Ruined (10 page)

“Two guards should stay down here with him,” Cas said. “He should have water and three meals a day.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” the guards murmured.

Cas looked at the Ruined to find him staring, his eyebrows drawn together.

“I'll be down often to check on you,” Cas said. “We don't mistreat our prisoners in Lera, Ruined or not.” He glanced over his shoulder at the guards. “Please remind the other guards of that.”

“I look forward to being treated well right up until you chop off my head, Casimir,” the Ruined said, bringing his knees close to his chest and throwing his good arm over them.

Cas wanted to ask what the Ruined's life was like. Who he'd killed. If he'd kill everyone in the room, if given the chance. If he hated everyone who wasn't Ruined, and if he'd always felt that way, or if Cas's father had caused it.

But whatever he said to the Ruined right now was likely to get repeated all over the castle by the guards.

“People call me Cas,” he said. “And I'd rather not call you Ruined. I'd prefer to use your name.”

The Ruined's eyes flashed with anger and a tiny hint of interest. He held Cas's gaze almost to the point of discomfort, like he was testing the prince to see how much he really wanted to know.

“Damian,” the Ruined finally said. “My name's Damian.”

EM FLEW OUT
of her room, the door slamming closed behind her. A maid looked down the hallway, startled. Em rushed past her and to the stairs.

They'd captured a Ruined. The news was all over the castle this morning, according to Davina. He was being held in a cell on the south lawn and was only being kept alive long enough to spill information to the king.

Her heart pounded as she reached the bottom of the stairs. It was very likely that she knew the man they had captured, since there weren't that many of them left. Would he leak the secret about their pact with Olso? And if he didn't talk, would she have to stand by and watch him die, or risk blowing her cover?

The castle was just starting to come alive for the morning,
and she edged around the corner to avoid the queen and several ladies walking across the foyer. She headed for the back of the castle, pushing open a door to the west wing. The guards' rooms were down this wing, and two of them straightened as she walked through the door.

“Have you seen Aren?” she asked.

“I'll get him for you, Your Highness,” one of the guards said, jogging down the hallway. He knocked on a door, and Aren stuck his head out a few moments later. He stepped out of the room, buttoning his blue shirt as he walked. She could tell from his expression that he'd already heard.

She jerked her head, indicating that he should follow her. He trailed behind her through the castle and into the gardens. They walked through the flowers into the center of the tall hedges, away from any prying ears.

She took a quick glance around before facing Aren and lowering her voice so it was barely a whisper.

“Have you heard a name?” she asked. “Did he talk?”

“The guards I asked didn't know. And they don't want us going down there unless we're assigned a shift. I can volunteer for a shift, but I thought it was best to time it right.”

She swallowed down a wave of panic. “If he tells them the Ruined are partnering with the warriors—”

“He won't,” Aren interrupted.

“We don't even know who they have.”

“That doesn't mean he would betray us. There's nothing the king could say or do that would make him want to talk. Would
you talk, if it was you who were captured?”

She pushed her hands through her hair with a sigh. “Of course not. They would kill me as soon as they got the information.”

“Exactly. Whoever this is knows that too. But don't go down there, just in case. We don't want him recognizing you and using it as leverage.”

“What do you think our chances are of being able to rescue him?”

“Not good,” Aren said, rubbing the back of his neck. “But maybe you can convince them not to execute him for a while. If you can stall them, he might have a chance.”

“I can try.”

“They're saying Cas was there last night.”

“Good. I'll go find him. I'll let you know if I figure out who it is.”

“Be careful,” Aren warned. “Don't blow your cover for this. If we have to let one Ruined die . . .” He lifted his shoulders. “Then we have to let him die. It's unfortunate, but there are bigger things at stake here.”

He stared at something behind her, and she turned to see Iria crossing the gardens, a grim expression on her face.

“You were supposed to protect them!” Em hissed as soon as Iria was near. “Why is there a Ruined in that cell?”

Iria tugged on a piece of hair, twisting it around her finger. “It's Damian.”

Em's heart stopped beating. All the sounds of the garden faded away and were replaced by a loud buzzing noise in her ears,
like a million bugs had descended around her head at once.

Damian would never talk. Even though he knew the biggest secret, Em's secret, he wouldn't give the king one shred of information.

