Chapter 22 Audryn
AUDRYN
Knuckles rapped on my door, interrupting my afternoon reading session. I had become so bored sitting around that I finally leaned into the books I’d acquired. The Rivale text focused more on the current Sutton generation than the kingdom’s history, which was unsurprising.
Fisher stood at the door and gave me a tight smile. “Prince Sutton assigned me to your post for the rest of your stay. Advise if you need anything. I will be in the hall.”
“What do you mean?” Confusion washed over me. I didn’t need him trailing me around the castle. How would I get access to the book with a guard as my shadow?
“There was an incident this morning.” Fisher tilted his head and peered down the corridor. “There are details assigned to each of the women until the prince orders otherwise.”
“What type of incident?” I asked.
“Members of the resistance were found on castle grounds,” he said solemnly, “beyond the gates.”
My head spun. If they’d taken Jaspar, my entire plan would need to shift—I’d need to get him out. “Who?” I whispered.
Fisher narrowed his eyes at me. “What do you mean?”
“Who did they find from the resistance? Do you know their names?”
“Two women.” He hesitated. “Why are you asking?”
“Well, I thought I saw someone walking outside my window last night,” I lied quickly. “It must’ve been a guard.”
“Someone was outside your room? I’ll alert the prince and get a guard stationed there straight away.”
I waved a hand. “No, really. I was mistaken. You know how shadows deceive at night.”
He looked toward the window pensively, as if he could see straight through the aqua fabric draping over it. He huffed and settled in against the corridor wall, across from my door.
“Will you be standing here all day?” I asked, pausing at my doorway.
He nodded.
“How about if I leave the castle, then you’ll go with me?”
He gave no response.
I pressed against the doorframe. “I don’t think there’s any point in staring at a door all day.”
Fisher remained forward.
“I really don’t need someone to watch over me, I can take care of myself. I’ve done well so far,” I protested, but he didn’t acknowledge me.
Alright, apparently we were back to the moody facade most of the guards wore. I pushed forward and looked down the corridor. Two additional guards stood posted at Maris’s door and what I assumed was Allura’s. They must’ve returned from the healer.
“Since we have no other plans for today and I’m stuck with you, I’d like to walk around the grounds.” I looked at Fisher, who remained still. “So, I guess you’ll follow me?”
If he was going to trail me, I might as well explore. Leanna had already shown us around, but I wanted to visit several places she missed. I closed my door and moved down the corridor with Fisher stalking behind.
“Good afternoon, Roark.” I waved as we moved past.
“Prince Sutton has requested you respond to the healer’s area when available.” Roark looked to Fisher. “He requires you to take her to the royal healer.”
Fisher stepped in front of me, boredom clear on his face, though I supposed all the guards were disenchanted. Roark was the only exception to the rule.
We weaved down multiple corridors, and I quickly recognized the route. I’d taken the same turns each day in an attempt to gain access to the royal quarters. I palmed the dagger hidden below my beige skirts just to be sure I was ready if given the opportunity.
The familiar guard scanned Fisher and me. He stepped back and allowed us to pass. I dropped my eyes and tucked my mouth, attempting to hide my excitement that I’d finally been granted access.
“I hear there’s a library here,” I said, hoping Fisher might provide more information, but he only let out a grunt. “Do you know where it is?” I pressed.
“Yes,” the burly man responded curtly, not looking back.
We turned to a hall filled with tapestries hung on the wall.
One after another, they were primarily aquamarine, with a Rivale sigil crafted of gold thread.
Long tassels dangled from the bottom of each.
Four large paintings hung in the center of the corridor.
King and Queen Sutton were at the center, with paintings of Ryder and Leanna flanking their sides.
I had never seen the king before, but I recognized the same hue of his skin and bright blue eyes Ryder bore. His mother had passed on her full lips and prominent cheekbones to her son.
“Through this door.” Fisher gestured. “I’ll wait here.”
“Okay.” I pushed the door open hesitantly. There was no need for a healer. I’d always been healthy and healed quickly from minor injuries I sustained while working.
