Page 113 of Once Upon a Crown
“King Evrin died before he could discover what the third object was.”
I’d figured as much a long time ago.
“So, I started looking into Queen Riona. Based on the king’s writing and numerous other accounts of people who’d met her, it got me thinking about the kind of person she was.”
I stepped further into the room. “Elara told me that according to the king, she changed once she’d started adorning herself with the objects.”
“Exactly. But so did the king.” Rhen placed the satchel over his shoulder and started to clear the rest of the table. He had yet to put on his uniform.
“As the diary continued, his writing grew more paranoid and unhinged. As if the king were slowly losing his mental capabilities. He believed Queen Riona was keeping the third object close. But I realised it wouldn’t have made sense for her to keep the object hidden. It doesn’t fit her personality, not when she so openly carried the other two.”
It made sense, based on everything Elara had told me about what Rhen had uncovered thus far.
“You think she hid it in plain sight? Somewhere or something rather obvious.”
“Your Majesty.” Rhen cleared his throat. “I think I know what the third Myrgonite object is.”
Chapter 45
Elara
An icy wind swept across the valley like a whisper of warning.
War was coming.
In fact, it was already here. With thousands of Argonian soldiers camped out and ready to fight. One battle to end it all.
Frederick had been instructed to bind my hands behind my back before taking me to the caves. I nearly tripped over a rock trying to keep up with his brisk pace as he pulled me along.
“Apologies, Your Majesty, but we really mustn’t keep King Aries waiting.”
“You can tell your king—” I tried to blow a stray hair out of my face — “that if he wants me at a certain destination quickly, he will have to stop putting me in ridiculous shoes and clothes.”
Not only had Aries managed to kidnap me from the palace with relative ease, but he’d also had trunks of clothing and accessories brought from the nearest town. I had no doubt they were stolen, and I didn’t want to consider what the Argonians had done to the people they had taken them from. Most likely a noble family, if I had to guess by the quality of the dresses.
Of course, Aries took it as his opportunity to dress me in some of the finest clothes and jewellery, often placing me in the seat next to him as he made his plans, talked with his men and overlooked the camp. I knew he wanted to keep an eye on me. But this dressing up and parading me next to him was to show me off as a trophy. If I would not succumb and marry him, he would get every other possible use out of me.
Which was why Frederick and I were currently making our way to the Myrgonite mines.
When Aries had placed the map in front of me last night, I contemplated every possible way I could get out of it. But as westood in Aries’ tent, Cordelia was still bound and watching as I held her life in my hands.
I tried to lie at first, hoping it might send Aries and his men on a wild goose chase until I could figure out a way to free Cordelia. If only she managed to escape, that would be enough. But I was not the first person who had tried lying to the King of Argon, though I suspected most of my predecessors didn’t live to see the light of day after that.
I didn’t know how he knew, if it was my eyes or the tone of my voice that gave me away. I used to be a good liar. But there was too much at stake this time, and when Aries threatened Cordelia’s life again, I finally showed him where the Myrgonite mines were.
The best I could hope for was that this would distract him and his men until Cai and the Norrandish armies arrived, whatever men Cai had managed to gather. We would probably still be outnumbered, but at the very least it gave us a fighting chance.
Frederick led me down the path that I had ridden with Cai several months ago. How different things had been then. Before we knew what the Myrgonite objects were, before Thatcher had betrayed us and Cai was exiled. What I would have given to be back there now. When did things become so dire?
I struggled on after Frederick until we reached the entrance of the cave. Aries and a few of his men were already inside, torches lit, some of them gawking. Cordelia was there too. One of the men held her bound figure. Her eyes fell to mine. They were swollen from crying. She looked so tired and weak. What had they been doing to her? Where were they holding her? I wished I could knock Frederick out of the way, somehow free myself from the ropes that bound my own hands, and I would fight every one of those Argonian men if it meant I could set her free. She didn’tdeserve any of this. The love of her life had been murdered and now she was being held captive because of me.
Time. I needed more time.
“I knew you would be worth it somehow.” Aries’ silver eyes lingered on me, on my clothes, and I shuddered.
The cave loomed above us in all its glory, Myrgonite glinting in the light of their torches.
Aries ran his hand along one of the rocky walls, inspecting his new prize. This would make him richer than any of the other kings on the continent. And money had a power all of its own.
