The Stolen Princess

by Kristen Gupton

  Keiran lowered the paper and locked gazes with the small woman. “…you not only rode right into Aleria, but you had the nerve to go back to the palace to seek audience with their queen?”

  Garhan shook his head. “I know you and Theryn grew up together, but that was a huge risk, Mari.”

  “Taking risks is part of a good courier’s job now and then.” She leaned forward and placed her hands on the table. She hadn’t anticipated any of them understanding her motives or being happy with the news. “I wouldn’t have gone if I’d possessed any doubts about Theryn. I felt I needed to contact her and see what was going on. Instinct compelled me to go, and you better be grateful that I did.”

  “Grateful?” Keiran asked.

  Mari nodded, taking back the paper she’d handed him and filing it amongst the others. “Before I arrived, Theryn believed that you, Keiran, had killed Adira. I convinced her to not send in assassins to end your life.”

  Keiran’s eyes widened. “Assassins? What evidence would have pointed her toward me? You all know good and well I didn’t do such a thing.”

  “Evidence was scarce at best.” Mari began to shuffle through the papers, looking for something else. “Theryn didn’t come to power immediately. After Adira’s death, the Alerian Royal Guards attempted a coup d’état, led by none other than our friend Mikale Dentron.”

  “That worthless pig,” Garhan grunted. “I’m not sad to hear she’s dead, but I’m surprised Mikale would have the gall to actually kill the old hag. Why would Theryn place blame on Keiran after the fact?”

  “Theryn did think Mikale killed her, at first. Once the rebellion was put down and Mikale executed, the actual evidence and details of Adira’s death finally came to her attention.” Mari held out another document to Keiran. “Her throat was torn open, the bite wound from a vampire evident. The only thing found with her body was a small dagger, used to eviscerate her. Whether that happened before or after her death is a matter of debate.”

  “She was killed by a vampire.” Keiran stared at the paper, a cold shock running through his body. It was an expertly rendered drawing of the dagger in question. He immediately recognized it. The raven-shaped handle was quite familiar. “I’ve seen this dagger, if not one just like it, many times in my life. It belongs to Athan Vercilla.”

  “As I suspected,” Mari replied. “I told Theryn as much, too. She was willing to give you the benefit of the doubt for now. I’m to report back to her in the spring, however, with any information I can provide. I know you didn’t kill Adira. Our group never turned back after we left. Sadly, there are no identifying marks on that dagger to indicate its origin or ownership.”

  “The raven is his symbol, but I know animal likenesses aren’t uncommon when it comes to weaponry.” He frowned and met her gaze. “This new queen, what does she know about my visit to Aleria?”

  “That you were there, and her mother tried to imprison you,” Mari said. “I filled in the rest to her to the best of my recollection. She was horrified to hear what Adira had allowed to befall Garhan.”

  “She’d left to go rule one of the coastal provinces months before I was locked away,” Garhan added. “She bears no blame for it.”

  Mari turned her sights to him. “She said if she’d known, she would have returned home and freed you herself. Adira told her you were dead, just as she told me.”

  Jerris raised his hands slightly, not wanting to allow the conversation to divert from the matters worrying him. “All right, did Theryn know her mother was insane?”

  Mari considered the guard. “Yes, she knows her mother slipped into madness in the latter years of her life.”

  Jerris nodded. “All right, and she’s willing to entertain the notion that Keiran, though he certainly had cause, didn’t kill the old woman?”

  “As I said, she’s willing to give me until spring to provide any further evidence one way or another,” Mari replied.

  “But the entire Known World realizes Talaus and Tordania have dealings, and both are ruled by vampires.” The redhead looked at Keiran. “This Theryn is simply waiting for Mari to find a dagger like that in your possession to justify her coming after you. How can we prove to her you and Athan are not on good terms?”

  Keiran met his friend’s gaze for a moment before turning his attention to Mari and Garhan. “Jerris is most likely right about that. Thoughts?”

