Page 10 of The King's Sword
Otto sat there staring at her, his face unreadable.
“I wasn’t forced to do anything I didn’t want to do,” she said, hoping her brother understood.
“It’s such a shame you married the guy,” Evander mused. “Now your fate is tied to his. I kidnapped you hoping to save you from being involved in a nasty war.”
“There’s not going to be a war. Not if I can help it.” She rubbed her temples.
“You know she’s married?” Otto asked Evander.
“She mentioned it on the ship. If I’d known beforehand, I never would have taken her.”
“Rainer has been nothing but kind to me,” Sabine insisted. He always seemed concerned with her wellbeing and safety. Granted, he needed her to produce an heir. But he’d never been mean to her. Not really. Her face reddened thinking about how he made her feel on occasion, the clothes he insisted she wear, or even the way he expected her to behave. She remembered him training her. The way his muscles felt beneath her hands. He really was one of the most handsome men she’d ever seen.
However, now she was forced to examine things from a different perspective. Had Rainer been manipulating her into doing what he wanted? She didn’t know what to believe anymore. “I’m exhausted from my journey and wish to retire to bed.” That way she could think through her time in Lynk without having these two men sitting before her, scrutinizing her every move.
Otto stood. “Come, sister. I’ll escort you to your room.” He led the way up the stairs. Stopping outside her room, he whispered, “You know Evander is not someone you can push too hard or challenge.”
She stepped inside the room, hearing the rain pounding on the roof above her. She went over to the bedside table and lit the candle. While the room was small, containing only a single bed and armoire, it was clean and warm. It would be much better than sleeping on the deck of a ship.
“Why is that?” she asked, curiosity getting the better of her. Evander looked to be about her age. While he was tall, he didn’t have the same wide shoulders and muscles that Rainer did. “Is it because he’s from Avoni and has been trained to be an assassin?” Now that she knew he was a prince, she wasn’t so sure if he was either an assassin or pirate anymore. She didn’t see the need for members of the royal family to learn the art of assassination or pirating. Not when they had people who could perform those tasks for them.
Otto peered over his shoulder at the staircase before stepping into her room and closing the door behind him. “You need to be careful around Evander,” he whispered.
“Why?” she asked, wanting to know more about the man who’d managed to kidnap her from the palace and get her out of Lynk undetected. She shivered, wondering how he’d managed such a feat on his own. She couldn’t envision him carrying her since there wasn’t much to him.
Otto whispered, “Evander is the only son of King Kai and Queen Sherilda Botoko, he is a trained assassin, he’s Avoni’s League member,andhe is one of the most wealthy and powerful men in Avoni.” He looked pointedly at her, as if making sure she understood each and every one of his points. “Most importantly, he is the leader of the Crimson Cloaks.”
“The what?”
“One of the five assassin leagues.” He folded his arms. “I’d say it’s the most exclusive, most elusive, and most difficult to join.”
She blinked. “Evander?” The red-haired man who’d kidnapped her? He seemed so…young for all those things. If anything, she’d say he was slightly awkward, a bit of a goof, and he seemed more of a joker than an assassin. She couldn’t imagine him being wealthy or powerful either. However, he’d managed to take her from right under Rainer’s roof. All on his own. And she’d seen Rainer fight and had heard stories of his army. He wasn’t someone to trifle with. Yet Evander had.
Otto put his hand on Sabine’s shoulder. “Evander is not only intelligent but an excellent fighter.”
She hadn’t seen Evander fight and had trouble imagining him being able to hold his own against someone like Rainer.
“Never underestimate him,” he added.
“How do you know this?” she asked her brother.
“I’ve known him since I was five. But that is a story for another time. Get some sleep—we have a big day ahead of us tomorrow.”
She nodded and pulled back the blankets on her bed. “Now that I’m here with you, I don’t have to worry about Evander.” They’d go their separate ways, and she wouldn’t have to deal with the assassin any more.
Otto left the room.
Sabine crawled under the covers. The rain had lessened to a soft patter, hitting the window in a soothing sort of way. She fell fast asleep, thoughts of Evander the assassin-pirate-prince inundating her dreams.
* * *
Someone shook Sabine awake. She peeled her eyelids open and found Otto standing next to the bed, already dressed. The room was only just starting to lighten, so it had to be too early to wake. “What’s going on?” she mumbled.
“We’re leaving to go spy. Do you want to come with us or stay here?”
Shocked he was giving her the option, she immediately agreed to go and shoved the covers back.
“Wear pants and dark colors,” Otto said before closing the door so she could change.
