Page 40 of Sword of Rage
“I’m not sure Harley will like that idea.” She seemed intent on staying with Owen and not stepping foot in Penlar. “I can go without her.” He could speak to her parents and glean information; he didn’t need Harley for that.
“Just tell Harley you’re checking to see if her parents are alive.”
“She’ll want to know why me and not someone from Melenia.”
“Good point.” He tapped his hand on his thigh. “I’ll tell her I only trust you to protect her. It’s true you know.”
“And if her parents are dead?”
“If there’s anything left of their house, search it. But if they’re alive, I need to know if they made any sort of deal with Commander Beck.”
While Ackley certainly understood why Beck would have wanted his son married to the only niece of the king, he didn’t know why Harley’s parents would agree to it. What did they gain from marrying their daughter off to the commander’s son? He stood to go. “What about on your father’s side of the family? Does the king have any brothers who might want the throne?”
“No. He was an only child.”
“And you’re certain you trust Harley?”
“Yes, why do you ask?”
Because she was the sole survivor and far more savvy than she let on. “Have you considered that her loyalties may have changed once she married?”
“They haven’t.”
“How can you be certain?”
“You trust your sister, don’t you?”
Ackley nodded.
“I trust my cousin like you trust your sister.”
For Ackley, it wasn’t that simple. He didn’t trust easily—even when it came to family. A result of being betrayed by Eldon, his own brother. However, he had come to respect Owen, so he didn’t argue any further. He would go with Harley, not because Owen wanted him to analyze her parents, but because he had plans of his own.
Harley
Tossing and turning, Harley couldn’t fall asleep. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Lyle leering at her, teasing her, telling her how worthless she was. Then his face was replaced with the Russek soldier who’d tried to rape her. Frustrated, she sat up. Idina and Gytha were in the tent with her, both of them sleeping. Harley stood and wrapped one of her blankets around her body. Knowing there would be a soldier standing guard outside the tent, she lifted the edge near her bedroll, crawling underneath it.
She stood between her and Owen’s tent, listening. Not hearing any voices, she moved to the back and headed away from the tents. She walked with purpose, hoping no one stopped her. If anyone did, she would say she had to relieve herself. At the edge of camp, she went straight, not wanting to get lost. When she was far enough away, she sat in the thick grass, it coming up to her chest.
So much had happened in such a short amount of time that she was having trouble processing it all. She didn’t know how she felt. Her heart hurt, that much she knew. Rage also filled her at the injustice of it all. Helplessness also kept wedging its way in. Her life had been flipped upside down, and she didn’t know who she was any longer. When Owen had offered to take her to her parents, she’d balked at the idea. To have their deaths confirmed would sap the last of her strength. To entertain the idea that they were alive required too much hope. Now she understood why Ledger hadn’t wanted to go and see if his mother and sister were alive. Sometimes not knowing was better than dealing with reality. There was another emotion that kept working its way in—guilt. Guilt that she lived. Guilt that she was happy her husband had died.
“What are you doing out here all alone?” Ackley asked, startling her. He sat next to her, waiting for an answer.
She was tired of always doing what others wanted and expected of her. A tear slid down her cheek, so she wiped it away. Lyle always asked her questions like that. When he found her reading a book one day, he’d asked her why she bothered reading. When she said she enjoyed it, he ripped it from her hands and tossed it in the hearth, claiming a woman had no business reading. After that, she hid her books and only let him see her do useful activities such as knitting. Strange she thought of that now.
“I saw you leave your tent, so I followed you.”
Under the dark night sky, she couldn’t make out his features. It reminded her of the first time she’d met him when he’d purposely remained in the shadows. “I couldn’t sleep, Your Highness.” Maybe if she gave him an answer, he’d leave her alone.
“It’s just Ackley.”
She still couldn’t believe she’d slapped him the night they met. Even though he’d completely deserved it, he was a prince and could have her thrown in the dungeon for doing such a thing. She found it intriguing that he hadn’t revealed his title to her that night, nor did he want her using it now. “Tell me, Ackley, how are you both a prince and an assassin?”
“Right now, I’m only an assassin. And I want you to tell me what you’re doing out here.”
Goosebumps covered her skin. She thought he came after her because she was a woman all alone. Now she was starting to suspect it was for another reason—he didn’t trust her any more than she trusted him. He probably didn’t trust anyone. Although, he appeared close with his sister and Owen clearly liked him. Other than Gytha, the soldiers seemed half in awe and half scared of him. Exhaustion overcame her, and she answered truthfully. “When I close my eyes, I see monsters.” She couldn’t believe she just admitted that to Ackley.
They sat in silence for several minutes, neither speaking.
