Traitor's Crown (Stones of Terrene Book 3) Page 16

  His friend snickered. “You mean you don’t want to swoop her off her feet, kiss her senseless? You don’t want to be the dashing hero?”

  Ben pushed past Geist and attempted to banish the mental images that came with Geist’s suggestions. “She doesn’t need a hero. Just a partner to watch her back.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Raine

  Raine traced the shelves of herbs with her gaze as Artemis added the red shading to the phoenix on her back. Even if no one else saw it, she’d know it was there. Her tribute to her grandfather. Her symbol of defiance. Her memory of her previous life.

  She should get something done to remember Ben by. What it would be, she couldn’t imagine. How could she condense all that he meant to her into one thing? She hadn’t even realized how much he’d wiggled into her life—how important he’d become to her—until now.

  Raine waited until Artemis finished a section and lifted the needles before sucking in a deep breath. “Have you ever loved someone?”

  “Loved someone?” Artemis hummed as her fingers skimmed down the left side of Raine’s back, pressing lightly in warning before she started the tail feathers of the phoenix. “I suppose I did, yes. Enough so that I dedicated everything in my life to him and his happiness.”

  “What happened?”

  Artemis fell silent and Raine’s pulse fluttered in panic. Great. She’d somehow annoyed the one person who she actually trusted in the entire Hollows, the one person who was permanently marking her skin, and—

  “He had a mission,” Artemis said finally. “And we’ve been separated since then.” Her smile was evident in her voice. “But we’ll reunite soon enough.”

  Raine frowned at the curtain dividing the tattoo station from the front of the medical station. “Are you leaving the Hollows?”

  “Not yet,” Artemis chuckled. “But eventually, yes.”

  “Oh.” Raine didn’t know what to say to that. Take me with you wouldn’t be feasible for Artemis, even if Raine asked. And she didn’t even know what was happening out there. Winter was coming soon, and while it seemed illogical that much warfare would take place when snow buried the mountain passes, who knew what the Elph were planning? If the winter was mild this season, perhaps southern Terrene was already falling, nation by nation. Or maybe Papa had figured out some solution and resurrected the barrier.

  There was just no way of knowing.

  Artemis made a little noise in the back of her throat. “I know you’re hoping to get out of here someday—and to that, I wish you luck—but be warned. There’s a group that was in here earlier, and they have a bone to pick with you.” Artemis hesitated. “They’ve had the reputation of killing other inmates. Be careful.”

  Raine sighed and let her concerns for the outside world fall to the wayside. She needed to focus on staying alive in here. “Of course they do.”

  Despite being one of the top favored fighters and Artemis’s attempts to help, rumors were spreading of Raine’s hand in the fall of the barrier. So who she was didn’t really matter. The guard she’d first met was right: many in the Hollows still had families out there, and many cared about their loved ones. Now she had to watch her back not only because she was a fighter worth taking down, but she was also the Void Born who had doomed all southern Terrene.

  Artemis finished her work and spread the goop over Raine’s back again, following up with the nullification stone that reduced the discomfort to practically nothing. With Artemis’s secret help in healing Raine’s tattoo, Raine would still be able to fight in the match coming up in a day, and without fear of doing anything damaging to her friend’s work.

  Artemis made quick time in bandaging Raine’s back securely and helping Raine slip on her dust-encrusted shirt. “I think you all get a chance at the baths in two days,” Artemis commented. “Should request a laundry day while you’re at it.”

  Raine chuckled and flicked her braid to the side. “To have clean clothes and actually be clean would be a dream come true.”

  “Well, make those dreams come true then.” Artemis moved away, taking apart the machine and dropping the needles in a cleaning solution. “I’ll see you in three days for the last of it?”

