They sat in silence for several minutes, neither speaking.
Then Ackley mumbled, “I have the same problem.”
“Since you’re an assassin, I would imagine so.”
“I spoke with Milard and Rayne. They said they escaped with you. That Ledger shot a man and saved your life.”
She shivered, wishing Ackley would leave her alone.
“I’m surprised more of you didn’t escape,” he continued.
He didn’t understand what it was like. The chaos of that day. The blood that had coated her feet.
“I’m surprised that Ledger, Milard, and Rayne were running away instead of standing with their units.”
“They weren’t on duty.” They’d barely escaped. The Russeks had been slaughtering the Melenia soldiers as if they were nothing.
“Where I come from, a soldier takes an oath to protect his king and kingdom.”
“They protected me.”
“You’re nothing to the crown.”
While his words stung, they were true. “Why are you telling me this?” She wished he’d get to the point.
“I’m just trying to understand what happened that day.”
“There’s no understanding it. It was senseless. Power hungry men destroyed hundreds, if not thousands, of lives.” She couldn’t stop thinking about Lyle. He’d married her so he could become the captain of Penlar. She was a means to an end. Because he wanted power. Was that all men cared for? Power over others?
“There are ways to stop people like that.”
He’d said it so softly, Harley almost missed it. “What do you mean?”
He shrugged. “Like you so eloquently expressed in our game of War, war should be avoided at all costs. There are always ways around a battle.”
She eyed him sidelong. He’d purposefully stated earlier that he was an assassin right now, not a prince. If she only considered what he said as if he were an assassin and nothing more, it changed things. “Where you come from, are there knights who are women?” She found the idea of a woman assassin intriguing. Her heart pounded, waiting for his answer.
“Yes.”
Again, when he spoke, his voice was soft and inviting. As if he wanted to lure her in and gain her trust. She needed to be careful with him—he was not to be trusted.
“It’s late,” he said. “You should get to bed. Owen wants to leave at first light.”
She understood a dismissal when she heard one. Nodding, she stood and traipsed back to her tent, ideas and possibilities swirling inside her head.
Days of endless walking passed. Harley only caught glimpses of Ackley, never having the chance to talk with him. It always seemed he was busy speaking with soldiers, ordering men about, and just disappearing for hours. A little over a week into their journey, word came through the ranks that they were about to pass a village. Harley tensed, fearing this one would be burned like the others.
The quiet murmuring that had been going on amongst the soldiers ceased, and a hush descended. A rancid smell permeated the air along with a buzzing sound. The first thing Harley saw were spikes sticking up out of the ground. Skewered on each one was a single decaying head. She tried not to notice the smaller heads belonging to children.
Several soldiers broke rank and vomited.
Most of the buildings had been burned, but not all of them.
“I’m going to send soldiers to investigate,” Owen said. “Remain with Gytha.” He looked at Harley and Idina. Both nodded. He jogged up ahead and started barking out orders.
“If there were any survivors, I think we would have seen them,” Idina whispered.
“I agree.” Regardless, she was glad Owen was checking, just to be sure.
They continued on, not stopping until sunset. Harley and Idina helped Gytha erect their tent. Once they finished, the three of them went to get supper.
Harley grabbed a bowl of stew and followed Gytha to a fallen log. She sat down, Gytha and Idina on either side of her.
“How close are we to the castle?” Gytha asked.
“We’re a little more than half way.” They’d be passing by Penlar soon. Harley shoved that thought from her head, not wanting to think about the fate of her parents.
“I don’t know about you,” Idina muttered, “but I’m not hungry.” She pushed the food around in her bowl.
“We’ll have our revenge,” Harley commented. “As soon as Owen reclaims the throne, we’ll go after Russek and make them pay for what they’ve done.”
Idina set her bowl down. “That’s what I’m worried about. Do you think it’s wise for us to attack Russek? Do we even have enough soldiers for such an assault?” She folded her hands together, placing her elbows on her knees. “I see the devastation here. These Russek barbarians kill without mercy, slaughtering innocent women and children. If they fight without rules, if they are this vicious, how can Owen stand against them?” Her lip quivered.
“I think the real question is, how can he not? If he does nothing, he will be condoning this behavior. He has to stand up for what’s right—even if that means going to war.” Her brother’s death would not be in vain. Men who sought power, and greedy people like Lyle, who took what they wanted without asking, couldn’t win. Something she’d heard Ackley say wedged its way in. He’d said war should be avoided and that there were ways to seek revenge without going to war. She rubbed her temples, confusion setting in.
Idina placed her hand on Harley’s forearm. “I’m afraid that because you and Owen lost everything, your judgement may be clouded by anger. Russek left Melenia. Isn’t that enough?”
“How can you even ask that?” Tears welled in her eyes.
“Let me counter your question with one of my own. How can you risk waking a sleeping bear?”
“All bears eventually wake,” Ackley said from behind them, startling Harley. She hadn’t heard anyone approach. “Russek came once. If Owen doesn’t strike back, they’ll come again.”
