Page 3 of Sword of Rage
“What’s the meaning of this?” King Coden demanded, his face turning red, furious at the untimely interruption.
The dozen or so men remained towering in the doorways, effectively blocking all exits. Like ocean water returning from the shore to the sea, the guests parted, an aisle forming in the middle of the hall. Three men strode toward the dais with lethal intensity. These foreigners were wolves in a room filled with bunnies.
Harley wondered where Melenia’s guards were and why they hadn’t they stopped these men from interrupting Oriana’s party. Cold terror slid down her spine as she recalled Lyle saying that a significant number of the king’s soldiers were gone.
Hollis leaned closer to her. “Hide,” he whispered, his urgent voice leaving no room for arguing.
Shaking, Harley inched backward, easing off the dais, doing as Hollis commanded even though her mind screamed that this could not be happening. Surely her uncle would stop these men. He’d have them all arrested for their insolence. After setting her goblet on a tray held by a wide-eyed servant, she crept toward the nearest pillar. She forced herself to move slowly while still facing the crowd to avoid standing out.
Hollis remained on the dais with the royal family, angling his body to block her from sight. Scanning the faces of those in the great hall, Harley still didn’t see a single Melenia soldier. At the pillar, she paused, watching the scene unfold before her. When the three foreigners reached the dais, the one in the middle stepped forward.
Her uncle shook his head. “I should have known King Drenton of Russek would be behind something like this. What does your father want, Prince Kerdan?” He practically spit the words out, each one laced with venom.
The man who’d stepped forward to address her uncle towered over everyone in the room. His wide shoulders gave way to heavily muscled arms pulling the fabric of his shirt taut. This man had to be a soldier, fighter, or killer. Not a prince. No crown adorned his head to indicate his position. His brown hair hung loose around his face. While Harley had heard rumors Russek’s warriors sported black war tattoos, she’d never understood what people meant until now. Black swirls, as if someone had taken a paint brush, covered the man’s cheeks and forehead, making him appear more animal than human. The thick furs draped over his shoulders only enhanced the image. Harley shivered.
“We are in need of soldiers,” Kerdan stated, his voice thick as it rumbled through the hall. “I’ve been sent to acquire men.”
“You won’t get mine,” the king spat. “I already told your father I won’t align with Russek against Emperion.” He took a step down off the dais and approached the warrior prince.
Harley used the opportunity to move closer to the curtain behind the pillar. As she slid back a step, Kerdan’s eyes locked with hers, momentarily freezing her in place, before his attention returned to the king. “No one has to get hurt,” Kerdan said. “I have the castle surrounded. You’re vastly outnumbered.” The king opened his mouth to respond, but Kerdan held up his hand, silencing him. “Cooperate and no harm will come to your loved ones.”
Sweat beaded on Harley’s forehead as the situation intensified. She glanced at her family. Queen Martie clung to Princess Oriana. Prince Oliver stood at the king’s shoulder, his hand on the hilt of his sword. Prince Oakley and Hollis moved in front of the queen and princess, as if trying to shield them.
“This is my daughter’s birthday celebration,” the king seethed.
“Then I suggest you comply so she makes it to her next birthday.” Kerdan withdrew his sword, the sound of steel slicing through the air.
Harley jerked as if the sword had cut her arm, a deep foreboding snaking through her. She needed to escape from the great hall and light the warning signal so soldiers from the neighboring towns could come to their aid.
Taking slow, measured steps, she finally reached the curtain off to the side of the dais. After a quick glance to make sure no one nearby watched her, she stepped behind it. A two-foot space separated the thick, heavy curtain from the wall. She’d done this so many times playing hide and seek as a child, that it came naturally to her. The fabric wouldn’t sway unless she pushed against it. Regardless, she couldn’t remain there. Her hands fumbled over the wooden wall until she felt the small latch, a little lower than she remembered. Pressing on it, a soft click sounded. Harley prayed the hinges wouldn’t squeak as she pushed the door open and stepped into the secret passageway made for an event such as this. After shutting the door, she pressed her ear against the wood, trying to hear what was being said in the great hall.
“Take the six members of the royal family to the dungeon,” Kerdan ordered. “Everyone else will remain in here. Seal the room.”
Panic flooded Harley. Kerdan must have mistaken Hollis for Owen. Would either the king or queen correct him? Or—Harley swallowed the lump forming in her throat—had Hollis willingly taken Owen’s place in order to keep the prince safe?
Several people screamed, and shuffling noises came from the other side of the door. Harley took a step back, hitting the wall. This could not be happening. It felt as if the floor beneath her feet tilted and the walls spun.
Standing there like a frightened cat would not help those she loved. Pushing off the wall, she felt around until her hand came across an unlit torch hanging on the wall. Lifting it, she shoved her hand into the iron holder, grabbing the lighter. It took her several tries before it finally lit. Tears streamed down her cheeks. Hollis had forced her to learn how to do this when she was only eight years old. At the time, she thought it ridiculous torture. Now she understood the necessity.
The turret was at the west end of the castle. With the torch at her side, she traversed through the passageways, being sure to keep the flames as far from her hair and dress as possible. There were two ways to reach the top of the turret where the warning signal was located. Harley could either climb the ladder accessible from the secret passageways, which seemed difficult in a dress, or she could enter the main portion of the castle and use the servants’ stairwell, which seemed the safer and quicker option.
When she came to the door closest to the stairwell, she pressed her ear against it, listening. Most exits were located behind large pictures or curtains, so when opened, no one would see. Playing hide and seek here as a child had been an all-day event. And even then, sometimes the cousins still couldn’t find one another. She never thought a child’s game would one day be vital to the survival of the royal family.
Not hearing any noise, she placed the lit torch in a holder on the wall. She pulled the door open and slid out behind the curtain, being careful not to ruffle it too much in case someone lurked nearby. She was just about to take a step when footsteps came from the corridor to her right. Afraid to move and accidentally shift the curtain, she froze. Pinching her lips together, she breathed slowly and waited, trying not to shake from fright. This was just another game of hide and seek.
“I understand your concerns,” a male voice said softly.
“I don’t think you do,” another male voice hissed. “Things have already deviated too far from the plan. Why is the royal family in the dungeon? They are supposed to be dead.”
“That’s because my stepbrother, Kerdan, is in charge.”
“Why is he here?” the man whispered.
“His father asked him to plan this entire invasion. But don’t worry, come morning, everything will be as it should and Kerdan will be dead. Once he’s out of the way, no one will stop you from executing the royal family.”
Harley
Harley started violently shaking.Executed. This man wanted her uncle, aunt, and cousins dead. Since Hollis was in the dungeon in Owen’s place, he would be killed as well. She had to do something to prevent her family from being murdered.
