Chapter 11
Darwick Estate
Lara
Cai and I practically jumped a few feet apart and my eyes met Cordelia’s. She was standing on the other side of the threshold, her cheeks flushed a deep red.
“I thought I heard someone,” she said, and I turned to Cai.
“Well, goodnight then.”
He bowed his head, as princes do, and gave me a small smile. “Good night.”
Then he was gone.
I stumbled into the room, where a cold breeze swept across me, and my eyes landed on the open window, curtains blowing around it.
“Good heavens, Cordelia, it’s freezing in here. Why on earth is the window open?” I walked over to the other side of the room and quickly closed the latch, rubbing my arms to warm them.
When Cordelia didn’t reply, I turned around, and her expression was as guilty as a thief who’d just got caught.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” I asked, slowly putting two and two together. The open window, the door flying open when she heard a noise, her red cheeks.
“Cordelia?” I asked, with a smirk on my face.
She started making herself busy with the brushes and things on the dresser.
“Yes?”
“Was there, perhaps, a gentleman in here?” In a room, without a chaperone, behind a closed door. There really was more to Cordelia than met the eye.
“No, of course not. I came to help you get ready for bed.” Those were her words. But I knew a liar when I saw one.
“Well, come on, who was it, then?” I prompted her, my grin as wide as ever.
“No one,” she swore and I laughed.
“Well, if you’re not going to tell me, Cordelia, then I will just have to find out by myself.” She didn’t reply, but I could see her smiling to herself in the mirror.
Another nightmare slithered into my subconscious that night. Similar to the one I had a few nights before, it was based on a childhood memory, one I had fought so hard to keep locked away from my thoughts. We’d run out of food in the camp, and in a desperate attempt to avoid starvation, Ray and I had gone hunting. We didn’t catch anything for days and all along we got closer to the royal hunting grounds in Levernia. Ray hadn’t meant to kill one of the King’s prized deer. We didn’t even realise that we’d wandered off so far. But that didn’t keep the royal guard from punishing Ray for his actions.
I watched helplessly as they whipped his bare back, eventually drawing blood. I could still hear my screams as a villager had to hold me back from running towards him. Anything to make it stop. Anything to keep the guard from ripping open the flesh of my friend’s back. A hatred in my heart formed that day, for what the monarchy stood for, for what they’d done to an innocent child, for the life I was forced to live because a king couldn’t look after his own kingdom. Ray’s hands were tied to a post and he flinched every time the whip hit him. He wanted to scream, I could tell. But he bit his lips so hard that it eventually drew blood. And I couldn’t do anything to save him from that pain. But I could spend my time causing as much trouble for the royal family as possible. Being a bandit and a contract thief wouldn’t change or make up for what had happened. But it was all I could do then, perhaps until now.
* * *
I woke up the next morning with a blinding pain in my head. Someone, I assumed Cordelia, pulled the blankets off my body and I groaned. “Rise and shine, Your Highness.” I wanted to smile at her jest, but my head was in too much pain.
“Please stop screaming.” Next thing I knew, she was pulling me into a sitting position. I let out a yawn before she splashed some cold water in my face and pulled me out of bed, while I attempted to gather my senses. I squinted from the light coming in through the windows. Cordelia sat me down and started brushing my hair.
“You’re a mess,” she commented.
“Thank you, I hadn’t noticed.”
“We’re supposed to meet the rest of the party downstairs in a few minutes. The Duke of Darwick has given us a carriage and some horses.”
“That’s very kind of him.” I yawned again. “What happened last night? How much did I have to drink?”
“I wasn’t there. But it must have been a lot.” She helped me get dressed layer by layer, until she fastened the last button on the back of my dress. “All I know is that Prince Cai escorted you back here and then you fell asleep almost immediately.”
We left the room, making our way downstairs as a servant entered the room to retrieve my trunk of new clothes kindly gifted to me by the duchess. “Cai?” I questioned and then the memories started pouring back into my head. “Oh no.” I rubbed my temples.
