Page 86 of Enchanted Kingdom
I gave him a nod. Stall. All I had to do was stall. I could do that. I could face our cruel king and survive for a few minutes, right?
Right?
The good news was that we had a tremendously long walk across the castle grounds. The bad news was that it made my level of nervousness reach new heights. There was too much time to think of all the ways the king could hurt me without the use of magic.
“Breathe, please,” Owen reminded.
I did as he instructed.
“I’ll be less friendly around his guards,” he added. “Just so you know.”
I gave him a nod, knowing that he had to be on his best guard behavior. Just like I would have to be on my best stupid and loyal subject behavior.
I realized from a peek out a window we passed at the end of the hallway, we were moving toward the mountain side, going farther and farther into the castle.
Remembering what Owen said about a jail of sorts being within the mountain itself, I fought a shiver. The whole mood of the castle was slowly changing. There weren’t as many windows, so thus the hallways were darker, but so was the décor. There were no flowery patterns or rugs. There was no joy. It was a dull and lifeless expanse of grays and blacks with low lighting. The mountain itself was more alive than this portion of the castle and it was a good ten degrees colder than my room too.
We came to two double doors. I had been freaking out so much, I hadn’t even thought to ask Owen if we were going to the king’s actual chambers or one of his receiving rooms, which I was sure there were many of.
I just hoped and prayed to any and all gods that there was not a bedroom on the other side of these doors.
The doors opened silently and smoothly. And there he was, the king.
Owen and I stepped into the room, Owen heading to the side of the doors to stand watch.
“There you are,” the king said with a smile that scared me.
The only weapon I could visibly see on his person was the sword which always rested at his waist. But that didn’t mean more weapons weren’t hiding under his black velvet tailcoat or in his boot. “Your Grace,” I bowed. “Good morning. Thank you for inviting me to luncheon with you.”
He walked toward me, and I wondered for a moment if my disgust for him wasn’t hidden from my tone enough. Or if it ever even could be.
He reached out like he was going to hand me something.
I put a hand out to accept it, and found it to be a deck of cards. So he did know about playing in secret with the women. Was that what this was about?
“I was feeling the need for a challenge,” the king laughed. “So while we wait for lunch, come play a hand or two with me.”
He wanted to play cards with me?This was a trap. I’d known this was a trap from the moment I learned of this meeting, but I was just trying to figure out how much of one, and how to get myself out of it, out of his snare.
“Can you shuffle?” he asked as he sat himself at a small table in the corner of the room.
I looked for windows, exits, anyway I could escape should I need to. “I can, yes, Your Grace.” I paused. “Are you sure? I thought you didn’t wish the women to be playing cards?”
He swatted at the air. “Well, yes. I don’t think you all need to be sitting around playing cards the whole time, but I also did hear that you specifically were adept at them.”
I shrugged. “I do okay, Your Grace.”
He smiled, what may have been his first real smile. “Then let’s find out. I haven’t had a good challenge in a long, long time.”
Were we still talking about cards?
My eyes went to Owen’s, as if asking for him to tell me how to get myself out of this.
“Raikes,” the king barked. “Would you go grab Benton and tell him I’d like to see him after lunch?”
That wasn’t at all Owen’s job, to fetch people for the king, but I was pretty sure the king was just trying to get rid of him.
“Yes, My King.” Owen gave me a look as if trying to channel me luck or warning me to be safe or something.
