“I know a place,” Neco whispered. “Follow me.”
Darmik grabbed his bags filled with provisions, and followed his friend out into the night. Trying to hide in the shadows, Darmik and Neco left the compound and headed to the narrow alleyways of King’s City. Neco led the way to a nondescript, four-story building, where he pulled out a key and unlocked the door. They entered a short corridor and climbed two flights of stairs. Darmik followed Neco down a long hallway. Stopping before another door, Neco whistled, knocked, and then whistled again. The door cracked open, Neco said something, and it opened all the way to allow them entrance. Inside was a small room with several beds. It was empty except for the young man who answered the door.
The door softly closed. Neco hugged the boy. Perhaps he was a friend or relative Darmik was unaware of.
“Darmik,” Neco said. “You remember Ellie.”
The person removed their cap, hair spilling out around a familiar face. Ellie smiled up at Darmik. “Glad you’re safe,” she said. “We have a lot to talk about.”
“So I’ve heard,” Darmik responded.
All the windows in the small room were covered with blankets. Even so, Ellie only lit a small table candle, just as a precaution. The three of them sat on the beds.
“I’ve been staying here with Cassie,” Ellie explained.
“It’s one of the safe houses I use,” Neco said, “when I’m doing spy work.”
“Lennek was seen returning a couple of days ago with a small group of soldiers,” Ellie said. “Shortly after that, a man with an odd accent started questioning people around the city. Rumors are flying about who he is and what he’s doing.”
“What sorts of questions is he asking?”
“Things about the rebels and Rema. He is saying he needs to find the girl who was supposed to be executed. He promises to keep her safe and pay a reward to whoever gives information on her whereabouts.”
“Does he think she’s here in the city?” Darmik asked.
“No, he doesn’t,” Ellie answered. “But he does believe that people here know where the rebels are. And he knows she’s with them.”
“But that’s not all,” Neco said. “Tell him the rest.”
Ellie clutched her hands together. “He came here. One night. Banging on our door. I hid, like Neco told me to do. But Cassie . . . she answered the door.”
“What happened?” Darmik asked, feeling sick in his stomach.
“The man knew who Cassie was—that she’d been a chambermaid for Rema. He wanted to know why she wasn’t at the castle. Cassie said the baby was almost due, so that’s why she’d left. The man took Cassie, kicking and screaming. I followed them. He has her in a building not far from here. There are several men guarding the place.”
“First order of business, we need to leave. Now,” Darmik said. Captain could have this safe house under surveillance.
“I checked the place. No one’s watching,” Neco said.
“You don’t get it,” Darmik said, standing. “These men are soldiers from Emperion. They don’t play by our rules. They know tricks you’ve never seen before. We’re not safe here.”
Ellie jumped up and began packing her things. “I agree. Let’s go.”
Since Captain managed to find this safe house, Darmik had to assume all Neco’s places were compromised. Darmik considered going to one of his soldiers’ homes seeking shelter, but decided against it. They couldn’t involve anyone else. And the less people who saw Darmik, the better.
The three of them left the safe house and wandered the city until Darmik was convinced no one was following them. After hiding their supplies in some bushes near a water fountain of King Barjon, Ellie led the way to where Captain was holding Cassie.
Ellie and Neco walked ahead of Darmik, pretending to be two friends returning home from an alehouse. Ellie swayed on her feet, as if she were drunk. Darmik followed behind them, hidden among the shadows of buildings.
When Ellie tripped, Darmik knew she was across from Captain’s location. Ellie and Neco rounded the corner, out of sight. The plan was to rendezvous in fifteen minutes on the south side of the adjacent block.
Darmik quickly studied the building in question. Two stories, all the windows were black, no signs of life. He stayed very still, watching. In the moonlight, he could see down the alley next to the building. There were several heaps of trash. Darmik knew, without a doubt, Captain had men there guarding the perimeter. Perhaps there was access from the roof? Darmik needed to gain entrance into one of the adjacent buildings. Then he could have a better look.