The sharp sun didn’t do anything to help my headache. Everyone was already waiting outside by the time we got there, the guards mounting one by one. Rhen brought my horse over, but I caught Cai’s eye as he was standing with his soldiers. “You know what, I think I’ll take the carriage today.”
Rhen nodded, somewhat confused, and pulled open the carriage door, helping me inside. Cordelia frowned and I fell back against the seat in a very unladylike position.
“Mind if I join you?” My resting eyes flew open at the sound of Cai’s voice as he got into the seat across from me.
“In that case, I’ll just take one of the horses,” Cordelia said, and I was about to protest, but she was already out the door. I grimaced, leaning my head against the back of the seat and closing my eyes again.
“Your head too?” Cai asked, and I nodded.
“I don’t know what exactly is in your Evernean wine, but I haven’t been that drunk since I was a young lad.”
“You’re still a young lad.” I started rubbing my temples with my fingers again.
“No, but this was quite a few years ago. My best friend Thatcher and I snuck into one of my parents’ parties and stole a bottle of wine because we’d never had any before, and for some reason thought it was a good idea. My father found us the next morning, passed out on the garden steps. Needless to say we were in big trouble.”
“Sounds like your family had their hands full.” The carriage pulled away and we were on the move.
“Most certainly. Thatcher and I got ourselves into all kinds of trouble as children and teenagers, but I suppose we grew up eventually.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever had as much to drink as I did last night,” I admitted.
“I don’t even remember anything,” he said.
I opened my eyes, looking at him for the first time. The knot in my stomach unclenched a little.
“Tell me more about Norrandale and your childhood?” Rhen said I needed him to trust me. After all the havoc of our initial introduction, perhaps that was a good place to start. A simple question, a safe one.
Cai proceeded with stories about the beautiful landscape and how they would go hunting or simply spend days in the forest so they could sleep under the stars. He told me about the people and the dances and stories about how he and Thatcher often got themselves into interesting situations.
“What about your men here?”
“What do you mean?”
“You seem very close to them. I have never seen a prince address his guards so personally.”
“Well, I’ve known them for so long I suppose you could say they feel like family. Except for Conner, but he’s a good kid. Brutus has been working in the kitchens since I was a little boy. I would always steal some of the mince pies, but he would only give me a disapproving look.”
“He doesn’t say much, does he?”
“Argonian rebels cut out his tongue a long time ago.”
I met his gaze in surprise. “That’s terrible.”
Cai just nodded.
“What about Jack and Alastor?”
“They fought with me in the war.”
He looked out of the carriage window as if reminiscing, a dark expression crossing his face. “I owe them so much more than my life.” The expression faded as quickly as it had appeared and he looked back at me.
“What about your family? What about Everness?”
“Well, I’ve already shown you my favourite place in Everness. But I suppose that is where the good things end. The people are poor and unhappy, and I’m not very close to my family.”
“I’m sorry.” His apology looked sincere.
“It’s not your doing.”
“Not yours either. You should be able to trust your father and brother to run the kingdom. It isn’t your duty to worry about it.”
“No, my duty is to be married off to the highest bidder,” I spat out, suddenly angry on behalf of a person I had never even met. It was King Magnus and Prince Lance’s responsibility to run the kingdom, to look after the people. And instead they spend and party while Eloisa is to be married to a stranger so Everness can benefit.
Cai’s expression looked almost sad. “I know neither of us really have much of a choice in this matter, but I’m not going to force you to...”
I cut him off — his expression alone made me feel guilty. “No, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. I just... I wish that...” I didn’t quite know what to say.
“That everything was different?” Cai offered and I nodded. “Me too.”