  Raine nodded and waved lightly as she walked out of Artemis’s office in the medical bay. Thirst parched her mouth like the desert beyond the salt walls. There’d be no water available in the mess for her right now, as the guards who staffed it would have already left for the night, and no one was around to run the pump that’d laboriously pull the precious fluid from the well deep below. If she wanted anything, her only option would be to go to the lowest pit, where the lukewarm well water was. She grimaced. She could walk the ramp down four levels and advertise her presence to every inmate still up, or take the cage to the last floor it went to and hope that no one was too nosy to investigate who was taking the easy route. Either way, the guards should be heading down within a half hour or so, which meant she’d have to hurry if she wanted them to lock her into the safety her cell.

  The cage rattled around Raine as it descended down to her level, and she gripped the grate with white knuckles; no one here to impress. Up until her time in the Hollows, she’d never pegged herself as claustrophobic, but the tightness in her chest and the sweat dampening her shirt let her know very clearly that yes, she was in fact, afraid of dark, tight spaces. Yet another weakness she had to somehow eradicate.

  It didn’t help that Yorick had sat at her table during breakfast, sharing stories of cave-ins and disasters, all while watching her with narrowed eyes. Not even Simon could dissuade Yorick from his self-given mission of making Raine uncomfortable.

  She clenched her jaw just before the cage hit the bottom and rattled her bones. A quick jog down the ramp to the pit, refill her water cistern, and then she would go to bed. She hadn’t seen Simon since they’d parted ways at breakfast, and that suited her just fine today. She didn’t have it in her to put up with him right now. He’d become even more controlling in his behavior— trying to talk her out of her next challenge fight, trying to convince her that she’d be content in the pits, in their level. That he could help her make the most of it.

  How she’d get him to leave her alone, she didn’t know. He’d been helpful, and a relatively friendly face when she needed it, but it was rapidly becoming apparent that he didn’t believe in kindness just for the sake of kindness, and she had no interest in making a long-term life for herself here.

  Dust clouds billowed around Raine’s boots as she walked across the loose salty dirt of the lower pit. Had anyone ever pretended that the thick scree was like a hedge, and something that could be shaped or designed? Probably not. No one here had any sense of whimsy left in them. And her limited amusement for such things was dwindling even less than she’d have thought possible.

  It didn’t help that half the dirt in the pit was the brownish red of dried blood.

  A figure sat at the edge of the well, and her steps hesitated for only a moment before she drew herself up, letting a slight swagger enter her stride. There would be no fear to be scented in her. She kept her pace the same as she drew closer, and a fraction of her hesitancy relaxed. Simon.

  He looked up as she approached and twitched his thin lips in a gesture that was as much grimace as it was smile. “Hey, Raine. Want some water?”

  “You guessed it.” She held out her jug and he took it from her and set it on the edge of the bricked well, turning away to draw up the bucket below. “Thanks.” She’d half expected him to be petty and make her draw it himself, but if this was his way of offering a silent truce, she’d take it.

  His head bobbed in a silent nod, and he glanced over his shoulder at her, eyes peeking out through the tangle of hair that he let fall loose today. “Don’t suppose you changed your mind about tomorrow’s fight?”

  Irritation sizzled through her blood and she scowled. So much for a silent truce. “No. I haven’t. I already told you, this is my best chance to get out.”

  “To
get out in a cart and dumped in the wasteland for the dactyls and salamanders!” Simon retorted scathingly. He muttered something more under his breath as he fiddled with the ladle before dipping it in the water and holding it out to her.

  Raine took the deep spoon and sipped gratefully while he filled her cistern. She wouldn’t have believed that the water could taste worse than usual, but today it did. She wrinkled her nose as she handed it back. “When I get out of here, I’ll never complain about clean water again.”

  Simon’s jaw jutted out as he stared at her. “If you get out.”

  She didn’t have the energy for this. She walked up and grabbed her full cistern off the edge of the well. “Thanks for the water, Simon. See you in the morni—” The words died in her throat as she turned toward the entrance of the well alcove.

  Three men blocked the way out, each silhouette somehow menacing. She gripped the full cistern between her hands, conscious of the brush of pain twinging in her back, and the sudden weariness that weighed on her limbs. Maybe going to Artemis after a full day in the mines hadn’t been the brightest of her ideas.

