Falling Kingdoms (23 page)

K
ing Corvin was nothing like Jonas expected him to be.

Paelsians widely believed him to be a devious and manipulative man who ignored their squalor while those in Auranos lived lavishly and opulently, with no heed to how much they spent or how much they wasted. Jonas had hated King Corvin before he ever laid eyes on him.

The king was a formidable-looking man. He was tall, with heavy muscle like a knight slightly past his prime. His light brown hair, peppered with gray, hung to his shoulders; his beard was short and well groomed. His blue-green eyes were keen and sharp—and, Jonas couldn’t help but note, the exact same color as the princess’s. At first glance, and despite his glittering palace inlaid with actual gold, King Corvin didn’t look like a man who encouraged hedonism and self-indulgence in his people.

Appearances could be deceiving, Jonas reminded himself.

At Chief Basilius’s compound, they’d met King Gaius and his men and traveled together to Auranos to show that they were now allies.

King Gaius was also a strong-looking man. Short black hair, dark eyes, tight skin on his sharp cheekbones. A thin mouth. He looked stern and severe. But there was something in his eyes, a wickedness that betrayed the rest of his orderly appearance. Jonas wasn’t sure if he appreciated that edge or if it made him even more distrustful of the man.

He’d heard many tales of how King Gaius ensured his subjects behaved themselves—by heavily policing them with a trained army ready to uphold the strict laws the king set forth. His was a reign painted in blood. Jonas would never underestimate someone like that, even if he wasn’t sure how many rumors were true.

King Corvin did not turn them away. He invited them into his palace and into his great hall to meet with him. This was where Jonas and Brion now sat, on either side of the chief. King Gaius and his men sat at the other side of the large square table. Behind King Corvin positioned on the dais were two guards.

They all had even numbers present. But there would be no violence today. Today was for discussion only. And Jonas had been advised to let King Gaius do the talking on Paelsia’s behalf. He was shocked and dismayed that the chief had agreed to this.

“Who are these boys?” King Corvin asked, referring to Jonas and Brion. He didn’t ask the same of Gaius’s men. Since they wore the dark red uniforms of Limerian palace guards, it was obvious to all that they were the king’s bodyguards.

The chief nodded at each of them. “This is Jonas Agallon and Brion Radenos.”

“They’re your guards?”

“More than that. Jonas is soon to become my son-in-law.”

Jonas felt Brion’s surprised gaze land on him.

Son-in-law?
A sick feeling churned in his gut. Perhaps it would be wise to end things with Laelia sooner than he’d planned. She obviously had the wrong impression about their future together. Jonas heard a sound. He thought it was a muffled snort of laughter coming from Brion’s direction even though there was nothing remotely funny about this. He kept his eyes forward, not leaving King Corvin for a moment.

“Must we feign civil conversation?” the king of Auranos said tightly. “Say what you came here to say and be done with it.”

“I consider you a very good friend, Corvin.” King Gaius offered him a warm smile. “I know I should have made more of an effort to keep our ties strong.”

“Were they ever strong?”

“We have so much in common. Two prosperous lands flanking that of Paelsia. Three lands that could be very strong together. Close friendships will make it even stronger.”

“So you’re offering me friendship today,” the king said thinly and with distrust etched into his expression. “Is that it?”

King Gaius nodded gravely. “Friendship above all. Family above all. I know what it’s like to have a young family. To hope for a brighter future for them. Paelsia, however, has fallen on much harder times than we have.”

“And you wish to help them.”

“With all my heart.”

King Corvin glanced at Chief Basilius. “I know that Paelsia prides itself on being a sovereign state. You’ve not asked for any assistance, nor have we offered any. But I truly didn’t realize how difficult times have been for you.”

Jonas found this impossible to believe, but he swallowed back any poisonous comments that rose in his throat.

“We are a proud people,” the chief said. “We tried to resolve our problems by ourselves.”

King Gaius nodded. “I’m overwhelmed by how courageous the Paelsians have been through these lean years. My heart bleeds for their suffering. But the time has come to change all of that.”

