Ruled by the Princess

Chapter 12

Chapter Twelve

The princess’s guards fell into line behind her, saying nothing, and Kit wanted to chastise them for also doing nothing. However, she was aware that the Commander of the Queen’s Guard had more authority than even her own commander, let alone the two guards who had gone along with her. If they truly had been needed, she thought they likely would’ve stepped in, but she didn’t know for certain. It made her question their loyalty more than she would have liked to admit.

So many thoughts stirred through her head, so many things she needed to speak to Cassius about. With her guards behind her, it was risky. She’d have to wait until they were somewhere more private.

The rage inside of her started to subside as she walked along, though she was still irate at discovering that nasty man with the horrendous scar had been the one to administer the strap to Eli. How had her beloved felt, standing there, taking so much pain from a man he could’ve bested if he’d wanted to? The humiliation was probably almost as horrific as the beating itself.

Cassius was walking so fast, Kit could hardly keep up. He realized that, once they were in the hall that led to her room, and slowed down to a more accommodating rate. He headed straight for his own chamber, which was closer, and Kit followed, wondering if she should send for anyone else. Since she didn’t want to let Eli know what she’d found out about Vin, she decided not to say anything at all to him yet. Besides, she still needed to think about what Ras had told her.

Sitting down in the same chair where they’d had a very different sort of encounter not that long ago, Cassius let out a deep breath. Kit sat across from him, trying to collect her thoughts before she spoke. He got his together first. “I’m sorry, Kit. I shouldn’t have overreacted like that. I almost gave him exactly what he wanted.”

“You don’t need to apologize, Cass. I wish you could’ve killed him right then and there. You do realize what that last remark meant, don’t you? He’s the one who... did that to Eli.”

“Yes, I know.”

Something about his tone made Kit think this wasn’t new information. “What do you mean?”

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Eli told me.”

Kit was shocked. “Why did he...?”

“I don’t know. He said it was Vin and another man. I think his name is Zet. Anyway, Vin has become your mother’s right hand man, and we need to steer clear of him until we know for certain the provinces are ready.”

“You said something earlier about thinking we need more time. What if we don’t have it?” She had been so close to bursting into a fit of rage earlier, one that could’ve been detrimental to their cause, to say the least.

He shook his head. “I need to speak to Eli and a few others. We have done our best to alert the provinces that the wick is lit. How prepared they are, I can’t say. In the areas where the army has more of a presence, there is a possibility the citizenry will struggle to take control. It all depends on how loyal the soldiers are to your mother.”

Kit inhaled sharply through her nose. It was all getting very real. The thought that people may die in their quest to make her queen might’ve been enough for her to concede defeat and acquiesce to her mother’s wishes, but thoughts of what Vin had said, and of Ras’s state, were enough to give her courage to press on.

“Ras said he’s seen troops moving carriages, heavily guarded, in the dead of night. Those must be the same transports Rosy was talking about, the ones that are delivered and picked up at that door no one is supposed to be using.”

“I imagine those are the payments your mother is making to the other realms.”

Frustrated, Kit growled and folded her arms. “If she’d pay her own troops a reasonable amount, perhaps we wouldn’t need to send all of our assets to other kingdoms.”

“Do you know what rooms are in that part of the castle? Can you remember?”

“Yes. There are several large rooms my father said were used for storage. We used to go to a small chapel back there when I was younger. He said he believed official records were kept there, but I suppose there could be room for the tariffs and taxes as well.”

“How long has it been since you’ve been down those halls?”

Kit had to stop and think for a moment. “Years. I remember visiting with my father. I must’ve been... ten?” She shook her head, trying to recall. Another image came to mind, one she’d stored away. c*****g her head to the side, Kit concentrated, trying to bring back the faded memory.

“What is it?”

“I think... I think there was another time I went there, to that part of the castle. I can see myself, in the dark, terrified, running from something... running to someone I had hoped would keep me safe. But it didn’t end up that way. Not at all....” Bits and pieces started to come back to her. A shudder went up her spine as she remembered how frightened she had been. But she couldn’t remember why.

“How old were you then?”

“Not very old. Maybe seven or eight. I was... scared of something silly. Yes, I remember I didn’t think it was silly at the time. I’d gotten out of bed in the middle of the night and took off, praying to every goddess I could think of. But when I got there... I was sent right back. Chastised and yelled at.”

“By who? Not your father?”