  “Raine. Get out of here before it gets ugly,” Simon whispered as he joined her side. His hand ran over her forearm, a cross between cautioning and encouraging and altogether unwanted by her skin.

  She strode forward as if her heartbeat wasn’t trying to tattoo itself to the inside of her ribs. How she missed her sword. Take on one in hand-to-hand, maybe. Take on three? There was no way. Hopefully they were more about a show than actual harm. She got close enough that she could make out their features and her heart sank. They were all from Yorick’s group, and she’d brushed him off a few too many times. She wasn’t going to change her quarters, she wasn’t going to sleep with him, and she was taking on a challenge to leave his level.

  If he’d sent these three, she must’ve really steamed him good. Or were these the guys Artemis had warned her about?

  The closest lunged forward, grabbing her arm in a bruising grip. She kicked his knee hard enough that she heard the crack as he dropped. She skirted away, yelling. “Guards! Guards!”

  One of the two standing laughed as if the cries and vicious oaths of his comrade didn’t bother him. “They won’t be coming down for a while. You’re on your own, girlie.”

  “No, she isn’t.” Simon burst out from around her, swinging the metal bucket into the jaw of the guy holding onto her. The man let go, swearing through bloodied lips.

  Raine jammed her cistern into the face of the next closest, alarm shooting through her as her moves slowed against her will. What was this? Adrenaline fought with the pull of gravity and the sudden desire to just close her eyes and lie down. No. She had to get back to her cell. Now.

  Scuffling sounded behind her, but she couldn’t afford to keep an eye on Simon. It took all of her energy to focus on the goon in front of her. He grabbed her braid and yanked her back against him. She flailed her arm behind her, desperately trying to hit him. He tugged on her hair harder, and her vision filled with colored sparks of pain. She shrieked and jammed her elbow into his side with every ounce of energy she could muster. Air whumped out of him and his grip slackened. She spun around, grabbed his shoulders, and rammed her knee into his groin. He let go completely. She rushed past him and he hooked an arm around her knee, tripping her.

  Salt and dirt coated the side of her face, making her eyes burn. She kicked against her foe, the toe of her boot hitting his jaw. He curled in on himself.

  She scrambled to her feet and swayed, the circular room spinning.

  “Are you OK?” Simon asked, gripped her shoulder and arm, avoiding the bulky bandages that miraculously hadn’t even slid or moved from her back.

  She couldn’t shake her head for fear of blurring the room again. “I—I don’t know what’s wrong with me. But I don’t think I can make it to my room by myself.” Fear climbed up her spine, settling between her shoulder blades like a waiting stalker. “I have to hurry before they come after me again.”

  “They won’t be a problem.” Simon assured, tugging her across the pit and toward the ramp. “I took care of them. They won’t bother you again.” He sighed, everything about him aggrieved. “Why won’t you trust me, Raine?”

  She stumbled through the thick sand, barely able to keep her eyes open. Was this some reaction from the tattoo? Was it something in the well water? “I—I don’t trust easily.” A random thought bubbled into her mind. “Why are you here, anyway?”

  “I needed water.” Simon drawled, his tone making it clear how obvious he thought the answer was.

  Raine squeezed her eyes shut, focusing on putting one foot in front of the other. “No, why are you in the Hollows?” She’d been told he was in for political reasons, but she’d never directly asked. Why hadn’t she? She should’ve known better.

  “Oh?” Something in his voice changed, darkened, deepened. The fear stalker in Raine’s shoulders stretched its claws down her spine, and she shuddered as Simon huffed a sarcastic-sounding laugh. “I’m surprised it took you so long to ask.”

  He yanked, and she stumbled sideways, falling into him. He half carried, half dragged her, and she forced her heavy eyes open to see that he was pulling her into the abandoned tunnel across from the well. “Where—”

  “I couldn’t risk you leaving me, Raine.” Desperation colored his words. “I tried to talk you out of it, but you insisted on fighting. You insisted on leaving me. I can’t let you go. Not yet.”

