soldiers. “Your Highness,” she said. “This is Officer Allek.” She motioned to the man standing on her right.
He had black hair, brown eyes, and a short, clipped beard. “I will escort you to the Throne Room,” he said with a bow. “These men and I have been assigned for your protection.” The men in this particular squad appeared to be roughly in their mid-to-late twenties, Allek the oldest among them.
“Thank you, Officer.” She strode into the hallway, Allek immediately at her side. “Since this is my first time in Fren, I would appreciate any advice on etiquette and customs that you can provide about your kingdom.” They started walking, the rest of the soldiers taking up formation behind the two of them.
“I would be honored, Your Highness. Are you from Emperion?”
“I am.” Walking along the hallway, she was struck by the bright openness of the palace. Polished white marble floors and pale stone walls gave the entire place an airy feeling. The rounded ceilings were covered with intricate paintings—the sky dotted with stars, horses racing across fields, and even people farming the land.
“I’ve never had the pleasure of visiting Emperion and am unaware of your customs,” he said, “so I’ll simply tell you what I’ve seen from visiting royalty.”
They turned and descended a grand staircase with a golden banister. Placing her hand upon it, she marveled at the smooth feel of the gold. In this area of the palace, the ceiling consisted of leaded glass, which allowed the sun to shine through. Odar must think the Emperion castle a rustic shanty compared to this luxurious place.
“Since you are a woman,” Allek said at the bottom of the stairs, “you cannot go anywhere unescorted. If you wish to leave your room, I must accompany you.”
“What do you mean since I am a woman? Are you implying that if I were a man, I could walk around the palace on my own?” She stopped and waited for him to respond.
The tips of his ears turned beet red. “I don’t want you to become lost.” His eyes remained focused on something above her head. Marek always did that when he withheld the truth.
“I may be young,” she responded, “but I am not a fool.” Before he could reply, she resumed walking, unsure of which way to go. Large columns circled the perimeter of the room, each etched with emerald marble. In the center of the floor, mosaic tiles formed a picture of a forest.
“This way, Your Highness.” Office Allek gingerly took her arm, leading her through a set of double doors.
This was the most activity she’d had in days, and her ribs began throbbing. However, she forged on, not wanting to reveal her discomfort to these Fren soldiers lest they think of her as a weak female.
They passed through another set of double doors, entering a narrow corridor, each side floor-to-ceiling windows. She froze.
“Is something the matter, Your Highness?”
Turning to face the window on her right, she marveled at the magnificent sight before her. About fifty feet below, nestled between two large hills, a river flowed into a lake. “Is this corridor a bridge?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“And the river runs directly below here?”
A wry smile spread across his face. “Yes.” He hesitated, and then placed his hands on her shoulders, gently turning her around to face the window behind her. About forty feet away, a waterfall cascaded down, leading to the river below. She couldn’t hear the water on the other side of the glass though she imagined it had to be very loud.
“The palace consists of two wings,” he explained. “Your room is in the west wing, along with all the guest rooms, ballrooms, and the main halls. The east wing contains the kitchens, offices, receiving rooms, and the Throne Room, as well as the royal family’s residence.”
“This place is astonishing,” she said, feeling incongruous with the opulence and beauty before her.
“It truly is,” Allek replied. “We need to be on our way. King Viscor, Queen Lutia, and Prince Odar are expecting you.” At the other end of the corridor, they went through another set of doors and entered a large receiving room. Several people mingled about, talking and sipping tea. “Those who wish to speak with the king and queen wait here to be called.”
“Do all these people live at court?”
“Most. However, anyone may come to seek an audience with the king and queen.”
Several people looked her way. Without the crown atop her head, they had no way of knowing her identity.
“This way, Your Highness.” He escorted her toward two large gold-plated doors.
The sentries standing guard opened them, and Allyssa stepped inside while the soldiers accompanying her remained in the receiving room. She walked down the center aisle toward the dais, trying to be as graceful as possible in her condition. The room was empty except for three people.
An older gentleman with gray hair and a neatly trimmed beard sat on the middle Throne Chair. He was broad-shouldered and exuded an air of respect. He had to be King Viscor. To his right sat a woman about Rema’s age with long, chestnut-colored hair. She had to be Queen Lutia. On the king’s left was Odar. He was dressed in a dark tunic with Fren’s crest embroidered on the front. A crown adorned his head—it was the first time she’d seen him wearing one.
