Captive of Raven Castle

by Jessica Greyson

  “Your father laid siege to us for weeks, but we were ready for them beyond their imaginations. Only half my forces were on the wall the other half lay outside behind them, waiting to ambush when the chance arose. We would have crushed them utterly, but I gave him terms of surrender after a particular bloody encounter and he refused them. I had my troops drawn up and would have killed them if one of your father’s scouts hadn’t discovered my men. That night they ran away to Raven Castle, like the cowards they are, and only there will he reign as king. Where is your father, Cassandra?”

  “I don’t know,” she said. He was somewhere in the woods to the north, but other than that she knew not where.

  “Oh, you do know. You just won’t tell me, will you? Well, let’s see if we can’t loosen your tongue just a little bit?” He drew closer. Slowly pulling out a long dagger, he put the pointed edge against her throat. It pricked painfully. He moved the blade directly against her neck. It sent a painful shiver through her body. The blade was sharp, it would only take one moment to cause her pain. He moved the blade and pressed it against her temple sliding it down her cheek, but still he did not cut. He pressed the blade against her heart, then whirled it away.

  “No, I will not harm Alexandra. You are not afraid for yourself, but for someone else you might be. You don’t understand; I did this all for you. Why do you think your brother is dead?”

  Shock sang through her body. “You killed my brother?”

  “Yes, I did. I was out of town when it happened, but I am the one who arranged it. I thought, of all people, you would understand, Alexandra. I did this for us, and you don’t even say thank you.”

  “There is nothing to thank you for. You ruined my life.”

  “Now that you’ve turned against me, I haven’t begun to ruin it yet, just wait Alexandra,” he said, leaning closer and closer to her. He shouted, making Cassandra flinch in surprise. “Men, bring her in!”

  A moment later the door burst open and two men dragged in her mother. Cassandra’s heart somersaulted in her chest, then began to pound loudly in her ears. They pushed her to her knees before Cassandra, bound and gagged.

  Archibald smiled. “I will give you a choice, Alexandra. Your mother, or your father. I promise I will only kill one. Who will it be?”

  Another wave of shock staggered through her, fraying her tightly wound nerves.

  “You won’t keep your promise,” she whispered.

  “Who says I won’t?” he said offhandedly.

  “If you kill my mother, you’ll still kill my father.”

  “That is a fact, but you can save your mother, and once your father is dead, I can marry her and we can all be a happy family, Alexandra. So what is it? Tell me where your father is hiding and I can end all of this suffering. I know he is in the valley. Where is he?” He pulled out his knife and ran it along her mother’s neck.

  “I am not going to tell you,” shivered Cassandra.

  “You are not?” he asked directly.

  “No,” she whispered, trying to find the courage she needed.

  Her mother lay on the floor trying not to writhe in pain. Cassandra moved to help, but she was still bound to the chair. It was cutting off her circulation. Her fingers curled and uncurled, wanting to lay her hands on Archibald’s throat. He pulled her mother upright.

  “Where is your father?” he asked again.

  Cassandra’s eyes dropped. She would not answer.

  “Your soldier boy said something about them being to the north. I don’t believe him, but you, Alexandra. You could save your mother all this pain...”

  There was a long pause. A heavy blow fell, sending her mother forward to Cassandra’s very feet.

  Archibald pulled Serena to a kneeling position by her hair. Cassandra couldn’t help cringing.

  His dagger twirled eagerly in his hand as he circled her mother. Taking a handful of hair, he cut it off. He then struck her to the floor.

  “Please stop it.” Cassandra was fighting back the tears that swelled in her eyes.

  “I will stop it, Alexandra, when you tell me where your father is,” he said, pulling Serena back up by her hair.

  Cassandra was silent.

  He turned to her his eye piercing. “Will you tell me, or no?”

  Again she was silent.

  “You are not helping her by your silence, Alexandra; you are only prolonging whatever pain I choose to give her.” The dagger slipped back into its sheath.

  The question was repeated over and over with the same result. Every answer was like plunging a dagger into her own heart, but she could bear the pain.

  Serena’s face began to swell from the blows. Bruises were appearing on her bare arms; swaths of dark hair were scattered on the floor.

  It only made it worse because it hurt someone else—one of the dearest persons in the world to her—and she could do nothing about it.

  It was nearing an hour of agony when Archibald straightened.

  “I am not going to break her like this. Seeing pain isn’t enough for you is it. None of this damage is permanent.” Taking out his dagger, he thrust it into the fire’s coals.

  After several minutes of silence he pulled it out of the fire and smiled. The blade was beginning to glow. “Just a few minutes longer.”

  He came back to where they were waiting and pulled Serena to her feet and gazed into her eyes. Archibald removed her gag. “It’s a real pity, my pretty love,” he whispered, “I’ll give you one last chance. Marry me now and I won’t have to do this horrible thing to you or your daughter.”

  “Never,” she answered.

  “I don’t see why you love him still. He has left you here to die in my care; dear, give in.”

  “I will always love Aric.”

  Rage soared through him and he struck her down and pulled her back to her feet.

