Neco stepped further into the weapons room. “Is he here to assassinate Rema?” he asked in a hushed voice.
“Are you packed and ready to go?” Darmik grabbed one last sword, knowing he’d need a backup for his backup, just in case.
Neco blocked the exit. “Where do I fit in to all of this?” he demanded.
He never spoke to Darmik this way before. Darmik stood there, staring at his friend, wondering why he was behaving in such a manner.
“You’re coming with me,” Darmik replied.
“And the rest of your personal squad?”
“They’ll stay where they are.” Darmik didn’t want to say Trell’s name aloud, especially since Darmik had told Captain that he was dead.
“I know you’re not going to want to hear this,” Neco said, “but I think you are going to be at a disadvantage not having your most trusted men with you.”
“I understand your concerns.” Darmik really did. He’d prefer to have his men watching his back. But Darmik had to get back up the Middle Mountains as soon as possible. An assassin, sent by the emperor for the sole purpose of hunting down and killing Rema in order to eliminate any threat to the Emperion throne, would have to be the best of the best of the emperor’s killers. Darmik was out of his league. There was no way possible he could travel with his squad of twenty men and expect to eliminate all traces of where they traveled or what they were doing. Captain would hunt them far too easily. The only chance was for Darmik to travel alone—and he knew he couldn’t enter the treacherous mountains by himself. He needed Neco.
“I can’t risk it,” Darmik said. “I need them protecting . . . the package . . . and watching the pass.”
“You and I are going there alone?”
Darmik nodded. “While everyone else under my command is putting on a merry show of looking for her.”
Neco smiled. “I can honestly say that the tunnel isn’t looking so bad.”
****
When Darmik went to the front of the military compound, he froze. Lennek sat on Nightsky, Darmik’s black stallion. Captain was mounted on a horse next to Lennek, and the five hundred men assigned to him were all on horses. How had Lennek managed to find so many animals? And where was Farnek?
“Brother,” Lennek said, “you look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Captain laughed.
“Where did you acquire these horses?” Darmik asked.
“No idea,” Lennek said, shrugging his shoulders. “Captain here rounded them up. He said it would help us cover more ground.”
Darmik’s eyes sliced over to Captain, who sat staring at Darmik. “Well?’ Darmik asked. “Where did they come from?”
“They’re yours,” Farnek said, coming to stand next to Darmik. “All of your officers’ horses. Once Captain confiscated all of them, he went into the city and commandeered more.”
Darmik’s hands balled into fists. Captain had stolen these horses from their own people. Lennek sat there, smug. He had no idea how upset the citizens would be with him.
“And I’ve been ordered to stand down,” Farnek said.
Suddenly, Neco was beside Darmik, his hand restraining Darmik’s wrists. “Careful now,” Neco mumbled. “Don’t do anything stupid.”
Darmik attempted to contain his rage.
Captain smiled. “Now, if you don’t mind, we have a game to win.”
“Yes,” Lennek mused. “And I have a brother to destroy.”
“Let’s get moving,” Captain said. “I don’t care to waste any more time.” His horse pranced, and Captain reined him in.
Lennek came closer to Darmik and leaned down. “I have someone to kill. And I swear I will get her. Even if it means I have to kill anyone—and everyone—who gets in my way.” Lennek moved his horse forward, pointed his sword in the air, and yelled, “To Jarko!” Kicking his heels into his horse, he took off, the five hundred mounted soldiers rushing to keep up.
“Bloody hell,” Darmik said, shaking. “He’s going to kill everyone he comes into contact with until he finds Rema.”
“He wouldn’t,” Neco said. “The kingdom would turn on him.”
“He doesn’t care,” Darmik said, seething with rage. “He wants her dead, and he’ll do anything to accomplish his goal.”
“Sir,” Farnek said. “How can I be of service?”
“Join us,” Darmik said. “We leave now.”
****
Darmik set out with Neco, Farnek, and his two platoons. Every single soldier was forced to walk, even those carrying the food and supplies. There wasn’t a single horse left—no doubt part of Captain’s plans.
