by Ann Bakshis
I grit my teeth as I want to punch the smirk from his face. “I don’t know how he met her,” I reply.
“And unfortunately, you’ll never be able to ask her.”
“What do you mean by that?” I ask, my stomach dropping as my heart pauses.
“You disappoint me, Kerron,” he says. “I never expected the leader of my Vagter would become a traitor to the crown.”
I reach through the window, grab his collar, and pull him towards me. “I’m not a traitor,” I hiss. “Now tell me what you did?”
“Something you obviously are incapable of… retrieving my medallion, and my Honora, which both happen to be in Nysa. Now, isn’t that a coincidence.”
I release him.
“I know you’re the reason she’s no longer in Latrest, that she fled during the night with her guardian, and why I’ve had to send my men to retrieve her instead of murdering Evander this morning as I intended.” His eyes shine with madness. “Tell me, Kerron, are the women related to each other? I would assume so given their proximity. Does that make Honora your niece?”
“She doesn’t have your precious medallion… neither of them do,” I say, shock setting in.
“Then what’s the harm in finding out?” he taunts, smiling. “All it’ll cost is Elizabeth’s life and Honora’s honor.”
I raise my hand to hit him, but one of my men places the blade of his longsword against my throat.
“Because of your lengthy loyalty to my grandfather and to Geron, I’ll spare your life this time,” Lycus says. “But return to the kingdom and you’ll be hanged for dereliction of duty and treason, is that clear?”
The officer lowers his weapon, mounts his horse, which is along the side of the carriage, and they head out of town. I’m trembling so badly that it takes me a few minutes to collect myself enough to mount my horse and ride down to Nysa. If Argus and Evander left the castle right after I did, I should only be about twenty minutes or so behind them.
After I enter Nysa, I take the main road through the village then cut over several lanes that should take me to the cottage. The smell of smoke and the sounds of anguished wails of a broken heart lead me to the remnants of the home. Caster is in Evander’s arms, weeping, while Argus stands guard. I slow my approach, then hold my hands up when they spot me.
“I’m alone,” I say.
Evander nocks an arrow, aiming at me as Argus holds his longsword upright, pointing it in my direction. “You need to leave,” Evander says through gritted teeth.
“Shoot me if you want. I just need to know if they’re alive, first,” I say, lowering my hands.
“What do you think?” Evander asks, nodding towards the ruins.
I dismount and make my way over to the cottage to have a better look. When I spot the lone body on the floor, I want to immediately run up to it. My soul shrieks with pain, but I’m too distraught to vocalize it.
“Who?” I croak, and begin to shake violently.
“Elizabeth,” Argus answers.
I collapse to my knees, tears streaming down my face. “Where’s Honora?” I ask, rocking back and forth.
“Gone,” Evander says, his arrow still trained on me.
“He knew,” I mutter as my eyes glaze over and the world swallows me whole. “He knew Honora left Latrest before the sun rose. He ordered the Vagter to follow them and seize her the first chance they got. I…I didn’t know until a few hours ago when he told me.” I turn to look at them, agony etched on my face and mirrored in their eyes. “I didn’t know.”
“But you knew he had the additional guards,” Argus says. “You neglected to mention that to us.”
“I did tell you,” I reply, directing my words towards Argus. “I told you about the intended assassination of Evander during the parade the night of the ball, which is why you had more men guarding him. I never suspected Lycus had already sent them to collect Honora. If I had….” my voice trailing off.
Caster shoves Evander out of his way then charges me, knocking me to the ground. He takes a hunting knife from his pocket and presses it against my throat, nicking it slightly.
“Go ahead,” I say with very little effort. “Kill me, but I’m your only chance at retrieving Honora.”
“If you knew how vile of a child Lycus was, why didn’t you slaughter him when you had the opportunity?” Caster asks, seething.
“My duty has always been to the crown regardless of who’s wearing it, but that all changed when I learned he was planning on murdering Elizabeth and stealing Honora,” I answer.
