Page 117 of The War and Deceit Series omnibus

All of a sudden, the queen seems to realise what she’s doing, her chest heaving with her anger. Taking a deep breath, she briefly closes her eyes, a crease appearing in her brow as she concentrates. When they open again, they are calmer, calculating, as she regains her regal mask.

“Very well,” she agrees, moving as if to step away, but she turns to look at me one last time, a shudder taking over her as her look of disgust returns. “I want her locked up in the meantime. Humans are dangerous.”

Spinning away, she begins her climb back up the stairs to the castle entrance, her ladies in waiting and advisors following behind her, but one remains. The younger elf who shares some sort of relation to the queen. He’s watching me with a hungry look in his eyes, except he’s not looking at my body, but my still faintly glowing Goddess mark.

Two palace guards approach me and take me from Elier, leading me away and around the side of the castle, but I can still feel his eyes on me as I go.

The guards take me past the front of the castle, their hands gripping the top of my arms as they hurry me away. If it was different circumstances, I would be admiring how beautiful this place is, especially the crystal clear river that tunnels through the rock under the castle. I’m pretty sure I can hear the ocean on the other side of the castle, and I hope I’ll have the opportunity to see it, but that is something that will have to wait.

Back in Arhaven, I’d been taken to Vaeril’s underground prison, but I was lucky never to visit the castle dungeons. I heard terrible stories about what used to happen to those who were unfortunate or evil enough to end up there. My mind is whirring with possibilities of what might happen to me here. I’m theirenemy, and the queen is just barely tolerating my presence, but I have no doubt that if I cause even the slightest problem, she will order my execution. Based on how furious she was just now, she might just save everyone the trouble and kill me herself.

We round the castle and enter through a gate where the carriages must come through. I see the stable off to the right where the horses from our ride today are being led to be brushed and fed. Elier follows behind, leading his horse towards the stables, and looks up at me as we part way, his lips twitching into a ghost of a smile as he meets my gaze.

Maybe I did make a friend after all.

Returning the smile, I turn to face the way we’re going, the last thing I need is to trip because I’m not paying attention. My stomach is a knot of worry and I’m trying to keep my breathing even.

We reach a large, wooden door built into the back end of the castle where two elves are standing guard, but when they see us, they pull open the heavy door, allowing us entry. As soon as we step inside, the door shuts behind us with a thud, and darkness envelops us as the sunlight is cut off. It takes a couple of seconds for my eyes to adjust, and I have to take a few deep breaths to calm my racing heart. Thankfully, the guards give me time to adjust before moving on. They’re certainly treating me better than any of the guards back in Arhaven, but my mind is making up all sorts of terrifying scenarios.

Now that my eyes have adjusted, I can see we’re in a long, dark corridor, but I see light at the end of it, which, thankfully, is the direction we’re heading. There are a couple of thick metal doors with a tiny barred hole at the top, but we just keep walking.

“Is it true you helped rescue Lord Vaeril?” the guard on my left inquires, his voice quiet, like he doesn’t want to beoverheard, but he doesn’t sound disbelieving. Me, however, I have to stop my jaw from falling open.

Lord? Vaeril is a lord? He never told me that,I practically shout in my mind. That could have been a helpful fact to know before I dragged his lifeless body straight to his queen. Of course Vaeril wasn’t just any elf.

“Yes, we worked together to escape,” I finally respond, pleased that I manage to keep my voice even and devoid of the surprise I’m feeling.

The guard on my right snorts in disbelief. “But she’s a human! How would she be able to help him escape?”

“You saw her arm glowing, she is no normal human,” the first guard retorts.

The farther down the corridor we go, the lighter it gets, and I can see why. The cells have gotten bigger, and the bars on the door are floor-to-ceiling, with a little window in the far wall that lets in a small amount of sunlight.

“I guess,” the sceptical guard mutters with a huff.

“All I know is that he’s been missing for a century. He couldn’t do it alone or he would’ve already. She helped him,” the kind guard on my left counters defensively, and he’s right. I can feel their eyes on me now, wondering how a human helped an elf escape. I’m suddenly pulled to a stop, and the guard on my right tugs open the barred door to an empty cell.

The kind guard steps in front of me, waiting for me to lift my head and meet his gaze. “We won’t forget your actions. You will be safe here,” he promises, and I breathe a sigh of relief, screwing my eyes shut for a second.

I want to hug him.I don’t know where that thought comes from. I usually avoid physical contact, which is something I’m working on, but I also know that won’t be appreciated by the guard.

“Unless the queen says otherwise.” There’s a heavy pause after the second guard speaks. We all saw how furious the queen was when she saw me, but I just have to hope that Vaeril wakes up and can explain what happened.

One of the guard’s coughs and gestures for me to enter the cell, which I do, flinching at the sound of the door locking behind me.

“I’ll get you a blanket and some food. I won’t be long,” the kind guard calls out, and I turn to smile at him. I’m sure I look a state, and given the sympathetic expression he’s giving me, I know I’m right.

The guards turn and walk away, leaving me alone with my thoughts. Suddenly, I feel claustrophobic, my chest tight as I look around the small cell. Three of the walls are made of stone and brick, and then the cell door is made of metal bars. There’s a bench across the back wall and I hurry to it, climbing to stand on top so I can look out the window, gasping for fresh air. The smell of salt and the sea immediately greet my senses and help calm me.

So, I stay there, standing on my bench as I watch the sun begin to set. I should be worrying about my future, but instead my thoughts are on my injured elf.

Being locked up gives you a lot of time to think. In fact, that’s the only thing I can do besides stare out the window at the ocean. I’d done exactly that until the sun had set and I couldn’t see any longer. The kind guard, who I’ve since learned is called Kaelir, returned with food, a blanket, and clothes for me last night. He even tried to make conversation with me for a bit, but it was just awkward, and he eventually made his excuses and left.

Reaching for the blanket, I pull it around my shoulders. I don’t know what’s going to happen now, I’m not even sure what the time is, but the sun is high in the sky so I’m assuming it’s around midday. I spent a lot of time thinking about Vaeril, Tor, and Grayson, and the link I have with the three of them. I miss them, each for different reasons. I miss Grayson for the safety he offers and his encouragement and endless possibilities for my future. I don’t know Tor well yet, but he brings out a part of me I didn’t know I had, the strong side of myself that’s been buried under years of slavery and beatings. Vaeril, he offers meadventure and growth, pushing me to become the person he knows I can be.

Wilson, Jacob, Aileen, and Jayne enter my thoughts too. I’m sad I had to leave them, but I’m sure they’re safer without me there.

Light enters the hallway as the door opens, slamming shut behind whoever just entered. As the sound of booted feet comes closer, I stand, making my way to the bars. Kaelir comes into view and I try not to let my disappointment show as he walks up to my cell. I’m pleased to see a friendly face, but I’ve been waiting to see Vaeril. He should have healed by now, so why isn’t he here?

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