Chapter 10
Ten
Six night legionnaires stand outside my room, and Marian never leaves me alone. I need to see where that tunnel leads, and I need to learn more about the emperor, but I’m stuck. I don’t even get to leave for meals.
Caiden wasn’t kidding when he said he didn’t want me to be seen until they introduced me to the court. Frustrated, I pace my rooms while Charlotte and Katherine embroider flowers in front of the fireplace.
I peer out the window and watch the gardeners pruning the topiaries. The sky is gray, and the glass is frosted in places. We’ll have snow soon.
I’ve never been more bored in my life.
After four agonizing days of small talk and rereading all the botany books, there’s a knock on my door. I practically jump out of my skin in my hurry to answer.
“I will get it, Your Highness,” Marian says.
I sigh, then wait. The other ladies abandoned their embroidery and are staring expectantly at the door. They’ve been isolated nearly as much as me lately.
“Lord Maxwell, welcome home,” Marian says. “I heard you returned to the castle last night.”
Brevan steps into the room and finds me immediately. “I was sent to escort the princess to meet with the prince.”
I set down the fabric with my terrible attempt at embroidering roses and stand. “I thought I wasn’t to leave my room until the dinner.”
“Do you need a moment, or are you ready now?” he asks.
I stride toward the door. “I’m ready.”
He doesn’t even look at me as we walk down the hall. There’s an odd stiffness to him. “Were you injured?” I ask.
“No.”
“You seem angry.”
“I’m not angry.”
“Where were you?”
He glances over at me. “I didn’t realize you missed my company so much.”
“I didn’t. I’m bored and perhaps you can entertain me,” I say.
“My work for the prince is not your entertainment,” he replies.
“I thought you reported to the emperor?”
“I work for the empire,” he clarifies.
“How convenient,” I say.
He stops walking. “How is that convenient?”
“Because nobody’s seen the emperor.” I know I’m pressing my luck. The prince warned me, but I have a feeling Brevan doesn’t share everything with Caiden. I’m not even sure if the two actually like each other.
“That’s not true.” He starts walking again.
“Oh, so you visit with him. Is it just you and Caiden, then? Everyone else is restricted?”
“Perhaps everyone else sees him except you. How would you know while locked away in your room?”
He’s got me there. But I’ve heard enough comments under hushed breaths from my ladies to get a sense that even they are worried about the emperor.
“Will he be at this dinner that introduces me to the court?” I ask.
“I don’t know.”
“Do you know anything?” I ask. “Or do you just blindly follow orders?”
“You really don’t know how to shut up, do you?”
I swallow hard, recalling the intensity of those shadows tightening around me.
Brevan’s brow furrows slightly. “Are you alright, Your Highness?”
I force a smile. “Fine. I’m fine. Just bored.”
“Must be a challenging life,” he says. “Sitting around gossiping and choosing which fabric to make your next gown with.”
“Did you choose your life, Brevan?” I ask.
“I told you. They found me after the ship I was on was attacked.”
“And now, you’re here. Following orders. It must be hard polishing your sword and choosing which armor to wear. Making sure your hair looks just messy enough to let us know you don’t care how you look.”
There’s a hint of a smirk. “Maybe I’ll stop by and ask you for some beauty tips one day.”
“I’m sure my ladies would enjoy that. They—” I stop walking, realizing we’re back in the lower levels of the castle. Probably close to where I first met the prince. “Where exactly are we?”
“I think I’ll let the prince explain everything.” He guides us through two more turns until we’re in front of a large wood door with heavy iron bars on the small window.
“What is this?” I ask.
He pounds on the door, and a pair of eyes peer out, then vanish.
There’s the sound of keys in locks, then chains rattling.
For a moment, I wonder if they’ve finally brought me to the emperor.
What if the prince has him locked up? What if the whole missing emperor mystery was the result of a coup because the prince didn’t know how to kill his immortal father?
When the door opens, a man in all black, wearing a hood that covers most of his face, gestures for us to enter.
Or maybe they found out who I really am and they’re throwing me in here.
Caiden is standing in a darkened hall, illuminated by a single torch flickering on the stone wall.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
“I have a favor to ask of you.” His face is devoid of emotion, eyes empty. It’s chilling.
He offers his elbow, and I reluctantly take it. My heart hammers against my ribs. As he guides me down the hall, I’m hoping I’m not walking to my own death.
We pass by a large open room lined with torches.
Several tables are covered in dark stains.
Chains hang on the walls along with a variety of knives, clamps, and other tools.
The scents of human excrement and death hang around us.
Caiden doesn’t so much as flinch. I hold my breath until we pass the room.
There’s a series of cells next. Each one lined with iron bars. Most of the prisoners have a floor covered in hay and trembling people cowering in the back corners. Not one approaches or says anything.
