The Royals

Chapter 39

Maarcus hung from the wrist-irons. Delirious, he yelled out now and again. Each time he did so, Lyam or Ivan stepped inside his cell and landed a body blow. He had no strength to protect himself.

A third man entered. He released the Shoreman's irons and gently lowered him to the ground where he coaxed Maarcus to drink. It made no sense to Kate until she realized the fluid was drugged. Hadrian was too much of a coward. He wouldn't hesitate to persecute the weak or defenseless, but he would not risk letting Maarcus come fully awake.

She spat on the ground. 'That's for you, Hadrian. You and your cowardice!'

To Kate's surprise Maarcus seemed to revive after the man left. 'We must stop meeting in such grisly places,' he joked through his pain.

'I'm doing my best,' Kate answered, and bit her lip to keep from crying.

'Not the elfwitch then?' Maarcus asked.

'Not yet anyway."

'Quiet!' shouted their jailor. "You been behavin' this long. You can manage a mite longer.'

Kate gripped the bars of her cell. First she would bend the bars and then she'd rip the man limb from limb.

'Easy,' he whispered. 'We'll be okay.'

She stared at Maarcus. It was just too much, seeing him this way after Hadrian's attempt to force himself on her. To her this was anguish, plain and simple, and she didn't take kindly to it.

Kate would make them pay, oh how she'd make them pay.

'Who?' Maarcus mouthed.

'None of that either,' bellowed Ivan inches from Kate's ear. 'I'll be nice and give you a hint, Sir Maarcus the Seventh. Each part of the Shoreman's title was spoken with growing sarcasm. 'Let's see. Who's the rightful heir to the throne? Can't be you, Princess Kate. Can't be him. He's not even close.' He pointed at each one in turn. "Can't be that half-son of a man, Henry.'

'Hadrian!' Maarcus hissed. 'How dare he?"

'Oh, I see you know of him.'

Kate snuck a glance at Maarcus. 'But I thought-the princess started, unable to contain herself.

'Thought they were all dead,' Ivan finished for her.

'The rest of 'em are. All but Hadrian. He's a lot smarter than he lets on.'

Unlike a certain cretin, Kate thought. No she hadn't thought they were all dead. She'd been well briefed on Prince Hadrian. But the senior Maarcus and Abadan had seemed quite sure he held no interest in the throne. Perhaps he's only feigned lack of interest in order to keep his head, she thought, not that she could entirely blame him on that count. Regardless, he'd clearly made a change in his plans.

'Why, princess,' said Ivan in mock surprise. "Where's your cuff? The prince will be most displeased with me.' He spun on his heel and returned in moments with chain and ankle-cuffs. He held them up, considering the bonds and the prisoners. 'I guess this can wait until Lyam comes with your grub.'

They were generous at first, fastening only one foot to the wall and leaving that loose enough to slip out of if she wished. She gathered up the chain and looked at it. It seemed to be ordinary metal links without any additional magic surrounding it. She let the chain play out as far as it would allow while examining her quarters. She could reach the barred door on the far side of the post securing her, and all but one corner closest to Maarcus.

She studied the farthest corner. The bricks seemed to match the rest of the wall. The bars seemed identical to their kind as well. Still she sensed something wrong. Kate pulled the chain as far as she could.

And felt the trap.

If curiosity compelled her to find out what lay hidden in the one unreachable corner or if fear for Maarcus drove her to him, she would then have to slip completely free of the bond. But if she did so, she would surely set off some sort of alarm somewhere.

Kate backed away from the f*******n spot and immedi ately felt the coercion weaken. Fine, Kate thought, two can play this game. She looked down at Maarcus to explain the snare, but he'd passed out again.

She was almost insulted that they felt she could be so easily duped, before it set her mind to thinking. What would have been the consequences, and why did they bother trying to trick her when she was already at their mercy? Was detecting the bait as bad as not? Either way, they would know something about her she didn't want them to know.

Why would Prince Hadrian care if she could detect magic when she didn't know how to use it against him?