Once outside King’s City, Darmik sent one platoon of two hundred and fifty men north. He ordered them to split into units of fifty men once they reached Werden. One unit was to go to Adder, one to Shano, two to Dresden, and one to Mullen. Darmik sent the other platoon south with Farnek. He instructed Farnek to send soldiers to Jarko, Telan, and Kaven. All men were told to look for Rema in the larger cities. They were to make their presence known, harm no one, and keep their eyes and ears open at all times.
Once Darmik sent all of his men away from the Middle Mountains, he and Neco began their trek up the mountain range, careful not to leave a trail. Darmik thought it prudent to backtrack several times to ensure they weren’t being followed. Although Darmik didn’t see any indication that Captain was pursing them, he did notice a scouting party of rebels. Darmik and Neco were forced to go out of their way on more than one occasion to avoid being seen. After traveling hard at a brisk pace for several days, they finally entered the tunnel.
Maintaining an extraordinary pace, they exited three days later. Darmik’s first order of business was to locate some sort of shelter—one that was well concealed and would provide protection from the elements. Neco found a hole in the ground that connected to a short tunnel, which opened into a cave approximately thirty-feet-by-thirty-feet. There was also an additional tunnel that led to another exit. Since the cave was well suited to their needs, Darmik decided to use it as their shelter while in the Middle Mountains.
The sun was setting, night quickly approaching, and the temperatures plummeting. Darmik and Neco collapsed on their bedrolls. Tomorrow, Darmik would scout the fortress, looking for a way to slip inside unnoticed.
****
High in a towering greenwood tree, Darmik sat on a thick branch, watching the wall surrounding the rebel compound. Neco was perched in the same tree on a lower branch.
“There has to be a way in,” Darmik mumbled.
Neco chuckled. “There’s well over two dozen guards posted on that wall. I’m sure there’s even more sentries on the interior. I know you have skill but this, my friend, may be beyond even your abilities.”
It was hard to breathe in the Middle Mountains. The air was thin, making Darmik light-headed. Ignoring Neco, Darmik focused on the main entrance to the compound, about fifty yards away.
“How do supplies get in and out?” Darmik asked. “This is a fully functioning city. There has to be a pattern of people coming and going. Something we can use to get in.”
As the hours passed, Darmik’s hope dwindled. No one came or left the fortress. The main gate remained shut at all times, heavily guarded by soldiers patrolling the wall with bows slung over their shoulders.
“This might not be as easy as I had assumed,” Darmik finally admitted. “Perhaps I could scale the wall?”
Neco didn’t respond. He shifted in the tree, watching.
Darmik searched the surrounding land, looking for any sort of trails indicating another entrance.
“So,” Neco said, breaking the silence. “I know you’re not keen on . . . talking. But I’d really like to know what you plan to do if you get inside. Capture Rema? Warn her?” He climbed higher in the tree until he was on an adjacent branch, level with Darmik.
Darmik sighed, glancing sideways at his friend. “You have a right to know,” he said. “But I want to ask you a few questions first.”
Neco nodded.
“What do you think of the state of things in our kingdom?” he asked, leaning back against the tree trunk, trying to get more comfortable.
“Is this conversation private?” Neco asked.
“It is,” Darmik confirmed. “Never to go beyond the two of us.”
“My loyalty is to you, my commander and prince,” Neco said. “I will do whatever you ask or demand of me.”
Darmik was thankful to hear Neco’s undying loyalty for him. It made what he was going to reveal a little easier.
“And the king?” Darmik asked.
Neco’s eyes narrowed. “Like I said, my loyalty is to you.”
“I understand,” Darmik said. “My question is how you personally feel about the king and the direction he’s taking this kingdom.”
“Honestly?”
“Please.”
“I don’t like it. I hope you will one day have the strength and power to change things.”