“What do you propose?” King Corvin asked, with a noticeable thread of distaste when speaking to the Limerian king. “Should we begin a charity for them? Collect money? Clothing? A food drive, perhaps? Allow more open travel between our lands? There’s been a great deal of poaching here from Paelsians over the years. Is this something you think I should simply turn a blind eye to?”

“If our borders were fully open to each other, poaching would not occur. It would not be stealing then.”

King Corvin templed his fingers and looked across the table at him steadily. “I’m certainly open to discussion on all matters.”

“Yes, well, discussion would be lovely,” King Gaius said, “if this was twenty years ago and my father still ruled. But times have changed.”

King Corvin regarded him with barely veiled distaste. “Then what do you want?”

“Change,” King Gaius said simply. “On a much grander scale.”

“Such as?”

King Gaius leaned back in his chair. “Chief Basilius and I want to take Auranos and divide it evenly between us.”

King Corvin was quiet for a moment, holding the other king’s gaze. Finally his lips peeled back from straight white teeth and he laughed. “Oh, Gaius. I forgot how much you enjoy joking around.”

King Gaius didn’t crack a smile. “I’m not joking.”

King Corvin’s expression went cold as ice. “You want me to believe that you’ve aligned with this chieftain to take my land and split it. You must think I’m very stupid. There’s another reason. What’s your real goal here? And why now, Gaius? After all this time?”

“When better?” was all King Gaius allowed.

King Corvin cast a pitying look at Chief Basilius. “You trust him with something this important?”

“Completely. He proved himself to me in ways that very few ever would dare to. He honored me with a true sacrifice. That is worth its weight in gold to me.”

“Then you’re an unforgivable fool.” King Corvin pushed back from the table and got to his feet. “This meeting is over. I have more to worry about right now than listening to nonsense.”

“We’re giving you this one chance to agree to our terms,” King Gaius said, undeterred. “You would be wise to accept. Your family would be treated well. You would be given a new home. An allowance. There doesn’t need to be any blood shed because of this.”

“Everything you touch becomes stained with blood, Gaius. That’s why you haven’t been welcome in my kingdom for ten years.” He turned toward the door and a guard pushed it open.

“We have your daughter.”

King Corvin’s shoulders tensed and he slowly turned around. His annoyed expression had shifted to something much more dangerous. “I don’t think I heard you right.”

“Your daughter, Cleiona.” Gaius enunciated the words perfectly. No room for misunderstanding. “Seems that she was found wandering through Paelsia without protection. Not very wise for a princess, is it?”

Jonas tried very hard to keep any expression off his face. This was what he’d waited for all this time and why he hadn’t killed Cleo himself. Instead, the promise of her continued life would be used to ensure a brighter future for his home and family.

“You really shouldn’t let your youngest travel to other lands without proper protection,” King Gaius said. “But don’t worry. I’ll personally ensure her safety.”

“You dare to threaten me?” King Corvin’s words were edged in poison.

King Gaius spread his hands. “It’s very simple. Surrender your kingdom when we return with our combined army at our backs. And no one will have to suffer.”

King Corvin’s grip on the edge of the doorway was so tight that Jonas was sure he would tear off a strip of wood from it at any moment. “Harm my daughter and I will personally tear you apart.”

King Gaius remained calm. “How could I wish harm to your youngest, Corvin? I know the love a father has in his children. My eldest, Magnus, for example, is proving his worth in so many ways. Even right at this moment. I’m very proud of him. As I’m sure you’re proud of your daughters. You have two, do you not?” The Limerian king frowned. “The older one, I’ve heard, has fallen quite ill. Will she recover?”

“Emilia is fine.”

King Corvin was lying. Jonas saw it in his eyes.

Cleo claimed to have journeyed into Paelsia chasing after the legend of an exiled Watcher who might be able to save her sister’s life. She’d been telling him the truth. The truth when he’d only expected more lies.

“Think about what we’ve discussed here. Think very carefully.” King Gaius rose from his chair. The others, including Jonas, took his lead and did the same. “When I return, I expect you to be out in front of your palace gates offering your immediate and absolute surrender.”

King Corvin was quiet for a moment, his expression tense. “And if I don’t?”

