by Serena Rose
I raised an eyebrow while my face was turned away from the condescending noble. “You say that often. Trust an islander, trust a woman, perhaps these traits you are observing are not due to anything more than me being a human just like you.”
I was expecting another pithy reply, but not a full-on laugh. “Except you’re not a human just like me. Don’t tell me that on the little rocks that you come from that they teach a man and a woman are the same.”
I bristled at that. “I never said we were the same. Merely equal.”
“Equal? How amusing.”
“Yes,” I snipped. “Hilarious.”
He didn’t respond to my grousing, but most likely because we had reached the fountain he had mentioned. It was just as aesthetically pleasing as the rest of the painstakingly cultivated landscape.
It was made of some sort of beautiful alabaster, and I couldn’t spot any seams immediately. The water inside was a sparkling blue and it was being pushed up through multiple tiers to bubble constantly.
There was something inherently soothing about the sound of gentle rushing water, and I found my stress lowering itself an iota.
We sat at the edge of it, the Duke keeping a hold of my arm. I wanted to tell him to let me go, but I couldn’t risk souring the mood more than I had already.
“Thank you for bringing me here.”
“No need. The company of a beautiful woman is payment enough. You would be surprised how boring it can be to see the same over-painted faces of the available noble ladies waiting in the wings to snatch up whoever they think can support them for the rest of their harpyish days.”
“Yes, that sounds truly harrowing.” I saw a path for the conversation to take, and I took it. “Surely it makes you want to escape sometimes.”
“Occasionally, when they’re proving to be especially tedious.”
I nodded. “How would you go? Would you just head out the front doors?”
He scoffed. “Of course not. That would require far too much pomp and circumstance. No, if I wanted to slip away quietly, without having to worry about teary goodbyes and halfhearted promises to return before the next moon, I would assemble my party and head out of the supply gates towards the kitchens.” He gestured over his shoulder. “The stables are just south of that wall, so it would work out rather conveniently.”
“But are those paths guarded?” I questioned lightly. “Wouldn’t they wonder why a noble is leaving out the servant’s quarters?”
“Not at all!” He laughed. “They all know the lovers who use the path for forbidden trysts, amongst other things.”
“How funny! It seems you have everything all planned!”
“It’s a daydream I entertain more than I should.”
I was carefully considering where to guide our talk next when I heard the distinct sound of metal rhythmically moving against metal.
“Soldiers?” the Duke murmured, equally perplexed. “What are they doing in the garden?”
No. No, no, no!
They were coming for me, I knew it.
It looked like it was time for another Hail Mary before they found me and hauled me off to whatever their equivalent of a dungeon was.
…Probably an actual dungeon, considering the time period I was in.
Quickly, I smashed myself to the Duke’s side. “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”
He looked surprised but pleasantly so. “Did what?”
“All this talk of lovers, and moonlit romps.” I pushed my face closer to his, so our lips were barely a breath away. “Sweeping in to my room and guiding me like a true gentleman.” I pulled his hand to my chest. “Please, I beg of you, if you find me at all comely, take me on these forbidden journeys of which you speak so easily.” Huh, maybe that was a little heavy handed.
The Duke’s arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me to him with a crushing strength. Well, looked like he bought it, but it would be nice if he remembered that I was recently nearly pressed to death in a cave collapse. “I suppose I could be convinced to show you things that you only dreamed of.”
Was he serious. “Yes, please. Surviving the hell that almost swallowed me just taught me that I shouldn’t waste what precious moments we have.”
“I will come to you in the light of the moon—”
The footsteps were getting closer. “No! Now. Take me to the stables. I can’t wait a moment longer. We should avoid the soldiers, however. You know how people…talk.”
I couldn’t believe this was working, but the Duke stood, sweeping me up in his arms and strolling out of the center we had been sitting in. I thought we might not make it, and it was nearly impossible to keep my composure, but we rounded a corner without any cries of being found.
There was no way he was falling for this, and yet he was. Every step took us further and further from the shifting armor, until we were out of the looming topiaries and I saw a long, simple building.
Neither of us said anything. I guessed he was too preoccupied with the energy needed to carry me. I wasn’t heavy by any means, but I wasn’t exactly a lightweight either. I was too busy looking over his shoulder to make sure the soldiers hadn’t suddenly deduced my plan and changed their direction.
And then we were in. He set me down, and I rushed to close the door. It was heavy, and it took more effort than I thought, but when it slid shut, I felt a wave of relief crash over me.
The Duke was on me in less than a second, pressing into my back and pushing me against the wall.
“My lord!” I wheezed. “My injuries, remember.”
He took his weight from me and I whirled. “Of course. I forgot about your…delicate nature.”
“I am sorry, my lord. I am still recovering. But I am willing. I want to see you. All of you.”
“Impertinent little woman, aren’t you?”
“My journeys have made me bold.”
He shot me an arrogant smirk that made my skin crawl, and his hands went to the lacings at the front of his tunic. I nodded encouragingly, my face flushed with rising excitement.
And just when he looked down, I tightened my grip on my cane, then whaled towards his head with all of my might.
