Red (The True Reign Series)

by Davis, Jennifer Anne

  “Yes,” Vesha said, putting down a pair. “But not alone. He’s always with people.”

  “He doesn’t talk much during our training sessions. He’s very focused.”

  Vesha nodded her head. “And he always seems so busy. I don’t want to bother him.”

  “You could go talk to him now,” Rema suggested, nodding her head toward the table.

  Vesha’s widened her eyes in horror. “I could never!”

  “No, not in front of everyone. I mean, ask him to join you in a card game or go for a walk. Something so the two of you can be alone and get a chance to talk.”

  “I don’t think so.” Vesha shook her head and glanced in Savenek’s direction. “Don’t look now, but the guy next to Savenek keeps staring at you.”

  “Who is it?” Rema asked.

  “Horek. He’s in my tactical training group. Nice guy.” Vesha laid down two pairs. “I won.”

  Rema tossed the rest of her cards in the pile. “I’m done. I think I’ll turn in for the night.”

  Vesha collected the cards and put them in a small, wooden box. “Looks like you’re about to have a visitor.” Vesha grinned.

  Glancing up, Rema saw Horek moving toward them.

  “Vesha,” Horek said with a smile on his face, “care to introduce me to your friend?”

  “Sure,” Vesha said. “Rema, I’d like to—”

  “No,” Savenek cut in. Rema didn’t know how he got there so quickly. “Leave her alone,” Savenek ordered.

  Horek’s shoulders slumped forward, but he nodded and followed Savenek. They left the game room, never looking back.

  “What was that about?” Rema wondered. She was too tired to be upset with Savenek for his rude behavior.

  Vesha stared at the boys with a confused look on her face. “Let’s just go,” she mumbled.

  Rema stood and stretched. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “I’ll walk you to your floor. I’m going that way.”

  It was difficult for Rema to hide her limp, and she didn’t want Vesha to know the extent of her injury. “You don’t have to,” Rema said.

  Vesha smiled and took Rema’s arm, helping to steady her. “That’s what friends are for.” She knowingly looked down to Rema’s leg.

  “Thanks,” Rema said. Vesha didn’t question her or push the matter.

  They slowly made their way to the fifth floor, where Vesha said good-bye before heading to the infirmary to help her mother. Rema made her way down the long hallway to Mako’s rooms. She couldn’t wait to put on her nightgown and crawl into bed.

  After unlocking Mako’s door, Rema pushed it open to find the sitting room lit with candles. Usually when she returned in the evening, it was dark.

  “Hello?” she called out. No one answered. “Mako?” The room was silent. Perhaps he was already asleep.

  Rema went to her bedchamber and changed. Her face was covered in sweat. One of the few luxuries she missed from the castle was having a washbasin in her room. Slipping on her wool socks, she padded across the sitting room to the privy. She brushed her teeth and washed off as best she could. Rema’s leg screamed from having to support her weight. She just had to make it back to her bedchamber. A good night’s sleep was all she needed. After exiting, Rema dragged her feet across the sitting room. When she reached the sofa, she reached out, using it for support.

  A loud bang echoed in the room, making Rema jump. She spun around and saw Savenek standing outside his bedchamber, a dropped book at his feet. His eyes scanned her body from head to toe, and then his face turned a deep shade of red. He lowered his gaze as he knelt on the ground, retrieving his dropped item.

  Rema felt her own face flush from embarrassment. She was wearing her nightdress without a robe, and her hair was down. Releasing her hold on the sofa, she crossed her arms in an attempt to conceal her body.

  “I’m sorry,” she stammered. “I didn’t know you were here.”

  Savenek stood and carefully focused on Rema’s face. “I didn’t realize you had retired for the night,” Savenek said. “Don’t you usually do so much later?”

  Rema was shocked he knew this bit of information about her. Perhaps noticing the comings and goings of others was ingrained in him from years of training.

  “What are you reading?” she asked, pointing to the book clutched in his hand.

  Savenek moved the book behind him, shielding it from sight. “Nothing,” he said. “Just a novel for fun.”