Unless he had joined the elfwitch.

Full dark and a moonless night reigned over the city when Prince Henry returned with one nearly dead horse and one much too lively companion. Weary and sick at heart, he felt grateful no one had waited up to pass on the word of their failure. They dismounted and headed toward the guard tower.

His guide-captor put a hand on Henry' arm. 'Wait, I know another, better way in,' the soldier said quietly.

'Where I'll be gutted and robbed. No, thank you.

'You do me a disservice, sire. 'Sides, I could've done that hours ago,' he whispered in his ear. 'Listen now. Why rush to proclaim your disaster? It will be just ugly by daylight but less horrifying for others. Let them have one last night of peace.'

'If there's one man, woman or child who sleeps well tonight, then such a person has no soul. No, I will wake the guard and face this as a prince and a man.' He took a step forward.

'Hasn't it struck you that they already know? News of misfortune travels faster than a dragon. Per' aps they're hiding.'

The man was right. They must know by now. Henry spoke over his shoulder. Perhaps they are mourning.' The horse whinnied. 'In any event, all the more reason to formally announce my return.'

'Suit yourself, Sir Prince. I'll just wait back here.'

'I thought you sought a room for the night.'

'That's as may be, but I don't think I'd want it known that I saved your life until their ire is worn down. I like my skin where it is.'

Prince Henry rubbed the sides of his horse's face and considered. No question the man was a brigand, but he was also a survivor. Perhaps the prince would do better not to leave his life so throughly in the hands of the Seven while it was still deepdark. Henry could assemble the bereaved in the morning and likely few would genuinely mind. 'All right,' he said. 'We'll do it your way."

'You'll thank me later.'

I doubt it, Henry thought. Nonetheless, he allowed the man to lead him around to one of the many places where the city wall had collapsed from age and war fare. They picked their way through the rubble and came out very near the palace. Too near. 'I need to get someone over here to mend this,' Henry mum bled.

'What's that, Sir Prince?'

'Nothing important.'

He looked at Henry a long moment, measuring. 'You'll give me safe passage into the castle, of course.' 'I give you my word.'

'You'll give more than that if you betray me,' the man said.

What am I doing with this disreputable cretin? Henry asked himself yet again. 'I insist we enter the castle by way of more traditional doors.

' The man smiled. 'I wouldn't have it any other way.'

Henry left him to his smug expression. He thinks being seen with me grants him higher regard among my men. He doesn't realize that most of my reliable troops just died in battle.

The prince led the final steps to the guard's checkpoint. He nodded to the chief sentry. 'We're home. Alert Sir Maarcus and Master Abadan. I'll be in my study.'

'Yes, sire.'

'I'm impressed, Sir Prince. You've got them trained so well they didn't even question your failure.'

The man was baiting him. Henry counted slowly backward from seven. He had to repeat the routine several times before he could walk beside the self-proclaimed soldier without the distraction of inventing various clever means to kill him.

Henry's attendant caught up with him not far from his study. 'Take this man to the east wing,' the prince said, 'and show him every comfort. He is my per sonal guest.'

The attendant nodded. He did not need to comment on the prince's unusual phrasing or the fact that he never had personal guests. He led the man away and would post a discreet guard to observe him while he saw to the man's more ordinary needs.

There's one rat caged for the next few hours, Henry thought. I don't want to be disturbed,' Henry told the guard outside his office.

Holding his characteristic brandy, Abadan waited inside with his back to the fireplace. Walther was crouched trying to stir warmth out of the dead flames. '

Never mind that, Walther. We haven't enough wood to make it worth the trouble. Come sit, both of you. The three settled into chairs arranged to take advantage of the now cold fire.

Where's the physician?'

'He's not well, Henry.

" Hasn't been for months. Is he worse?'

I'd say so, yes,' Abadan answered. 'It didn't seem worth disturbing him since he seems to have forgotten who you are."

Henry winced, thinking of their last meeting. 'He needs an attendant.'

'Harmon is with him.'