The length of the wood connected with his skull, and he crumpled like a stack of potatoes. Particularly douchey potatoes.
I stood there, panting, looking at the rag doll-like body of the Duke. He was breathing, but there definitely was a thick, red liquid dripping lazily down his forehead. I was in so much shock from everything actually working, I didn’t quite know what I was going to do.
Escaping on foot seemed like it would be too slow, especially considering that my balance was still so terrible. So that left…
No. I couldn’t. I hadn’t ridden a horse since I was thirteen at equestrian camp. And even then it had been with a full tack, saddle and all that stuff that came along with a hobby that was way out of my family’s price range.
I looked once more to the door I had just closed.
…I was going to do it.
I ran towards the nearest horse, which instantly bucked, sharp hooves flailing like diamond weapons.
“Alright. Not that one.”
I looked to another, and picked out one that was just staring at me with bored disinterest. That. That was the horse I would make my getaway on.
This time I approached the animal much more calmly. There was a full set of equipment on a rack beside it, but I didn’t know how to use any of it, so I just grabbed the blanket, slung it over its back and hoped for the best.
I ran—or hobbled, rather—back to the front of the stable and threw open the door. If I had planned this a bit better, there would be a whole lot less back and forth, but I was doing the best with what I had.
Breathing hard, I went back to the horse, found a stool and clambered on.
“Here goes nothing,” I whispered to myself, squeezing my thighs against the animal’s side and twisting my hands in its mane. When I was ready, I pressed my heels into its side.
&n
bsp; The horse took off at a gentle trot, moseying its way out of the stall, and then the stable. For the briefest of moments, I was terrified that I might have chosen an untrained beast, but when I pushed my right knee into its flank when we were outside, it dutifully turned the direction I wanted it to go.
Alright. All I had to do was act natural and head for the two gateways I could see a few minutes ahead. I would get out of here, ditch the horse in the city and steal some clothes, then attach myself to a caravan heading out before finding Leryk and his lovely wife again.
I was sure they would have a way to help me, and more importantly, believe me. I just had to make it through this one…last…part…
I had to remind myself not to hold my breath as I approached. I was sure there was going to be some sort of regiment of guards I would have to con my way through, but I saw almost no one on the inward side, and only a handful stationed outward. Two of them were preoccupied with checking the contents of a wagon that was coming in, another was flirting with what I assumed was a servant girl, and the others seemed barely attentive. It was clear their job was to make sure threats didn’t get in, not that potential fugitives didn’t get out.
“What are you doing, Lady Mercedes?”
My blood went cold, and I looked over my shoulder to see the Prince on a horse as well, along with several more of his men.
“Shit.” I looked back to the front and kicked the sides of my horse. “Get me the hell out of here!”
I held on for dear life as we shot forward. My pelvis objected rather insistently to the violent up and down that I was putting it through, but I didn’t care. I could deal with walking even funnier later.
I heard shouts, and people running towards me, but I didn’t let up and neither did my mount. I was going to get away or die trying, and I didn’t think they would try to—something whizzed by me, and I didn’t realize what it was until I made out the shaft of an arrow sticking out of the side of the gate as I raced through it.
That was unfortunate.
I was out, but it wasn’t nearly far enough. More and more bolts shot through the air around me, and I wasn’t nearly in enough control of the powerhouse of an animal beneath me to convince her to zigzag.
She was terrified—we had that in common—but I had to hope that worked to our advantage. After all, wasn’t there an old idiom about not backing an animal into a—
Suddenly we lurched to the side, giving me whiplash that I would remember for a while. Before I could put two and two together, I slammed into something hard, and then a terribly familiar feeling of being crushed shot through my leg.
“No!” I cried, punching my fists against the still warm back of the horse.
My mind clearing, I saw that she had been shot twice in one leg, and it had given out, causing both of us to topple down a gully. Tears of pain and frustration welled in my eyes when I realized that my leg was trapped under her, screaming at me not to do this to it again.
I tried. I really tried. I pushed, and pulled and tried to wiggle my way out of her oppressive weight. Sweat poured down my brow, and every muscle in my being screamed with exhaustion. But nothing I did allowed me to even budge, and all too soon, I heard more hoofprints come up alongside me.
“Lady Mercedes,” the Prince said, sounding so disappointed. “And here I thought we were allies. Imagine my surprise when one of the humans we rescued said that you were not some miraculous escapist, but rather the very person who warned them of our approach and robbed me of the glory we were due.”
My words came out in breathless clumps between my pained whimpers. “You know you can’t just go around listening to rumors.”
“My thoughts exactly. Which is why I wanted to speak to you. Imagine my surprise when I found out that you had mysteriously vanished. Now, I’m sure that you would love nothing more than to tell your side of the story, but this really isn’t the place for it.”
He walked around so he was finally in my view, and knelt beside me. His kind face looked much less like an amicable mask now, and more like someone who genuinely enjoyed whatever he was about to do.
I was powerless to stop him as his hand wrapped around my throat, and he squeezed.
