Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
Sabine squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the sword to strike her. Something large and solid hit her body, knocking her out of the way.
“Protect the queen!” Drew yelled, running toward the platform, too far away to do anything himself.
A loud thump resounded, and Sabine twisted her head to see Cutler lying next to her, blood pooling around his body, his chest carved open from Rainer’s sword. He heaved deep, garbled breaths as blood flowed from his body.
“Cutler!” Sabine screamed, understanding that he’d thrown her out of the way and taken the hit himself. He’d saved her life. “No! You can’t die.”
“It’s…okay.” His voice was barely audible. “I’ll…be…with…her…now.” He looked at Rainer. “I’ll…finally…have…her…to…myself.” His head lulled to the side as he took his last breath.
“He’s dead,” Sabine said, shocked. “You killed him.” She glanced up at Rainer who had straightened, lifting his sword again to strike Sabine.
Rage filled her. This man took and took without a thought or care for anyone other than himself.
He didn’t deserve to rule Lynk, let alone live.
She rose on her knees, defiance lighting up her eyes.
“My queen!” Drew’s voice cut through the air.
Her eyes met Drew’s. He was still too far away to help. His face contorted in a mixture of fear and rage. He held up a dagger, showing it to her before throwing it her way. It landed right next to her hands, embedded into the platform, hilt up.
Right when Rainer started to swing downward, she grabbed the dagger, withdrew it and twisted, slicing his abdomen. Blood gushed from the wound. He stumbled, his sword striking right next to Sabine.
Before Rainer could lift his sword again, Drew finally reached the platform, jumping onto it and plunging his sword into the king’s back. Sabine shoved his body away from her, and he collapsed onto Cutler, dead.
The king was dead.
Rainer was dead.
Sabine started shaking. She was alive, and her husband wasn’t.
Images bombarded her. The first time she’d met Rainer, the two of them dancing together, him teaching her how to defend herself, their wedding at the castle. Then other memories flooded her. Him grabbing her neck, trying to strangle her. His cruelty to others.
She heaved in a gulp of air, tears filling her eyes.
Soldiers stormed onto the platform, surrounding her.
Voices filled the air.
“He just tried to kill the queen.”
“He killed Captain Cutler.”
“The king is dead.”
“Protect the queen.”
Her entire body shook violently.
“Your Majesty,” Drew said, coming to squat before her. “Are you harmed?”
She looked into his eyes. “Is King Rainer really dead?” she asked, her voice barely audible.
“He is.” He gently placed his hand on her elbow, helping her to stand. “Are you bleeding anywhere? Do you need a healer?”
The blood on her clothing was from Cutler, not her. “I’m fine.”
Drew severed her bindings. “Let’s get you out of here and get you cleaned up.”
She shook her head. While she wanted to be away from these bodies, she needed to address the soldiers standing here. There seemed to be too much confusion. Forcing her uncertainty and terror down, she rolled her shoulders back and stood tall.
“Thank you Captain Drew for saving my life. I’m not sure why the king was so upset.”
“What do you want us to do with the bodies?” Aaren asked.
“Wrap King Rainer’s body up to be transported back to the palace. A service will be held for him there so he can be buried with his deceased family members.” Her hands were shaking.
“And Captain Cutler?” he asked.
“I’d like to honor him here.” That seemed to be the right thing to say as soldiers immediately got to work building a pyre next to the side of the stage.
Then she spoke louder so everyone could hear.
“There has been enough death and bloodshed. After honoring Cutler, we will dismantle the camp, pack up, and return home to our families. We will not go to war.”
Drew and Aaren dropped to their knees, bowing their heads in supplication. Everyone else began doing the same.
Four men came forward, lifting Cutler’s body and carrying him to the pyre. His body was placed atop the wood. Another soldier came forward, handing Sabine a torch.
“I am thankful Captain Cutler was brave enough, honorable enough, and loyal enough to step in to save my life at the expense of his own. His sacrifice won’t be forgotten.” She lowered the torch to the pyre and it immediately caught fire, engulfing Cutler’s body.
She stood there, surrounded by hundreds of soldiers, as they all paid their respects to the captain.
There had been far too much death. Poor Lady Regina—she’d lost not only her husband and daughter-in-law, but now her son. Sabine didn’t think the woman had any family left.
That could have easily been Sabine in those flames.
Rainer had been so close to ending her life today.
But Cutler had saved her. When she’d first met him, she’d feared him.
Disliked him. Wanted nothing to do with him.
But they’d formed an alliance of sorts over the Heather situation.
He proved to be loyal, trustworthy, and a friend.
She wiped her tears.
The following hours were a whirlwind of activity. The soldiers began dismantling and packing up the camp. A messenger was sent to the other gate to inform the soldiers camped there to return home.
Though most soldiers kept their distance, a few thanked the queen for not sending them to war.
Sabine had a lot of work ahead of her. Work that she would have to handle and figure out on her own.
Gone were the days of being confined to her room and thought of as only a decoration.
She was in charge of Lynk and needed to make sure she appeared strong.
The last thing she needed was some sort of insurrection.
However, most of those who opposed her rule were dead.
Once she appointed a new commander, Sabine left with Drew and a dozen soldiers.
She wanted to ride quickly to the palace and stay off the main roads.
If what she’d overheard last night had been real, then she thought the Avoni assassins had left Lynk.
She was safe. But just in case, she wanted to be smart and not let her guard down.
