Page 37 of Ruby & Onyx

Chapter 15

It hadn’t occurred to me that they might be here tonight. I know of their connection to the king and queen, given that they rule Carcera under the Delusian flag, but the idea that I would have to face them again never crossed my mind.

Resentment that I had yet to acknowledge bubbles in my chest. For twenty years, they imprisoned me within Carcera, never giving any indication that another life might be waiting for me. They hid magic from me and from everyone in Carcera. They fed me lies about my allowance, forcing me to live in constant fear of the funds running dry and feeling guilty all the while. That last conversation that we had makes sense now. They weren’t being kind to me because they cared for my well-being. They wanted to convince me that they gave a damn the whole time so that they might gain the favor of the king.

And yet, despite this festering hostility toward them, they are still one of the only things that connects me to my previous life. The life that once included my mother and father.

Mustn’t that lend them some degree of forgiveness? How can I reconcile all of this history?

Lord Myles speaks first, breaking the dagger-like eye contact as he steps in front of me. “It’s nice to see you looking well, Radya.” He pulls at the waistband of his trousers, adjusting them to sit above the widest part of his belly.

I polish off my wine and then scan the room for its replacement. Unfortunately, I see no servers at the moment, no hope for bubbly reprieve. “Lord Myles, Lady Lora. Nice to see you. I would introduce you to Prince Allwyn, but I assume that you’re already acquainted.”

Olly’s lips tug upward slightly at the use of his title, and I immediately regret using it.

“Your Highness, it’s wonderful to see you again.” Lady Lora dips into a curtsy while her husband bows beside her. It’s unusual to see them being subservient to another. In Carcera, we bow to them.

“How are you getting on here?” Lord Myles’ lips slide into that same smarmy grin that I remember. Perhaps that particular habit is reflective of his true character and not some sycophantic show.

But his words cut through me, sawing at my patience. “How am I getting on here? You’re joking, right?”

Both Lord Myles and Lady Lora freeze, while Olly looks vaguely amused. Lord Myles starts to say something but quickly snaps his mouth shut.

I want to tell them about how it hurts to know that they shrouded me in lies and offered me to the king and queen like a sacrificial lamb. That the magic they created to protect us stole the life from me. That I’m terrified that I traded one cage for another. And, more than anything, I don’t know what to think or what to do. I’m confused and angry and afraid.

But I don’t say any of that. Instead, I shake it off. Or at least, I try to, if only I could stop my foot from nervously tapping. “It doesn’t matter.”

“How are things back in Carcera?” Olly asks, doing his best to diffuse the tension.

“All is well, of course. We have everything under control, Your Highness.” He nervously begins to inspect his hands as if seeing them for the first time. “Though, there was a recent encounter that you might find of interest, Radya. Remember the men that you saw on the other side of the barrier?”

“Of course.” I hold my breath.

“They found a way to pierce through the barrier shortly after you left. We found them ransacking your cottage.” He pulls a handkerchief from his pocket and wipes it across his damp brow.

“What? How? You assured me that the barrier was impenetrable.” My worst nightmare might be coming true. If they were trying to attack Carcera, did I somehow help? And if they were found ransacking my cottage, then perhaps they knew of my supposed gift. Were they after me all along?

“They found a magical loophole, of sorts. By burning one of the trees that binds the enchantment together, they were able to slip through the veil. Don’t worry, once we became aware of the breach, we swiftly fixed and improved it. The barrier stands strong once again,” he assures me.

When the invisibles first appeared, I saw flames outside my window. Was that them? Could they have been that close?

“Why replace it? It’s my understanding that the barrier was created because of me, and I am no longer there. So of what use is it now that I’m gone?” Unless it serves some other purpose that I am unaware of, that is. I am only just beginning to unweave the fabric of lies blanketing my existence. Who knows what else they hid from me?

The stout lord’s thumbs look like they’re in battle with each other. “Yes, that may have been its original intent, but its purpose evolved. The people grew to appreciate its protection. They rely on its power to keep them safe. It grants them a sense of security that few other villages experience. And with the growing threat from the west, it will be our primary defense.”

“What threat is that?” I snap a little too harshly. I am not in the mood for any more veiled language.

“We believe that King Caelis plans to resume the fight for the continent,” Lady Lora explains.

Lord Myles leans in closer and speaks quietly as if he’s afraid of being overheard. “Yes, we suspect that King Caelis sent those men to Carcera. The guards are interrogating them as we speak. Though, as of this afternoon, they remain silent.”

It feels like the air was sucked out of the room in one fell swoop. “If the goal was to start a war, then why would they ransack my cottage? What could they possibly hope to gain?”

War.

The mere thought of it makes my head spin.

“You mean many things to the Mad King. You are both the future Queen of Mendacia and a gift of the gods. Therefore, you may be a threat..” Olly widens his stance and puffs his chest, a touch protective. “But he will not reach you here. You have my word.”

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