by Connie Ward
"No,” Naren interrupted, planting a firm hand on Castarr's chest. “I didn't say that. I put an arrow in his shoulder, but it probably hasn't killed him. He won't get far. Even so I can't spare the men to go round him up."
"You shot him? Why?"
"He was like ... a wild man. I can't explain it. I told him to let her go, to put down his weapon, but he refused to listen. I had no choice. I couldn't allow him to kill the princess."
"Why the hell not?” Castarr was apoplectic. When wasn't he? “She's a spy and a murderer! She killed Repachea and gave Valleri his passkey. Ragsey caught her red-handed planting her evidence in my quarters."
I opened mouth to deny the accusation, but Naren nudged me silent. “Not according to Belvemar. He took a pretty hard blow to his head but I believe him when he says Kathedra is innocent. Ginger and Sestus trust her, too. Why shouldn't we?"
"Are you crazy? Look around, Naren! We're crushed, trapped, wounded, and dying. Valleri did this to us. Her lover. Her lieutenant, for God's sake! How can you suggest they are not in league with each other? Ginger was a lovelorn fool, Sestus and Belvemar stupid old men not to see it! I knew we should have shut down that infernal teleportal. I knew it."
Naren was dubious. “Where's Sestus? Perhaps we should discuss the situation with him before we make any snap—"
"Sestus lies near death,” Castarr said bluntly. “He was injured when the stable's burning roof collapsed on him. He's useless to us."
Grief assailed me, then rage at Castarr's callous disregard for Sestus's life. “Where is he?” I demanded. “I want to see him."
"Forget it,” Castarr snarled. “Biddy tends him, but she's got other patients who require her attention. There's nothing anyone can do for him now."
"Naren, you must let me go to him,” I begged, frantic with fear. “Please ... he could be dying."
"Maybe later. First things first.” He pushed me into a chair, turned to Castarr. “Any sign of Ginger?"
"Nothing. Last I saw him, he went down in a press of Royalist cavalry just outside the village. He's probably fertilizer by now."
Fury unhinged me. I leapt from my chair and dove for Castarr, shrieking, “You coward! You rotten, spineless son-of-a-she-goat! How can you be so smug? How can you be so heartless? I can't believe you just sat here and watched as your comrade was trampled like it's an everyday sport! You pig! You—"
Naren sprang to tackle me, catching my flailing arms lest I scratch out the commander's eyes. Castarr backed away, cowed by the force of my rage. Tears spilled down my cheeks, even as I continued to writhe and buck in Naren's powerful grip. “You bastard!” I screamed. “How can you just stand there and tell me he's gone? You don't even care!"
Sobbing, I fell limp in Naren's arms. “Get a hold of yourself,” he whispered between clenched teeth. “We don't know anything for sure. You're not helping your cause by behaving like a lunatic. Let it go."
Let it go? He made it sound so easy. But he was right. Hysteria and anger were not going to win me any friends here. I pulled myself together and pushed him away, calm on the surface while inside I drowned in an ocean of sorrow. I was numb, unable to believe it, unable to believe I still breathed despite the gaping hole in my heart. What if Ginger were dead? What if?
I sank back down into the chair, my legs too weak to support me.
Castarr said to Naren, “Have you seen Belvemar?"
"Not for hours. There's a chance he might be in the forest with the others, but we're totally cut off from them."
They rambled on, but I didn't hear a word of it. My mind was elsewhere. I thought of all the hateful things I'd said to Ginger. I thought of how bitter our last parting had been, and of how I might never get the chance to retrieve my petty words.
I stared down at the silver band on my finger and realized my Teki powers may be lost to me forever. It seemed a trivial matter when compared to the loss of Ginger. I had sacrificed too much in my quest for vengeance, no longer even knowing where to direct it. According to Ragsey, Valleri was the source of all my woes. Not Uncle. Not entirely.
In my reckless ambition I had managed to bring only ruination and death to my benefactors. Nothing I had done had made a damned bit of difference anyway. The throne had never been so far from my grasp.
"Well, what are we going to do?” Castarr snapped.
