Chapter 30
‘I want to come too,’ I insisted, standing in my bedroom, about to change out of my gown.
‘No, Caris. You will stay here. I need to get these to Cillian and tell him which cell the queen is in.’ Torgrin held up the ring of keys he had swiped from the king’s guard as the man lay semi-conscious in the queen’s cell.
‘I still can’t believe you took them. Won’t he report them missing?’ Truth be told, it impressed me that Torgrin had stolen them right under my nose.
‘Not if he wants to keep his head. I’ll make sure he finds them again once Cillian makes copies.’
‘What about the soldiers guarding the entrance?’ I wanted to be involved in the planning. I was afraid for Queen Yaris’s life. Leaving her behind in that appalling cell was weighing heavily on me.
‘That’s what I will discuss tonight with the others. Alone.’ Ignoring my protests, Torgrin hid the keys in his boot and left without me.
I threw myself onto the bed, frustrated by how little I’d been able to do since arriving at this horrible castle. I’d always imagined that on the day I found my mother’s killer I would thrust my sword deep into his heart. Yet here he was, under a king’s protection.
King Hared was charming and extremely dangerous.
He once convinced the beautiful golden-haired princess in the portrait above the mantel to marry him and make him king.
In return, he kept her quiet and controlled all these years.
Knowing what I knew now had convinced me King Hared should not be on the throne, and Goodwin shouldn’t either.
I rolled over on the bed, thumping the pillow beneath my head.
I felt powerless to change anything. If we gathered an army vast enough to fight King Hared and the Order, the next male heir to the throne was an eight-year-old boy.
Lord Warwick did not want Wolfe on the throne, but he might reconsider once he learned what King Hared had done to Queen Yaris.
I don’t think he would want his eldest daughter to marry a snivelling, petty man like Goodwin.
Would Pedion accept a reigning queen? The idea of Bethel being the sole sovereign was terrifying.
Four more nights until Bethel and Goodwin were married. Three nights until Lord Warwick would arrive in Capita. The queen’s escape had to happen tomorrow or the next day.
I tried to stay awake to see Torgrin and hear what Cillian and the others had planned, but I fell asleep before he returned.
Torgrin was still not back in the morning and had been gone all day. I felt anxious as the evening approached and there was still no news.
Bethel had been busy with a constant flow of visitors – dressmakers and jewellers in the morning, and well-wishers in the evening.
Torgrin still hadn’t shown himself by dinner, so I took Bethel and one of our soldiers to the dining hall for another tense night of eating, drinking and dancing.
The evening felt like it would never end.
I watched Goodwin closely and saw him putting more effort into courting Bethel under his father’s watchful eye.
Goodwin ignored me, but I knew he was still seething under his polite smiles and banal chatter because he couldn’t resist glowering at me when nobody was looking.
Merrick took his leave the moment the meal was over. Tormenting people sure kept him and the Order busy.
I was thankful when Bethel decided she’d had enough of Goodwin for the night. He bored her and didn’t allow her to dance or talk to other young men, so she had no reason to stay.
I knew someone was in my chamber the moment I entered. I reached into my boot for my knife. The fire was still alive, but no lanterns or candles had been lit. The flickering of the fire created shifting shadows on the walls.
‘Are you going to slit my throat before I get the chance to kiss you?’ came a voice smooth like honey.
‘Cillian?’
I moved to the candle by the bed and fumbled to light it. The room brightened, and I saw Cillian’s large frame resting against the padded headboard of my bed. I threw myself at him, peppering his face with kisses.
‘Foolish girl!’ He chuckled and caught my lips in a long kiss.
He felt familiar and warm. I broke the kiss first.
‘Come.’ He pulled me to sit astride him. ‘I had almost forgotten how breathtaking you are.’ He looked at my evening dress and played with the hair hanging loose around my shoulders.
Cillian’s hand brushed over the silver armlet that I had worn every evening. ‘Do you like it?’
‘It’s beautiful – I adore it,’ I murmured, a warm glow filling my chest. ‘I’ve missed you.’ My fingers gently tugged at his newly grown beard. ‘This suits you.’ I grinned. ‘My big, burly bearded blacksmith.’
He chuckled and caressed the outside of my thighs with his rough palms. I moved off his lap to sit beside him.
His brows furrowed and his smile wavered.
‘Torgrin said you missed me.’
‘Very much,’ I admitted, squeezing his hand in mine.