Just when Darmik was about to cross the street, something made him glance to the front entrance of the building. He slid back into the wooden archway behind him. The door cracked open and a man came out, peering around. The entire street was eerily silent. The man nodded, and then two additional men came out, dragging a person between them. A burlap bag was over the prisoner’s head. Her dress was torn and dirty, and her stomach bulging—it was Cassie. She thrashed her body, trying to break free, but she was no match for them. The two men proceeded down the street, dragging Cassie along. Darmik followed, careful to keep a safe distance. After three blocks, Darmik felt someone behind him. He unsheathed his dagger, spun around, preparing to throw it, but it was only Neco and Ellie. He put his weapon away, smiling, and the three of them continued together.
The men took Cassie up King’s Street, which led to the castle. No one was about. When the men reached the soldiers on duty at the wall, they stated they had a prisoner for Lennek and were allowed in.
“Quickly,” Darmik said, “before we lose them.”
Darmik ran one hundred feet west to the secret door in the wall. It took him a moment to find it—it was well concealed and double the usual amount of sentries patrolled on top of the wall. Darmik had to push the stones just right in order to unlock it.
After his third try, the door opened. The three friends slipped inside and pressed against the wall.
“Do you see them?” Neco asked.
Darmik scanned the grounds, searching for the three figures.
“There,” Ellie said.
“They’re heading toward the barn,” Darmik whispered. “Keep to the wall. When we near the tree, crawl to the bushes. Stay together now. Ready?” Ellie and Neco nodded.
They carefully kept to the shadows, trying to hurry without making any noise and alerting the guards on duty. Once they crawled to the shrubbery, they were able to stand and make their way to the barn.
“I don’t understand why you’re hiding,” Ellie whispered.
Darmik stared at the girl.
“He’s defecting,” Neco said. “I’ll explain later.”
Ellie shrugged her shoulders, and they all crouched low, watching the two men drag Cassie inside the barn.
“Now what?” Ellie asked.
“You stop talking and stay here. If trouble arises, whistle two times,” Darmik ordered. Ellie nodded.
Darmik pointed east, and Neco took off. Darmik went around the western side of the barn. He hid behind a bush that gave him a clear view of the inside. Several torches were lit. Only a couple of horses were inside the usually filled stables. The burlap bag was pulled off Cassie’s head. One of her eyes and both cheeks had nasty, black bruises. There was dried blood at the corner of her mouth.
Nothing happened for several minutes. Ellie and Neco joined Darmik.
“What do you think?” Neco asked.
“They must be waiting for someone or something,” Darmik whispered.
“I’ll take the guy on the right; you get the one of the left. Ellie, you grab Cassie.”
“No,” Darmik said. “I want to know what’s going on first.”
“But we can easily recover Cassie right now. Who knows what the situation will be like later on.”
“We’ll grab her on her way back to Captain’s,” Darmik said. He needed to know why Cassie was being held, and if she knew any vital information about the rebels.
“Someone’s coming,” Ellie hissed.
The three of them froze, camouflaged in the bushes. Two figures walked right past them, entering the barn. The torches inside illuminated the doorway, allowing Darmik to see Captain and Lennek standing before Cassie.
“My men tell me you’re not speaking,” Captain said, folding his arms across his chest.
Cassie’s body shook.
“Where is Rema?” Captain demanded.
“I don’t know!” Cassie cried.
Lennek grabbed Cassie’s hair, pulling her head back. “You don’t know?” he said, a scary calm to his voice. “Well, guess what? I don’t believe you.” Lennek pulled out a knife. He turned to one of the two soldiers holding Cassie. “Find the chambermaid Ellie. Bring her to me.”
“Yes, Your Highness.” The guard left.
Darmik turned to Neco. “You’ll need to take Ellie away from the city. Hide her with Trell. She’ll be safe there with my personal guard.”
Neco nodded. Ellie’s eyes were huge, her face white. For the first time since he’d met her, she appeared scared.
Darmik turned his attention back to the barn. Lennek rested the dagger against Cassie’s throat.
Tears fell down her cheeks. “Please,” she begged. “I don’t know anything.”