  “I know you don’t know Theryn,” Mari said, “but I do, and I have most of my life. She’s not Adira, and she’s not unwilling to hear out the evidence. We have all winter to build your case.”

  “Thanks to you getting her to call off the assassins she was sending without giving me a chance,” Keiran replied.

  “I didn’t say she wasn’t impulsive.” The courier gave a weak smile and took the drawing back from Keiran. “Garhan can give some testament to her nature, though.”

  He stared at his older brother. “Well?”

  “Theryn is a good person, or she was back when I knew her. Why would Athan have killed Adira, though?” Garhan asked. “I have no doubt he did, but we have to establish his motive for doing so.”

  “Perhaps it was in retaliation for what Adira did to you?” Keiran asked.

  “About twenty years too late if that’s it, but I don’t know Athan like you do,” Garhan said. “Mari, did you tell her Athan is my father?”

  She averted her gaze and shrugged. “I left that part out. I didn’t know how she’d handle the notion. I’ll take Keiran’s identification of the dagger to heart, and if it points to Athan being upset over what Adira did to you, then that may be the case we’ll make when I go back to meet with her.”

  Without a recent drink from the source, Keiran wasn’t in top form. He reached up and rubbed his temples, one of his legendary migraines threatening to break from the stress of it all. “All right, we’ll give it thought between now and then. Jerris, you’ll need to tell your father about this when he gets back. While I’m not doubting Theryn’s promise to call off her assassins, we should still be cautious until this all blows over.”

  “The snow will hit the mountains soon,” Jerris said. “That will keep the Alerians out for a while.”

  “You forget Aleria has the largest naval force in the Known World,” Garhan interjected. “If they wanted to get someone here, they can do so at anytime they like.”

  Jerris groaned. “Right, there’s that…”

  Keiran dropped his hands to his sides. “Please tell me that’s the worst of it.”

  She gave an awkward smile before pushing over a small stack of documents from Emperor Betram. “Well, things in the Sador Empire seemed all right, but there was a rather gruesome incident with a Tordanian ship in Takrah a few months back.”

  “Just fantastic,” Keiran sighed, bracing for the story.

  * * *

  Corina and Kanan stepped out of the cathedral into the overcast afternoon. Peasant marriages were simple affairs, the agreement being recorded by the church without ceremony. Corina had every intention of having a celebratory dinner that night, however.

  They walked along together, both feeling like teenagers again. The new relationship between them bringing back feelings neither had experienced for decades. It was late in life to be getting married by Tordanian standards, but the couple didn’t care.

  Her head spun from the excitement of finally being with Kanan. While she’d never told anyone but Thana, she’d longed for something with the guard for ages. There was giddiness within her like she’d never quite known.

  Corina had resigned to the idea she’d live her entire life without being wed, but now that had finally changed. Though she’d had her brief affair with Athan, as well as a few others over the years with other castle staff, nothing had ever worked out in the long run.

  Kanan moved along beside her, standing tall with his chest puffed out. While he never would have admitted it to anyone, he was as excited over the event as Corina was.

  There had always been a level of comfort b
etween them during their interactions he’d not had with any of the other women in the castle. He’d tried to push off thoughts about why that was over the years, wanting to keep his focus on raising his son. He’d never been the type to dwell on his emotions, even when alone. With the marriage done, however, he knew he’d made the right decision by giving into his feelings this once.

  They moved down the stairs toward the street, the wagon they’d arrived in parked around the side of the massive edifice. Their hands were laced together, both silent in their happiness.

  Kanan scanned around as they got to street level. The buildings lining the avenue were generally constructed of the same dark stone used to pave the roadway. People moved around, going about their business, most clad in dark or drab clothing and blending into the background. Heavy storm clouds were gathering overhead, making it all seem even darker.

  There was a lone figure coming down the road toward them, however, wrapped in a white fur cloak.

  The stark contrast caught the old man’s eye, and he stopped, bringing Corina to a halt with him. “Look at that.”