King Gaius swept his gaze around all those present for this meeting. “Then we’ll take Auranos by force. And I’ll personally witness your young daughter tortured for a long time before I finally allow her to die.”

“And I will be sure to do the same to yours,” King Corvin hissed.

King Gaius laughed at this. “I would dare you to try.”

They left. Jonas felt King Corvin’s strained gaze heavy on him as he moved toward the exit.

“It was your brother who was killed that day in the market,” the king said to him as he passed. “I recognized your name.”

Jonas nodded but didn’t meet the other man’s eyes.

“Whether you realize it or not, your grief and desire for vengeance has caused you to align yourself with scorpions,” King Corvin said. “Be very careful that you don’t get stung.”

Jonas cast only a short glance at the man, fighting to keep his expression neutral, before he followed the others from the room.

T
he princess was proving to be more elusive than Theon had hoped. After arriving in Paelsia with two trusted guards, he’d searched far and wide, scouring the villages they came across for any clues.

One thing was certain—Cleo and Nic had been there, stopping long enough to make a lasting and mostly favorable impression on the locals before carrying on. Theon was surprised to learn they said they were traveling as sister and brother...from
Limeros
. Clever.

But then he’d hit a wall. Nothing new. No clues. And every day that passed deepened his desperation and fear that something horrible had befallen her. Finally he instructed the guards to split up so they could individually cover more ground.

It had been his duty as Cleo’s bodyguard—his
only
duty—to keep her safe. The king’s promise to kill him if he failed was the farthest thing from his mind. He was more concerned with the princess’s safety.

It wasn’t until ten days after she left Auranos that he finally found a clue.

On a narrow, muddy road after yet another strange and unexpected thunderstorm, Nicolo Cassian was headed straight for him.

For the briefest moment, Theon thought he was only seeing things. But it was true. He ran toward Nic and grabbed hold of the front of his tunic.

“Where is the princess? Answer me!”

Nic looked as grave and weary as Theon felt. “You don’t know how glad I am to see you.”

“You won’t be glad when I get you back to Auranos. You’re going to pay dearly for taking the princess away from the safety of the palace.”

“You really think I forced her to come here? Cleo has a mind of her own, you know.”

“Where is she?” he demanded.

“Taken by a Paelsian three days ago. He held a knife to my throat, threatened to separate my head from my body. Cleo bargained for my life by agreeing to go with him.” He looked destroyed by this. “She shouldn’t have. She should have run away. She should have let him kill me.”

Theon’s stomach lurched. “Do you know who it was?”

Nic nodded, his expression grave. “Jonas Agallon.”

Theon finally let go of Nic’s dusty tunic and found that his hands were now shaking. The name was as familiar as his own. Jonas. The boy who’d threatened her life. The one she’d had nightmares about. And Theon hadn’t been here to protect her.

“She’s going to die—or she’s already dead. And it’s my fault.”

“I know where she is.”

His attention snapped to Nic’s. “You do?”

“Had a lucky break yesterday. Been asking around, trying to find out more about Jonas and his family. Learned where his sister lives. They have a storm shed, which is where I think she’s being held.”

His breath caught. “You think? Or do you
know
?”

“I don’t know for sure since I haven’t seen her, but it’s being guarded. A woman goes in once a day with a tray of food and water and comes out with an empty one. I only left since I knew I had to send a message to...well, to you. And here you are.”

The smallest piece of hope returned to Theon’s heart. “Take me there immediately.”

• • •

If Cleo had learned one thing in her three days of captivity it was this—Felicia Agallon hated her every bit as much as Jonas did. But despite this hate, the girl observed her brother’s orders to bring Cleo food once a day—which consisted of stale rye bread and well water, made palatable only by the addition of honey. The first time, as Felicia scowled at her across the shadows of the small and cold, windowless shed with only a tiny, ragged hole in the roof to let in any light, Cleo looked down at the water with wariness.

“Is it poisoned?”

“Would you blame me if it was?”

Cleo was going to argue, but she held her tongue. “Not really.”

