Unleashing the Shadows (Nine Kingdoms Book 1)

by Ann Bakshis

  Seventeen

  Ore

  Lycus has locked himself in the library as a way to keep away from what we both know is coming. He’s so afraid of losing himself in the moment of my supposed rescue that he might do more harm than is necessary, therefore destroying his chances of obtaining the Pelheim medallion he, and now I, desperately desire. I never thought I’d feel like this, the need for control or want. I always thought of myself as a simple person, but that could’ve just been the influence of Caster and my mother, therefore shrouding me from my true self. I know Lycus is right, I belong here as queen, but I’m not quite sure he’s to be my king.

  I love my brother deeply, but he could simply be a means to a beginning. A passage towards something greater. I know what he expects of me while I’m away, but if I’m to be successful then I have to do things my way, even if that means betraying my vows to him. He doesn’t understand the lengths I’m willing to go for him, or for myself, to flourish. I’m good at keeping secrets, as I’ve been doing it my entire life. That’s the one thing I don’t believe Caster and my mother ever intended to teach me, but they did. And very well, too.

  I currently pace in the foyer, wringing my hands with discomfort, especially since the beautiful ring Lycus bestowed upon me on our wedding night is no longer there. He forced me to take it off so the others wouldn’t become suspicious of us were they to notice it on my finger. It’s been placed in the vault up in the throne room with the crowns and other family jewels until I return to reclaim it. Even though I only wore it for not quite two days, I feel like it’s been on my hand for years, and I feel naked without it.

  Welland guards the library door to make sure I don’t go in and Lycus doesn’t come out until I’m gone. When he sees me peering around the corner at him, the leader of the guards scowls and flicks his hand for me to go back to my miserable waiting. I grow increasingly restless and decide to retreat to the back part of the property and work on getting used to my new longbow and arrow set. I only got to handle them briefly before, and now is a good time to inspect their design and balance.

  The quiver is black leather with small silver nodules holding it together along the seams. The arrows are constructed from a smooth black metal that almost sings when it meets the string of the bow and shimmers in the sunlight. The arrowheads are made from a finely polished steel. The longbow is constructed from the same black metal as the arrows with intricate scroll marks along its frame that adds to its delicate beauty. I find a tree not far from the mudroom and pick my stance. The arrows whistle as they sail through the air, sinking seamlessly into the thick trunk of an oak tree.

  I spend at least an hour or more practicing and work up quite a thirst. After I’ve retrieved my arrows and placed them back into the quiver, I go through the door for the mudroom then into the kitchen for something to drink. The kitchen is filled to the brim with servants, many scrubbing the pots, pans, and dishes from last night’s feast.

  “Is there something you need, milady?” a washer woman asks as I huddle in the corner to stay out of their way.

  “I was just hoping for a drink of water,” I reply.

  “Water is in short supply at the moment, but if you retreat to the dining room I’ll make sure something is brought to you shortly,” the older woman says.

  “Thank you,” I reply, then take the stairs up to the hallway that sits outside the dining room.

  I rest the quiver and bow on a chair beside me while I wait, which thankfully isn’t long. The washer woman brings me a tall glass of juice, which she serves to me on a small platter. As I lift up the glass, I notice a piece of parchment protruding out from under the doily that lines the platter. I look to confront the woman, but she’s hurried away. I sip my drink while I carefully open the small note.

  Meet me in the kitchen just after eleven this evening if you want to escape the clutches of the king.

  The document isn’t signed, but I’m not interested in that. I’m intrigued that one of our own servants is willing to defy their ruler to aid in my flight. I wonder how Caster or Evan managed to convince her, better yet even find her. Lycus did inform me of the three strangers who were seen travelling north through the village and that he suspected it was them plus Argus, so who did they visit? What was promised to this woman if she aided me? If she wants me to meet her in the kitchen, then she must be taking me through the tunnel behind the linen closet. I shove the note into the quiver, finish my juice, grab my things, and retire to my bedchamber until that fateful hour strikes.

  I eat dinner in my room as Lycus does the same in the library. I’ve not told him about the note, nor do I intend to since it’ll only cause him to fret until I’m gone. My escape needs to be done quietly, so he doesn’t ruin everything. As eleven comes around, I take my leave of the bedchamber, making sure to take the longbow and arrows with me. Welland passes me in the hall on his way to the library and I simply smile at him as I continue on to the kitchen. I take the stairs down and when I enter only the washer woman is there, scrubbing at a remaining pot.

  “Does milady require anything at this late hour?” she asks, drying her hands on a rag tucked into a band around her waist.

  “I was thinking of going for a walk,” I reply. “But because of the time I don’t want the guards knowing I’m afoot as they might tell the king. Would you happen to know of any secret passageways I might be able to take to free myself from this dungeon?”

  She smiles, tosses the rag onto the counter, and takes my arm. “This way,” she says.