Perhaps he had much less say in this marriage than I realised, and now it was too late to go back. Cai would find out the truth one way or another. And Lance knew that. So what exactly was he planning? Lance was afraid I would take the heirloom for myself, which was why he’d made certain I was under close observation by the guards at all times. But what happened to Cai when it was over and he found out that it was all a lie? Was he going to kill him?
And how could I be certain that Lance wouldn’t betray and kill me too, once I’d given him what he wanted? Despite how much I cared for my family, I’d chosen to run away out of fear for the future. I’d chosen to run away from the life I was living, in the hope of a better one, in a different kingdom. But I’d never planned for all of this to happen. For me to be in a position to change things. One thing was certain: Lance could not be trusted, and whatever he had planned, it couldn’t be good. I didn’t know what exactly to make of Cai, yet. Had my uncle been here, what would he have told me to do? Kill Lance? Would it change anything except make me a sought-after thief and a murderer? The price on my head would increase, that was certain, but it wouldn’t change anything for the better.
Trust Cai? They said the enemy of your enemy was your friend. Could that be true? Nevertheless, I was inside enemy lines and Uncle would want me to play the game.
* * *
We arrived at the manor house some hours later and Cai got out of the carriage first. He held out his hand to help me out, but clumsy as I was in this costume of a gown, my foot got caught between the two carriage steps and I fell... straight into Cai’s arms. I met his beautiful eyes in embarrassed horror while clinging to his shoulders, which felt even more muscular than they looked. Had he always smelled so nice? The scent of him was earthy. Like the forest on a cool autumn morning. Why hadn’t I noticed it before?
“Are you all right?”
My face heated again. This was silly. I quickly pushed myself away from him, finding my footing and brushing a strand of hair away from my eyes. “Quite all right, thank you.” I cleared my throat. Cai looked like he was trying to hide a smile. Damn prince.
“This is a beautiful home,” he commented, and I caught myself staring at it in awe.
Lance called it a house, but it was more like a small castle, surrounded by vast gardens and a small stretch of woodland. The large stone building had to date back a few hundred years, but no effort had been spared in the upkeep of the estate. Everything seemed perfectly in place, from the pine trees that lined the road to the rose gardens — tranquil and quiet. I could even smell a light sea breeze in the air. And then I remembered I was supposed to be used to all of this.
“Oh, you know. It’s modest but comfortable,” I said as we walked up the marble steps. The two large wooden doors were opened for us and I had to keep from taking in too large a breath in amazement at the beautiful foyer. Rich people had no idea what they really had. And if they did, they certainly didn’t show it.
Maybe I was biased. Maybe I was bitter. Or maybe I was right.
“Eloisa?” A voice came from one of the adjacent rooms.
A very familiar voice.
“Lance?”
He came over, dressed in his formal royal attire, and placed a kiss on each of my cheeks. “Sister, it is so good to see you.”
I tried to refrain from looking too surprised or uncomfortable.
Lance turned to Cai. “And it is good to see you too.”
“It’s been some time.” Cai replied with a smile on his face, but it wasn’t quite the one I had become familiar with.
“Come, we must get you something to drink.” We followed Lance to a parlour and I placed myself in one of the chairs, hands folded neatly. Lance poured us each a drink before taking his own seat.
“I heard you two had quite the journey in getting here. Blasted bandits.”
Neither Cai nor I replied. How the news had reached Lance so fast was beyond me. As well as what exactly I was supposed to do now. He’d only revealed up to this part of the plan. Told me to look for a family heirloom, and I had discovered none. I’d barely had any time to get to know Cai.
“I’m very glad you both got here safely.” He smiled and I felt a slight shiver run down my spine, but blamed the light breeze making its way through the house.
“Yes, quite so,” Cai said, and Lance took a sip of his drink, staring at the two of us intently.
“I trust you two are getting along well, then?” The question came off innocently, but I knew what it meant — knew what he was really asking.
“Yes, we are,” I said before taking a sip.