"What can we do?” Naren sounded calm, resigned to what doom awaited, ever the soldier. “Valleri's in control of the teleportal. His Royalists are everywhere. We'll never be able to evacuate Idyll without being seen, and we don't have enough manpower to provide cover. If we try to leave, it will be wholesale slaughter. We'll just have to wait for a sign from someone. Maybe somebody in those trees has a plan. Maybe Belvemar escaped and will return with reinforcements. For the moment, we're stuck here. But at least we're safe."
"Don't count on it,” I interrupted. “Ragsey spied for Valleri. The rat would have supplied him interior plans. Besides, he lived here as a child. You can bet he knows about this place."
Castarr shot me a glower that said he doubted my story. “Then why hasn't he attacked?"
"Your guess is as good as mine.” It was beyond my capacity to explain Valleri's actions, his motives. The man didn't make sense to me anymore.
Naren shrugged and exchanged a glance with Castarr. “Well, I suppose we'll find out soon enough."
It seemed Valleri was not without some mercy. He did not make us wait long for an answer.
Naren tended a gash beneath my eye when Jory burst into the room and announced breathlessly, “The Gryphon Highlord approaches. He rides hard for Idyll with the Seventh Royal.” He paused to draw air. “I think he means to raze us!"
What? Again?
Hearing this, Castarr leapt to his feet and yanked me away from Naren. “She's our only hope of escape. We can ransom her to Valleri in exchange for our freedom."
"Are you daft?” I yelped, trying to pull myself free. “How do you know Valleri even wants me back? Don't forget it would benefit him if I were dead."
"That can be arranged,” he snarled. “Naren, what do you say?"
"Don't listen to him, Naren,” I urged. “Valleri won't honour any bargain you strike. You can't trust him."
But to Naren I suppose it appeared they had no other choice. He glanced from Castarr to me. “I should instead trust you?"
He had already made up his mind, but I could see he was not proud of his decision. They were going to hand me over to save themselves. I didn't blame them, of course. But they were fools if they thought my ransom would win their freedom. Naren, however, is no village idiot. He had a scheme, no doubt, to ensure the Crusaders’ survival. My sacrifice would buy him some time.
At Naren's nod, Castarr marched me through the dungeon and pushed me up the stairs to the surface. We emerged into daylight just as Valleri and his troops arrived in the compound. As the Royalists drew near, Castarr shoved me ahead of him up the crumbling staircase of a burnt-out building. Below, Naren dispatched the remnants of their forces to various vantage positions, prepared to defend us if necessary.
When we reached the roof, Castarr clasped me to him in the manner of a shield before the advancing horsemen. Squinting through the dust, I saw Valleri rein in hard. I can only describe the look on his face as incredulous. Our gazes locked, and in that moment I knew I stared into the eyes of a stranger.
I sucked in my breath as Castarr brought a dagger against my ribs. “Truce, Valleri!” he shouted. “Or I'll gut her like a fish!” Eloquent as always.
Valleri's officers dragged their mounts to a halt, weapons drawn. Though I recognized Urharde and his second, there was another officer I did not—a slimmer, younger man, clad in foreign colours. Roche's lieutenant, I think. The man I'd bumped into back in Castle Gryphon.
"Weapons down,” Valleri barked at his men. But when they only continued to stare dumbly, he snatched Urharde's sword and flung it to the ground. “I said weapons down!"
If Valleri was surprised t
o see me, then Urharde was positively astonished. “But ... but, you're dead,” he burbled, his eyes bulging as they gazed upon me. Then he looked at Valleri, and immediately understood. “You!” His tone was accusatory, his expression one of pure outrage. “Bertrand didn't order the princess's murder. You spirited her away."
Valleri levelled his ruthless glare on the captain. “It seems there is doubt as to who is in charge. Bertrand thinks it's him. Well, he's not. I am."
His voice rose to carry to the Royalists in the rear ranks. “The sooner everyone understands that the better ... or perhaps I need make an example of someone.” His tepid gaze settled on Urharde.
The revelation that the Regent's lapdog had morphed into something deadlier than a Shouda had come as a shock to the captain. He struggled to retain some shred of composure. “Valleri, I assure you,” he wheedled, “no one questions your authority. We are obedient to your—"
"Ahem."