  Rema couldn’t imagine Savenek reading for fun. Military or war tactics, she could visualize, but not something for the sake of enjoyment. For some reason, this unnerved her. “I’ll let you get back to reading then. Goodnight.”

  Taking a step toward her room, Rema’s leg cramped and gave out. She grabbed onto the back of the chair, preventing herself from falling. Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to stand up straight and take another step. She didn’t want to show weakness in front of Savenek. He’d probably find a way to use it against her.

  Savenek’s hand encircled her upper arm. “Are you okay?” he asked, his eyes penetrating into hers, the concern clear.

  “I’m fine,” Rema said. “I just pulled a muscle while running. It’ll be fine by tomorrow.”

  She tried tugging her arm free, very aware of the feel of Savenek’s warm hand through the thin fabric of her nightdress.

  “Have you seen Nulea?”

  “No, I’ll be fine.” She didn’t understand Savenek’s sudden interest in her well-being.

  He sighed and grabbed the knitted blanket draped over the chair. Wrapping it around her shoulders, he ordered her to sit. Too tired to argue, Rema did as instructed. “Which muscle is it?” he asked.

  Rema pointed to the area on the back of her right leg, below the knee. “It keeps cramping when I walk.” She relaxed back into the chair, the warm blanket wrapped around her body.

  Savenek knelt on the ground in front of Rema.

  “I’m fine,” she said. “I’m sure it’ll go away.”

  Savenek gazed into her eyes. Before she had a chance to protest, he took her right foot and removed her sock. Rema jerked and tried pulling her leg away from him. “What are you doing?” she demanded.

  “Relax,” Savenek said, not looking at her. “If you’d gone to the healer, she would have done the same thing. We’re all trained in basic medical skills. I need you to relax so I can massage a salve onto your muscle. It will relieve the cramping.” His head jerked up. “Don’t you trust me?” he suddenly asked, his lips curling slightly, like he was trying not to laugh.

  Rema had no idea if he was being serious or not, and she really didn’t know how she felt on the issue of trust. She had trusted Darmik, and look where that landed her. However, Savenek was certainly not Darmik. Rema had spent hours training with Savenek, and he’d been nothing but respectful. He also proved to be quite skilled and knowledgeable. On the other hand, he also made it perfectly clear that he wanted nothing to do with Rema outside of their mandated training. So why was he helping her now?

  He raised his eyebrows, waiting for an answer.

  “Sure,” she responded, “I trust you.”

  “Then lean back and relax.” Savenek grinned. “I promise I won’t hurt you.” He found a small container in one of the drawers in the low table. Removing the lid, he used two fingers and scooped out the minty-smelling goo. “I use this all the time,” he mumbled. “I wish you’d said something earlier today.”

  Still kneeling on the ground, Savenek rubbed the substance between his hands, and then gently took hold of Rema’s foot, placing it on his thigh. His hands slid over her ankle and then slowly beneath the nightdress to her calf. She froze, unsure what to do. She’d never had a man touch her like this before, and she was pretty sure this is what Aunt Maya would constitute as inappropriate behavior. But it’s not like Savenek had any interest in her. He was simply a mentor giving her aid.

  “This might be uncomfortable, but I have to work it into the muscle.”

&
nbsp; He rubbed the mixture deep into her calf, her muscle tightening in protest. Rema bit her bottom lip, trying to focus on something other than her aching leg. Gradually, the cramping receded as the medicine began to relieve the pain. All thoughts of Savenek’s motivations fell short when Rema experienced the wonderful effects of the catnip.

  Savenek chuckled. “I assume it’s working?”

  “Yes,” Rema sighed, “how can you tell?”

  “You’re smiling. You never smile around me, so I figure your leg must feel better.” His hands continued working her muscle.

  Of course she never smiled around him. Whenever they were together, he was training her in fighting techniques and pushing her body farther than she thought possible. “We never spend any of our free time together,” Rema pointed out. She really wanted to say that he treated her like the plague and never came around; however, Rema didn’t want to risk upsetting him while he was touching her. Although her leg felt immeasurably better, she didn’t want him to stop his ministrations.