They made it to the palace without incident where she was greeted by Captain Higman and Captain Lithane along with Prince Anton and Prince Axel.
She told them what happened and about Rainer’s death.
No one seemed particularly sad. She dispatched a letter to the League informing them of what had taken place.
With news of the king’s death, many nobles began leaving the palace and returning to their private homes. Most preferred to stay there during the cooler months. Sabine hadn’t noticed it getting any colder.
She spent the following week going through Rainer’s rooms and learning as much as she could. She saw little of Anton and Axel.
When the soldiers returned, she gave most of them leave to see their families while requesting some stay to ensure the safety of the town and palace.
New officers were appointed. With the return of the soldiers meant the return of the dogs.
Harta was now back with Sabine, in her room, keeping her company. Life seemed to be moving on.
Sabine hadn’t heard a word from Evander. With so much going on in Lynk, she tried not to let it bother her. At least she had enough to do to keep her mind occupied.
At Rainer’s funeral, she didn’t say a word about him. She’d simply had his body buried with the other royals who’d gone before him.
A letter arrived from her parents asking her about attending Viktor’s wedding. Sabine wrote back that she would love to visit home and see her brother married. She could be there in a few weeks if they would wait that long.
Drew said he would see to the proper accommodations for her travel.
She’d taken to eating in the royal dining room. After a couple of nights, Anton started joining her. Then Axel as well. At dinner one night, Sabine informed the princes that she would be leaving in a week to attend her brother’s wedding. She asked Anton to oversee things while she was gone.
“I have to meet with the League in a couple of days,” Anton replied. “Axel might have to rule for me.”
She didn’t much care which brother ruled so long as one of them did.
“Why’d you ask him and not me?” Axel inquired while sipping on his wine.
“Since he’s a League member, I thought he’d know more about how things are handled.” In truth, she thought Anton was more reliable.
“I’m hurt,” Axel said, bowing his head.
Sabine rolled her eyes. “You’re not. If you were left to rule this kingdom, I’m pretty sure you’d be bored.” While she had seen him take multiple women to his room, she recalled the masquerade and him telling her how he’d planned the entire event for Rainer. Maybe she didn’t give him enough credit.
“I’m retiring for the evening,” Anton said as he stood. “I need to leave first thing in the morning to make the League meeting on time.”
Sabine bid him goodnight.
“Do you plan on always having that beast in here when we eat?” Axel asked, pointing to Harta.
A servant came in, giving each of them a slice of chocolate cake for dessert.
“She is not a beast,” she chided Axel. “Harta is my friend. And where I go, she goes.” While gazing at her dog, giving air kisses, her napkin fell to the floor. She bent over and picked it up. When she straightened, she found Axel closer than she remembered him being.
He chuckled and took a bite of his cake. “Friend or not, it’s still a creature and not human.”
“Leave my dog alone.” Harta nudged her arm.
“Don’t worry, girl, I won’t let him kick you out.
” She picked up her fork, and Harta nudged her arm again.
“Watch it,” she scolded the dog. “You’re proving Axel right on this matter.
Behave.” She cut a piece of cake, lifting it to her mouth.
Harta slammed against Sabine’s chair, making her drop her fork. “What on earth?”
Harta started barking and moving from side to side as if agitated.
Looking at her plate, Sabine examined the cake in greater detail.
A bit of yellow powder had been sprinkled on the plate next to the cake.
It brought her back to her dining room in Bakley when she’d trained with her mother on how to spot poisons.
One of them had been a yellow powder often used on food.
“Don’t eat it,” Sabine said to Axel. “There’s poison on it.”
“Are you certain?” He set his fork down. “I’ve already had a few bites.” His face paled.
“Guards!” she called out.
Drew entered. She quickly explained about the poison.
He took the plates. “I’ll fetch a healer, then speak with the kitchen staff and your taster—if she’s still alive.” He left.
Sabine stood and paced about. Someone had tried to kill her. Maybe the Avoni assassins hadn’t left. A thought occurred to her. “Is that assassin still in the dungeon?”
“I don’t know,” Axel replied. “I’ll have someone find out.” He spoke to one of her guards.
Her arms were shaking. She peered down at her dog. “Thank you, Harta.” Her dog had saved her life. She’d been too complacent—a mistake she wouldn’t make again.
“Are you okay?” Axel asked.
“I’m fine.” Although, something about this seemed sloppy.
A trained assassin would have noticed the powder on the plate and wiped it off.
The poison would have only been on the food so as to be undetected.
It reminded her of the assassination attempt at the seamstress’s room.
Evander had told her there was no way that had been an Avoni assassin.
She had a feeling this one wasn’t either.
Regardless, she needed to know about the man in the dungeon.
A few minutes later, Drew returned. “Nothing is amiss in the kitchen. Your food taster is alive and well.”
Glancing at Axel, he seemed fine as well. “The healer?” she asked.
“He is getting a handful of antidotes together, then coming to the royal wing,” Drew said.
The other guard returned, panting. “Your Majesty,” he said. “The prisoner in the dungeon is dead.”
If it wasn’t the Avoni assassin in the dungeon, then she didn’t have any suspects.
“You look like you’re going to be ill all over the table,” Axel said.
She’d thought this was over. She couldn’t live her life like this with the threat of death around every corner and at every meal.
“Come on,” Axel said. “I’ll show you where Rainer kept his good whisky.”
With Harta trotting close behind, Sabine followed Axel out of the dining room.