Idina swung around to face her brother. “How can you say that?”
“As the saying goes, if the hunt is good, the hunter will return.”
Harley couldn’t believe Ackley was siding with her on this.
“There can be diplomatic relations between kingdoms,” Idina pointed out.
“Perhaps.” Ackley shrugged. “Perhaps not. We don’t have enough information to determine that.”
Shaking her head, Idina said, “I’m not in the mood to argue with you tonight. All I wanted to point out is that maybe our focus shouldn’t be on revenge. That’s all.”
“I know war and the taking of another’s life should never be done without considering all options,” Ackley replied.
Idina snorted. “Funny coming from you.”
“Because it’s late, I’m going to ignore that comment. I need a moment of Lady Harley’s time.” He finally looked her way.
Harley nodded and stood, following him away from everyone and deeper into the woods. She was about to insist they not go any farther when he stopped and faced her.
“Owen asked me for a favor.” Ackley shoved his hands in his pockets, looking at the tree beside him and not at Harley.
She waited for him to explain.
“Since some of the larger towns have been spared, he wants to know if his aunt and uncle are alive.”
Harley’s parents. She’d been trying hard not to consider the possibility of them being alive. To think it only to discover them dead would be unbearable.
“I’m going to find out for him.”
Her cousin could send anyone to find out if Penlar had been destroyed. So why did he choose to send Ackley?
“Since I don’t know my way around this kingdom, Owen asked that you accompany me.”
Liar. “You found me in Kreng just fine.”
A ghost of a smile slid across his face and then disappeared.
“Why is my cousin really sending you?” she asked. “And why does he want me to go?” There had to be another reason. Maybe there was so
meone in Penlar Owen wanted assassinated, assuming Penlar was still standing. However, that didn’t account for her part in this.
“If your parents are dead, Owen wants to make sure they’re buried properly. He figured you wouldn’t want an audience as you said your goodbyes, and he trusts me to keep you safe.”
Safe with an assassin? She almost laughed out loud. Folding her arms across her chest, she started pacing, trying to decide if she was strong enough to return to Penlar. “Would we only be going to my parents’ manor?” She didn’t look at Ackley as she asked the question.
“Where else would we go?” His voice turned lower, softer, making her shiver. “To the house you shared with Lyle?”
Her body tensed just hearing Lyle’s name. She glanced at Ackley, carefully watching her. He took a step closer, his penetrating eyes seeing more than she wanted him to. She froze, caught in his gaze. “Would we go there?” she whispered, not knowing if she could step foot in that house again. It had never been her home even though she’d lived there for a few months.
“It’ll just be the two of us.”
The air turned hot. The two of them. Alone. She rubbed her forehead. How would she travel with a prince and assassin she did not like or care for? And why did her stomach flip when he came near her? Why did her heart speed up? Her palms become sweaty? It had to be because he was an assassin; no other reason made sense.
Whenever Lyle had entered the room, dread and hatred coursed through her. She would have to calm her shaking body, pretending it was fright or desire and not anger.
“Well?” Ackley asked, raising a single eyebrow.
“If Owen wishes me to go, then I’ll go.”
“But do you wish to go?”
“No, I do not. But what choice do I have?”
“You always have a choice.”
She knew that. But all choices came with consequences. Early on in her marriage, she’d learned to pick her battles. Considering the conversation she’d just had with Idina about Russek, she decided to go along with Owen in this matter. If he wanted her to go to Penlar, she would. But when it came to seeking revenge against those responsible for killing her brother, she would stop at nothing to see that through. Maybe traveling with an assassin, alone, would be useful. He’d sided with her, not Idina, regarding Russek. If Owen believed as Idina did, Harley would have to take matters in her own hands. A lethal assassin could come in handy. She just wished he wasn’t so handsome; it would make being around him easier.
Peering up into his eyes, she said, “I’ll accompany you to my parents’ manor. But I will not step foot in Lyle’s house. Are we clear?”
“You should be this decisive all the time. It suits you.” With that, he turned and strode away, melting into the shadows of the forest.
Harley trekked along, bored from another day of walking. She hadn’t realized how much longer it would take to reach the castle traveling with so many soldiers.
Owen and Idina were up ahead of Harley, Owen explaining how the kingdom was divided into provinces and which family controlled each one. Not in the mood for a history lesson, Harley had fallen back. Glancing around, she didn’t see Ackley or Gytha nearby.
“Harley,” Ledger said as he came to walk beside her. “How are you doing?”
“I’m fine.” It was good to have a kind, friendly face around.
“I want to offer my services to you.”
She had no idea what he was referring to.
“We’ll be passing Penlar soon.”
She was well aware of it and had been reliving her conversation with Ackley over and over again. There was more to it than Ackley was letting on, she was sure of it.
“I’ve heard from the scouts that not all cities are burned. If you want, I can escort you to Penlar to see? Perhaps your parents are alive?”
“Thank you for thinking of me. However, you don’t need to escort me there.”
“Don’t you want to know?”
“I do.”
“Then I’ll take you.”