It was quite different from any of the other times that I had been deprived of oxygen, which was beginning to happen with a concerning frequency. Unlike the other instances, when I had suddenly been gripped by the desire to breathe and fought valiantly for a single gulp of air, this was almost a welcome relief.
I let my eyes roll back and my body drift off. I might as well enjoy a little peace and quiet while I could. I knew when I awoke, I was going to be in a much worse situation.
CHAPTER SEVEN
I wish I could say that consciousness came in gently, lapping at my feet and slowly rolling up me like a lazy tide.
But instead, it hit me with the magnitude of what I assumed was a semi-truck going at about fifty miles an hour. One moment I was nowhere, blissful in that nothingness, and the next, I was gasping in complete and utter torment.
Sounds came out of my mouth that I had never heard before, and I couldn’t even see through the haze of agony that seemed to be taking up all of my brain power. It took several long, long moments of trying to catch my breath and quell the panic in me before I was able to gather where I was.
It was dark. That was the first thing I noted.
And everything seemed to be either gray or earth brown.
And did I smell…mildew?
There was something hard and itchy encrusted around my nose, so I moved to scrape it off so that I might get a better sniff of whatever aroma that was. But my hand jerked to a stop, and I belatedly realized it was pretty strange that I was holding my arms above my head to start with.
Oh.
I was chained.
The final bit of the fog cleared, and full realization settled onto me. I was in a dungeon. A real, honest to god, medieval dungeon.
I would have been fascinated if it didn’t feel like every part of me was going to crumble from the pain radiating throughout me. But at least between the two, I didn’t have much left in me to be afraid. I figured I should hold onto that false bravado while I could. I knew I would need it later.
…Much later, as it turned out.
I knelt there for hours, my knees on the cold, damp floor, and my hands chained above my head. I thought about standing occasionally so that my arms could have a rest, but any sort of movement was a no-go by the lower half of my body.
And yet, when I heard low voices conversing casually as they approached me, I didn’t feel any reprieve. I was stuck between a rock and a hard place, where either choice probably resulted in a whole lot of torture.
Sure enough, it was the Prince, and a couple of other men I didn’t recognize. I was somewhat surprised not to see the Duke there, anxious to get his revenge at being so bested by a mere woman, but perhaps he was still laid up. I did beat him particularly hard.
It wasn’t like he didn’t deserve it.
“Lady Mercedes,” the Prince said, that pleasant smile still on his face. If anything, it was creepier than ever.
“Your Majesty,” I murmured, voice barely more than a rasp. I figured between the dehydration, and my racking up frequent flyer miles on the strangulation express, I was grateful to be able to speak at all.
“You have certainly made this whole endeavor quite different than how I originally envisioned it. I suppose I should be grateful you were found out before we threw a whole banquet in your honor.”
“Yeah, imagine the egg on your face if that happened.”
He laughed, and I was quickly on my way to being one hundred percent sure that he was some sort of sociopath. “Glad you understand. I must say, I’m still quite confused about how all of this happened. Perhaps if you would be willing to provide us a little enlightenment, we might not have to execute you for treason.”
I shrugged. “I did what I had to do to stay alive.” My mind was tumbling through all the things th
at they could have possibly said about me. Thankfully, almost none of the pen had been privy to my day to day interactions with the royals. In fact, there was only a single woman that I saw in my time outside of the plains, and I could only pray that the dragons had managed to whisk her away.
Maybe that was wrong, to wish continued captivity onto a woman who clearly didn’t want it. I guessed that perhaps I wasn’t as altruistic a good guy as I would have liked to think I was before this whole mess started.
“More than one of the beasts were interested in me, so I had to play my cards carefully to make sure I didn’t get ripped to pieces.”
“See, I would like to believe that. You’ve got this certain sort of intelligence behind your eyes that makes me think that you’re not the helpless maid many might take you for.”
There was a clinking sound, and I realized it was a key in the lock. Slowly, the door of my cage slid open, and the group of men walked inside.
I…didn’t like that. Not at all. Although I knew those rods of iron were meant to keep me in—that was the whole point of a prison after all—they made a fairly comforting barrier between me and the high-ranking humans who no doubt had intent on bringing me pain.
“But the issue I’m having is how you could possibly know that we were approaching. From what I’m told, most of the dragons didn’t even believe you. Some even wanted you dead.”
Crap. It was her. Ashlynne. Of course, the only other human who had any idea of what I really was up to in the dragon’s stronghold would have escaped. I was happy for her, in a backhanded sort of way, but I wondered what she was going to do about the dragon-kin baby growing in her belly.
“They feared you,” the Prince murmured, stepping closer to me, “and I find that far more interesting than anything else.” He had finally reached me, and pulled me gently to my feet. I swayed slightly, my legs refusing to hold me steady, so he helped prop me against the wall.
Silently, he continued to passively manhandle me. He took my arm, and pulled it out towards one of the men, who placed my hand between his arm and body, effectively pinning it there. “It is difficult, I want truth when you answer. Now we both know what a good liar you are, but you would be surprised at how perceptive I can be when I know that there is something to look out for.”