‘He also told me your mother’s killer is here.’ I faltered at his words. His fingers pressed into mine. ‘We will come for him when everything is done.’
I leaned in to kiss him, but my heart wasn’t in it.
‘What is it?’ he asked with a searching look.
I stared into his golden eyes. ‘Nothing,’ I whispered.
‘You don’t have to pretend with me.’
‘I’m not pretending.’ Was I? Cillian was here and I had missed him, but something wasn’t the same. I wasn’t the same.
‘It’s all right, Caris. I knew it would happen eventually,’ he sighed. ‘I would have to be blind not to see.’
‘What do you mean?’ I asked, confused.
His sad smile pulled at my heart. ‘Nothing, my love.’
I lay on top of Cillian, listening to his steady heartbeat while enjoying the feel of his enormous arms wrapped around me.
‘Will you be staying the night?’ I asked hopefully.
‘No. I came here to do something.’
‘And here I thought you were just here to see me.’ I crossed my hands on his chest and rested my chin on them.
‘Hmm, I am an easily distracted, lovesick fool.’ His warm brown eyes met my wide ones, and he chuckled. ‘You could give me a hand if you like?’
I jumped up off him and straightened my dress.
‘I’ll take that as a yes?’ He swung his legs over the edge of the bed and stretched his arms before he reached for the colossal hammer propped up beside the bed.
‘Where are we going?’ I was wondering if I needed to change or if I could just grab my cloak. I seized my dagger and slipped it back into my boot.
‘We are going to Bethel’s bedchamber.’ He headed to the door.
‘What? Why?’ I was confused and disappointed we weren’t going far. The castle’s luxurious surroundings had begun to feel like a pampered cage.
He held my bedchamber door open for me with a raised eyebrow.
I sighed and headed down to Bethel’s room.
Cillian held his finger to his lips and pressed his ear to the door.
I did the same. I could hear that Bethel was not alone.
A masculine moan reached us, and I tilted my head in question as Cillian lifted his hammer.
He swung the door open and aimed his hammer at a familiar young man.
Fox Boy had his breeches down around his ankles, and Bethel was on her knees with a mouth full of his cock.
I was more curious than shocked.
Bethel moved away from Fox Boy, her eyes on Cillian and his hammer.
‘Perhaps you should pull your breeches up?’ I suggested to the somewhat stunned, very excited young man.
‘Actually, you need to take them off and hand me the rest of your uniform.’ Cillian lifted his hammer threateningly.
I looked at Cillian, confused. Why were we here to steal clothes? Then, I saw the uniform on the floor, and understanding hit me. Fox Boy was in the king’s guard.
‘What do you think you are doing?’ screeched Bethel.
Fox Boy handed over his uniform, keeping a close eye on Cillian, who still had his enormous hammer raised. Cillian allowed the boy to keep his undergarments so he wouldn’t be completely naked.
‘Can you find something to tie him to that chair?’ he asked.
I nodded and searched Bethel’s room. I was pleased to find actual rope tying back the drapes surrounding Bethel’s bed.
A sword was propped up in the corner, so I grabbed it and tossed it out the door.
Fox Boy didn’t look stupid enough to try something, but he was foolish enough to be messing around with the king’s future daughter-in-law days before her wedding.
I used my knife to cut the rope and had Fox Boy’s arms and legs tied to the chair in no time. Unfortunately for him, I tied a perfect knot. He wasn’t going anywhere.
‘Why are you doing this?’ Bethel demanded.
‘I need to borrow your new friend’s uniform for the night, and you …’ Cillian moved towards Bethel threateningly.
‘No!’ Fox Boy started shouting and pulling at the ropes. I picked up a nearby washcloth and shoved it in his mouth. Before he could spit it out, I found one of Bethel’s endless supply of ribbons and tied it around his head in an enormous bow.
‘Thank you, my love.’
I beamed at Cillian, proud of my handiwork.
‘All I was going to say before your friend rudely interrupted me, was that you better keep your mouth shut, or your betrothed will hear about what you have been doing with one of his father’s guards.’
Bethel’s face turned white.
‘Don’t even think of untying him.’ Cillian’s eyes narrowed. ‘Understand?’ He stepped closer to Bethel, his hammer swinging ever so slightly beside him.
She nodded quickly. Cillian could be just as intimidating as Torgrin when he wanted to be.
