Chapter 14
The Cellar of Woodsbrook Manor
Cai
I woke up damp and cold, the stone floor beneath me causing aches all over my body. My eyes took a few moments to adjust to the dimly lit room and it was only then I discovered that I wasn’t in a room at all, but in a cell.
“Well, well, well.” I heard Lance’s voice from somewhere in the dark.
Metal clanged and the cell gate swung open before Lance stepped into the light.
“If it isn’t the Prince of Norrandale.”
I was dressed in my shirt, trousers and boots, as I remember falling asleep in, on my bed. My hand went for the small knife I kept hidden in the inside lining of my riding boots. “Don’t bother,” Lance said. “My guards have disarmed you. There is no use in fighting anyway.” He muttered the last part, but I heard every word clearly.
“Where are my men?” I stood up, my fists clenching.
Lance leaned against the opposite wall. “Look, you and I can do this the easy way or the hard way. I don’t know about you, but I much prefer the easy way.”
“Where is she?” I took a step towards him and immediately his guards approached the cell, but Lance waved a hand.
“My sister will be completely safe as long as you do exactly as I say.”
“I know she’s not Princess Eloisa.”
He shifted his head slightly, his eyes searching for something. “You’re right,” he admitted. “How long have you known?” He didn’t seem very fazed that I had discovered the truth.
“Since our arrival at the manor.”
“Interesting.”
“What do you want?” I asked, though I had more than a few ideas what his answer would be.
“You know exactly what I want, Prince of Norrandale.” He stood up straight. “I thought I knew where it was, but I underestimated your wit, and as it turns out, I was wrong. Now I want you to tell me exactly where the jewel is.”
I scoffed. “Don’t tell me you’re a believer of mythical stories as well.”
“It is not a myth!” He raised his voice. “I know it exists.”
Lance didn’t give me time to question how he came by this knowledge. . “We visited your family when the two of us were still children, remember? You and I had a pretend sword fight in one of the training rings.”
I did remember. We must have been about twelve years old. I gazed at the man who could perhaps have been my friend, had it not been for the feud between our families. That, and Lance’s more than questionable character.
“I know that precious stone is somewhere in the mountains of Norrandale. I know it contains magic and I know you have one of the jewels with you. So I suggest you tell me where it is, sooner rather than later,” he warned.
“Even if it were true...” I stepped towards him. “What makes you think that I’ll ever tell you?”
“The hard way it is, then.” And with that, he launched a blow to my face. I didn’t wait for another one before I hit back, causing his lip to split and a small stream of blood to pour out.
His guards rushed inside, grabbing my arms and holding them behind my back. Lance touched his lip and smirked at the trace of blood on his finger. “Not bad. But I haven’t given you all the rules yet.” He wiped the blood from his mouth. “There’s a guard in her bedroom, you see. She’s fast asleep now, but she won’t be for long, and for every blow you strike me with, there will be a blow to her.”
“You’re lying.”
“Perhaps I am.” Lance shrugged. “But would you be willing to risk it?”
He punched me again and a guard kicked the back of my leg, forcing me to my knees. Lance let out a sinister laugh. “You were always going to be the man to kneel first, rather than the one being kneeled to.” He tilted his head. “I hope you know it’s nothing personal, just politics.” He sent a fist into my torso. I heaved as the air was forced from my lungs.
“What if I tell you this? If you don’t tell me where it is, I will kill every one of your men in cold blood.” Another blow to my face.
“Those men signed up to be my personal guard. They would not have done so if they weren’t willing to lay down their lives for mine or for their kingdom.” It wasn’t entirely a lie and I hoped none of my men would get injured because of me. Regardless of their willingness.
“I don’t believe you actually care that little for them, but you’re right, that would be awfully boring and I doubt very successful.” His eyes suddenly lit up in the most devious of ways and I found myself shuddering slightly.
“What about her? Despite knowing the truth, you’ve grown quite fond of her, haven’t you?”
He told a guard to go and fetch her, and I found myself shouting “No!” before Lance hit me in the ribs again.
“Would you like to tell me where it is, then?” He bent down so that we were face to face.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Another punch in the face and I could feel the blood dripping from my brow.
A guard dragged her into the cell and tossed her to Lance. She was only wearing her night shift, looking much like she did on the night we had met, only so much more pale. Lance turned her to face me, and though she struggled, I could tell she wasn’t fully conscious. What had they done to her?
“So glad you could join us,” Lance said and I watched the blood drain from her face. “Where is it, Cai?”
“I don’t have it!” Which was the truth.
“Then where is it?” His shout echoed against the stone walls.
“Leave her out of this.” Stars were beginning to form in my vision, but I couldn’t risk falling unconscious now, couldn’t risk him hurting her.
“I’m afraid it’s too late for that,” Lance replied. The truth had become a compilation of questions to which I did not have the answer. Perhaps my suspicions hadn’t been entirely right. Or perhaps my presumptions about Lance’s character were completely right.
“Now.” He took a knife out of his pocket. My knife. “You’re going to tell me exactly where it is, or I’m going to slit her throat.”
“I can’t help you.” I spat out some blood. He was bluffing. He had to be.
“I’m warning you, Your Highness,” he said. “If you don’t tell me, I will kill her.” My eyes switched between the two of them, Lance’s eyes filled with something cold and dark and hers filled with panic and disbelief.
“Don’t believe me?” He took the knife and sliced across her upper leg. A red stain bloomed on her shift. She let out a scream of pain and my chest tightened. Even if he was above killing her, he certainly wasn’t above hurting her.
Lance moved his hand, going for her other leg, when I heard my voice surging through the cell. “The necklace!”
Silence fell abruptly.
“What?” Lance asked, but his hand moved away from her leg.
“The jewel is in her necklace.” He wasn’t going to stop. She may have been a liar, but I couldn’t watch him hurt her.
“If you’re lying . . .”
I shook my head, breathing hard. “It’s there, I promise.”
Lance laughed bitterly and placed the knife in his belt. “You had it in her necklace this whole time. I really have underestimated you. You’re much cleverer than I realised, Cai. After all, it’s the one place I would never have thought to look.”
“Please don’t do this.”
“You and I are pawns in a wicked game. We do what we have to for our kingdoms. I have no doubt, had you been placed in my position, you would have done the same.”
He started pulling her out of the cell and she tried to fight him, but she was weak. “Cai!” she called out my name and I looked up. “Let me go!” She tried to hit Lance, but it was to no avail as he dragged her away. I couldn’t move, couldn’t stand up, and couldn’t help her. I could barely breathe.