But he would die.

“How do you know that?” Aren asked.

“Cas went down there. Got his name out of him. Koldo heard it from one of the guards.”

“What?” Em practically yelled.

Iria's usual smug expression fell into a mask of annoyance. “Would you keep your voice down? Do you want them to throw you in that cell with him?”

Yes. She did. That was where she belonged, not married to the prince who had put Damian in that cell.

“How did Cas get it out of him?'” Em asked, lowering her voice. “Did they hurt him?”

“Yes. The king and Cas tortured him last night to weaken him, from what I understand.”

Anger boiled in her veins. When it came down to it, Cas was exactly like his father. She knew this, yet still felt the briefest flicker of disappointment.

“We've been protecting the Ruined, but—” Iria said.

“Then why is Damian about to be executed?” Aren asked.

“We are helping hundreds of Ruined in Olso. The fact that only one has been captured is actually pretty impressive.”

Em balled her fingers into fists, seriously considering punching Iria in the face.

“I'm very sorry that the one who was caught was your friend,” Iria added, putting her hands up like she knew what Em was thinking. “But you need to pull yourself together. You look devastated. Mary would not be devastated about a Ruined being captured.”

“He's not just our friend, he's the current leader of the Ruined,” Aren said. “What are the Ruined going to do without him?”

“They're going to keep crossing into Olso, like they were ordered,” Iria said. “Just because he isn't there doesn't mean everything will fall apart. They know what to do. Right now, it's more important for you both to stay calm and not give yourselves away.”

Aren gave Em a pained expression, like it physically hurt him to agree with Iria. She was right, of course. Mary wouldn't care at all about a Ruined being captured. In fact, she'd probably go down there and kill him herself.

“The Ruined killed Mary's parents. She'd be at least a little upset to have one in the castle,” Em said. “Maybe I can use that as an excuse to talk to Damian. Say I want to find out if he was the one who killed them?”

“Or I can try to get down there.” Aren frowned in thought. “Maybe I can find a way to break him out.”

“Maybe,” Iria said. “I wouldn't do it at the expense of our plan, though.”

It's unfortunate, but there are bigger things at stake here.
The words Aren had said only a few minutes ago ran through her
head, and she could tell he was thinking of them as well. It had been different when they didn't know who it was. When it wasn't their best friend.

“We'll think of something,” she said firmly. “We're not going to let him die.”

Cas was nowhere to be found that morning and through the afternoon. No one Em asked had seen him, and it appeared Galo was missing as well. They must have snuck out again.

She spent the afternoon circling the castle, hoping to run into Jovita or the king and queen, but they were behind closed doors all day. She wasn't sure she wanted to ask them for permission to see Damian anyway. She had a better chance with Cas.

The staff let her wait in his office after they found her pacing in front of his door for the fifth time. She settled into the chair in the far corner and stared up at the rows of books.

He finally walked through the door as the sun was setting in the window behind her. He was shoeless and carrying a book, a surprised expression crossing his face when he spotted her.

She jumped to her feet, glancing down at his knuckles. Of course they weren't bruised. Whatever they'd done to Damian, they'd had the guards do it for them.

She barely held back from curling her lip in disgust.

“I hope you don't that mind I waited for you,” she said.

“Not at all. I was upstairs reading. I wanted some time to think.” He dropped the book on the table, sliding his hands into his pockets.

“Oh. I looked everywhere for you.”

“It's a hidden room upstairs. I'll show it to you sometime.” He smiled. “Did you need something?”

“I heard about the Ruined you captured. You've seen him?”

He nodded slowly, an emotion she couldn't identify flickering across his face.

“What—what happened? Why is he here?”

“My father wants information.”

She twisted her fingers together, her stomach churning. What kind of torture were they inflicting on Damian?

“Don't worry, you're safe,” Cas said. “We've been draining him of his power.”

“Are you going to see him?” she asked. Perhaps she could casually tag along.

“No, we have that dinner tonight.”

“Dinner?”

“My father wanted to throw a celebration for the hunters before he sends them back.” He gestured to his shoulder, where Em could barely make out a bandage beneath his white shirt. “Trying to appease them, so they won't attempt to kill me.”