“You knew last night what his intentions where with Ore, and yet you didn’t stop him,” Caster says, pressing a little harder with the knife, cutting me more.
“I couldn’t openly betray my king, you know that,” I reply. “Which is why I told you to flee with the girl.”
“What’s your punishment if you return to Geron?” Argus asks. “I assume you’ve been relieved of your duties since you’re now here in Nysa.”
“I’m to be killed if they catch me in the kingdom,” I answer.
“Why did Lycus want me dead? We’ve never done anything to Geron,” Evander says.
“He wants one of your medallions. He needs a set from all nine kingdoms to open a gate that’ll supposedly lead to a tenth, forgotten kingdom.”
“Does he know each kingdom has two?” Evander asks.
“Yes, and he’s not been able to locate the second one for Geron, so he believes it’s here in Pelheim,” I reply.
“Is that why Lycus has taken a liking to Honora? Could he suspect the truth about her?” Evander asks.
“She has it?” I croak as air is getting difficult to come by with Caster straddling my chest.
“No, we do,” Caster says. “What would make him believe Ore has the medallion? What did you tell him?”
“Nothing. He believed Elizabeth was in possession of it,” I reply.
“How?” Caster asks, raising his blade above his head to strike me dead the moment I answer.
“Because I told him she might,” I respond truthfully.
His arm begins to fall, but Evander grabs it just before the blade can penetrate my throat. “Don’t,” he says, pulling the knife free from Caster. “He’s right, we need him if we’re to rescue Honora. He’s the only one who knows where in the castle Lycus could be keeping her.”
“I’d know,” Caster hisses.
“You’re too injured to be of any use at this moment,” Evander says, helping Caster to his feet. “You need to rest and have your wounds looked at.”
Evander walks Caster back to the tree he had been leaning against, while I push myself into a sitting position and apply pressure to the cut along my neck. It’s not bleeding too badly, but it still stings.
“Where did Lycus learn this nonsense about a forgotten kingdom?” Argus asks.
“From the book Henry mentioned,” I reply. “It details everything about all the kingdoms and has a map that displays their locations as well as anything else within the lands of Reynes. The parchment shows a doorway to the northeast of the Kunlun Mountains, but there isn’t anything about what it means anywhere in the book.”
“So?” Caster asks.
“It’s the mark of a civilization,” Argus replies. “Axis uses it on their maps all the time to signify the locations for the other kingdoms.”
“And Lycus wants to go looking for it? He doesn’t seem like the type of individual who’d willingly hunt anything,” Evander says.
“Well, he’s determined to obtain one medallion from each kingdom by any means necessary, including destroying them to find this place,” I say.
“We’re getting ahead of ourselves,” Caster says. “Let’s just focus on rescuing Ore, then we can decide whether or not we want to deal with this other bullshit.”
“How long will it take you to reach Longemere Castle?” Evander asks.
“About two days,” I reply.
“Anything can happen during that time,” Caster says, panicking.
“Which is why I need to get going,” I say, getting to my feet and grabbing the reins for my horse. “I don’t suggest we regather here as you can’t be sure what Geron Vagter might still be lurking around.”
“It’ll be safer in Latrest,” Evander says. “Meet us there.”
“I’m coming with you,” Argus says.
“You’ll stick out,” I protest.
“I’m not letting you do this by yourself. I won’t enter the castle, but I can help with Ore’s escape once you free her, especially if you two get separated,” he replies.
“And who’s going to guard Evander?” I ask. “Caster isn’t in any condition to and it’s your duty to protect your king above all others.”
“But it’s Ore,” Argus mutters.
“Let me do this,” I plead. “It’s my repentance for the past with her father. I won’t let Lycus harm her. If I’m not back to Latrest in five days, then you’ll know I’ve failed and can invade if you must. Bring down the entire castle if you have to, just give me a chance to try to free her.”
“We’ll come with you and wait at Geron’s border wall since it’s not fortified,” Evander says. “You’ll have two days to search Longemere Castle and its grounds before we attack.”
“I’ll need to send a message up to my men so they can meet us,” Argus says.