  “Look at your daughter and memorize her well. It will be the last time you ever see her again in your life.”

  Striding across the room, he pulled his dagger from the heart of the white and gold coals. The blade glowed in the darkness of the room. Daylight had yet to appear.

  “On her knees and hold her fast. No, don’t bother putting her gag in. I want Alexandra to remember her mother’s screams that she could have prevented. Hold her eye open.”

  With horror Cassandra watched as the blade slowly began to fall.

  “No! Don’t do it,” Cassandra screamed.

  It continued downward.

  “Stop! Stop!!!” she screamed, her voice piercing the room with desperation.

  It was about to touch her mother’s brown eyes, blinding her forever.

  She screamed. There was nothing else she could do.

  Before taking her sight, he whirled around, holding the glowing knife a fraction of an inch from Cassandra’s throat. The heat burned even from there.

  How can mother bear it in silence?

  “You are making more fuss than your mother; now, be quiet!” and he turned around.

  Again the torturous descent began.

  Cassandra couldn’t stand by and just watch it happen. “I’ll tell you. Stop! Please! I’ll tell you if you just stop!”

  The dagger clattered to the floor and he turned to face her. He tilted the chair back, back, back.

  “You will tell me where your father is?”

  “In exchange for my mother’s release,” she whispered, barely believing that she was uttering the treacherous words. He would kill us both if I don’t tell him. I am sorry, Pappa, but I can’t help it. I can’t let him take both of us—not after everything that you have gone through.

  “Done,” he said, releasing his hold, the chair dropped to the cold stone floor.

  The drop jarred her whole body. She couldn’t repress the cry of pain from landing on her arms tied behind the chair back. With a kick, she was turned on her side.

  “Cut her ropes.”

  Once free, Cassandra staggered to her feet. She wanted to go to her mother, to tell her a thous
and things—but no, Archibald stood between them.

  “We will go to whichever gate you choose and free your mother. From there you will tell me exactly what you know. Where would you like your mother liberated?”

  “The north gate.”

  “Men, take Serena and make her ready. Alexandra, you are coming with me.”

  He bound her hands and led her to the castle walk. In a short while they were standing at the North Gate.

  “You know that the north wall is impregnable,” he said aloud.

  Cassandra looked up at him, surprised.

  “Don’t look so shocked, child; it doesn’t become you. Of course he told me everything. Your betrayal was the proof I needed, and now I have it.”

  “I know,” she answered softly, going back to the north wall question.

  “Does your father remember that?”

  “He does.”

  “No one has come over the north wall and conquered. So where is your father really hiding?”

  Cassandra shook her head. “We agreed that information would be given at my mother’s release, not before.”

  He hackled a chuckle.

  Cassandra turned and watched the city, waiting for her mother to arrive. In a few minutes, they paused below the gate. She and Archibald peered over the castle wall.

  It was her mother’s swollen face that looked up. Archibald nodded her through the gate.

  Together they watched as she rode away, when Serena had reached bowshot’s distance, she halted with a backwards look.

  “There you have it, my pretty,” he said, his hands encircling her neck, like he was getting ready to choke the life out of her. “Your mother is safe. Now tell me where your father is.”

  “He is hiding in the forest on the north end.”

  “I see.” His hand rubbed tighter. “Anything else I ought to know?”

  You are choking me? But that is too obvious. “He will conquer you.”

  Archibald threw back his head and laughed heartily. “Oh, Alexandra, you amuse me,” and he kissed her cheek.

  “Stop that,” she said, trying to push down the tears so she could watch her mother disappear safely and not let the feeling of utter abandonment overwhelm her.

  “I am your uncle, you know, Alexandra,” he said, drawing her into an embrace.

  She remained stiff.

  “Come, Alexandra,” he said, remaining lighthearted. “I am only letting her go because I know I will get her back again. There is nothing that you can do to prevent that. I will conquer your father and then I will have your mother. See how it all works out in the end. Maybe you should have let me kill her. However, now that you have betrayed my trust and everything else you love, I cannot allow you to live.”

  “I know.”

  “Good. So how shall we arrange for your death, my pretty little girl? Shall I do it right now and just have it over with?” he said, tightening his already tense grip on her neck. His hands were strong, stronger than she wanted to know. “Would you like to boil in oil? Hang? Be drawn and quartered? Burned at the stake? Beheaded? Turned on the rack? What?” he said, kissing her cheek again.

  Cassandra tried to pull away, only to find a firm grip squeeze her neck.

  “Tell me, Alexandra, or you die right here.”

  “Old age,” she whispered.

  Archibald laughed, amused. “Well, leave it to me, darling. You were born at sunrise; it’s fitting you should leave your life at sunset. You have until tonight to prepare yourself for what I will create just for you. Besides, the dark makes for a more dramatic ordeal.”

  Dark clouds moved over the sun.

  Cassandra curled her hands into tight balls. Oh God, help me to not be afraid. Please give me strength. Amen.