Felicia studied her for a few moments of uncomfortable silence. “It’s not poisoned. Jonas wants you to keep breathing, although I’m not sure why.”

Still, Cleo waited as long as she could before she drank or ate anything. For much of her time, she tried to sleep on a pile of straw, sipped water, and nibbled at the hard pieces of bread. It was as far removed from luxury as she’d ever experienced.

She tried to chew through the ropes binding her wrists, but that didn’t work. Even if she succeeded, the chain around her ankle was another serious problem. Also, the shack was locked from the outside and guarded. She couldn’t let herself think of her sister, or her father, or Theon. She was a mouse caught in a trap with no escape, waiting for the cat to return.

Waiting.

And waiting.

After what felt like an eternity, but that she later figured out was barely more than three days, she heard something. Shouts. Grunts. Slams.

Then there was a knock at the door.

Fear rendered her very quiet and still. There was another bang, louder this time. Then voices, muffled. She held her breath and tried to be brave enough to face whatever dark demon might burst through.

Then it occurred to her that whoever was outside wasn’t trying to knock, they were trying to break down the door. Finally it swung inward. Cleo shielded her eyes as painfully bright sunlight streamed into the darkness.

When Theon entered the room, her mouth fell open with shock at the same time that her heart leapt in her chest.

“See?” Nic said with triumph. “I knew she was in here.”

“Is anyone else here?” Theon demanded. It took her a moment before she realized he was speaking to her.

She tried to stop gaping at the two of them. “I...what? Here? No, nobody’s here right now. Just me. But there are guards outside.”

“I took care of them already.”

Nic rushed to her side and grabbed her arms. “Cleo, are you all right? Did that savage touch you?”

The concern she saw on his face made tears fill her eyes. “I’m fine. He didn’t hurt me.”

Nic let out an audible sigh of relief and hugged her tightly against him. “I was so worried.”

Theon didn’t say anything, but he came toward her when Nic finally released her. His jaw was tight. She almost cringed away from him since he looked completely livid.

“Theon—”

He raised a hand. “I don’t want to hear anything beyond you being fine right now.”

“But—”

“Princess, please.”

“You have a right to be angry with me.”

“How I feel doesn’t matter. I need to get you home. Now be still so I can free you before the guards I knocked out wake up.”

She closed her mouth as he began to work on her bindings. He was more efficient than gentle with the ropes, and her wrists were more abraded by the time he finished than they’d been to begin with, but she didn’t utter one word of complaint. Then Theon unsheathed his sword and hacked through the chain. He eyed the shackle still circling her ankle. “The rest of it will have to wait until we get to a blacksmith.”

Theon clamped his hand on her wrist and pulled her out of the shack and into the sunshine. Nothing had ever felt so good to her as the bright sun did on her face. Nic fished into her bag, which she’d dropped when Jonas took her, and pulled out her cloak, putting it over her shoulders so she could stay warm. She looked at him with gratitude.

Immediately, they began walking away from her prison and back to the road beyond. There was a village only a mile from here—the same village where Nic and Cleo had met Eirene and stayed with her for the night.

“We can get a ship back,” Nic said. “There’s one leaving tomorrow at sunset if we can make it there in time. You’ll be back in Auranos before you know it, Cleo, and all will be well.”

Her stomach twisted. “All is not well. I never found the Watcher.”

Theon nodded at Nic. “I need to speak with the princess alone for a minute. Would you give us some time?”

Nic looked at her. “Depends. Cleo?”

She nodded. “It’s all right. I should let Theon have his say now. Then when I get home, I’ll only have to be reprimanded by my father.”

Reprimanded
was likely putting her future punishment mildly. She wished she could say it was unfounded, but she was prepared to accept her fate.

“Then I’ll head into the village and get something to eat,” Nic said reluctantly.

“We’ll meet you there,” Theon said firmly.

With a last glance at Cleo to confirm that she was all right with being left alone with Theon, Nic turned and took off at a clip. Cleo watched him leave, afraid to return her gaze to her angry bodyguard.

“Despite everything, I’m not sorry that I came here,” she said when silence fell between them. “I did this to help my sister and I’m devastated that I failed. I know you despise me right now and I’m positive that my father was enraged when he learned I was gone.” She drew in a tired breath. “But I had to do it.”