  She opens the door for the linen closet, then the additional one at the back before waving for me to follow. I make sure both doors are secured behind us before we move down the dark tunnel. The woman reaches up and removes a torch from its place on the wall, lighting it so we can see. The tunnel seems a lot longer tonight than it did when I ran down it yesterday morning, but that could be because we’re walking slow due to the darkness that envelops us if the torch isn’t close enough. When the end comes into view, I let out a sigh of relief, but that’s mainly to put on airs for the woman. She asks me to nock my arrow before she opens the door in case we should come across any guards, but the only one I notice as the door swings open is Argus. He has the goofiest grin I’ve ever seen on his face. I put the arrow in the quiver and sling the longbow across my back.

  “I missed you,” he says, wrapping me in his big burly arms and lifting me off the ground. “I’m so glad you’re safe.”

  “Come on, let’s get the hell out of here,” the woman says, eyeing two horses that are tied to a nearby tree.

  Argus has her mount one while he helps me onto his. I hold onto him tightly as we make our way out of Geron. It takes us a couple of hours to reach the outer boundary where a camp has been erected. Several Pelheim Vagter stand with their longswords drawn as they probably heard our approach.

  “Pack up,” Argus orders. “We’re not staying here.”

  The men don’t argue, and quickly gather their belongings and mount up. Around a dozen lead the way, while the others cover the rear with Argus. The woman and I ride in the middle. We go at full speed trying to put as much distance between us and Geron as quickly as possible. I take this time to go over what I’m going to say and how I’m going to act when I’m back in Latrest. I need to be very convincing in my portrayal of the brutal torment Lycus subjected me to, which won’t be hard, and having the bruises still very prominent around my neck will help.

  By the time we decide to stop, the moon has crept further to the west as thousands of stars shine above us. Argus doesn’t want the tents to be erected in case we need to make a hasty getaway, so the guards hand the woman and me a blanket to wrap ourselves in or use as ground cover. Argus takes a position close to me, but I keep my back to him because I can tell he wants to ask questions. I don’t want to say anything until we’re back in Latrest.

  I get very little sleep because of all the heavy snoring coming from those around us. Not everyone sleeps as we still needed guards t
o watch over us. The morning dampness isn’t helping my now sullen mood, but it’ll help convey my feelings when I confront Caster.

  We head out just as the sun rises and reach Latrest in the early afternoon. The guards on duty at the gate open it as we approach, then close it with their weapons drawn, probably in case we were followed, though I know for a fact we weren’t. Our small caravan winds up the drive where another group of guards is patrolling, then stops at the bottom of the steps leading up to the castle entrance. Argus dismounts then assists me down as Evan and Caster, who’s limping slightly, come bolting out of the front door, racing down to meet us. Before they can get close, and to demonstrate my growing rage for being deceived by a man I’ve trusted my entire life, I pull Argus’ longsword from the scabbard around his saddle and point it at Caster, which causes him to freeze in his tracks.

  The woman chuckles behind me as she continues to sit on her horse.

  “You knew who he was!” I scream at him as best I can, my entire body shaking, which makes the sword dance.

  “Ore, put the weapon down,” he says, trying to calm me with his hands out in a defensive position.

  “You lied to me my entire life! Why?”

  “To protect you.”

  “That’s nothing but bullshit, and you know it!” Tears run down my face as the reality of everything finally catches up. I guess putting on a brave front is only good for short amounts of time. I’d been holding back the inevitable, knowing I was going to need to face this moment at some point. I just underestimated the impact it would have on me. I spot Evan taking a step forward since he’d stopped when Caster did, so I swing the sword at him. Immediately his guards draw their longswords, while a few with crossbows raise them. “Your father gave me to him.”

  “Put your weapons down,” Argus says, with such force it feels like the world shakes as he gestures to his men. After a brief hesitation they do, but they don’t put them away.

  “Let’s discuss this inside,” Evan says, his voice steady, trying to diffuse the tense situation.

  “Put the sword down, Ore,” Caster says, so I swing it back in his direction.

  “Give me one reason why I shouldn’t run you through with this,” I say, seething.

  “Because you don’t know the full story,” he replies.

  “Which part do you think I don’t understand?” I ask as the sword grows heavier. “The fact that I’m a royal heir to the Geron throne, that my father only abandoned my mother because he was set to marry another woman who was also expecting his child, or that Lycus is my half-brother who wants his sister for a wife? Did I miss anything, Caster?”

  “He knows?” Caster asks, shocked.

  “He has for a while, unlike me, who only learned the truth a few days ago,” I reply, weakening. I drop the sword and fall to my knees. “How could you not have told me?”

  “Your mother and I didn’t know how,” he replies, getting down to my level on the ground. “It’s true that your father was forced to marry another, but Elizabeth had already been carrying you for several months by the time he made her flee. His soon to be wife was only pregnant for a month before their marriage. Elizabeth and I knew that if Gregor ever found out about your survival, he’d send someone to either kidnap or kill you. We couldn’t take that chance, which is why we lied to you and hid you. I didn’t know Moyra had a son until the night of the ball when Kerron told me.”