  Rema peered down at him, wondering if he’d respond. His focus was on her leg. Several times Savenek opened his mouth to say something, only he ended up snapping it shut, bending his eyebrows in confusion.

  A few minutes later, he lowered her foot to the ground. “I must be going,” he said as he stood up. “Audek and I are running a mission tonight.”

  Audek never mentioned anything to her. Rema wondered how much was actually kept from her. “What about Vesha? Will she be joining you?”

  “Vesha?” Savenek said, confused. “No, she never goes on missions with us. Her mother insists she remain here to tend the injured and sick.”

  Rema was about to push herself up off the chair when Savenek effortlessly lifted her in both his arms like a child.

  “I can walk!” Rema exclaimed. Her face was mere inches from his; one of his arms wrapped around her legs, the other around her back. She carefully avoided looking directly into his eyes and instead, focused on where he was carrying her.

  “You need to stay off your leg for the rest of the night.”

  She felt him breathing against her cheek. Her rapid heartbeat was so loud she was sure that Savenek heard it. Why was her body reacting this way to him? It couldn’t be simply that he was a man—she’d never felt like this with Bren. The unwanted feelings Savenek stirred inside her reminded Rema of Darmik.

  And she was attracted to and had fallen in love with Darmik.

  Savenek was nowhere near as handsome as Darmik. She’d never looked at Savenek that way before. She didn’t want to look at him that way now. Vesha was in love with Savenek after all.

  He carried Rema into her room. Lowering her onto the bed, his arms gently released her. For a mere second, Rema wondered what it would feel like if he kissed her. Staring into his eyes, her breath caught as he leaned forward.

  “Get some sleep,” Savenek whispered, hovering above her. As if suddenly realizing what he was about to do, he jerked away from her.

  “Goodnight,” Rema said, her voice coming out a little huskier than usual. “Thank you for your help.” Crawling under the covers, she attempted to ignore him. There was no way possible she could be interested in Savenek that way.

  He blew out the single candle and left her room without another word.

  She still hated him, right?

  ****

  Rema awoke to hushed whispers. Glancing toward her door, she saw that it was slightly ajar, allowing the voices to be heard. Savenek must not have closed it all the way last night.

  “I did,” Savenek said in a soft voice. “When we met at the rendezvous location, I asked and he said no one saw him up close. When his men infiltrated the town, they only caught glimpses of the commander from a distance.” Rema’s heart froze. She strained to listen.

  “Then it’s not him,” Mako whispered.

  “Why the ruse?” Savenek asked.

  “I’m not sure,” Mako answered. “But I fear Darmik is one step ahead of us. Make sure you attend the meeting after breakfast.”

  Rema went ridged. They were talking about Darmik. Was he getting close to finding her?

  “What about my training with Rema?” Savenek asked.

  There was a long pause.

  “How is her training going?” Mako finally asked. There was an odd hitch to his voice.

  “Good. She’s picking up the techniques quickly. I’m surprised she had no training though, considering who her uncle is.”

  “I’m assuming you’re getting to know her, then?”

  Rema remembered the way Savenek gently touched her leg. She still wasn’t sure how she felt on the matter. The man was utterly confusing. She thought he hated her, but the way he tended to her last night suggested otherwise. However, kindness and fondness were two separate things, and Rema didn’t want to confuse herself with affection and feelings that weren’t there. She shook her head and forced herself to focus on the conversation in the adjoining room.

  “A little,” Savenek said.

  “I’ve been told you two don’t talk outside of training.”

  “Why do you care?” Mako didn’t respond. “Did you put us together on purpose?” Savenek asked. “Hoping there would be something between us?”

  “What do you mean something between us?” Mako asked, alarm in his voice.

  “Nothing,” Savenek mumbled. “I just thought you might want me to settle down and marry. I thought this was your way of forcing me into it.”

  Mako sighed. “No, my dear boy. I simply wanted the best to train Rema. Nothing more. The thought of you two never even crossed my mind. And it shouldn’t cross yours either. We have work to do.”