I heard the main door open and the sound of boots on the marble entrance floor. Cillian turned to me and frowned.
I left the room and took up Fox Boy’s sword.
I unsheathed it quietly and headed to the living area.
Holding my breath, I stood just behind the door, waiting for another sound.
Nothing. I stepped to the side to get a glimpse of the room when the glint of a sword caught my eye, and I swiftly raised mine to meet it.
‘Caris!’ Torgrin shouted as our swords crossed with a loud clang. Behind him, dressed in Capita soldier’s uniforms, were Tomas and Rhett.
‘Why are you all here?’ I asked as we lowered our swords.
‘We thought something was wrong when Cillian hadn’t shown up at midnight.’ Torgrin put his sword away. ‘Did Bethel’s lover boy show up tonight?’ Torgrin must have known Bethel had been having a nightly visitor. Nothing gets past him, it seems.
‘He did.’ Cillian came into the room holding Fox Boy’s uniform.
‘Good, but we won’t be able to go at dawn,’ Torgrin said tersely.
‘Why?’ Cillian paused, taking off his shirt.
‘Our informant sent a message to say the Order is conducting another interview with Queen Yaris at dawn.’
My gut twisted at the thought. ‘She won’t survive more torture!’
Torgrin didn’t even try to argue. He had seen how weak she was. But she would be highly guarded tonight, and it was decided that nothing could be done. Freeing the queen would have to wait until the following evening.
Torgrin and Cillian slept in my bed, and after some tossing and turning, I went to sleep just before dawn and didn’t wake until after midday.
Saying goodbye to the others was difficult, especially Cillian. If everything went well tonight, I wouldn’t see him for months. I had always been on my own, yet somehow, these men had found a way into my heart, and I couldn’t imagine being without them.
Torgrin stayed behind in the Warwick suite to watch our prisoner. Once the queen was free, Bethel and I would ensure no-one suspected our involvement. Being here under the king’s watchful eyes tonight would help to absolve us if we were to become suspects.
I tried to hide what a nervous wreck I was at the king’s dinner table. I was glad Merrick was here for once because it meant he wasn’t in the dungeon. I watched Bethel closely as she conversed with the king and Goodwin.
Her family’s safety was at risk if she revealed our plan to rescue the queen, but I’d learned that the person Bethel cared about most was herself.
The dancing began, and I watched Goodwin spin Bethel around the dance floor.
‘Dance with me.’ King Hared held out his hand, leaving me with no choice but to take it.
‘This is a sad day for me, Caris.’ He gripped me tight as he moved us between the other dancers.
‘Your Majesty?’ I had lost sight of Bethel, and my mind was only half on my dance partner.
‘You must promise not to reveal this information to anyone. Merrick thinks we should wait until after the wedding to tell the people.’ He had my full attention now.
‘I want us to be close friends, Lady Caris. I think you could do well having me as your friend.’ I tried not to react when King Hared’s hand moved down my back suggestively.
‘This morning, I lost my queen,’ he whispered in my ear.
No! I couldn’t hide my reaction this time. Sadness and fear flooded me.
‘Please don’t be too upset, dove. It was for the best. She had been ill for so long, and I could not bring myself to do what the Order wanted. I had loved her very much before she betrayed me.’
I detested this man and all those around him. I had to warn Torgrin and the others. They would be killed if they went to the dungeon pretending to be fetching the queen when she was dead.
King Hared jumped back with a hiss and looked at his hand. His palm was an angry red as if he had held his hand over flames. He looked at me, confused, and I turned and fled the dance floor.
Bethel was across the room watching me with the king. Goodwin was nowhere in sight.
‘We need to go now.’ I grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the exit.
‘Let me go, you sow. It’s still early!’
I ignored her protests and kept her arm in a tight grip. I was much stronger than Bethel, and she had no choice but to let herself be half-dragged back to our rooms.
My ears drummed in time with my heart, each beat a reminder that I might be too late. ‘Please be safe,’ I whispered under my breath, my steps quickening until I was nearly sprinting down the hallway.
‘What are you muttering about?’ Bethel gasped out, her voice edged with annoyance. She dragged her feet, resisting every attempt I made to hurry her along.
We finally reached the door that led to our rooms. Bethel’s weight still pulling back against me, I flung it open and stumbled inside, panic clawing at my chest.
The room was full of the king’s soldiers, and blood.
So much blood.