Against the Reign (10 page)

Twenty-one

Liam escorts me back to the carriage so I can panic without worrying the others. One of the soldiers hands me a flask as we pass, and I swig some of the ale gratefully; thank goodness my people know me so well! Inside the carriage and with the ale warming my insides, I’m able to think more clearly. Liam waits quietly, holding a piece of cloth to his wounded shoulder. I hug the flask to my chest, rocking gently in my seat as I try to keep my sanity.

“We found each other when we were both five years old. We were the mischief makers of the castle.” I smile faintly. “He’s like a brother to me, Liam. If something happened to him…” My voice trails off weakly. Liam nods.

“I know. You didn’t force Ward to come, Ginny. He came because he wanted to protect you.”

“Which might almost be worse.” I sigh. “I’m sorry about today.”

“What?”

“You were fighting your own men out there. That couldn’t have been easy. And you risk them seeing you as a traitor.”

“Unfortunately, the way things are, this doesn’t even feel like my kingdom. I have to take the throne, Ginny. Etigan is falling apart and I need to fix it.” The emotion in Liam’s voice shows throughout his whole body. He straightens and gestures outside. “Etigan is my home. There may be corruption in the royal court, but the people are good. If Etigan was given a fighting chance, everyone would see what a wonderful place it is. We have good exports, if anyone would be willing to trade with us. And if I was on the throne, I would cut our hold on Descrete. They should be restored to their rightful place as the fifth kingdom.”

“You will make a great king, Liam,” I say quietly, awed by his conviction. I reach over and remove the cloth, checking the wound. It seems to have stopped bleeding, but it needs cleaning. Liam’s clean hand takes hold of mine.

“I will only be a great king with a great queen beside me.” His eyes sadden. “But our marriage is a sham created by my uncle. Without the contract, and without the politics, if it was just me, Ginny, would you have come to the wedding? Would you have given up your claim to Newrock and joined me here?”

I take a moment to think while staring at our hands, both dirty and stained. “If you had asked me that a few weeks ago, I probably would have said yes without looking back.” I meet his eyes again. “But it’s different now. I don’t think I really understood what Newrock meant to me until I had to sign it away. I can’t give up the throne of Newrock unless I know the line is safe.”

I’m surprised by my own words, but I know they’re true. They come from my heart, which for the first time I don’t attempt to close. I search Liam’s eyes to see if they look hurt, but the sadness in them seems to change to admiration.

“We will do whatever we can to keep the line safe. But first, we need a plan.”

This time I smile with purpose. “I have one.”

We pass the ale back and forth until it’s gone, then leave the carriage to join the others. The soldiers have set up a fire and are preparing a quick meal to give us strength. I notice they’ve cleaned up the area of the bodies of the fallen men and I’m glad; the thought of a war and the ground littered with fallen bodies makes my stomach turn and I have to push the thought away. We have to stop Ulric before things get out of control.

“What are we to do with them?” Borin gestures to our two prisoners.

“We’ll have to take them with us as prisoners. If we survive and take the throne, I’ll decide what to do with them then.” They both look at me fearfully. I leave it at that and turn to the soldiers. “The driver said only one of them had to return. I need a volunteer to pose as an Etigan soldier. Do you think, Liam, that Ulric recognizes all his soldiers?”

“No. He doesn’t look down his nose at those below him,” Liam answers.

“Good. Then he won’t notice if someone new comes in. Do I have a volunteer? This could go badly, I warn you now.” I look around and watch a dark-skinned man rise.

“I volunteer, Your Majesty,” he says.

“Good. You will take one of those horses and return our crowns to Ulric. Tell him the carriage was burned, and Liam and I are dead. Let him believe his plan is working.” I hand over my crown, as does Liam. The man takes them, bows, and sets off on his dangerous journey. I will him to make it safely.

“What of us, Your Majesty?” Borin asks.

“We will ride back under the cover of night. We must first find out if Vian was released. We must also search for my missing friend. His name is Ward and he was the one who delivered the message to Hob.”

“Your servant, my lady?” Borin asks.

“He was, but in Newrock’s name, if I find him alive, he’ll sit next to me at my table from now on. We have to find out what happened to him. Then, we need to regroup with Rayner and find a way to take down Ulric before he starts a war.” The nods of agreement satisfy me. “Let’s release the carriage horses and hide the carriage. Deal with the dead. They deserve a burial. Then we need to get back to town.”

