Red (The True Reign Series)

by Davis, Jennifer Anne

  “Your name?” Darmik asked.

  A slow smile spread across the man’s face. “Call me Captain,” he answered.

  “I’ll join you shortly,” Darmik said, dismissing him.

  Captain stood his ground. “I will wait to escort you there.”

  Darmik clutched his hands into fists, forcing himself to remain calm. It would serve no purpose if he attacked Captain. Why wouldn’t the man give a name? Did he think himself above Darmik? Darmik was the commander and wouldn’t back down.

  “Do I need to have you removed from the compound?” Darmik asked. He would not give this man power. After all, Darmik went to the same military school and received the same training as this soldier, and Darmik outranked him.

  Captain smiled. “I’ll wait for you outside the guardhouse.”

  A compromise then. Darmik gave a curt nod.

  When the door closed, Darmik leaned down to Neco. “You’re not going to get a chance to sleep. Go pack and be ready. Have one of my elite squads prepare for departure. No one is to know our destination.” Darmik stood and straightened his tunic. “I suggest you tell her to get out while she can.”

  “And Cassie?” Neco whispered.

  Darmik wanted to help. The child was Lennek’s and technically Darmik’s nephew. “I don’t know,” he mumbled. “Tell her to leave as well. I’ll figure something out.” Darmik supposed it was the right thing to do, even if it wasn’t the easiest or most convenient.

  ****

  Inside the Throne Room, King Barjon sat on his royal chair, Lennek slouched on the chair beside him.

  Darmik and Captain strolled down the aisle to join them. No one else was present. Not even a single soldier, save the one walking next to Darmik. The man hadn’t said a single word since leaving the military compound.

  King Barjon tapped his finger, looking perturbed. Lennek appeared to be on the verge of falling asleep.

  “Thank you all for meeting with me,” Captain said, bowing before the king.

  “What’s this about?” King Barjon demanded. “You’re a guest here and hold no authority to order me around.”

  Captain stood staring at the king, his cheek twitching. “Your Majesty, has Lord Trell been brought to the castle?”

  King Barjon pointed to Darmik. “My son has sent a squad to fetch the old man.”

  Captain turned his focus to Darmik. “And have your men returned? I understand Werden isn’t far from here.”

  “Trell was found dead,” Darmik quickly lied.

  “And the body?” Captain asked.

  Darmik kept his eyes focused on Captain’s, careful not to blink. “Burned, as is the custom for traitors.”

  Captain held his gaze. Darmik wasn’t sure if he bought the lie. Captain turned his attention back to the dais. “It has been brought to Emperor Hamen’s attention that a girl by the name of Rema was living at this castle, engaged to Prince Lennek?” He looked to Lennek for confirmation.

  “I’d prefer not to discuss the whore,” Lennek said, still slouched on his chair. “And why would the emperor care about some merchant girl?” His hand fluttered in the air before him, as if he couldn’t even be bothered to discuss such matters.

  Captain turned his attention to Darmik, a shrewd look on his face. The corners of his mouth twitched slightly. “What say you?” he asked.

  Darmik had to assume Captain was sent here to Greenwood Island for a specific reason, and that reason appeared to be Rema and the rebels. But why?

  Trell’s voice echoed in Darmik’s mind—something about Rema’s blood tying everything together. Darmik knew she was the blood heir to Greenwood Island’s throne. He recalled King Barjon’s account of how the island was populated. About a hundred years ago, the emperor of Emperion arranged a truce with a neighboring kingdom. The result was a marriage treaty between their children. The emperor’s son, Prince Nero, was in love with a girl from the lower class and refused to enter into the marriage treaty. Thus, Prince Nero doomed Emperion to imminent war. Prince Nero fled Emperion with the girl he loved, Atta, and three ships with approximately one hundred people. They came here, and Prince Nero declared himself king of Greenwood Island.

  That meant that Rema was a direct descendent of Nero—and thus had a claim to the Emperion throne, perhaps even a more legitimate claim than the current emperor did.

  Her blood tied everything together.