It all came back to Kit in a rush. She shot up out of her chair. “No! It was my mother!” Cassius raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Yes, I remember now! I was terrified of the storm. There was thunder and lightning as usual, but there was also wind and hail. I’d been sleeping by myself, away from my nurse, a new sleeping arrangement. I’d tried her room first, but she didn’t answer. So I ran to find my mother.” She shook her head at the uncomfortable feeling the memory brought back to her and slowly sank back to the edge of her chair.

“But why would you run that way if you were trying to find your mother? Evidently, you did reach her, or else you couldn’t remember being chastised by her.”

Kit knew exactly why she had gone that direction, but she realized now was not the time to tell Cassius, not when she had suddenly realized how Pierce was accessing the queen. If she told Cassius, he would prevent her from following through with the scheme that had just entered her mind. Instead, she thought of something else. “I suppose my mother must’ve been staying in that part of the castle for some reason. Perhaps her rooms were under construction or being remodeled.”

At first, she didn’t think he was buying her excuse. Cassius leaned his head to the side and stared at her but then slowly started to nod. “Well, at least you’ve remembered that there are storage rooms there. It will be important to know where she’s keeping the riches so if she tries to abscond with them, or someone else does, we can be prepared.”

“How will we do that exactly?” Kit asked. “I don’t know how many of us there are, but surely there are more guards and soldiers on my mother’s side than ours.”

“Likely,” he admitted. “For now. But once they see we’re winning....”

“Are those the sort we want on our side? Those too terrified to stand up for what they believe in if there’s a chance they might not win?”

“Kit, under the circumstances, I’ll take what we can get.”

A thousand thoughts flooded her mind. She needed to get some medicine and food together for Ras. The next time he came to the castle, she wanted him to leave with something for his wife and family. She also needed to speak to Danyen. And then there was the report for the council. She was fairly certain she had enough information to write it up now, even if most of the questions she’d asked Ras had nothing to do with her assignment.

“Kit, we have to buy a little more time.” Cassius reached out and took her hand. “I know it’s difficult for you to pretend that your mother’s words don’t bite, that your agenda is the same as hers. But we need at least a week, maybe more. There are others who will come to the castle when we call, if we figure out how to do so, but in the meantime, I’m not sure we have the numbers to successfully take her down.”

The feel of his rough fingers against her palm were soothing in a familiar way. It didn’t prevent Kit from having gruesome, vengeful thoughts. “What if we just eliminate her?”

“Now? I don’t think that is in our best interest, though I’d do it for you in a heartbeat if I thought it would meet our goals. We can’t turn her into a martyr.”

Kit nodded, feeling foolish that she’d just suggested they murder her mother. That’s not what she wanted. Hopefully, when this was all over, her mother would be alive. Locked in a tower perhaps, but not dead. There were many who thought Rona deserved it, but Kit shouldn’t be one of them—not even at her worst.

He pulled her over, and Kit leaned her head against his shoulder, feeling safe for the first time in a while, even though it was fleeting. He kissed her forehead. “Trust us, Kit. We’ll take care of you.”

She didn’t even know exactly who “we” were, but she nodded. “I will do my best, Cassius. But I’ve already sworn if anything else should happen to Eli, or anyone else that I love, for that matter, I will not be able to control myself.”

“Then let us all be on our best behavior.”

Kit forced a smile but imagined that would be difficult for everyone. She imagined, though, if Eli could stand there and let that bastard beat him, he had more self-control than she did. Deep down inside, Kit knew she’d be the one to bring it all to a head. She only prayed she’d be able to hold on to herself long enough for the people Cassius spoke of to get into position.

Rather than leaving Cassius’s room and heading straight for Danyen’s, Kit decided to go back to her own chambers. She needed to catch her breath. It was obvious to her now how Pierce was getting to the queen, and she felt like a simpleton for not thinking of it earlier.

All three of her ladies were in her chambers when she arrived. She sent Seph to gather the items she wanted to put together for Ras and sat down at her desk to begin writing her report for the council. If she had any idea who among its members were with her, she might’ve included more of what Rosy and Ras had told her, but she left it general and non-incriminating. If her mother asked to see it, she needed to ensure it wouldn’t get any of her allies thrown in the dungeon.

Writing helped calm her. When she was finished, she felt she was ready to speak to Danyen. She sent Isla off with the report to turn in to the council and asked Avinia to go and fetch the Representative from Farlington.

Avinia knew better than to stay once Danyen was in the room. He greeted Kit with a kiss and then took the seat she offered, one of the straight backed chairs that sat around her writing table. She’d stacked up all of her notes and put them in her desk and put the ink away, but she felt this was the best place to hold a serious discussion. Anywhere else, and the handsome man before her might be too distracting.