She sighed. “Prince Ackley is taking me.”
They walked in silence for a few minutes. Then Ledger asked, “Who’s all going?”
“Just the prince and me.”
“Do you think that wise?”
No, she did not. However, it wasn’t up to her. Owen wished for her to go with Ackley, so she would. “It’s already been decided.”
“If something changes, let me know. My offer still stands.”
“Thank you, Ledger. I appreciate it.”
He gave a curt nod before falling back to walk with the unit he’d been assigned to.
They stopped at midday to rest and eat. Clouds rolled in, the temperature dropping. Harley hoped it didn’t rain. After grabbing her food, she found a quiet spot away from most of the soldiers to eat her meal in peace. When she’d just about finished, she noticed Ackley exit from a cluster of trees not far away. She hadn’t seen him all morning and wondered where he’d been and what he’d been up to.
Standing, she decided to confront him. If she was going to be traveling with him, she needed to be able to talk to him freely. As he headed to where the food was being distributed, she cut him off.
“Where were you?” she asked.
His eyes scanned her body for a long minute before responding. “I needed to speak to some of my soldiers.”
She hadn’t seen anyone else exit the forest with him. “Are you really here to help Owen?” Perhaps he had other plans and was only using Owen.
“My number one reason for being here is to ensure my sister’s safety. Right now, that means making sure the kingdom is stabilized.”
“Then why bother taking me to Penlar? I assume you’d want to remain at Idina’s side.”
He considered her a moment, then replied, “I trust Owen to protect Idina.”
Given his desire to ensure his sister’s safety, she couldn’t understand why he’d leave her side to go with Harley to Penlar. The only information he would learn was whether her parents were alive or not. How would that knowledge benefit him? Her parents were in charge of the province of Penlar. They were the only nobles who hadn’t been at her cousin’s birthday celebration. In one fell swoop, Russek had managed to wipe out all of the people who could govern and lead the kingdom. It was a genius move by Russek.
Her heartbeat sped up as she started to look at the situation objectively. “Owen doesn’t think my parents had something to do with the takeover, does he?” Because they didn’t. She was certain of it.
“It is miraculous that you managed to survive. If Penlar is untouched and your parents are alive, it won’t look good.”
A chill slid over her skin as his words sunk in. No, it most certainly wouldn’t look good if her parents were the only ones that managed to survive. And Owen was the one who asked Ackley to go and see for him. Bile rose in her throat. “If my parents are alive, do you have orders to kill me?”
A slow, devious smile crept across his face. “While I might have entertained such thoughts, Owen hasn’t. He assured me you are loyal.” His deep voice slid across the space between them, making her feel uneasy.
“And my parents?” she whispered, fear coating every word.
“I am here to do what needs to be done to ensure Melenia’s survival.”
Unable to look away from Ackley’s intense gaze, she knew, right then and there, that if he thought she posed a threat to his sister, if he suspected she were involved in this takeover in any way, he would have no qualms about running a sword through her.
Judging by the cold gleam in his eyes, he knew she was aware of it.
Not able to form a coherent sentence, she nodded and hurried away.
The following morning, as Harley tied her boots, she heard a commotion coming from just outside her tent. She poked her head out to make sure everything was all right. When she did so, she saw a person dressed in civilian clothing requesting to speak with King Owen immediately. Only, no one seemed to know where Owen was.
Harley scrambled out of the tent just as Gytha approached with a bowl of oatmeal.
“What do you mean no one knows where King Owen is?” Gytha demanded.
The handful of men standing around all came to attention, facing her. “He left early this morning,” one of the men answered.
Gytha shoved the bowl at Harley before crossing her arms and glaring at the men, each now quivering in his boots. “When did he leave?”
“Just before sunrise,” one of them answered.
“How do you know?” Gytha asked, her voice hard as steel.
“I, uh, was on guard at the time. He told me to remain here.”
Gytha peered inside Owen’s tent. “Where’s Prince Ackley?”
The soldiers glanced between themselves, shrugging.
Gytha sighed, shaking her head. “I suggest you find out where King Owen and Prince Ackley are. When you do, let them know a spy has returned with information.”
Harley observed the man. She’d thought he was a regular person, not a soldier in the army. Looking closer, she saw about a week’s worth of stubble on his face, dirt smeared on his forehead, and the thick smell of horse radiated from him. She wondered where he’d been and what he’d learned.
“How do you know King Owen and Prince Ackley are together?” one of the soldiers asked.
Gytha’s eyes narrowed at the question, and one of the soldiers took a step back before mumbling, “We’ll go and look for them.” They hurried away.
Harley couldn’t believe the men had listened to Gytha so readily.
Gytha placed her hand on the spy’s shoulder, leading him to Owen’s tent.
Harley turned to go back to her own tent when Gytha barked, “With me, Lady Harley.”
She jumped and did as Gytha said.
Inside Owen’s tent, the warrior woman pointed to the corner where a small stool and table were. “Eat, Lady Harley.”
Sword of Rage: Reigning Kingdoms, Book 1 Page 13