  The emperor must have figured out who Rema was, and he wanted her dead. Captain was most likely an assassin sent there to kill her.

  Captain smiled. “You know, don’t you?” he said to Darmik in a low voice, so the king and Lennek couldn’t hear.

  But how in the world did the emperor figure out Rema’s true identity?

  Captain turned toward King Barjon, “I came here to confirm the execution, but since that failed, now I’m here to ensure its success.”

  “Why does the emperor care?” the king asked, leaning back on his chair.

  “He wants confirmation that you are capable of leading this kingdom. In order for this to be the case, we need to find Rema. Is Commander Darmik heading up the search?”

  “Yes,” Lennek seethed. “My brother is looking for her. It’s been weeks and what does he have to show for it?” Lennek stood, coming before Darmik. “I want her found and brought before me. I want to kill her myself this time. Slowly. I want to see her life slip from her, to watch her beg for mercy.” Lennek’s eyes gleamed with anticipation.

  “Prince Darmik,” Captain said, “will you be able to find this girl?” His tone was mocking, almost as if he were talking to a child.

  “Yes,” Darmik replied.

  “I’m wondering if you really are capable,” Captain said, his tone sharp. “You may have been trained by Emperion, but you haven’t been in war like I have.”

  There was a lethalness to Captain. It reminded Darmik of a viper—quick to strike and very deadly.

  “I said I’d find her, and I will.” Darmik knew something was wrong. He felt like he was being pushed into a corner.

  “But you haven’t,” Lennek said, moving back to his chair. “I, too, doubt whether you’re capable.”

  “Enough,” King Barjon interjected. “Work together. Find her and bring her to the castle.”

  Work together? Was his father referring to Darmik working with Captain or with Lennek? Both options were out of the question. “Father,” Darmik said, “I said I’ll find her, and I will. Send this Captain home and let me do my job.”

  Lennek laughed. “How hard can it be to find one person? You have the entire army at your disposal. Even I could do a better job than you. Why don’t you just let Captain take over? I’m sure even he can locate her faster.”

  “Exactly,” Captain said, smiling. “I have a proposal. Everyone up for a fun, friendly wager?” Captain looked too pleased with himself. Darmik knew he’d walked right into whatever trap Captain set.

  The king looked weary. Darmik knew he would never hand the army over to an Emperion soldier. King Barjon may despise his son, but he trusted Darmik more than an outsider. “What do you have in mind?” the king asked.

  “A contest of sorts,” Captain said. “Darmik against Lennek. First brother to find Rema wins.”

  The king brightened to this idea. “What are the stakes?” King Barjon asked.

  “If Lennek wins, he can privately do whatever he wants with Rema before she’s executed. And Darmik is removed as commander. You can send him to Emperion with me.”

  “And when I win?” Darmik asked, a hard edge to his voice.

  Captain smiled. “If you deliver Rema to King Barjon first, you keep your position as commander, and a simple, public execution will be held with you as the hero for her capture.”

  King Barjon laughed.

  “I don’t know the land as well as Darmik,” Lennek whined.

  “It won’t matter. You’ll have half a company, two platoons of five hundred men total, at your disposal,” King Barjon said, “including Captain here.”
>
  A wicked smile spread across Lennek’s face. “Deal.”

  Rema

  “No,” Savenek yelled, “other side!”

  Rema screamed in frustration. This particular series of moves was difficult. “I don’t understand why I have to be able to disarm my opponent with my bare hands.”

  “Because,” Savenek snapped, “your opponent most likely will be stronger and able to disarm you of your weapon in a matter of seconds. You need to be able to evade his own weapon, and if possible, disarm him.”

  “Fine.” Rema understood his reasoning, even if the task seemed impossible. “Let’s try it again.”

  “No, you need a break.” Savenek went to the corner of the training room and grabbed two leather-skin water pouches. He handed one to Rema as he sat on the ground.

  Plopping down across from Savenek, Rema took a drink and then lay down on the ground, trying to catch her breath before they began the exercise again.

  “How’s your leg?” he asked.

  Rema peered over at Savenek. He never made small talk with her, and she wondered what he was up to. “Much better, thank you.”