Walking into the room, the pungent smell of herbs nearly overwhelmed me; the faint smell of alcohol was only a distant note in the background.
Dozens of glass jars, flasks, and containers lined the shelf on one side of the room, filled with liquids of varying colors.
Scientific sketches of the body hung on the other wall.
Sitting at a wide wooden desk was a robed woman. She stood and pasted a smile on her face. “Thank you for coming. I assume you are Audryn?”
“Yes, but there’s a mistake. I’m not ill.”
She gestured to the lightly cushioned table that stood on tall wooden legs, but I didn’t move. If she’d thought I’d just hop up without an explanation, she was wrong.
“My name is Mirael, and I’m the healer assigned to the royals. I work with an assistant occasionally, so let me summon her.” The silver-haired woman walked to the door and whispered her request. She returned to my side a moment later.
I looked at her suspiciously. “Why was I called here? I wasn’t given any information.”
Mirael smiled sweetly. “The prince has taken quite an interest in you and requested an examination to ensure your health. A woman must be fit to be a princess or queen.”
“Right,” I said with a smirk, “because that’s going to happen.”
Kissing Ryder was amazing, and I felt a genuine connection.
But the reality was, I didn’t come from a noble family, nor did I have the affluence of Maris’s family.
There was no need to even flirt with the idea that I’d be chosen.
My mission to kill his father certainly didn’t help either, though I wondered if he’d die before I even got the chance.
“It’s noninvasive, a few tests and a quick run of my magic to make sure you’re healthy enough to bear an heir,” she said matter-of-factly.
“I don’t need it,” I spouted. “I menstruate regularly, and I’m healthy.” There was no way I’d let her magic roam around inside of me. I moved to the door to leave, but to my surprise, it pushed open.
A woman with long black hair stood in the doorway, her kohl eyes peering at me. Her scarlet lips parted, and she tilted her head at me curiously. “Leaving already?” the woman asked, and remained standing in the open doorway, blocking my exit.
“Please take a seat,” Mirael called behind me. “There’s no reason for concern. We need only five minutes of your time.”
I turned to face her. “I’m not comfortable and would like to leave.”
Mirael shook her head and straightened her face. “This is a required examination. If you choose to walk away, you are choosing to return home.”
Going home didn’t sound like a bad idea; I missed my father and Benton. It’d been weeks, and I had yet to see them. As tempting as it was to refuse and head home, the executioner’s name was too close to give up.
“Tell me again what you need.” My eyes bounced between Mirael and the other woman.
“My magic will inspect you.” She adjusted an apron around her robed body.
“Just to make sure everything on the inside is in working order. Not only for an heir, but for your own health too.” She gestured to the black-haired woman.
“She will examine your mind. It’s important to possess a clear head when the kingdom depends on its royals and the decisions they make. ”
“Will it be painful?” I asked.
Mirael chuckled. “No dear, we don’t harm—we heal. If I suspect there’s something requiring attention, I’ll ask your permission before taking any action. Does that sound acceptable to you?”
I nodded and tentatively sat on the table.
“Please lie back and relax,” Mirael requested.
She moved to my side while the other woman stood near the top of my head.
Mirael moved her hands to my stomach, and I felt the warmth of her magic hum through me and mingle with my own.
It rolled and moved from the bottoms of my feet to the top of my head.
The sensation was oddly comforting, and not at all as I expected.
“Close your eyes and open your mind, Audryn,” the woman at my head requested. She placed her palms on each of my temples.
The thrum of darkness passed through my mind, uneasy and out of place, nothing like the glittering pass of Mirael’s magic. It wasn’t painful, but it was foreign and unnatural, like a square peg attempting to fit into a round hole. It didn’t glide easily, but felt forced—pushed.
Minutes or hours passed; I couldn’t tell. I’d been transported somewhere I hadn’t recognized. Maybe I’d fallen asleep or had gone into a daydream. When I opened my eyes, I was back in the healer's room. Only Mirael stood; the other woman had disappeared into the void.
“You’re very healthy.” Mirael assisted me into a seated position. “Your willingness to accept the examination is appreciated.”