Renewed with food and hope, the men scurry to fulfill my wishes. A strange feeling stirs inside me. This is what it’s like to be the leader. There is something inside me that can do this; it just is sometimes hard to find, buried beneath years of discouragement and mead.

With the camp cleaned up, I swing onto Lextus’s back. Liam boards another horse and rides at my side. We veer off the road and follow from the side, not wanting to run into any other soldiers from Etigan as we travel. We can only get so close to Donowel before we have to stop and wait for nightfall. The waiting is torture; anything could be happening while we sit around. But we can’t risk being seen. In the meantime, I send off another volunteer to meet up with Rayner and let him know what’s happening.

It’s about midnight when the messenger returns.

“I could not find Rayner. His camp has moved, and Etigan’s armies are moving into Newrock.”

“Has he taken over Benakarsa or the castle yet?” I ask.

“It doesn’t appear that he’s acted yet, but it won’t be long by the looks of things,” he says. I nod. We still have time. While my castle still stands, we still have time.

Twenty-two

Our first thought is to disguise ourselves. If Ulric buys the return of the crowns and assumes we’re dead, we don’t want to be seen as we head into town. We send out another volunteer who manages to secure some plain clothes. I don the clothes of a poor villager.

When I’m done changing, I find Liam. He, too, has changed and he holds out his hands as he approaches. “How do I look as a commoner?”

“Don’t stick your chest out so much. Slump a bit. Look like you’ve been working hard all your life,” I say.

Liam adjusts his posture and walks around me. “How’s that?”

“Still too kingly,” I answer, earning a smile in return. “What about our swords?”

“We’ll have to take them. We can’t go on unarmed.” Liam attaches his to his waist; I worry the obviously expensive, emerald-encrusted hilt will give him away. We wrap the hilt in cloth to cover it. I sling mine across my back. Ready, we meet up with the others.

Liam and I head into town alone and make for the livery stable. Liam bangs on the door until we hear someone shouting from inside.

“I hear ya! I hear ya! Stop it already!” A large man smelling faintly of manure yanks open the door. “Can’t get a decent night’s sleep ‘round here no more. What need have ya?”

I hold up a small bag that jingles with a few gold coins. “Just information, Sir.”

The man eyes the bag, then us. It’s dark enough outside that even with his lamp, our faces are mostly concealed in darkness. I hope he doesn’t recognize us and start asking questions. But instead, he takes the bag and looks inside.

“What do ya need to know?” He tucks the bag inside his shirt.

“Did a strange woman come here inquiring about a carriage for hire in the middle of the night?” I ask.

“I’ll never forget it! Strangest maid I ever did see. Was looking to send that beggar on a ride cross the border. I sent him off with my son driving the carriage. I was just going back to bed when I heard a brawl in the street. Some royal guards had grabbed that maid and were dragging her up the road. Only it was a man wearing a maid’s garb! A strange night that was, I tell ya.” The man chuckles and I hear the coins in his coat jingle again.

“The royal guards took him?” Liam asks.

“Can’t tell ya more than that, though. I went back inside and hid. If that man stole those coins or was in some kinda trouble, I didn’t want no part of it.” The man suddenly looks suspicious and glances up the road.

“Thank you. You’ve been very helpful.” I turn and follow Liam back out of town to where the others are waiting. We fill them in.

“We have to get into the castle,” Liam says.

“If the royal guards got their hands on Ward, they could torture him for information. They may know that we were on to them,” I point out. “But I agree. We have to get inside the castle. We can’t risk leaving Vian behind at this point, either.”

“Getting into the castle will be risky,” Borin says.

“Yes, but we know how!” I smile to Liam and he nods.

Borin selects some of his best men and we head back into town in groups of two, separating so we don’t attract suspicion. Once we regroup, Liam leads the way to the outer wall of the castle where the break in the stone lets us in. One of Newrock’s soldiers throws a grappling hook to Liam’s window and it clinks loudly as it catches on the windowsill. We wait quietly to see if any guards come, but nothing happens. We send a soldier up first and he signals that we’re clear. I go up second, followed by Liam.

Once we’re all inside, Liam gives Borin the directions to the dungeon. I remember how heavily guarded the dungeon was, and my heart goes out to the men as they hurry away. It will not be an easy task. Once we’re alone, Liam turns to me.

“There is something I have to do before we go on,” he says.

“What is it?”

“I have to check on my mother. With everything going on, I want to make sure Ulric hasn’t done anything to her.”

