Assassin's Crown (The Assassin and her Dragon Princes Book Book 3)

by Ivy Clyde

  I heard footsteps behind me. Turning around, I came face to face with Mekhi. Even though he was fine, he looked haggard and exhausted.

  "Did you see father yet?" I asked.

  He shook his head. "I haven't gathered the courage to tell him about Zane." A long breath escaped him as he took in our brother's state.

  "Did something else happen?" I asked. Mekhi looked pale and exhausted. Other than our father, the great emperor, no one else could have this effect on him.

  "Lord Malnar was found dead in an inn."

  I gasped. He was the most powerful noble in the Drakhaven court who commanded my father's army. "How did it happen?"

  "No one knows for sure. He'd gone into an inn to dole out punishment to the innkeeper and his people and somehow, ended up burnt to a crisp. His soldiers were locked inside the inn and claim they saw nothing. There were bodies of the family he intended to kill but he's dead as well."

  "Who locked away the soldiers?"

  "They claim it was a man and woman."

  "It's her!" I hissed at once. "There is no doubt about that, Mekhi. No other woman could take on a dozen soldiers and burn the commander-in-chief to death. Tell father to give out his command. She will have to die for what she did to our brother! No! She must be tortured until her last breath."

  Mekhi sat down on a plush chair. Zane was now curled up in the bed, softly weeping.

  Pouring wine into a silver goblet, I handed it to Mekhi. "You don’t look so well, brother. Have a drink."

  He took it from me and drank deeply. "Who exactly is she?" he asked, looking up at me. His pale gray eyes looked at me questioningly. "You saw her in Iorna along with the three princes. What is her purpose for being with them?" Before I could open my mouth to answer, he held up his hand, silencing me. "Don't tell me she's their whore. She might be a pretty face but there's much more to her than that."

  I was fuming by now. "Even you think she's special?"

  "Only a fool would think otherwise."

  "Mekhi!"

  "Open your eyes and see the truth for what it is. Adal is the golden-scaled dragon we saw in Baledonia. Few weeks before that, a silver-scaled dragon broke into the tallest tower in Partaig to rescue her and the prince of Redfall. At this point, I can only assume it to be Prince Cain. The woman has two dragons protecting her."

  I sat down with a huff. My nails dug into my palms as I balled my hands into tight fists. I hated Daria. She was the one who lost me the favor of Prince Cain and turned him into a rebel. He was the only man I ever loved and wanted. I could never forgive the bitch for taking away the one man I wanted to marry.

  "What does father think?" I asked. "About the woman and the dragons?"

  "He is angry, of course," said Mekhi, his gaze focused on the furthest wall. "He also commanded me to guard the dragon temple. Other than a priest or a member of the royal family, no one can step inside."

  "What's the point of securing the dragon temple?" I asked, surprised. "He needs to increase security in the city and towns surrounding the capital. That bitch is here. I know it!"

  "We can't be sure, Helena," said Mekhi, pouring himself some more wine. "It could be someone else too." His gaze met mine. "How do you think Prince Adal turned into his true form? Even his elder brothers were as shocked as us."

  I shook my head. "I don't know."

  "It's got to do with her," said Mekhi. "I can feel it."

  "You think she's responsible? That she has the power to trigger the shifting magic that can turn a dragonborn into a true dragon?" My anger was rising, clawing my insides for a way to unleash itself. "You think she's that important? She's nothing but a whore!"

  "Helena." Mekhi's voice was thick with warning. "If you'd rise above petty jealousy, you'll be able to see things clearly. She is not someone to be tampered with. We need a thorough plan before facing her."

  I scoffed. "Jealousy? How could I be jealous of someone like her? I am the princess of Drakhaven and she's a whore on the street."

  I hated how Mekhi shook his head, falling quiet and sipping his wine. He was dismissing my feelings and opinions completely. I turned my gaze towards Zane. He'd gone quiet now, curled up and snoozing.

  Getting to my feet, I moved towards the bed and gently covered him with a blanket. The maids and servants were utterly useless in looking after him. He seemed to be calm only when I and Mekhi were around. The change in him made my throat choke up with tears.