  She squinted, spotting the stranger. “How lovely. I’ve never seen a cloak like that before.”

  “Neither have I,” he said quietly, noticing the woman’s path led directly toward them.

  She stopped, looking them over from beneath the hood to her cloak. There was a hint of recognition in her expression, but she didn’t speak right away.

  “May we be of some assistance?” Kanan asked, curious.

  Kayla held her tongue as she thought. It had been decades since she’d seen anyone from Tordania. While it certainly looked like Kanan and Corina, so much time had passed she couldn’t be absolutely sure. What they would be doing together outside of the castle if it was them, she had no idea.

  “Don’t be shy,” Corina said with a smile. “We’re quite harmless.”

  Kayla reached up with trembling hands and slowly lowered the hood to her cloak. “I’m dearly hoping you are who I think you are.”

  The older couple didn’t say anything at first. With her hair graying and in a much different style than they’d last seen, recognition didn’t come instantly.

  “Please, tell me you’re Corina Yosef and Kanan Steiner,” she whispered, her hands tensing up together before her stomach.

  Corina was the first to be struck with the realization of who they faced. Her eyes widened and she took a step forward, placing her hands against the younger woman’s cheeks. “Dear God! Kayla! Can it really be you?”

  Tears immediately burned in her eyes and she gave a nod. The sudden lump in her throat made her voice weak. “It is.”

  Corina pulled her hands away and covered her own mouth, stifling an excited cry.

  Kanan pushed forward, looking Kayla over. He didn’t want to get his hopes up prematurely if they were being deceived. “We heard you were alive, but can it really be you?”

  She nodded and stepped back, knowing a bit of proof wouldn’t hurt. Kayla shrugged back her cloak from her shoulder and pushed up the loose sleeve over her right arm.

  Kanan and Corina both leaned forward, closely inspecting the royal brand exposed to them. It was exactly as Keiran’s had been, before his father’s seal had been added during his coronation.

  Kanan’s instincts kicked in. Having the long-missing princess out on the street seemed risky to him. Without another word, he reached out and took her hand, as well as Corina’s, pulling them toward the wagon.

  “Come on, get onboard,” he urged, offering his hand to help them both into the wagon. “Let’s be quick about this.”

  The two women complied. Corina knew Kanan was simply being protective, and Kayla gave him the benefit of the doubt as he’d been good to her before.

  Corina and Kayla sat together in the back of the wagon as it clattered along the road, Kanan pushing the horse to get them away from the town’s crowd. The sound of the horse’s hooves and the wheels against the unforgiving road were enough to drown out any real conversation.

  Thanks to what Keiran had told him before about Athan’s desires toward Kayla, Kanan was driven on by fear. Though he knew there was little he could do to stop Athan from getting Kayla should he arrive on scene, he still felt compelled to get her somewhere safe.

  The wagon came to an abrupt halt. Corina stood up and scanned around. “Kanan, why are we stopping here? Wouldn’t it be best to get her to the castle?”

  “No, I would think that would be the most dangerous place to take her. Now, hurry up and let’s get inside,” he said, already climbing down. He tied the horse to the hitching rail outside of the small house he and Jerris owned on the outskirts of town.

  While Kanan had officially passed ownership of the cottage onto his son after his marriage to Magretha, the younger couple had been staying at the castle in anticipation of Thana’s impending child birth.

  The interior was cold from being vacant over the previous days. Kanan went to the fireplace, his well-practiced hands making quick work of getting a flame started.

  Corina went and sat at the small table near the kitchen counter, motioning for Kayla to join her. “Now, how did you get here? I have so many questions…”

  Kayla didn’t answer right away, diverting the conversation where she needed it to go. “How did you two know I was alive?”

  “Keiran found out from Athan,” Corina said.

  The younger woman closed her eyes and frowned. “Exactly what I was afraid of. I had hoped my father’s dealings with Athan wouldn’t have led to my brother doing the same, but I suppose it’s natural they did.”