Lance abruptly stood up. “Cai, you don’t mind if I borrow my sister for a moment, do you? I’m afraid we have some family business to discuss, you know the sort of thing.” He led us back into the foyer. “But your chambers are ready for you, I believe.”
Cai nodded in thanks and followed one of the servants upstairs. The moment he was out of sight, Lance grabbed my lower arm and pulled me in the opposite direction. I yanked my arm out of Lance’s hand as he closed the study door behind us, and rubbing it a little, I watched Lance pour himself another drink. In fact, I was trying to think of a time when I hadn’t seen him with a drink.
“What was that all about?” My tone came off as offended.
“You’re a bandit,” he replied as if this was the answer to everything.
“Well yes, but I would be a lot more compliant if you were nicer to me.”
Which was half true.
“You’ll be as compliant as I want you to be.” He took a seat behind the large oak desk, motioning for me to sit opposite. There was an unnerving look in his eyes. “So, the two of you ran into each other?”
“Yes we did.” What else was I going to say? The truth wasn’t going to help me. “What are you doing here?”
“Does he trust you?” Lance answered my question with a question and I became frustrated.
“I think so.”
“You think so, or you know for sure?”
It was clear which answer he wanted to hear from me. “Yes,” I said quickly. “Yes, he trusts me.”
Lance nodded slowly, almost as if in approval, before folding his hands together. “Rumour has it that some time ago a gift was forged with a very valuable gemstone and it has been passed down by the kings from father to son ever since.”
I thought back to my conversation with Rhen in the tent. “So you think a jewel was forged into the heirloom that Cai supposedly carries with him? Let’s say it’s true, then what?”
“I’m afraid that’s where your involvement in this ends.” I fell back in my seat, vexed with the prince in front of me. “Is there any object that Cai seems attached to? What have you learned so far?”
I thought back to every moment that we had spent together and only one thing stood out. “His sword. There’s a jewel set in the hilt of his sword, but it just looks like an ordinary emerald.”
“Excellent.”
“You honestly believe this is the precious stone that everyone’s been fighting about?”
He took a sip from his drink. “It’s more likely than not.”
“But what if it’s not? Isn’t this risking too much?”
“Not if you do your job properly.”
“So tell me what you want me to do and I can get out of this stupid dress.” I was starting to get tired of the charade. I wanted my reward and I wanted to get away as soon as possible.
“I’ll have you know that is a very expensive dress you’re wearing.”
I internally rolled my eyes. “Well, it’s uncomfortable and impractical.”
“Steal the sword.”
“That’s it?” I lifted my chin in distrust.
“That’s it,” Lance repeated.
“You’re really going to risk war and the downfall of your kingdom for an expensive jewel.” It probably wasn’t my place to be lecturing him on my political concerns, but in all honesty, this was a lot bigger than a stupid little jewel.
“It’s not about the money,” Lance said.
“Then what is it about? Do you have something personal against Cai? Then take it up with him. It’s not worth getting so many innocent people killed.”
Lance stood up slowly and placed his palms flat on the desk. “I can’t tell you,” he said in a low voice and shifted clumsily. I realised that Lance hadn’t started drinking upon our arrival, but way before that.
“Why not?” I crossed my arms.
“Because you’re a thief,” he spat out and silenced me. “Because you’re a liar and a cheat and a criminal and you would take it for yourself if you knew the truth.”
I assumed the alcohol was making him share more than he intended to.
“Lance.” I stood up too. “If you don’t tell me what it is, I’m not going to steal it for you.” Which was an utter lie. I knew my head was on the table. If I stole the jewel for myself, not only would I never be able to sell it, but also Lance would be after me for the rest of my life. I wasn’t that stupid. But Lance was drunk and it was worth a shot.
“Lance!”
“It contains magic,” he cried out and I fell back into my seat.
“How much have you had to drink?”
Lance didn’t reply.
“You can’t be serious,” I scoffed.