Forcing herself not to stare at the handsome prince, she walked the remaining distance, stopping at the bottom of the raised dais. She chose not to speak until properly introduced.
Odar cleared his throat and stood. “Father, Mother, may I present Her Highness, Crown Princess Allyssa of Emperion.”
She gave a slight nod to the king and queen and waited for them to address her.
King Viscor looked at his son. “I was told the Emperion princess was dead. Killed by the Russek savages.”
Allyssa shuddered, remembering when King Drenton announced that Jana had sent word to her parents proclaiming her death. “I can assure you, Your Majesties, I am alive and well. After being held captive in Russek for several weeks, I escaped with Prince Odar.”
The king rubbed his chin. “Son, you never mentioned any of this. Explain.”
“You didn’t tell your father what happened?” Allyssa asked, appalled that he wasn’t honest with his own family.
Odar held up his hands. “Hear me out before you jump to the wrong conclusion.”
She folded her arms and waited for him to explain.
He looked at his father. “When we arrived here at the Fren palace, I thought it best if no one knew Princess Allyssa was here. Jana is actively searching for her. Why not let Jana think Allyssa either went home or died from her injuries?” He turned to face her. “The roads are being watched. She has put a hefty bounty on your head. The less people who know your identity, the better.”
“But surely there is no harm in telling your parents of our ordeal?”
“No, of course not. I simply haven’t had the chance to speak with them alone. There are hundreds of servants and soldiers in this palace. It only takes one person to put your life in jeopardy.”
What sort of relationship did he have with his parents if he hadn’t spoken to them alone? They’d been here an entire week. She couldn’t imagine going more than a day without having her parents’ undivided attention.
“While I understand your reasoning,” the king replied, “you needn’t worry about protecting Princess Allyssa. Our spies tell me Russek is in chaos and facing a full-scale civil war. Queen Jana just lost her husband and children and is in danger of losing her throne, too. The Emperion princess escaping should be the least of her concerns.”
Odar shook his head. “Queen Jana will seek revenge, and Princess Allyssa is in danger.” He quickly explained Jana’s hatred for Allyssa and her ties to the Emperion throne and family.
The king shrugged. “It seems Fren has nothing to fear then. Russek is fighting from within, they’ve withdrawn their soldiers from our borders, and if anything, they will go after Emperion once Jana secures her throne.”
“If
she secures her throne,” Allyssa inserted, unable to help herself.
“Regardless,” the king continued, “since the war with Russek is over, an alliance between Fren and Emperion is no longer necessary.”
Bloody hell. That hadn’t occurred to her. She glanced sideways at the prince, trying to see his reaction. His carefully neutral mask revealed nothing. The irony of the situation wasn’t lost on her. Forced to enter a marriage treaty with a man she didn’t love, only to discover she loved another man, who, in a drastic turn of events, ended up being her betrothed. At first, she hated the idea of marriage. Now, she’d come to love Odar and wanted to spend her life with him.
The king watched her, waiting for a response.
“I will discuss it with my parents.” She barely got the words out.
“What is your say on the matter?” the king pushed.
Rounding her shoulders, she replied, “Until I know what state my kingdom is in, I am in no position to make or break treaties.”
“When do you want to return home?” he asked.
She blinked. He wanted her gone? “As soon as possible, Your Majesty. I am eager for my parents to know that I am alive and well.”
“I can send word via a messenger to them,” he offered. “No parent should believe his or her child is dead.” He glanced at his wife. The queen nodded in approval.
“Thank you.”
“In a few days, when you are fully recovered from your taxing experience, a unit of my soldiers will escort you home.”
Home.
Odar went to one of the side doors and returned a moment later with a man dressed in Fren livery. The king waved his hand, and the man approached the dais. “Travel to Emperor’s City immediately. Tell Empress Rema and Emperor Darmik that their daughter, Princess Allyssa, is alive and well at the Fren court. She will be escorted home in a few days. Deliver this message in person—write nothing down in case you are intercepted.”
“Wait,” Allyssa interjected. Her parents could still be in hiding or decoys could be in their place. “If the empress and emperor aren’t there, you may leave word with Neco.”
The man nodded and left.
Cage of Darkness (Reign of Secrets, Book 2) Page 23