“You’re every bit the whore Rema is,” Lennek said. He moved the dagger to Cassie’s protruding stomach. “Why did you visit my brother’s bedchamber?” he purred.
Darmik froze. What was Lennek getting at?
Captain suddenly turned around, looking out of the barn, into the night.
“Is something the matter?” Lennek asked him.
“No,” Captain answered. “I just thought I heard a noise. But all is still.” He turned to face Lennek again. “Let’s throw her in the dungeon. She may be of use later on.”
Lennek chuckled. “I don’t think so.”
“Regardless, I’m sure Ellie has information that will be helpful.”
“Assuming you can find her,” Lennek said. “She wasn’t at the safe house last time.”
“True,” Captain said. “But I have men watching it. We’ll find her.”
“I’m starting to doubt your abilities,” Lennek said. “I thought you would’ve found Rema by now.”
“I’m close,” Captain said. “It’s only a matter of time.”
“You are aware Darmik returned today, yes?”
“With his personal squad?” Captain asked.
“Alone.”
Captain rubbed his chin, lost in thought.
“As for you, my dear,” Lennek said, turning his attention to Cassie. “I have no use for you.” He pulled his arm back with the knife, preparing to strike.
Ellie sucked in a loud breath, about to jump up and run to Cassie.
“Get her out of here,” Darmik commanded. Neco swung around, wrapping his arms around Ellie. He nodded.
Darmik jumped up, and charged into the barn. Lennek’s hand came down. Darmik yanked out his dagger and threw it, hitting Lennek’s knife and knocking it from his hand.
Lennek’s head whipped around toward Darmik. “Brother. Fancy seeing you here.” Lennek pulled out another knife and embedded it into Cassie’s chest. She doubled over, falling to the ground.
“No!” Darmik screamed as he jumped at Lennek, his hands curling around his brother’s neck. They tumbled to the ground, Darmik on top of Lennek.
Out of the corner of his eye, Darmik saw Captain’s face. The hilt of a sword smashed into Darmik’s forehead. There was an immense amount of pain.
Everything went black.
****
Darmik came to. He was in a dark room. His arms were pulled tightly above his head, manacles surrounding his wrists. He tried moving his feet, but his ankles were chained to the floor. Two torches cast light in the small space. Darmik was in the interrogation room at his own military base. He blinked, heavy, thick blood covering one eye. His head throbbed with pain.
Someone chuckled. “Awake, are we? About time.” Boots echoed in the dank room. Captain stood before Darmik. “Where is Trell?”
“Dead,” Darmik answered, his voice raspy and barely audible.
Captain nodded to someone behind Darmik, and a whip hissed through the air, colliding with Darmik’s bare back. White-hot searing pain exploded through Darmik’s body.
“Where is Trell?” Captain asked again.
Darmik shook his head. The whip sliced through the air, hitting Darmik’s back, ripping open his skin. Blood ran down his legs. Under normal circumstances, Darmik knew he could withstand about fifteen lashings before he’d pass out. Today, he’d be lucky to withstand five.
“Your personal squad is missing. Trell’s body wasn’t found.” Captain nodded. The whip tore into Darmik’s skin. Blood pooled on the ground at Darmik’s feet. He clenched his hands into fists, wanting to fight back, but unable to pull free from the shackles.
“This is going to be a long night. If you’re being this stubborn about Trell, I can’t imagine how difficult you’ll be about Rema,” Captain smirked.
The whip sliced across Darmik’s back again. He roared in pain.
“Get Prince Lennek,” Captain said to a man standing by the door. “Tell him we’re ready for him.”
Darmik’s vision swam, his head throbbing. He needed to think of a way out of this mess.
The door flew open, and Lennek stormed in. His face had a bruise on the side of it. “Brother,” he said, seething with rage. He tossed his cape to the ground and rolled up his sleeves.
They stood facing one another.
“One day,” Darmik panted, “I will kill you.”
Lennek chuckled. “Bold words coming from someone locked in chains.” He grabbed the mallet from the table.
“No,” Captain said. “We need him alive and able to lead the way to Rema.”
“He doesn’t need his arms or fingers to take us to the whore,” Lennek hissed.