  Savenek chuckled. “Don’t worry,” he said, “she’s not my type. Besides, I want to serve and be a great commander like you. It’s what you’ve been preparing me for my entire life.”

  There was a shuffling sound from the sitting room.

  “Have you made contact with the heir?” Savenek asked. “I’d like to know when we’re going to finally meet our ruler.”

  “I have,” Mako answered. “It’s almost time.”

  “I want to devote my allegiance to the true king.”

  “I know,” Mako whispered. “And you will.”

  It seemed to Rema that Savenek’s life wasn’t so far off from all the people in the kingdom suffering under King Barjon’s rule. They, too, spent their lives preparing for one profession. Mako said everyone here had a choice, but did the people here truly understand what they were choosing?

  Darmik

  Darmik sat at his desk, staring at his best friend and closest confidant, wondering how well he really knew Neco. Darmik had no idea what was going on between Neco and Ellie—but there was definitely something between them.

  Neco looked tired. The lack of sleep from riding hard through the night made his cheeks flush and put dark circles under his eyes. Darmik had intended to leave before sunrise for the Middle Mountains, but Neco hadn’t returned until just now, and he needed a few hours of rest before they set off.

  “What did you find out yesterday about the person here from Emperion?” Darmik asked.

  Yawning, Neco answered, “According to my spies, he arrived via a military ship.”

  Chills surged through Darmik. A boat from Emperion was here? The only other time a non-merchant ship came to Greenwood Island was when it arrived to take Darmik to Emperion for military training.

  “According to the dock’s records,” Neco continued, “the vessel is still in port. There is no scheduled departure date.”

  Darmik had the sudden urge to run to Rema and protect her. It didn’t make any sense, but he was sure this had something to do with her. “What’s the size of the ship?”

  Neco leaned forward, his arms resting on his legs. “Small, meant for speed. If I had to guess, maybe two dozen soldiers on board.”

  The implications of Emperion sending soldiers to the island were too great for Darmik to wrap his brain around. It was time for Neco and Darmik
to leave. “Keep a dozen men watching the boat. Have anyone that leaves it followed.”

  Neco nodded.

  “I had a visitor last night,” Darmik said, abruptly changing the subject. “Her name was Cassie. Recognize it?”

  “I’ll talk, if you talk,” Neco said, smiling.

  “Not here,” Darmik said, just in case anyone was nearby. He didn’t want to risk Rema’s safety. “I just want to know if you trust her.”

  “Cassie?” Neco asked.

  “No, the other one.” Ellie, Darmik thought, not wanting to say her name aloud.

  “Absolutely. She was instrumental in certain events.”

  The rescue? Did that make Ellie a rebel? “Where does that put you?” Darmik whispered. “And your loyalties?”

  “To you,” Neco responded without hesitation. “She’s not one of them,” he continued. “But was asked to help, and did. Said it was the right thing to do.” Respect shone on Neco’s face.

  That was enough for Darmik. “Very well.” He nodded, believing Ellie could be trusted. “We’ll talk later.” He owed Neco an explanation. His friend had, after all, followed him through the Middle Mountains without question. Well, mostly without question—which left Neco dangling from a cliff. And Neco was about to follow Darmik for a second time.

  The office door flew open. Darmik spun around to ream whoever had opened it without knocking when he saw what stood framed by the archway.

  An emerald green tunic with an embroidered sun—an Emperion soldier.

  “Commander Darmik,” the man said with a thick accent. He had blond hair, blue eyes, and fair skin. It looked like he was in his late twenties, early thirties.

  “Yes?” Darmik said, refusing to stand. He wanted to maintain his position of authority so he wouldn’t rise to greet him. Neco tensed.

  “I seek an audience with you,” the Emperion soldier stated.

  “Enter.” Darmik gestured to an empty chair.

  The soldier glanced to Neco. “I seek an audience with King Barjon and Prince Lennek as well. They would not come here to your office. I wish for you to join me in the Throne Room.” The man chose his words carefully. This was no low-ranking soldier.