  Dirt rose up to meet Raine—or had Simon let her down?—and she groaned. Why couldn’t she scream now? Her vocal cords seemed frozen.

  “I’m in here for conning my way through Duke Gautama’s harem,” Simon informed her, smug satisfaction oozing from his voice. “I had my way with twenty-three women, and even though I was found guilty of masquerading as a noble, all I got was a sentence here. Now I’m free to do whatever I want with any woman who gets sent here too. It’s not so bad a life, if you think about it.” He tapped her nose. “I’ll admit, it was harder to get close enough to you. You’re not very trusting, as you said.”

  Her eyes barely stayed open enough to see his leer. His hands ghosted over her body, and she tried to buck him off, but she could barely twitch.

  Simon’s onion-and-cabbage breath wafted over her face as he leaned in. “Time to get my due for playing as your little errand boy, girlie.”

  Horror stifled the breath in Raine’s lungs. In her mind, she screamed and fought, but not one muscle moved. Her vision wavered. No, no, no!

  He struggled with her shirt, and the bandage that it stuck to before he gave up and yanked on the drawstrings for her pants instead.

  Her world faded to black.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Weston

  Weston traced the pattern on his bedroom floor with a series of steps that varied from tiptoe to long hops, leaping from white tile to white tile, skipping over the black in the mosaic. The first day of the Summit had proven to be more interesting than expected and more tiring than he remembered.

  None of the leaders had joined Brandon under Aerugo’s military might yet, but King Rowan seemed to be sincerely considering it. Possibly Lasim as well. And the news of Brandon’s pledge to Aerugo had caused a huge stir for those attending the summit.

  No one could forget the sight of refugees already camping outside the Aerugan gates. The terrifying knowledge of the inevitable war coming their way.

  Weston dropped onto his black divan and pressed his face into the soft fabric. Would Brandon’s attempt at unifying the nations work? Would the treaty he and Jade had been working on be needed after all? Weston flipped onto his back and stared up at the arched ceiling. Gold filigree molding and mosaic work that would cost a non-royal years of wages met his eyes. One of the many little things that he took for granted all his life, and only now that everything he knew was threatened, did he see and appreciate the small details.

  How would Jade’s crew mates fare in their mission to the Hollows? Would the
y be able to get there, find their friend, and keep her safe until he and Jade got her released? It sounded like they’d all be good warriors in a fight, and they needed every able body possible. Preferably here.

  A short knock preceded the sound of his door being opened, and Weston lifted his head just enough to watch Niles walk in, newspaper in hand. Weston let his head fall back against the cushion of the couch. “Unless it’s Father summoning me for something, don’t expect me to meet anyone until the gala tomorrow night.”

  Niles walked over and looked down at him, unimpressed. He lifted the paper into Weston’s line of sight. “You’ll want to read this, Your Highness.”

  Weston groaned and covered his eyes with his arm. “I don’t want to read anything political right now.”

  “Too bad.”

  The newspaper smacked into Weston’s stomach, and he folded around it with an audible “oof.” He sat up, clutching the paper and glaring at Niles.

  Weston glanced between the edge of the paper and his burly guard, then he scooted back on the divan to open up the paper. “So what’s so important abou—” the words shriveled in his mouth as he stared at the headline.

  Scandal! Lord Everett involved in Doldra’s royal family slaughter? What really happened twenty years ago!

  “Is this real?” Weston splayed his hand against the paper, leaning in, absorbing everything the paper said. He checked the publisher, and his stomach sank. The Lucrum Dial was a trusted news source, and not one that had unchecked gossip. If it was here, someone had to have fact checked it. Lord Everett had unhappy ties with Doldra and Perennia. Aerugo’s new-at-the-time bomb technology found in Doldra during the fall of the royal family. Reformer’s with unprecedented funding from an unknown source. The bank for Aerugo noting several large inconsistencies in their balance. Weston’s hands shook. “How many of these papers are out there? What are the people saying?”