Darmik felt a mixture of emotions. Pride that his friend had such faith in him—sad that he hadn’t done more. Of course, Darmik was about to rectify that.
“And the rebels?” Darmik inquired.
“I hope their intentions are honorable, and they make positive changes to our kingdom.”
It was time for one last question before Darmik revealed all. “How does Ellie fit into all of this?”
A ghost of a smile flitted across Neco’s face. “We met a year ago. I’ve been secretly courting her ever since.”
“Is she part of the rebel movement?”
“No,” Neco said. “But she’s crossed paths with them.”
“Explain,” Darmik demanded.
“Before Rema was brought to the castle, a rebel approached Ellie and said that a girl would arrive bearing the key.”
“How do you know this?”
“Ellie confided in me, unsure of what to do. Then Rema arrived and showed Ellie her key necklace, with a secret message inside. I helped research and decode it, without Rema’s knowledge.”
How had Darmik not known the key necklace was a symbol? And the ruby—red—the color of the previous royal family. So many clues that he’d missed.
“The key mentions Commander Mako. Once we realized that, and heard the rumors of an heir being alive, the rest fell into place.”
“Do you know who the heir is?” Darmik asked, holding his breath.
“I have my suspicions, although they haven’t been confirmed. In the key necklace, Mako’s name is spelled backwards—okam. So we took Rema’s name and did the same. Her name backwards is Amer. That’s the name of the previous princess, yes? I didn’t know this, but some older people, who remember the time before, recognized the name. So I’ve had my suspicions.”
Darmik felt like a huge weight was lifted from his chest. “Yes,” he said. “Rema is Amer, the heir. Although, I believe she doesn’t know her true identity.”
“That’s what Ellie thinks, too.”
“Where is Ellie now?”
“I told Ellie and Cassie to leave the castle immediately. They’re hiding in the city.”
A gust of wind blew around the tree, causing the leaves to rustle and the branches to sway. Clouds rolled in, covering the sun, making the temperature drop even lower.
“The purpose of getting inside the compound and talking to Rema is to devise a plan. I want to reveal her identity to her and discuss how to proceed.”
“What do you want her to do?” Neco asked.
“Take back the throne.”
Neco’s eyes widened in shock. “What about you?”
“I plan on helping.”
Neco laughed. “I never expected you to turn your back on your family. Don’t get me wrong, I believe it’s the right thing to do, I just didn’t think you’d ever do it.”
“Neither did I,” Darmik mused.
“I am proud to call you my prince, commander, and friend.”
Darmik had never felt so honored. However, taking back the throne meant he would no longer be a prince or commander.
“Just one last question,” Neco said. “How do you feel, personally, about Rema?” The corners of Neco’s lips turned up, fighting a smile.
Darmik rolled his eyes and squatted on the branch. “It’s time to go back to the cave.”
“You like her, don’t you?” Neco laughed.
“Let’s go.” Darmik took hold of the branch, lowering himself to the one beneath it.
“Oh, come on. I confided in you about Ellie.”
“Fine,” Darmik grunted, his feet landing on the branch. “I like her.”
“Tell you what,” Neco said as he shimmied down the tree trunk. “You do a perimeter run, and I’ll cook dinner.”
Rema
Rema had only ever attended two dances. One was at the governor of Jarko’s home, by force. The other was her engagement celebration at the castle, again by force. Neither experience was particularly appealing, so Rema had no idea what to expect from the festivities that night. Entering the gathering room, Rema was surprised by the sheer number of people in attendance. Everyone who lived in the fortress must have been there. The room was stifling hot, and the smell of sweat and food hung in the stale air.
Vesha laughed and grabbed Rema’s arm, leading her toward the right side of the room where people their age were already dancing. The other end of the room contained tables where most of the adults sat eating, drinking, and talking to one another. Children ran around here and there, happily dodging the watchful eyes of their parents. A group of men played instruments. Two beat on tall drums, one strummed his gamba, while another blew on a zink. The remaining musicians used bows to play their rebecs. The music was lively and unlike anything Rema had ever heard before.