  “But why didn’t you tell me while we were headed back to get Mom?” I ask, my voice cracking.

  Caster leans forward and places a hand around my neck, which causes me to grimace and flinch. I didn’t realize how sensitive my injury still is, which makes me wonder what kind of damage Lycus did and if, in fact, it’ll ever heal. Caster pushes my hair away as it had been covering the bruises and his face reddens.

  “Evan,” he says as calmly as possible.

  Evan bends down to see what the problem is. “Oh my God,” he utters. “Lycus did this, didn’t he?” he asks.

  I nod.

  “If his intention was to kill you, why didn’t he do it while you were here? Why wait until he had you back in Geron?” Caster asks.

  “He wasn’t trying to kill me,” I say softly, pushing their hands away and hanging my head against my chest.

  I know the question they want to ask, but all three of them are too embarrassed to bring it up—at least for the moment.

  “Let’s get her inside,” Evan says, standing. “Take Verna over to the village of Fila where she can rest.”

  “How far away is that?” the woman who helped me escapes asks.

  “Just a few miles to the west,” Argus says. “Not more than thirty minutes from here.”

  “I’ll have Argus stop by the inn tomorrow where you’ll be staying, so we can keep our promise to you.”

  “You better,” she hisses.

  Evan instructs two of the guards who came in with us to take Verna while the others retreat to the rear of the castle. Caster helps me up, wraps an arm around my shoulder, and assists me inside then down the hallway to a solar with a full bar. He sets me on one of the couches, fills a glass with an amber-colored liquor, and hands it to me. He goes back to pour himself and Evan one as well. I sit and stare at the tumbler in my trembling hands, not knowing what to do. I know what needs to be done, and I’m determined to follow through with it all, but in the same instance I need to come to grips with the truth that’s been revealed to me and the impact it’ll have on every decision I make going forward. The world I pretended to live in no longer exists, so I need to demonstrate that I belong in the new one that’s been laid out before me… no matter the cost.

  Caster sits next to me, but Evan keeps his distance, which troubles me. I’m sure I’m too damaged for him to ever want me now, so how do I get him to start believing otherwise? I might have to employ some of my brother’s tricks.

  “What do we do?” Argus asks after several minutes of unsettling silence.

  “First, Ore will need medical attention,” Evan says. “Then we’ll have to determine Lycus’ next move.”

  “Kerron mentioned something about the medallions,” Caster says. “We should probably get Henry down here for that discussion.”

  “Ore’s overall comfort takes priority,” Evan says, though he won’t even look at me. “Argus, call for Henry so he can tend to her.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty,” Argus says, then exits.

  “I’ll go summon a physician,” Evan says, then departs leaving Caster and me alone.

  “He won’t even look at me,” I mutter as I take a sip, the liquid burning slightly on its way down.

  “Evan is in shock like the rest of us,” Caster says. “Give him time.”

  “I don’t have time, Caster. Lycus will do anything to steal me back. The only thing I can do now is leave Pelheim and vanish into one of the hamlets or camps that rests between kingdoms.”

  “You can’t be serious!” he says, infuriated. “You’d be abandoning a man who loves you more than anything.”

  I stand and set my glass down onto the bar. “He may have loved me once, but I’m sure that’s changed now,” I reply.

  “You’re just assuming—”

  “Lycus raped me, Caster… twice!” I yell, interrupting him. I willingly slept with my brother after our wedding night, but that evening he had complete control over me, so he did rape me at the beginning of everything. “I know you were all wondering about that, well now you know it’s true. I’m tarnished… soiled. No one is ever going to find me worthy of being their wife now. Especially a king, not that a throne matters to me anyway.”

  “You don’t know that, Ore.”

  “Then ask him, if it’ll help settle your mind, but I already know his answer,” I say, then I take off the longbow and quiver, leaning them against the side of the bar.

  “Where’d you get those?” Caster asks, finally noticing them.

  “From a trophy room in the castle. I grabbed them as Verna and I were fleeing. Why?”


  “They belonged to your father,” he says, his face softening. “His mother had them specially made for him. He never hunted without them, so it’s only appropriate that you found them and took them with you.”

  “Excuse me,” Henry says, lingering in the background.

  I remember him from the ball. Evan introduced him to me shortly after I accepted his marriage proposal. He has the kindest face and the gentlest eyes, and I feel comforted with him in the room though I barely know him. My mother would’ve loved him like I would’ve if my fate had ended up differently.

  “Honora, I have your room ready,” he says, holding out his arm for me to take.

  I slip my hand around it and he escorts me up the winding staircase, then down the hall to a large ornate room decorated in soft yellow, colorful paintings, exquisite furniture, and a large canopy bed with lace curtains. He directs me to a door along the left wall and into a lavatory decorated in the same warmth as the bedchamber. An older woman is busy filling a tub with water when we enter. She’s rather plump with graying hair kept in a bun at the top of her head. Her uniform is a simple brown dress covered with a white apron. She smiles when she sees me, which turns her cheeks rosy and causes lines to form under her kind eyes.