Page 5 of Sword of Rage
“In here.” The man led her into the kitchen where a dozen men sat around a rectangular table, talking with one another as they shoveled food in their mouths. All of them had large, squared shoulders with furs draped over them, confirming Harley had just walked into a room full of enemy soldiers. The man escorting her shoved her forward, and she stumbled.
All twelve men turned to scrutinize her. “Who’s this?” asked one of the soldiers toward the middle of the table.
Harley recognized him as Prince Kerdan. She tried to find her voice to respond; however, no words came out.
“I found her in the turret,” the man behind her announced. “She lit the signal fire.”
“Why did you bring her here?” Kerdan inquired, setting his spoon down.
“She has information for you.”
Kerdan took a drink from his cup, then stood and approached Harley, his eyes scanning her from head to toe, assessing her.
She craned her head up, forcing herself to meet his eyes. “Prince Kerdan.” Her voice came out shaky. She imagined her mother scolding her for being frightened before a group of brute soldiers. Clutching her hands together, she tried to keep her chin high, summoning her inner strength. In order to save her brother, she needed to convince Kerdan to let him go.
“You were on the dais with the royal family.” He folded his arms, tilting his head to the side as he continued to observe her. “Are you related to them? Or perhaps you are engaged to one of the princes?”
She didn’t want to reveal her relationship to the royal family quite yet, so she refused to answer.
“How’d you escape from the great hall?” he asked, his voice curious and not threatening as she’d anticipated.
Of course, that could be a ploy to lure her in to trusting him. She considered lying but decided against it because she didn’t have much time. “The secret passageways.” Since the man had found her at the bottom of the turret, the passageways must have been discovered. She felt better revealing information they’d already ascertained.
Kerdan considered her. “What’s your name?”
“It’s not important.” Not that he would recognize her name anyway since her mother was related to the queen, not the king.
The corners of his lips pulled into a tight smile, and she realized her error. Only someone important would say that. Wanting to change the subject rather than reveal she was the king’s niece, she said, “I overheard information you’ll find vital to your survival.”
“We just imprisoned Melenia’s royal family and took over the castle. Why would you want to help me?” He raised his eyebrows, awaiting her response.
She found it interesting he didn’t question the validity of her news, but rather, her reasoning behind wanting to aid him. She swallowed, considering her words carefully. It felt as if she stood on thin ice, small cracks splintering out from under her feet. “The royal family is alive because of you.” She hoped the truth kept the ice from shattering completely. She needed him to keep her family alive.
“I gave strict orders that no harm will come to them. We are only here for soldiers.”
As relieved as she was to hear that, she scoffed at the notion that needing soldiers justified the invasion. While the royal family hadn’t been harmed, there were dead Melenians outside the castle. Families would be grieving from their losses.
“What information do you have for me?” He glanced over his shoulder at his fellow soldiers who remained at the table.
“After I tell you this information, what will you do with me?” He could have her thrown in the dungeon, taken to the great hall with the other nobles, or locked up outside in the pen holding the Melenia soldiers. None of these possibilities seemed particularly appealing.
“I don’t plan to do anything with you. Once you tell me whatever it is you came here to tell me, you are free to go.”
Her eyes narrowed, considering the reason he would simply release her when everyone else had been locked up.
“I have no use for you,” he explained.
She studied this large man before her. His towering physique, tattoos, and furs all screamed of a bloodthirsty warrior. But his words seemed to contradict his appearance. “Why did you come here for our soldiers?” she inquired, curiosity getting the better of her.
He rubbed his face. “I’m tired and hungry. I’d like to finish my supper. Tell me your information and go. If other Russeks find you here, they may not be so accommodating.”
The threat slithered down her back. Her legs shook, and she could feel the ice cracking beneath her. “While I was sneaking through the secret passageways, I overheard a conversation between Prince Soma and a soldier.”
Kerdan’s eyes narrowed. “Did you? I’m surprised, seeing as how Soma isn’t supposed to be here.”
Every single soldier at the table stopped eating, turning to watch the prince and Harley’s exchange.
“Prince Soma doesn’t want you to know he’s here because he intends to assassinate you tonight.”