Finally, we stop in front of a cell where the prisoner looks less broken.
His clothing isn’t as shredded. While bloodstained and dirty, it’s not in as bad a state as that of the other prisoners.
His fair hair hangs in greasy strands, and he’s got the start of a beard.
He’s been here a while, but not as long as the others.
“Come to gloat?” he asks.
“I think you know my bride-to-be,” Caiden says.
The man turns his bright blue eyes on me. He’s Iskvalandian. My mind races, and ice runs through my veins. He’s going to know. He’s going to tell them I’m an impostor.
“Princess, nice to see you again,” the man says.
I keep my mouth shut. This is a trap.
“Can you tell me exactly why this man is here?” Caiden gives me a look that’s pure warning.
There’s danger simmering in his expression.
“He says he was traveling with you and got separated. But why would he be alone, on horseback, with all the supplies he needed while you were already safely in my castle?”
My heart races and I struggle to come up with a response that won’t implicate me. I turn to the man behind bars as if he’ll give me an answer. He’s watching me, as if waiting for me to take the lead.
“Go ahead, Sabina. You can tell me,” Caiden coaxes with a gentleness I know he’s not actually capable of. His brow is slightly furrowed as if he’s concerned. The way he changes tactics so quickly is masterful.
I look up at the prince, then back at the man. His face is just as blank as the prince’s. But it’s not cold. It’s just observant. Patient.
“I’m actually not sure who he is.” I take a step closer, removing my hand from Caiden’s elbow. “You say we’ve met?”
“I’ve known you since you were a child, Princess,” he says.
“There are a lot of people who have known me since I was a child,” I say. “I was surrounded by people constantly. That doesn’t mean I know them.”
“How very interesting,” Caiden says. “One of you is lying. The question is, which one?”
“I’m telling you the truth. I am an ambassador sent with the princess. We were attacked and got separated. I thought she was dead.”
I might kill this man myself if he keeps talking. “If that were true, it would mean you failed at your job. And that you continued to travel around Pendralia looking for a dead woman.”
“I had to know if you were alive or not,” he says. “Just tell him I’m not a spy so I can return to your father. He’ll want to know you made it safely.”
“I don’t remember you,” I say, sticking to my story.
“Don’t you think my bride would have told me if she’d been attacked?” Caiden places a possessive hand on my lower back, then looks at me.
“I was never attacked. I don’t know what he wants with me,” I’m careful to keep my expression neutral. Detached. The same way Caiden looks at most people.
“She’s telling the truth,” Brevan says.
I start, forgetting he was behind me.
“How very interesting,” Caiden lowers his hand from my back and moves closer to the bars. “It seems we have a spy in our midst.”
“No! I am not a spy. I came with the princess. I was sent with the treaty. Look in my bags. You’ll find it there.”
“I didn’t see any sort of treaty in your bags,” Caiden says. “Though, I did find it odd that Princess Sabina didn’t bring it with her as her father promised.”
“That’s because he had me carry it. It’s in my things,” he insists. “Go look, you’ll find it.”
“You didn’t see a treaty in those bags, did you?” Caiden asks Brevan.
The enforcer shakes his head. “I did find a relic.”
“It was a gift!” The man grabs the bars, each word from his lips coming out with more desperation. “An offering from her father, the king. For you, for your betrothal.”
My heart aches. My denial has condemned him, but if not him, it would be me.
“He also seems to believe what he’s saying,” Brevan says. “One of them is a very good liar.”
“Are you calling my bride-to-be a liar?” Caiden asks.
“Of course not, Your Highness.”
“Because lying to me would be very, very bad.” Caiden glances over at me.
“I wish I could help,” I say, looking at Caiden, but aiming my words at the man. Though, I don’t think feeling guilty clears my soul in any way. I’m still damning him to save myself.
“I’ve been between your thighs, and this is what I get from you?” the man says.
I gasp, genuinely surprised. That fades quickly when I realize that if this man is telling the truth, he bedded the princess and can’t even tell I’m not her. And he said he’d known her since she was a child? My stomach churns. The more I learn about Sabina, the more anger I feel on her behalf.
Caiden extends his arm, then lifts his hand and dark shadows flow so quickly I almost don’t even see them before they slice across the man’s neck. His head hits the floor and rolls toward the bars, then his body tips and lands with a thud.
Blood spreads in a dark puddle from the severed neck. I step back before it can get on my shoes.
Caiden glares at me. “Is that true?”
“No, I swear,” I say.
He glances at Brevan. The enforcer nods. Caiden seems satisfied with the response, and his shoulders ease a little before he looks at me again. “You can return to your room. He takes a few steps away, then turns back to me. “Tell me, Sabina, do you still think death is beautiful?”
“When it’s needed, yes,” I say.
He smiles. “I look forward to introducing you to my court tomorrow. Sleep well, little raven.”