“While you do that, Kerron and I will bury Elizabeth,” Evander says.
“I’ll go with Argus as there’s a location we can use that’s not far from the border, but still enough of a distance to provide us cover if we should need it,” Caster says, trying to get to his feet. “It’s where I kept Elizabeth right after she fled Geron.”
“Fine,” Evander says.
Argus helps Caster onto my horse while Evander and I select a spot to lay my beloved sister to rest.
Fourteen
Ore
My head throbs, my wrists burn, and my ass hurts, but I have no idea why. As I open my eyes, I lift my head as it had been hanging against my chest only to find myself sitting on a horse that’s galloping through tall grasses. My hands are bound to the horn at the front of the saddle by the mare’s neck and I feel heavy, hot breath hitting me from behind.
“Hello, sunshine,” a Vagter says, holding me firm between himself and the reins.
“Where the hell am I?”
“On your way to your new home,” he says with a slight chuckle.
“Let me go,” I say, throwing my head backwards, hitting his nose.
He grabs my hair and pulls my head back, so my face is looking up at his. “Do that again and the king will be putting you back together one piece at a time,” the guard says, angered by my attack, then shoves me forward before letting go.
“What does he want with me?”
“That wasn’t disclosed to us,” the guard replies, and I glance around at three other men riding alongside us.
“We should be close to the rendezvous point,” one of the guards to our right says.
“You two scout ahead to see if the area is clear,” my guard orders. “Then begin erecting the tents as the king will want to bed down comfortably tonight.”
They sprint ahead, gradually disappearing from view, leaving one additional guard with us.
“What kingdom are we headed to?” I ask.
“Geron, home to King Lycus.”
“Wait, Lycus? He sent you? Why?”
“To retrieve an item that rightfully belongs to him,” the guard beside us answers.
“And what would that be?” I ask, growing cold from the possible answer.
“You,” my guard replies.
“Excuse me? I don’t belong to anyone.”
“Perhaps before the night of the ball you didn’t,” my guard says. “But King Job promised you to King Lycus that evening, and since you’re a citizen of Pelheim the king has every right to do with you as he pleases. It would be best if you remember that when the rest of our party meets up with us later this evening.”
“No,” I utter, shock setting in. “He wouldn’t… he couldn’t. Evan would’ve stopped him.”
“King Job did it to prevent another attempt on his son’s life,” the guard next to us says.
“Lycus sent them? Why?”
“He’ll probably explain that to you after we reach the castle,” my guard says. “Which should be sometime tomorrow afternoon or evening. It simply depends if the king wants to take the scenic route home or the more direct one.”
“He’s only a few hours behind us and is very much looking forward to getting to know you better, if he’s not overly tired,” the other guard adds with a chuckle.
I knew there was something off about Lycus, I just wish I’d listen to Caster and my mother sooner. But wait, it took us eight hours to return to the cottage from Latrest and these men attacked us a short time after we reached home. Lycus had to have sent them only minutes after Caster and I left. So, it wouldn’t have mattered if we left immediately from the cottage. These men were already there waiting for us.
I picture the smile on Lycus’ face when we first met at the dress shop and my skin prickles with disgust. What’s so wrong with him that he feels he needs to kidnap women? I dread what his possible intentions with me could be and I find myself holding down bile as it tries to rise in my throat.
It’s only a few minutes later when we reach the spot the guards had been discussing. It’s the remnants of a stone tower whose base is all that’s left standing, the rest having toppled onto its side, crushing the wood-shingled roof. My guard dismounts, unties my hands from the horn, but not from each other, then drags me off and shoves me into the small enclosure the stones make as a group of tents is slowly being erected. One guard takes the horses and moves them off towards a stream a few meters away to eat and get fresh water while another one watches me. I grow restless the longer I sit and terrified as the hours pass since it means Lycus is getting closer.