“This is utterly fantastic!” She stood on the perimeter, watching the dancers, allowing her the opportunity to learn the steps. Rema spotted Audek, red faced and sweating, merrily dancing alongside a few girls. When he noticed Vesha and Rema, he headed their way.
“Ladies.” Audek bowed before them. “Care to dance?” It was difficult to hear him over the loud music.
Vesha laughed at his formality. “You want to dance with the both of us? At the same time?”
“Of course!” Audek said. “I can handle two beautiful women.”
They each took hold of one of Audek’s arms as he led them to the dancing area. The song ended, and everyone stopped to clap and cheer for the musicians. The volume was deafening. Audek swung Rema and Vesha in front of him and they lined up, waiting for the next tune to begin.
“You appear to be short a partner,” a male voice said from behind Rema. She turned to find Savenek standing there.
“You’re dancing?” Audek asked in disbelief.
“It appears that I am,” Savenek said, his attention focused solely on Rema. “I can’t allow you to be without a partner at your first celebration with us.”
Glancing at Vesha, Rema saw her friend’s smile vanish. “Perfect,” Rema replied. “You can dance with Vesha while I dance with Audek.” Rema took hold of Vesha’s shoulders and placed her in front of Savenek, and then stood before Audek.
The music started up again. It was another fast-paced song. Audek grinned as he locked arms with Rema and they spun around, clapping and moving down the line. When they faced one another again, Audek raised his eyebrows and bent toward her. “Nice move back there.”
Rema didn’t respond. Instead, she focused on her feet, trying to keep up as they danced a quick, eight-step pattern.
Audek spoke again. “Vesha looks happy, but I’m not so sure about our dear friend Savenek.”
Vesha smiled as she merrily danced. Savenek’s face was closed, revealing no emotion.
“He likes you,” Audek said.
“Why do you think that?” Rema asked. “He never acknowledges me outside of training.” She spun around again, clapping her hands and moving back into the box step.
“He ate with you.” Audek laughed, while moving around Rema. “An
d he just asked you to dance. Trust me, for Savenek, that’s more than he’s ever done for anyone.”
“What about Vesha?”
“They’re friends, that’s all, no matter how much Vesha wants it to be more. He’s just not interested in her in any other capacity than friendship.”
The room was warm from so many people. Rema began to sweat. The song ended, and everyone applauded.
“So,” Audek whispered, standing next to Rema, “what are you going to do about our mutual friend?”
“Nothing,” Rema replied. “I’m not even interested in having him as a friend. Besides, my loyalty lies with Vesha.”
The music started back up, and everyone started dancing again.
“Care for another romp around the dance floor?” Audek smiled sardonically at Rema.
“No,” she replied. “I’m hot, and I need to get something to drink.”
“I was just heading over to grab something to eat,” Savenek said, suddenly standing before Rema. “Care to join me?”
Audek grabbed Vesha by the hand, swinging her around him. They melted into the crowd of dancers, leaving Rema and Savenek alone.
Rema was starving. She hadn’t eaten anything since her ride. She agreed, and Savenek led her to the other side of the room. They found an empty end at a table near the corner. Rema took a seat, while Savenek went and got two plates piled high with food.
“Here you go,” Savenek said, sliding a plate in front of her. He took a seat directly across from her. “See, we are doing something outside of training.”
“Yes,” Rema mused, “but I’m wondering why.” She bit into her chicken. This side of the room wasn’t nearly as loud or stuffy.
Savenek grinned mischievously. “I want to recruit you.”
“I was wondering when you’d start. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m not fighting material.”
“Are you kidding?” Savenek said with a mouthful of food. “You pick up the techniques fast. We could use you.”
“Why? You seem to have enough people here.”
“We need everyone we can get. Especially those with some intelligence. Don’t you want to see Barjon overthrown?” His excitement was contagious. Rema found herself wanting to agree with him, but she held herself back.
Red (The True Reign Series) Page 16