Captain replied, “No, he doesn’t.”
Lennek snatched a knife with a jagged edge, a wicked smile on his face. Darmik wanted to spit on his brother, but he didn’t have the strength. His head throbbed as blood ran down his back.
Lennek’s lips curled as he pressed the tip of the dagger against Darmik, just below his royal markings. Then he slid the weapon down and across, carving the letter “L” on his chest. The skin sliced open, blood gushing out.
Darmik ground his teeth against the pain.
“Where is she?” Lennek demanded.
“Why would I tell you?”
“So you can keep all ten fingers.”
Darmik laughed. “I’ll lose them anyway.”
Captain stepped forward. “He knows where she is. I’m sure of it.”
Lennek reached up, taking hold of Darmik’s fingers. He started sawing one off. Darmik shrieked in agony.
There was a loud boom.
“What was that?” Lennek asked. Captain shrugged his shoulders.
Blood ran down Darmik’s arm.
The wooden door in the ground flew open and half a dozen men rushed into the room. Darmik’s vision blurred; he was about to pass out. Metal clanked and there were several grunting noises. Darmik tried to focus. Phellek was there, along with some members from Darmik’s personal guard. Two of Darmik’s men fought with Captain, another one had Lennek pinned down, two fought soldiers trying to come to Captain’s aid, and another one secured the door so more of Captain’s men couldn’t enter.
Phellek fumbled with the key at the manacles around Darmik’s ankles. Once he released them, he moved to Darmik’s wrists. Finally, the metal clicked open, and Darmik collapsed to the ground.
“Quickly,” someone shouted.
Phellek helped Darmik to the exposed tunnel in the floor. Branek, Traco, and Chrotek were there waiting for him. They grabbed Darmik and took him down the ladder. Darmik raised his head to thank Phellek.
“You’re the son I never had,” Phellek said.
Captain appeared behi
nd Phellek, sword in hand.
“Behind you!” Darmik shouted.
Phellek twisted around just as Captain plunged the sword into Phellek’s torso. Phellek’s eyes widened, and his body slumped forward, covering the tunnel’s entrance.
Darmik screamed and tried climbing the ladder to reach him.
“No!” Branek said. “It’s too late. Don’t let Phellek’s sacrifice be in vain.”
Hatred filled Darmik. Captain hadn’t even hesitated—he killed Phellek without a second thought. Darmik vowed to repay the favor.
“Go,” Branek ordered. “I’ll stay here and guard the ladder.” Chrotek and Traco each grabbed a hold of Darmik’s arms, pulling him down the tunnel.
“There isn’t much time,” Chrotek said. “We’ve rigged the tunnel to blow so we can’t be followed.”
Darmik understood that the rest of his men were sacrificing themselves to save him. He stumbled. “No,” he said, “we have to go back and fight.”
“There’s too many of them,” Traco said. “Captain has taken control of the Eighth Company.”
They came upon boxes of dynamite. Chrotek stopped. “I’ve got this. You two hurry on.”
Darmik and Traco rushed forward. Darmik’s vision blurred. He felt like he was about to pass out. The exit was only a few feet ahead.
A rumble shook the ground, followed by a loud boom. Darmik and Traco were thrown from the tunnel. They landed facedown, on the dirt. When Darmik came to, he sat up and stared at the collapsed cave behind him. How many of his men died in order to save him? Darmik felt unworthy of their sacrifice.
Traco pulled Darmik to his feet. “Let’s go.”
Traco hoisted Darmik up on one of the two horses. “Go!” he shouted. Traco swung up on the other horse, and they took off toward Greenwood Forest.
Rema
As Rema ran through the halls, people stepped aside. She flew through the corridors until she exited the fortress. Once outside, she located the door in the wall and left the safety of the compound, just like she had the previous night. Only this time, she was adequately dressed.
The soldiers on top of the wall obviously saw her. It was broad daylight, and she wasn’t exactly concealing her appearance. Still, no one knew what to do. Allow her to pass? Or attempt to stop her?
Red (The True Reign Series) Page 21