The first group of horses comes upon us just as the sun begins to dip lower in the sky. They’re followed by an ornate carriage and another row of guards following. My stomach falls as the caravan stops and Lycus emerges. He glances around at the small camp that’s been created, then grins happily when his eyes fall on me. He saunters his way over as I push myself as far into the tower’s remains as possible. His arrogance reaches me before he physically does, and I’m repulsed by it.
“Don’t look so afraid,” he says, kneeling in front of me and reaching to touch my face. “I’ve saved you, Honora, from a life where you would’ve only known heartache and betrayal. Evander could never care for you like I can, and he doesn’t deserve you like I do. You’ll see once we reach Longemere how right everything will be.”
“You’re mad,” I retort.
“Only about you,” he says, then leans in to kiss me when he spots the condition of my dress. “What happened to your beautiful gown? Come with me, we must get you into something more appropriate.”
He grabs the rope that binds my hands, pulls me to my feet, and drags me to one of the tents that’s still being built. Inside are lavish pillows, trays of food, bottles of mulled wine, and blankets. I know none of this was carried on the horses by the guards who accosted me, so it had to have come from the carriage.
Lycus orders one of his men to bring in a trunk from the back of the carriage, which he does, then gently places it on the ground before tying the tent flaps shut to give us privacy. The king undoes the latch for the trunk and flips open the lid before digging around inside, finally removing a gown that isn’t appropriate for traveling.
The material is sheer red silk with sleeves as long as the hem. Lycus has it delicately draped over his arms as he approaches me.
“See, isn’t this much better?” he asks.
“I’m not wearing that,” I say, firm in my displeasure. “I’m perfectly comfortable in what I have on.”
“But I’m not,” he says, his tone growing icy. “No wife of mine will be permitted to travel in torn garments.”
; “Excuse me?” I ask, stunned.
“You heard me, Honora,” he says, placing the gown in my arms. “The minute we reach Longemere we are to be married.”
“Like hell we are,” I say, then proceed to swing at his head.
He grabs my arms, shoves me onto the ground, and lifts my hands above my head at such an awkward angle that the rope begins to cut into my skin.
“I like a little fire in my women,” he says, his eyes widening with desire. “I knew you were the right one for me.”
“Let me go,” I hiss, thrashing my body and kicking him, but he lies on top of me, hindering my efforts.
“Relax, my love,” he whispers in my ear. “I’m not going to hurt you. In fact, I’m not going to have you until we’re wed, but I still insist you take off those tattered rags and slip into something more appropriate to sleep in.”
“Never,” I say, seething.
He moves his one hand so it’s the only thing holding the rope between my wrists while his other one begins to wander down my chest, caressing the parts of my breasts that are exposed.
“If you don’t cooperate then I’ll be forced to summon a couple of my Vagter into our abode to assist me in redressing you, and they won’t be kind like I am. Their hands may even slip and find themselves in rather sensitive places on such a delicate young woman, and since you’re not my wife yet I’d have no objection to their fondling you. Now, is that something you want to endure, or will you obey me?”
“I’ll obey you,” I reply, tears filling my eyes.
“Good,” he says, smiling.
He unties the rope from my wrists and tends to the wounds that have been created by my fighting against him. He then pulls me to my feet, stands behind me, and begins to unfasten my gown. I hang my head in shame and defeat because without my weapons I feel powerless to stop him. This is what my mother was warning me about and I didn’t take heed of it. Now she’s dead and I’m trapped in a nightmare that may never end.
Lycus’ fingers are cold as they graze my arms, freeing them from the long sleeves. He has me carefully step free of the gown, his hot breath tickling my neck as he breathes more heavily with each passing second. He turns me around so I’m facing him as he glances over my exposed body, his hands gently touching me everywhere before cupping my breasts. His fingers graze my nipples, making them hard. He holds my breasts for only a brief moment before finally slipping the red negligee over my head. His fingers wander down my body as he smooths out the fabric, touching me in places only one other has dared to, and he sighs with excitement when he notices the reaction my body is giving when he strokes me between the legs. I shouldn’t be responding in such a manner, but it’s almost like Lycus has a power over me that I can’t escape from.