“It’s a Myrgonite stone. It has no equal in the realm.”
“Rhen told me that Everness and Norrandale have fallen out over these stones in the past. I understand it has value and the kingdom might need money. But surely there is a better way to go about this?”
“It’s not about the money.” Lance sighed. “It’s about the power it holds.”
“I have a really difficult time believing these little gemstones possess magic. I mean, what kind of magic are we even talking about here?” Of all the ridiculous conversations I might have had in my life, this one certainly took first prize.
“It’s not the stones themselves. It’s the objects they were forged into,” he responded, as if I should have known this already. I was no stranger to the myths and folklore of the kingdom, but apart from the Evernean Forest, I believed them to be fairy tales. If this kind of magic ever existed, then it was long gone and dead.
“You’re going to have to give me more context.” It was as if we’d forgotten he was blackmailing me into stealing from his enemy. But the longer I could keep him distracted and talking, the more important information he would keep revealing.
“It is believed that King Evrin’s wife, Queen Riona, took a few of the jewels for herself and had a goldsmith forge them into three objects using an ancient magic.”
“All right.” I blew out a breath, trying to gather my thoughts. “And what kind of objects were they?”
“That’s the problem. Nobody knows.”
Growing up in the forest had me experience things for which there was often no logical explanation. I’d practically grown used to the unexplainable noises, or pairs of yellow eyes looking at me through the dark. Even now, it often felt as though the trees were watching me as I went about my business. Living in the forest for most of my life had forced me to respect it, but as I grew older, I blamed anything unusual on my imagination. Although, if the past few days had taught me anything, it was that I didn’t know what to believe anymore. Was it truly possible for magic not to be entirely gone?
“I cannot tell if you’re actually being serious,” I said, almost repeating myself.
“I am.” Lance pressed his fingers to his head as if he were in pain. “When I was younger, my father and I went to Norrandale. I overheard King Eric by accident once. I know it’s real.”
“And you’re convinced Cai has a piece of the precious stone?”
“He is the future king of Norrandale. And like I said, the objects are believed to have been passed down from one generation to another after the stones fell into Norrandale’s hands.”
“And what do you plan to do with it?” Cai possessing that kind of power was one thing... Lance was another.
“I plan to protect Everness.” The words were that of a hero and yet I didn’t believe him. Didn’t believe he was capable of caring about anything or anyone but himself. Then again, perhaps neither was I.
“So you thought that if your sister married Prince Cai and became queen of Norrandale, she would grant you access to magic? Magic which, by the way, Norrandale have done such a good job of hiding that nobody apart from you seems to know anything about.”
“If that were the case, I would have asked Eloisa, not you.” Which begs the question, why didn’t he ask her?
“So, what happens when this is over and Cai finds out? You break off the alliance? How long do you plan to keep up this ruse?”
“Cai won’t find out.”
I stared at him, flabbergasted. “What do you mean, he won’t find out? Of course he’s going to find out.”
“Why don’t you let me worry about that, and you just worry about your part in this?”
“Are you going to kill him?” I was almost too afraid to ask.
“That could make things a little messy. Unless we make it look like an accident, of course—”
“I won’t help you hurt him.” This was getting out of hand. I had not agreed to be party to a murder.
“Calm down, would you? Once we have the sword, we’ll remove the jewel and place the weapon back where we found it. If Cai notices, he’ll think he lost it somewhere.”
“It won’t be easy to steal. He is always carrying it and he’s always surrounded by his guards.”
“Well.” Lance finished the last drops in his cup. “That would be your problem.”
I stood up and made to leave the room, but Lance caught up to me and grabbed my arm.
He pulled a small knife out of his pocket. “And if you even think of betraying me, I will cut you... here.” He dragged the knife lightly over my arm. “Here.” Across my stomach. “And here.” A fine line across my neck.
“And then I will feed you to the wolves so that they can eat you alive. You have three days, dearest sister.”