“How was your trip to the kitchen?” He reached for her hand, and she gave it to him, resting it on the table between them.

“Enlightening,” Kit replied. “I know how he’s doing it.” Danyen raised an eyebrow but said nothing, so Kit continued. “You must promise not to say anything to anyone. If Eli, Cassius, even Avinia, find out what I’m up to, they will squash my plans like a bug.”

“Then perhaps I should do so as well.”

“No, Dan, listen. There’s a passage back there. A long, dark tunnel that leads through the walls to my mother’s chambers. I remember her showing me once when I was quite small and telling me it was only for emergencies. I used it once, and she put the fear of the goddesses in me. I believe... I don’t think she was alone at the time, and I don’t think she wanted me to see who she was with.” It was no secret to Kit that her mother had been unfaithful to her father, despite the law that says a woman may have as many partners as she’d like before marriage but not after. And once a noblewoman made her choice, she was never to have a different pleasuring partner. Her mother had broken that law for certain.

“I see. So Pierce is using a secret passage to meet with her?”

“I’m sure he is. The only question is why. Is she giving him insider information on a daily basis? Or does she just enjoy his company?”

Danyen smirked. “I can’t imagine anyone enjoying Pierce’s company, but then, if I’m honest, the queen isn’t exactly delightful either.”

Kit laughed despite herself. “No, she is not. Perhaps they are scheming together, trying to come up with more ways to sabotage the men I do care about so that Pierce will be the last one standing.”

“That’s a possibility.” He gave her a small, crooked smile full of sympathy. “What do you intend to do?”

“I intend to follow him. I need to see him meeting with her to be sure.”

“I was afraid you might say that. Kit, I don’t think that’s a good idea at all. It’s quite dangerous, especially with that beast, Vin, lurking about.” She wondered if Cassius had told him of their encounter in the kitchen or if this was just an observation. “Perhaps you should let me.”

“I do appreciate your concern, Dan, but trust me. I need to do this for myself. I need to see them with my own eyes.”

“And then what?”

Kit dropped her head and breathed deeply. “I don’t know, not really. I suppose I’ll have to confront him about it. Or find reason to cut him.”

“She will never allow it, and he will never admit to anything.”

“You may be right, but it still must be done. Dan, I’ve never asked about your mother before. Forgive me. But tell me, do you have a good relationship with her? Does she care for you? Love you?”

“Yes, Kit. My mother is one of my best friends and possibly the proudest of me for all of my accomplishments, particularly the fact that I’m here.” She could tell by his expression he understood why she had asked.

Still, she said, “Then you cannot know how it feels to understand that your mother is trying to ruin your life.”

“No, you’re right, I can’t. I am just afraid she might find reason to end it, Kit.”

“That won’t happen.” She squeezed his hand and morphed her face into a confident grin, but on the inside, she took note that she had no idea exactly what Rona was capable of.

“I will do whatever I can to help you, Kit. But you must be certain it's safe. Otherwise, I’ll have to let the others know.”

“I won’t do it right away. There’s the ball tomorrow night. I think it best if we let it lie for a few days, let the situation with Eli and the fact that I was visiting the kitchen and speaking to one of the delivery drivers today dissipate. My mother may assume I was up to something. I suppose you know we ran into Vin?”

“Cassius mentioned it to a few of us, yes. His head was cooler than mine would’ve been.”

She laughed. “Did he tell you he almost gave the man a second scar?”

“He did. It’s the almost that would’ve been different had I been there.”

Her smile was genuine now. “Come now, Dan. I’m sure you’re better at controlling your emotions than all that.”

“Generally speaking, yes. But not when someone insults my princess.”

His words brought heat to her cheeks. Kit had no intention of letting her amorous feelings distract her from the important tasks she had lined up for the day. She still had to figure out how best to sneak down the hall in the middle of the night and access the tunnel undetected. Still, when he grinned at her the way he was now, she couldn’t help but feel a flicker of heat rise up to her core.

Danyen felt it, too. He leaned over and pressed his lips against hers, softly, gently. They lingered for a moment, and Kit felt her heart flutter. When he pulled away, she wanted to take hold of him and drag him into the adjoining room.

But she didn’t. There was a time for everything, and now was time for a different sort of action altogether.

“We will speak on it again soon,” she assured him. Danyen nodded and stood. Once he reached the door, he glanced back over his shoulder, the look of longing in his eyes matching the feeling in her heart, but Kit was relieved when he closed the door behind him. Now was not the time for distraction, no matter how enticing the distraction might be.