My anxiety over Ward is growing and I almost suggest we split up. But the look in Liam’s eyes stops me. He looks worried and I feel he may need my support. I understand. The same as Vian is all I have left, his mother is all he has now. I nod and follow him along the corridor to the stairs.

We have to pass the king’s bedroom to get to the bower where his mother stays. There are no guards around and the floor is silent. Still, we tiptoe down the corridor, holding our breath to not make a sound. At the bower, Liam opens the door and we jump inside.

“Who is there?” a soft voice comes from behind a partition. Liam answers her and hurries over to see her while I stand guard at the door. They speak in hushed whispers, then Liam returns.

“She says my uncle has not come up here tonight. She thinks he’s planning to leave at sunrise for Newrock. There are no guards up here and I need to know she’s safe. I need to go find some guards I trust. Can you stay here with her?”

“Yes, but hurry!” I say. I let him out the door, then shut it softly.

“Come, my child.” The soft voice invites me around the partition. I smooth out my dress and push some tendrils of hair from my face in a feeble attempt to look presentable. Once around the partition, I curtsy low and respectfully. “Rise, my dear, and come closer.”

I see immediately that Liam gets his looks from his mother. Her hair is a brilliant white and is braided, the braid resting on her shoulder. She is very thin, much too thin, and her features look worn. Seeing her for the first time, I realize that Liam’s father’s death really has taken its toll on her. My heart breaks for Liam when I think he may lose her as well. She holds out a shaky hand to me and I kneel at her bedside and take it.

“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Your Majesty,” I say politely.

“For me as well. Liam has told me so much about you.” She smiles softly and I hope she can’t see that I’m blushing.

“Hopefully good things,” I say.

“Many good things. He spoke of your beauty, but I was not sure he knew what he was talking about until I saw you at the wedding.” Her eyes sadden. “I was at the wedding of your parents. They were so very young, and you remind me of your mother. Our husbands did not always see eye-to-eye, but I was very fond of Carlee. She was an intelligent woman and kind. It is a shame what happened.” I nod, but don’t speak. She sighs. “I find comfort in that Liam is now married. I don’t want to be queen anymore. I’m so weak, I can’t even face the people. They need someone to look at and follow. You and Liam together will give them what they need.”

“I hope I can live up to your expectations,” I say quietly. All the old doubts begin to filter back in when I think of taking the throne.

“I know of your past, Virginia. Not every path is smooth and easy. Every mistake you make is a lesson to learn and a chance to grow. If you apply it, that is. The choice is yours.” The hand I hold squeezes mine and I cover it with my other hand.

“I will do my best, Your Majesty. That is all I can offer.”

“It is all anyone can offer. And I know you will.”

The door opens again and Liam enters with two other men and a maid. The maid hurries to the queen’s bedside to wait on her and I stand to join Liam.

“These men will be outside your door from now on. Call on them if you feel you’re in danger,” Liam says. Both men bow.

“Oh, Son, nothing is going to happen to me,” the queen says.

“Too much is happening now for me to take that chance.” Liam looks at the maid. “Take care of her.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Liam plants a kiss on his mother’s cheek and ushers me from the room. We head back down the corridor in a rush to find Ward. I see through a window we pass that the sky is lightening.

“Did your mother hear that we had been killed?” I ask as we walk.

“Yes, but she says she knew in her heart it wasn’t true. Something about a mother’s bond with her children.”

“It’s good that you saw her then, to reassure her. If the rumor in the castle is we’re dead, then Ulric won’t be expecting us.”

“Exactly.” Liam takes my hand and we hurry on.

We’re passing another window when I stop and point.

“What is that?” I ask. There’s a small courtyard below us. A man dressed all in black is sharpening a very large axe.

“They’re getting ready to do an execution,” Liam says, his brow scrunched together with concern. “Public executions are done in town, but private ones are done here.”

“Vian?” I say, panic rising.

But the door below opens and a guard walks into the courtyard dragging a struggling prisoner still wearing a maid’s dress.

“It’s Ward!” I yell, not caring how loud I am. “How do we get down there?”

“Follow me!” Liam runs down another flight of stairs with me at his heels. My heart beats with every footfall; I can barely breathe, but I push on as we run. We have to take a slight detour when Liam spots too many guards on one floor and my chest tightens with panic. When we finally reach the courtyard, the only thing I can hear is my blood pumping in my ears and the ting of my blade as I draw my sword.