  Zane never feared anyone. He was the great dragonborn son of Emperor Ivan. Other than Mekhi, no one dared to stand against him. And now, he was reduced to something worse than the lowliest of men.

  There was a knock at the door and the voice of a guard announced the presence of Lord Tasher. Turning around, I glanced at Mekhi. It was odd the court noble would come to meet us in our personal quarters. It was more common to be meeting in one of the parlor rooms of the palace.

  "Tell him to come in," said Mekhi loudly, pouring the rest of his drink down his throat and slamming the goblet on the table.

  "May be we should speak elsewhere?" I said, gesturing at Zane.

  "Let's see what's the emergency first," said Mekhi.

  A gasping, panting Lord Tasher stumbled into the room. His usually smirking face was pale and his dress robes were a crumpled mess. He looked stricken and for a moment, he simply stared at Mekhi. When he became aware of my presence, he bowed clumsily.

  "What's the matter?" asked Mekhi in a cold, commanding voice.

  "My warehouse was looted, My Prince," said Lord Tasher in a choked voice. I'd never seen the conniving nobleman look so upset. His beady eyes were full of unshed tears.

  "Aren't your storehouses secured by personal guards?" asked Mekhi. "Are they all dead now? Perhaps, burned to death?"

  He shook his head. "No, Your Highness. Those bastards are absolutely untouched."

  "Shouldn't you be investigating them, then? They must have looted your gold themselves."

  "I already did that, Your Highness. The men said they fainted and when they awoke, the storehouse was empty."

  "How is that even possible?" I said. "How could everyone faint at once?"

  Tasher nodded. "I need your assistance, Your Highness. I need the royal guards to investigate the matter."

  "It would have to wait, Lord Tasher," said Mekhi with a sigh. "They are busy investigating Lord Malnar's death."

  "The man is dead already! What's the point of investigating now? My other stores could be looted next!"

  I chuckled. "What if the same person comes after you, My Lord?" I asked.

  He stared at me, his eyes wide as a new realization hit him. "You think some rebel is murdering the nobles of the court?"

  "You should leave now, Lord Tasher," said Mekhi in a tired voice.

  "But, Your Highness -"

  Mekhi put up his hand. "Enough. My brother needs to rest and we can have this conversation another time."

  Tasher looked like he wanted to argue but Mekhi's coldness was a palpable thing. After a moment's hesitation, the man bowed low and scuttled out of the room.

  Mekhi got to his feet. His gaze warmer than before, he stared down at me. "It is the lantern festival. You should go out and enjoy the festivities. Don't stay here and seethe over things you can’t control."

  "Will you come with me, Brother?" I asked hopefully.

  He shook his head. "I need to run my own investigations about these bizarre events. Also, you need to stay away from Daria or Darla or whatever her name is."

  "I will kill her the next time I see her," I vowed.

  "No."

  "What?"

  "You can't kill her. I need her alive so I can find out the secret of how Cain and Adal turned into their true forms. Father will never tell me. He's determined to be the only dragon in the four kingdoms."

  "How would that inconsequential maid know something you don't?" I argued. "She doesn't deserve the importance you're giving her." I was seething. Even Mekhi was protecting her now.

  "Heed
my command, sister," he said, coming to stand before me. His pale eyes were like chips of ice as he stared down at me, intending to intimidate me. He could bully the nobles with that look but not me. I stared back at him defiantly. "She must not die until I've had my answers. Do you understand?"

  "Fine," I huffed. "You don't need to worry so much about the tramp. I'll make sure to torture her before giving her sweet release."

  He groaned. Turning away, he walked out of the room, leaving me to glare at his back.

  I went back to sit on the edge of Zane's bed. My brother looked like a suffering child having a bad dream. It hurt to see my handsome brother reduced to such a pathetic state. As tears ran down my face, I wondered whether we weren't truly related to each other by blood.

  The emperor adopted me when I was a child, telling me I would be the princess that he'd lost a long time ago. Nobles and courtiers feared me as much as the emperor's sons. Even though I didn't wield the power of a dragonborn, people didn’t see me as someone lesser. Father had seen to it.