My head was dizzy, and a wave of nausea passed through my throat, threatening to empty the contents of my stomach onto the floor in front of me. I teetered on the table, stabilizing myself with a hand.
“Here’s something for the nausea.” Mirael pulled a dropper from a small tincture. “It’s not uncommon to feel a bit off after such a thorough examination.” She brought the dropper to my mouth. “Under the tongue if you’d like relief—if not, that’s fine. It’s always your choice.”
I opened my mouth and accepted the offering, though I would have begged for the sweet relief from the waves roaring through me. The unease was almost debilitating. The bitter liquid dissolved on the bottom of my mouth, and every symptom instantly abated.
“Thank you,” I replied, meaning it with every ounce of myself. “Is there anything else you need?”
“That’s it. I’ll advise the prince of your healthy nature and the ability to carry a child.” The woman grinned. “He’ll be pleased, I’m sure.”
My feet hit the ground, and I walked out the door to find an empty corridor waiting for me; Fisher had left. Before I could second-guess my choice, I pushed down the hall, past more tapestries, and found the walk lined with doors, each looking identical to the next.
I’d be a fool not to take the opportunity to find the king’s study. Fuck trying to find the king himself; I wanted the book more. I moved quickly, opening and closing doors as fast as I could. Several bedrooms, a small bathroom, and a sitting room later, I’d found the study.
A massive mahogany desk sat in the center of the room, with a large window centered behind it.
Bookshelves lined the wall on either side of the window, holding leather books that were worn and had fraying spines.
I quietly closed the door behind me, only after checking to make sure nobody had seen me enter.
My hand passed over the book that lay open on the desk with yellowing pages. A diagram of the castle was sprawled open on a scroll below; red X’s marked dozens of locations on the sketch.
Hand gliding over the shelved books, I removed each to review the titles. History and battle tactics were the majority mixed with thin scraps of paper with unintelligible writing. It would be impossible to get through the mass, even if I had the entire day.
My eyes popped at a book titled, Rivale Records of Execution. I selected the text and placed it on the desk. The brown leather looked too old, but it was my best chance. I thumbed through it quickly. The dates were in order and went back fifty years.
Listed were names, offenses, and the dates of executions.
The right column listed the name of the executioner.
My eyes sank in, reading the name—Mornak.
I flitted through to the last page. The most recent execution listed was dated thirty years ago, and the name of the executioner had since changed.
I needed to find the most up-to-date book.
I re-shelved the book, and my hands searched for a more current text. The door clicked open behind me, and I froze. Maybe if I stood there long enough, I’d melt into the bookcase itself. Lifting my chin, I turned to face who would likely report my offense.
Fisher’s eyes narrowed on me. “You shouldn’t be in here.”
I put on the most innocent face I could muster. “I was looking for a bathing room, but stumbled in here and I couldn’t help myself. I love to read and there are just so many books.” I batted my lashes, hoping he’d believe my innocence and overlook the blatant lies we both knew I was spewing.
“Get out before someone sees you,” Fisher growled. “I won’t be blamed for your insolence.”
“Yes, of course.” I hurriedly crossed the room and stood in the corridor. “My sincerest apologies. Though if you’d been at your post, I wouldn’t have gotten lost to begin with.” If Ryder was worried about my safety, Fisher would be in just as much trouble if he reported me.
He grumbled under his breath and led me back to the main corridor, passing the familiar guard at the end. We moved through the area, the shadows darker than when we’d first arrived. Somehow the whole day had gone by.
We stopped at the dining room, where Fisher opened the door and gestured me in.
I was surprised to find the others already seated.
Grave and Amalee sat on one side, while Leanna, Maris and Allura sat on the other.
Ryder stood and smiled. Their plates were filled with half-eaten food, and Maris was mid-bite.
“Come, sit.” Ryder pulled out the empty chair next to him.
My stomach jumped at the sight of him. He was even better looking than the last time I saw him.
Keeping my gaze on his pools of blue, I moved to his side.
Something was different—welcoming. Maybe it was the time we’d spent on the cliffs together, or maybe it was seeing him in a different light, but something had changed between us.