She'd completely forgotten about the stupid dinner. She let out a long sigh. “I guess I should go get dressed.”

“I'll meet you outside your room in half an hour?” Cas's lips curved up. She quickly turned away, wondering if she'd be able to avoid looking at him for the rest of her time in the castle. It wasn't fair that such a terrible person had that smile.

“Half an hour,” she said as she rushed out of the room.

Davina helped her into a red dress with a slit in one leg almost to her hip, then pulled a few strands of hair back in thin braids. The rest of her hair hung loose. The maid dusted powder on her cheeks and rubbed bright-red cream on her lips.

“There,” she said, standing back to admire her work. “You look lovely. The queen will be very happy.”

Em sighed. She
did
look lovely, but she was tempted to spread some dirt on her face just to spite the queen.

Cas appeared at her door right on time, his eyes sweeping over her as she stepped out of her rooms. His fingers brushed against her wrist, sending sparks up her arm, and she almost jerked it away.

“You look beautiful.” He seemed like he might want to take her hand, so she quickly crossed her arms over her chest and started down the hallway.

They arrived at the ballroom, where the dinner was already in full swing. The hunters sat with the king, queen, and Jovita at the long table in front, and the dance floor was full of laughter and energy as people spun and swayed.

Em watched the hunters carefully as she walked with Cas to the table. She had rarely crossed paths with a hunter who didn't see the end of her sword, but a few had escaped her. She didn't recognize any of them, and it was unlikely they would have recognized her either. Not in this dress, with lipstick on and a prince on her arm.

Jovita introduced the four men as Em was seated with Cas on one side and a young hunter named Roland on the other. Roland
had only two pins on his jacket, and luckily seemed more interested in draining his wineglass as fast as possible than talking to her.

She took a few sips of her own wine, letting the liquid warm her veins and ignite a fire in her stomach. Aren stood at the far corner of the room, dressed in his Lera guard uniform. His expression was blank, but she knew it was only because he was struggling to keep his emotions under control. He could snap the necks of most of the royal family just by looking at them, and she was tempted to tell him to go for it.

“Cheer up, Roland,” one of the hunters—Willem, she thought—said, clapping the younger hunter on the back.

Roland tipped his wineglass back and wiped a hand across his mouth. “I'm cheerful on the inside.”

Em swallowed down her disgust for all of them and plastered a smile on her face. “How are things out there? The king said the Ruined are trying to cross into Olso?” It was the last thing she wanted to talk about, but it would be helpful to hear the hunters' perspective. Find out how much trouble the Ruined were in.

“We keep spotting them near the border,” Willem said. “Killed a couple before we heard from the king that he wanted one for questioning.”

“Most are evading us,” Roland muttered.

Willem gave him a sharp look. “We'll track them down eventually, Your Highness.”

“Are you going back soon?” she asked, hoping the answer was yes.

“We're off first thing tomorrow,” Willem said. He grabbed a chicken leg as a server put a plate in front of him. “Some of the guards are going to have to take over questioning that Ruined we captured.”

“Better them than us,” Roland muttered.

“You'll get used to it.” Willem chuckled, and Em glanced down at his rows of pins. Eleven—no, twelve. “I gave the guards a few pointers. Told them to take his whole hand next time, instead of another finger. They start figuring out how many fingers they can get by with, and cutting off a few doesn't have much of an effect. But taking a whole hand”—he lifted his fist and lowered it quickly, miming chopping off a hand—“that takes them by surprise. Creates real panic so he'll start talking.”

The room tilted, and she knew she was about to lose control.

No, not about to. It was gone.

“How lovely that you can talk so casually about torturing a fellow man,” she snapped. “You must be so proud of the trail of bodies you've left behind you.”

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Cas's head snap to her. Willem's smile faded, and Roland muttered something she couldn't understand, raising his glass in front of him.

She quickly stood, bile rising in her throat. She rushed away from the table so quickly she almost tripped over her dress. She had to hold the material away from her feet as she pushed open the ballroom doors.

“Mary!” Cas called from behind her. Footsteps pounded against the floor, and he was beside her, his fingers lightly
wrapping around her arm. “Please wait.”

Her eyes had filled with tears, but she stopped and turned to him anyway. His expression softened. “Are you all right? What did they say to you?”