  I was the princess of Drakhaven and I could never stay still while the one who hurt my brother roamed free. No matter what Mekhi said, Daria would die by my hands.

  Gently caressing Zane's dark locks, I leaned in to kiss his forehead. "Sleep well, Brother," I whispered, taking one last look at him. Straightening up, I brushed away the tears from my face. Taking a deep breath, I walked away.

  Stepping out of Zane's bedchamber, I headed to my own quarters. Maids bowed low before me but my gaze never acknowledged them. Spotting my handmaiden, carrying a tray of hot wine and cups towards my chambers, I called her.

  "Your Highness," she said, bowing low. Heather was attired in a scarlet dress, different from the maroon uniforms of the palace. All my personal maids dressed that way, distinguishing themselves as superiors among the other servants.

  "I will be going to the lantern festival tonight. Prepare my clothes as well as call Lord Farral to my chambers."

  "Lord Farral, My Lady?"

  I nodded. "Prepare my crossbow too. We're going hunting tonight."

  Heather looked thoroughly confused by my instructions. Giving her my strictest look, I gestured for her to get going.

  Daria was in Fuvaros. I was sure of that. Every bizarre incident that had Mekhi worried was her doing. I will find you and teach you lesson, I vowed, breathing hard.

  17

  The late afternoon sun shone through the shutters in the window. Still feeling lethargic, I rolled on the bed, content to just stay under the sheets while the day passed by. The room in the inn which had felt so cramped yesterday, appeared too large today.

  The princes were away, distributing the herbs we'd managed to steal from Tasher's warehouse last night. My heart swelled with emotion knowing the people suffering would find relief once they were fed the medicinal concoction. It was a bittersweet feeling, knowing how many had perished while I was absent from my kingdom. The image of the dead girl with her eyes wide open flashed through my mind. Even in the warmth of my sheets, I shivered.

  With a sudden move, I sat up. Rubbing my eyes and face, I climbed out of bed. My thoughts had taken a more melancholic turn and without Cain, Adal or Norvin nearby, I knew I would drown in them without an escape.

  With a start, I realized how accustomed I'd become to their company. It had been weeks since I was completely alone without at least one of them accompanying me. At first, I didn't want to allow my heart to fall weak and struggled hard to keep the princes away. Back then, I was nothing but an assassin at their service.

  I exhaled a long breath, realizing how different my life had become. Back then, I was overwhelmed by the idea of murdering a dragon. Now, the thought of taking back my kingdom and healing it felt like a far daunting task. Killing Ivan and eradicating his sons were mere hurdles in my path.

  Going to the small table in the corner, I splashed my face in the basin of water kept there. A hiss escaped me as the cold water hit my cheeks and eyes. To my surprise, it was incredibly refreshing.

  With my stomach grumbling with hunger, I decided to put on my woolen dress and head down to the inn's dining hall. A lot of my energy had been depleted last night because of the blood magic. The effects of it had been spectacular. We'd completed the task without shedding blood. Well, except mine of course.

  I yearned for a good bath where I could submerge my whole body into hot, clean water. My scalp felt itchy, demanding a good wash. I sighed in resignation, knowing it would be a while before we could have the luxury to bathe to our heart's desire.

  After brushing out the tangles in my hair, I braided it back. Without hair ornaments and a simple woolen dress, I looked like one of the peasants but I didn't care. Appearances were fleeting. They could always be fixed.

  The weight and light jingle of my darts and needles underneath my clothes comforted me. Even without the presence of Cain, Adal, and Norvin, I felt safe. Unbidden, the memory of being weaponless and poisoned flashed through my mind. Panic flared inside me and I had to make a conscious effort to calm myself.

  "You're safe now," I whispered in the silent room. "You are strong. You can defeat anyone who dares to attack you." I waited for the panic to subside. Taking deep breaths and being mindful of the rise and fall of my chest soon calmed me.

  Stepping out of the room, I followed the narrow corridor and walked down the stairs to reach the main hall of the inn. Evening was about to fall and the place was crowded with merchants and performers, eating and drinking their meals before they went out to sell their wares at the festival. Not a single table was free.