  Chapter 35

  Cassandra stood on the turret ledge. Her hands were shackled before her, the wind whipping her plain white dress and loose hair about her. The scene before her made it hard to breathe. Piles of faggots were placed under a pot of oil. Now they were just waiting for it to boil as they played with the screeching pulley. Archibald was standing before her with a delighted smirk on his face. Her heart was fluttering wildly in her chest. She had a strange calm about her—one she could not explain or understand.

  Closing her eyes she tried to hold back the tears that came upon her as she thought of her mother and father. Together at last. How they would love, maybe laugh and cry with one another. How happy would her father be? But they did not know the fate that awaited her. She could only hope they didn’t. That they wouldn’t know until it was all over. She had only lived as a princess for three months, but she would die with the honor and resolution of a queen. The people were waiting for freedom.

  Opening her eyes, she turned to look at the mountains. She could barely see Raven Castle through the newly bared branches. Her jaw trembled and she looked away. The sun was nearly set.

  She tried to focus on other things. Uncle Archibald had moved the army down to the southern part of the city, the easiest point of attack. She ran his words through her mind.

  “Double the guard. I doubt they will give us trouble tonight, but if they do, I want to be warned. And captain, move your army into the southern part of the city. I have good faith that this little wench and the guard were lying to me.”

  Her thoughts raced to Taleon and his plans. He would be bringing her father’s flag over the wall. He would be one of the first over, carrying her father’s colors to victory. She smiled at the remembrance of his sword skills and the way he would surprise the men. Oh, God keep him safe. Keep them all safe. Let little blood be shed. Protect my Pappa, Taleon, the Council, the people, the fathers, the brothers and sons; we need them safe and at home. Amen.

  “Alexandra. The sun is setting; don’t you want to see it?”

  She looked once again to the mountains. They glowed with red and pink as if they were on fire, ready to burn for the cause. Slowly the sun slipped behind the mountains. The vivid colors in the sky were fading swiftly. In the east, the first stars were daring to glimmer.

  The oil was ready.

  “It’s past sunset, Alexandra. I hope you have a fine journey,” said Archibald, checking the chains. “Good night, my pet. Sweet dreams,” he said, kissing her cheek for the last time. Leaning forward, he whispered, “And don’t forget to scream for me.”

  A shudder slipped through her as the chains tightened. Cassandra gripped herself for what was to come. She promised herself she would not scream, not yet. She would not. No one would hear her die in agony. She curled her bare toes tightly. She struggled against the desire to fight the tightening chains.

  A cold wind swept up from the west feeding the flames. The smoke swirled around her, Cassandra’s eyes watered and she shivered in the cold wind despite the heat surrounding her.

  She looked up searching for the stars to comfort her. But even they were gone. A thick blanket of clouds covered the heavens. All was dark.

  In a moment she was suspended in air, the rudely assembled crane swinging her off the turret ledge and towards the pot of boiling oil. Instinctively she pulled up her knees trying to recoil from the fate almost directly below her.

  Archibald was laughing at her. Tears stung her eyes.

  This was the end.

  Below her there was an outcry of surprise. Swords entered the conversation with a clash. Cassandra tried to look through the veil of smoke surrounding her. Archibald rushed to the edge and let out a vile oath.

  “Tie her still; pour that oil onto them; rouse the troops! We’re under attack!”

  He turned to descend the turret steps and stopped before Cassandra and turned to her, his eyes burning.

  “Don’t think you and I are done. I’ll be back for you. This isn’t over yet.”

  Closing her eyes, she lifted it up the heavens. All will be well. In her mind’s eye she could see Taleon coming over the wall with her father’s colors, the flag in one hand, sword drawn in the other. They would be halfway through the town before anyone r
ealized what had happened. Something damp touched her face. Cassandra opened her eyes.

  One damp drop and another; the flames below her seemed to die down—still burning, but the flames were not as strong as they once were. The drops came fast and furious. The battle went on.

  The curse on Chambria was broken.

  The soldiers were gone and now she was alone, hanging in midair by her arms, they ached; her whole body was seized with the pain.

  Her heart pounded with hope. The people of Chambria were being saved. Just maybe she could be too? She called out for help until her voice gave way from the smoke filling her lungs. They could not hear her above the cries of battle.

  Swinging her legs, she made slow, steady, and painful progress to the turret edge where she had been standing and rested her bare feet on the slippery rock ledge. At least her arms could rest. Cassandra let herself cry with the rain. It was all over; everything was done.

  The night became long, up alone on the turret with the wind and rain. Cassandra fought her bonds but to no avail. She lifted up her voice, but no one could hear her above the cries, the swords, and the pounding rain. No one seemed to know where she was.

  Towards the dawn, exhaustion washed over her. Cassandra found despite her shivering and the pain, she could close her eyes. The worst seemed over. She would wait to be free until she was found.

  Chapter 36

  Her rescue was sudden and unfriendly. A swift slap across her face. Her body tingled with a feverish cold that sank into her core.

  “Wake up, Alexandra.”

  Her blurry eyes didn’t need to focus to know that it was Archibald who spoke to her. In a moment her bonds were loosed. She could barely stand, but he dragged her along.

  “I have one last play. I will conquer him; I will crush him,” he was whispering over and over madly.