When she finally turned to him, Theon’s expression had changed. Where before it was fury and hardness, there was now something more raw in his expression.

“However, the pain and trouble I’ve caused you personally,” she whispered. “I am deeply regretful for that.”

He reached down to take her hands in his. “I was so worried about you.”

Cleo was surprised that he’d drawn so close to her. “I know.”

“You could have been killed.”

“Theon, I wasn’t thinking straight.”

“Neither was I. And neither am I at this very moment.”

She looked up at him just as he captured her mouth with his and kissed her deeply.

This was not a chaste kiss of friendship. This was a kiss of true passion, such as she’d only dreamed of before. Her heart leapt in her chest and she wrapped her arms around him to pull him closer. When it finally ended, he stepped back from her, his eyes steady on the ground, a deep frown creasing his brow.

“My humble apologies for that, princess.”

She pressed her fingers against her lips. “Please, don’t apologize.”

“I shouldn’t presume. I shouldn’t think that you might feel...” He swallowed. “I’ll ask your father to assign someone else as your bodyguard when we return. Not only did I fail to keep you safe, but I don’t have the right objectivity anymore. You’ve come to mean more to me than the daughter of the king. Such a short time and...you’ve come to mean everything to me.”

Cleo’s breath caught. “Everything?”

Theon raised his gaze to lock with hers. “Everything.”

Tears stung her eyes. “Well, actually, that makes things much easier.”

He frowned. “I don’t understand.”

“It’s obvious. I can’t marry Aron or anyone else. I refuse, no matter what my father says.” Her heart swelled to overflowing. “I—I was meant to be with you.”

Theon’s breath came quicker, but his expression only grew more grave. “But I’m only a guard.”

“I don’t care!”

“Your father will care. Quite a lot, I’m sure.”

“My father will simply have to deal with it. Or I’ll just run away again.” A smile touched her lips. “With you.”

Theon laughed, a deep rumble in his chest. “Wonderful. You’ll tell your father that the guard he assigned to keep his daughter safe has coerced her to break off her engagement and that will make everything all right. I’m sure he’ll just accept it and not throw me in the dungeon.”

“Maybe he won’t accept it. Not right away. But I’ll make sure he knows there are no other answers.”

He was quiet for a moment as he searched her expression. “So you do feel something for me.”

“You saved me. And even before that...well, I just knew, without knowing.” Her heart felt lighter with each word she spoke.

Theon shook his head. “I didn’t save you. Nic figured out where you were. I just knocked out the guards and broke down the door.”

Cleo’s smile widened. “Well, I’m not in love with Nic, so I guess we’ll just have to figure it out.”

He pulled her into his arms again, more tentatively this time. “I’m still furious that you ran away and nearly got yourself killed. This is not the right place for you right now.”

“There’s no other place I could find the answer I need.”

“The search will have to wait.”

“But it can’t wait.” Her throat grew tight again.

He studied the ground for a moment before raising his gaze to hers. “We can’t stay here. You must realize that, don’t you?”

Cleo’s heart beat hard enough to burst from her chest. She couldn’t forget the real reason she’d come here. Yet she also couldn’t deny that he was right. If there was a war against Auranos brewing, this was no place for its princess. Her throat thickened. “I wish there was another answer.”

“Give it a week,” Theon said. “And I’ll return here myself. I’ll find out if this legend you believe in so completely is true. Let me do that for you.”

She looked up at him with gratitude before she nodded. “Thank you.”

“I’ll also find Jonas Agallon when I return.” His expression darkened. “He needs to answer with blood for what he’s done.”

She shivered at the suggestion of violence. “He blames me for what Aron did to his brother. He still carries Aron’s dagger.”

Theon looked at her sharply. “Did he threaten you with that dagger?”

She nodded, then turned her face forward so she wouldn’t see the flash of rage in his eyes.

“If I find him,” Theon growled, “he won’t have to worry about taking his vengeance on anyone for his brother’s death. He’ll be joining his brother in the ever after.”