  “Mako mentioned to me that you know Darmik.”

  Just hearing Darmik’s name aloud made Rema’s heart skip a beat. She eyed Savenek with suspicion. Was he being nice in an attempt to get information from her? Mako didn’t ask her anything about her stay at the castle since that day in his office. It was only a matter of time before they pushed her.

  Savenek took a drink, waiting for her answer.

  “He stayed at the castle during my brief time there,” Rema carefully said.

  “Did you have an opportunity to speak to him?”

  Even though she vividly remembered the way Darmik look revolted by the mere sight of her that day Lennek caught them kissing, she couldn’t betray him. All the time they spent together was fresh in her mind.

  “Why do you ask?”

  “Did you know he went to Emperion for his military training? Mako says he’s the best of the best. In the short amount of time that he’s been the commander, he’s managed to restructure the army. People are lining up to join—and this is a time when everyone hates the king.” There was a hint of respect in the way he spoke of Darmik.

  Rema knew Savenek wanted to be the commander of this compound’s army. Mako held the position right now, but Vesha said Mako was grooming him to take over once the new monarchy was in place.

  “Yes,” Rema finally answered, “Darmik told me.”

  “He told you?” Savenek’s eyes lit up, and he leaned forward. “What else did you two talk about?”

  “Nothing,” Rema said as she sat up. “Lennek and Darmik are scum, and I despise them both.” She turned away from Savenek and took another drink.

  “I’m sorry,” Savenek said. “I forgot you spent time in the dungeon.”

  Rema didn’t want to discuss her time in the castle. She didn’t want to think about the evil way Lennek treated her or about her feelings for Darmik. “Let’s get back to work.” Rema stood, ready to put her hurt and anger into her fighting.

  Savenek sat still, studying her for a moment. When he got up, he asked, “Did you ever figure out why Lennek chose to marry you?”

  The way Savenek said it implied that no one in their right mind would choose to marry her. Rema knew she was only a merchant’s niece, not of the noble class, so a prince shouldn’t have even noticed her. But it wasn’t like Lennek decided to marry her because he loved her; that was far from the case. Rema suspected she was some sort of pawn between the brothers, and that Lennek choose her because of something Darmik did. “I don’t know,” she said, unable to look Savenek in the eyes.

  “I think you do,” he whispered.

  Rema forced herself to meet Savenek’s gaze. “I have my suspicions, but none of that matters now.”

  “You’re the niece of a once-great military captain, now horse farmer. I think there’s more going on than some mere coincidence, don’t you?”

  “No,” Rema answered, sure it had nothing to do with that. “I was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Now, let’s get back to work.”

  Rema stood with her legs shoulder-width apart, arms at her sides, relaxed. Savenek picked up his sword and slowly moved toward her. When he raised the weapon, she stepped to the side, her back against his chest, coming in close, so he couldn’t swing. Then she spun around and hit the back of his head.

  “Perfect,” Savenek said. “Again.” They ran the drill several times, speeding it up a little with each run-through. “Last time,” Savenek ordered.

  As Rema did countless times, she stepped to the side as Savenek raised his sword. When her back touched his chest, she was about to step away, but his arm came up, encircling her. She froze.

  “What are you going to do?” he asked, his breath brushing the hair by her ear.

  Feeling his arm just above her breast, Rema blushed at the possibility that he could feel her. Thinking back over everything Savenek taught her, she took a step and slammed her foot onto his, then swung her right arm into his groin. Savenek released her with a loud “umph.”

  “Excellent,” he said, hunching over. “But maybe next time, since we are practicing, you could hit with a little less force.”

  Rema smiled.

  ****

  Savenek stood at the archway, waiting for her. “I’ll walk you to the mess hall.” Not once had he offered to walk Rema anywhere. After they finished their morning session, he usually took off to eat with his friends.

  Since she was going that way, Rema joined him, not sure what to make of this turn of events. Perhaps he was finally getting over her beating him at the horse race, or maybe something changed between them the night he tended to her cramped muscle. Whatever the case, Rema was glad he now treated her with some measure of kindness.