  Kanan rose up from the fireplace, and moved toward the table. “If you’re afraid Keiran and Athan are close, you need not be. While our king does have occasional encounters with the old bastard, it’s not voluntary. Keir hates him.”

  Kayla gave a shallow nod, looking to Corina for verification. “Is that true?”

  Corina’s hands twisted together. “Aye. Athan has done nothing but cause misery when he’s appeared. Keiran would like nothing more than to see an end to him, and so would I.”

  Kayla reached out and placed her hand over Corina’s wrist. She remembered the absolute heartbreak surrounding Corina at the end of her pregnancy all those years ago. “I’m hoping we can see just that. An end to Athan. If my brother isn’t like Turis Lee, and he is more like Ilana, I’m hoping he can help, and he can be trusted.”

  “You can trust him,” Corina said. “He’s a good man.”

  Kayla relaxed back into her seat, turning her attention toward Kanan. “Athan did used to complain Keiran was a little too much of a good boy when he was young. I will need to talk to him. It is extremely urgent.”

  Kanan sat down at the table. “I’m afraid to take you to the castle. If Athan were to show up, unannounced as always, what would he do to you?”

  She reached beneath the neckline of her dress and pulled out a pendant. The round stone hung from the silver chain and appeared something like an opal, but it gave off a faint light from within, the colors on its surface shifting of their own accord. “The Nahli allowed me to bring this. For now, Athan’s powers would be useless against me.”

  Kanan leaned forward and inspected the pendant, but he’d never placed much faith in magic or protective talismans. “Still, powerless or not, if he were to show up, it would be at the castle. I won’t take you there.”

  He was right, and Kayla tucked the Northern Star back away. “Then my brother will have to be brought to me if I cannot go to him. I’ve traveled too far and at great personal risk to see him.”

  Corina and Kanan looked at one another before the old guard replied. “Aye, I’ll bring him here. It would be safer. This is clearly more than a mere personal visit.”

  Kayla closed her eyes, feeling the unwelcomed tension returning to the back of her throat. “It is, I’m afraid. The fate of the Nahli is at stake.”

  * * *

  Mari had concluded her meeting with Keiran, leaving the vampire alone in
the throne room with only Jerris. As she’d detailed the accounts of the murders along the river over the summer, Keiran had fallen silent.

  Now that they were alone, Jerris leaned a hip against the table still covered in papers and crossed his arms over his chest. “All right, out with it. Something in you changed toward the end of her story.”

  Keiran leaned forward, bracing his hands against the table, hanging his head. “Jerris, what have I done?”

  “What do you mean?” Jerris asked. “Have you been running amok and killing people? I know she said people speculated it was a vampire, Keiran, but you couldn’t have done it. You can’t just travel around like Athan does.”

  He slowly lifted his head and turned it, bringing his green eyes to bear on his friend. “I didn’t do it myself, but I’m responsible. I caused this. There is no one else to blame.”

  “How’s that?”

  “Do you not see what is happening?” Keiran straightened up again, once more pressing his hands to his temples. “The killings, the boat… Jerris, it’s Ahman Danier. I know it is, to the very foundation of my being.”

  The guard frowned and shook his head. “I saw him die, Keir.”

  “I bit him, Jerris. I infected him.”

  Jerris waved a hand. “You did, but it was at the moment of his death! It can’t possibly work that way! What about needing to consume human blood before death?”

  Keiran turned slightly, bringing his left hand up to the collar of Jerris’ shirt. He tugged it down to expose the brutal scar from the chunk of flesh Danier had removed from the guard during his last-ditch effort to retaliate. The faint crescent marks of his teeth still outlined the site. “He did, Jerris.”

  The guard’s eyes widened, and he reached up to put a hand against the scar, remembering his terror and pain. He’d bled terribly from the wound, though it had been stopped before irreversible damage had been done. “It’s not possible…”