  "Oy there!" someone called from my left. Turning towards the voice, I saw a rosy-cheeked man waving at me. His table was full of men who looked like him, dressed in rich velvets with long braided locks. "Come and sit with us!" he hollered.

  I smiled, taking up on his offer. They had an empty chair at their table and I took it.

  "Have some food," said the man who'd invited me. "You look pale."

  "Thank you," I said, picking up a bread roll from the basket he offered. I looked around at his companions and found them to be of the same age. "Are you merchants?" I asked, tearing into a roll.

  "Aye! We sell silk brocades," said the man. "We serve the finest of the finest." Smiling jovially, he said, "My name's Arran. These are my fellow traders from Iorna."

  The five men surrounding us nodded and grunted.

  "And what about you, pretty maid? Are you all by yourself here?" His eyes glinted with a familiar curiosity. I'd seen men give me that look often enough.

  Smiling, I stuffed the rest of the roll in my mouth. "My husband is away for now. He should be back in a day or two."

  "Oh," he muttered with a disappointed shrug of his shoulders.

  "I am leaving, Arran," said one of the men beside him. "It's time I set up my stall for the evening."

  "Ahh, yes, of course."

  One by one, his companions excused themselves.

  "Are you a loyal wife, lady?" asked Arran, trying one more time. "You know if you were to make me happy, I could gift you a gold coin."

  I chuckled. "My husband left me with a few ingots. If my loyalty was measured by gold, I'd say he's already won." I let the smile fade away from my face. "Not every woman is born to be bought by you."

  The man sputtered and coughed, quickly getting to his feet. "I meant no disrespect."

  "But you did," I said coldly.

  "Here," he said, slapping a silver coin beside me. "Have a meal and forget I said anything."

  I kept my amusement concealed as I watched the man bump into other tables as he hurried to get away from me. At least, he had the sense to be ashamed of approaching a married woman.

  Ordering myself bread and a vegetable stew, I sat at the dirty table. It was filled with the leftovers of the men who'd just left. The waiters and maids were too busy serving food to the crowded inn to care much about cleaning.

  By the time I finished my meal, the inn had emptied. Night fell and the glo
w of lanterns from the street outside entered the open doorway of the inn.

  With no other option than going upstairs and be lonely, I decided to take a walk through the streets of Fuvaros. A part of me was excited to get more familiar with the city that served as the kingdom's capital.

  Paying a few coppers to the man at the counter (not the innkeeper who'd disappeared like yesterday), I went down the street towards the city's market square.

  My heart swelled at the sight that awaited me. The market square was even more gaudily lit with lanterns. Someone had gone to the effort of making large paper mache, shaped like lotuses, roses, and hibiscuses and putting lit candles inside them. They were hung on strings that ran past the street, illuminating up the place beautifully.

  Stalls were erected around the square, selling everything from silks to roasted peanuts! Children gathered around sweet shops. The wealthier among them bought their favorites while the rest watched on, strings of saliva dripping from their open mouths.

  Moving towards one of the shops, I looked at the sweet delights on display. A few of them like honeyed oatcakes and spun cotton-sugar were familiar. Drakhaven seemed to have more varieties of sweet treats than any other kingdom.

  "What are those?" I asked the seller, pointing at a pile of shiny, brown blocks.

  "Butterscotch toffees. Thirty pieces for a silver!"

  Expensive, my mind retorted.

  "Those are the best ones," I heard a young boy say to his friends. From their simple hemp and woolen clothing, it was easy to tell they belonged to the lower classes and were too poor buy anything from the seller.

  "Move away!" shooed the seller in an annoyed voice. "Let the customers take a look. You!" he added, staring at me with a frustrated expression. "Buy or get going."

  "You're a rude one," I muttered. "Give me the toffees," I said in a louder voice.

  The man held out his palm for the silver. I wondered how many had hoodwinked him for a piece of his sweets that he was so distrusting of customers. Sighing, I gave him the coin and waited while he filled a parchment paper bag with the toffees. With a start, I recognized it to be made up of a wanted-poster for Norvin.