The argument ceased as both Royalists turned with an air of irritation to see who had interrupted them. Castarr did not like being ignored. He drew a thin rivulet of blood under my chin to prove it.
Valleri vaulted from his saddle to rush us, but the sound of a dozen Crusader crossbows cocking as they sighted on him brought Val up short. “Unhand her, you whoreson!” he shouted, his face black with fury. “If you touch her again, I'll rip out your throat!"
The force of Valleri's rage was so powerful I felt it like a physical presence. Castarr felt it, too. He cringed and retreated half a step. “Back off. Or I swear, I'll kill her right now!"
Checking his temper, Valleri spread his hands in compliance. “What do you want?” he asked, his voice taut and low with barely repressed anger. “Our freedom. Our lives for hers."
Valleri's eyes flickered to me, hatred in their depths, although I could not say to whom it was directed. My presence here had put him in this predicament. I knew, as did everyone else who stood in the shambles that was Idyll, I was the sole reason why the Crusaders were still alive.
Time passed in agonized silence while the Gryphon Highlord debated with himself. Castarr finally snapped, “You will answer me now."
"Done,” Valleri spat through clenched teeth.
Urharde squawked in disbelief. “Are you mad?” he demanded, leaping from his saddle to confront Valleri, heedless of the crossbows swinging to sight him. “You can't allow them just to walk away from here. They're traitors, cutthroats, bandits. I say let them have her. The throne is all but yours. You don't need her anymore."
"I've got news for you,” Valleri announced, a smile lightening his features. “I don't want the throne. I never did."
For once Urharde seemed incapable of speech. Therefore, Valleri asked the captain's question for him. “Why did I go to all this trouble, then?” Laughing, he gestured to me. “I did it for her, of course."
A stunned hush descended over Royalists and Crusaders alike. Whether Valleri told the truth or not, his words condemned me as a traitor to Uncle and the Crusaders both. Castarr let out a snort of triumph and shouted down to Naren, “Do you see, now? They were in league all along."
A restive murmur arose from the Crusaders at Castarr's damning declaration. Their hostility focussed on me. Naren looked away in disgust, and I could not tell if his contempt was for his comrades or me. Nevertheless, I could hold my silence no longer.
"Cowards!” I cried, fighting to break Castarr's grip, for he dared not harm me now that a deal had been struck. “It is I who have been betrayed time and time and time again. First by the Regent. Then by Valleri. Now you. You who were so eager to call me highness, who were so ready to resurrect me as your queen. Where is your loyalty? Where is your honour?"
Castarr struggled to restrain me, but Naren yelled out in a rare display of temper, “Oh, for God's sake, let her speak!"
The captain released me and I stood alone, battling for control of my thoughts, grateful for the ring on my finger, for I know not what chaotic force I might have unleashed. “Traitor,” I hissed, meeting Valleri's hooded eyes. “Traitor!” There was no other word for him.
"I'm glad to see you, too, Kathedra."
"You betrayed me. You lied to me. You used me to further your own ambitions. Your little plot to get me out of the way failed. Ragsey's run out on you. He told me everything. Why, Val? Why did you do it?"
"Do you really need to ask?” he retorted, incredulous. “I did it to protect you. If I had not intervened you'd even now be wed to Lesuperis, in thrall to Bertrand. I did it to save your throne."
"You had no right,” I spat, my fists clenching in rage.
A flash of anger streaked across his face. “I tried to help you. I had a plan but you messed it up. Do you know how much time and money it cost me to arrange your escape? I had to bribe Averi and his henchmen with commissions and gold to spare you."
"Spare me?” I gasped in disbelief, as memories of that day re-emerged. I strode to the edge of the roof, the closest I could get to him, and sank to a knee. “Do you have any idea what they did to me? They beat me. They would have raped and killed me if not for Sestus. My God! I can't tell you the horrible things they did to me. And I'm supposed to be ... grateful?"
Valleri paled, the revelation coming as a complete shock. His brow darkened, and I watched the last glimmer of sanity dim from his eyes. “Forgive me. I had no knowledge of their crimes. My orders were for Averi to retrieve proof of your identity and allow you to go on your way. If I had known—"
He seemed to have difficulty speaking then. Pausing, he took a moment to compose himself. Once more he became the formidable Royalist general. “They shall be executed. I promise, such an act will not go unpunished."