  When they entered the mess hall, Rema spotted Vesha sitting alongside Audek. Rema took a small loaf of bread and some cheese. “See you later,” she called over her shoulder to Savenek as she moved toward her friends.

  Savenek grabbed her arm. “Wait.” He threw some food on his plate. “I’ll eat with you.” Stunned, Rema didn’t know what to do, so she just nodded.

  When they reached the table, Rema sat next to Vesha, assuming Savenek would sit on the other end by Audek. However, Savenek slid on the bench beside Rema. She felt Vesha staring at her with wide eyes. Rema had no idea what was going on, so she proceeded to eat her food like nothing was amiss.

  “Savenek,” Audek laughed, “finally decided to join us?” Savenek ignored his friend and continued eating his bread and cheese. “I knew our dear Rema would finally win you over. No one can resist her charm.” Audek moved his eyebrows up and down, smiling.

  Rema’s face reddened. She longed to reach over and smack Audek on the back of his head.

  “Oye,” Audek yelled. Rema glanced up in time to see a bread roll hit him in the eye. “What did you do that for?”

  “You deserved it,” Savenek answered.

  Vesha stood, picked up her plate, and left without saying a word. Rema shoved a piece of bread in her mouth and jumped up, taking off after Vesha. Rema caught up to her outside the mess hall in the corridor.

  “You know how I feel about him,” Vesha said, turning to face Rema.

  “Yes, I do,” Rema said. “You have nothing to be upset over.” Vesha may be in love with Savenek, but Rema certainly wasn’t.

  “They why did he sit next to you?” Vesha asked, lowering her head in defeat.

  “We’ve been training together. That’s all. Him sitting next to me means nothing. You don’t need to worry—I promise.”

  “I’m sorry,” Vesha said, tears in her eyes. “It’s just that I’ve been in love with him for as long as I can remember.”

  Vesha had told Rema that her feelings for Savenek were nothing more than a fling. Rema suspected it was more, and now she had confirmation. “Savenek and I work together,” Rema assured her. “We’re not even friends. You hav
e nothing to worry about.”

  Vesha hugged Rema. “Thank you,” she whispered in Rema’s ear. “I have to help my mother in the infirmary. I’ll see you later.” She turned and quickly walked away.

  Rema went back inside the mess hall. Sitting down between Audek and Savenek, she resumed her meal in silence. When Rema finished, Savenek stood and picked up her plate along with his own. Before she could say anything, Savenek nodded his head toward the door. Rema followed him.

  “Where are we going?” she asked. All of their training sessions were held inside the same room.

  “You’ll see.” They exited the castle, and Savenek led her into the forest and down a slope. They came to an area where the trees weren’t as thick. There were targets placed about thirty yards away.

  Savenek went over to a small storage shack. He pulled out two bows and quivers filled with arrows. “This is our archery range.”

  Rema froze. She knew how to shoot. Bren had been the one to teach her. She couldn’t think of archery without thinking of Bren.

  “What’s wrong?” Savenek asked. “It’s not that hard. I’ll show you.”

  The image of Bren being struck with a sword was seared into her mind. Rema shuddered, trying to banish the image of her dead friend.

  “What is it?” Savenek asked, coming to stand beside her.

  “Nothing.” Her voice came out hoarse.

  “I don’t believe you,” he softly said. “You look like you’re remembering something horrific.”

  The fact that Savenek could ascertain that much just by her facial expressions unnerved Rema. It reminded her of Darmik. She glanced up into his brown eyes, trying to figure him out. “Why do you care?” she asked. What had happened to the cold, aloof Savenek?

  “Never mind.” Savenek sighed.

  Rema stepped back, trying to put some space between them. A friendly and sympathetic Savenek was something she was not prepared for. Rema didn’t want to let anyone in her heart again because it was too painful when they died or betrayed her.

  “Show me how you hold this thing,” Rema demanded. Even though she knew how to shoot, she decided to pretend like she didn’t. This bow was much larger than the one she was used to, and it had a very different feel.