"Spare me your promises, Valleri. Your word is meaningless. It is my privilege to wreak my own vengeance, not yours. Just as it is my privilege to reap my own destiny, not yours to shape it for me. Do you realize what you've done?” I gestured to the carnage and destruction surrounding us. “Look around you, Val. Look!"
He ignored my diatribe, staring at me with a gravity that suggested I had taken leave of my senses. “I'd hoped you would understand."
He turned back to Castarr, abruptly ending our discourse. “The truce lasts until noon tomorrow, at which time this hellhole will be razed to the ground. You will remove your survivors from the area and cross the nearest border, never to return. Be forewarned; if you break this agreement my troops will have orders to eradicate all refugees and renegades in the vicinity."
"That's insane!” Urharde howled, allowing his anger to override good judgment. “They're our enemies. They should be executed as traitors. The princess, too. She's turned against Bertrand. She's turned against you."
Valleri's arm swung out, the back of his hand connecting with Urharde's jaw. The strength behind the blow flung the captain to the ground. “Shut up,” Val snarled. “If you touch her, if you utter another word against her, I will plant your skull on a pike. And if you ever think to contradict my orders again, I will cut the tongue from your head."
Never had I seen Valleri so furious. I thought I watched a madman. He rounded on the young lieutenant whose name still eluded me. “If he opens his mouth again, tell your bowmen to shoot him."
His rage vented, Valleri appeared calm and dignified once more. He told Castarr, “I will return tomorrow, at which time you will pass the Princess Kathedra into my hands."
"No,” Naren broke in. “Send someone else to retrieve the princess. If we catch wind of you anywhere near Idyll or the teleportal, I'll slice Kathedra's throat."
Valleri capitulated with an ease that told me he had no particular wish to return to this place. “Very well.” His shrewd gaze swept over his officers, skimming past Urharde and coming to rest on the young dark-haired lieutenant. “I'll send Saxton. A merc captain, he has no special bias. Is that agreeable?"
Captain? Last I'd seen him Saxton was a lieutenant. That either meant Roche had expired or been shown the door. Valleri had been doing some housekeeping, sweepin
g out the nay-sayers with the trash.
Naren gave the officer a scathing once-over. “It's acceptable."
Valleri remounted, ignoring Urharde as he struggled to his feet with the aid of his second. Val and I exchanged one last glance of mutual disdain before he wheeled his charger and rode from Idyll, his gold and blue standard fluttering in the breeze.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Back below ground, amid the turmoil of evacuation preparations, I had ample opportunity to ponder my impending doom. As my self-appointed guard, Naren dragged me with him from one end of the dungeon to the other, more to protect Castarr from my wrath than to prevent me from making an escape attempt. Not that I had anywhere to go. Everywhere I looked I saw only enemies, whether they be Royalists or Crusaders. I had lost all those most dear to me—Ginger, Belvemar, Valleri, too, who had died for me in a different way.
I wondered what Val had in store for me. I would hardly be more than his captive, for if he thought I'd back his mad quest he was mistaken. No doubt he would dress me in a queen's trappings, place a token crown upon my brow and sit me on the throne, but I would be in all essence his puppet. Despite his claim he'd usurped Uncle on my behalf, I was sure Valleri intended to assume the role of monarch himself. It would be he who shaped Thylana's destiny, governed her people, and exercised her power. Again, as I had been before to Uncle and the Crusaders, I'd be just a figurehead, until it was no longer convenient.
All was not total despair. A spark of hope, a flicker of defiance, still burned inside the Princess Kathedra. I intended to resist Valleri with all my might, even if my rebellion led to imprisonment or execution. My demise would be a quiet affair, for Valleri is a subtle, cunning creature. Once I'd given him an heir, I could see myself perishing in some unfortunate accident or expiring from an inexplicable ailment.
So whatever nasty fate awaited me I probably deserved it. I had failed in everything I'd tried to do. For all my vanity, all my greed, I was about to be punished. But I would have suffered the consequences willingly had all the others only escaped.
