But then Arrick,ack, Taelon, held out my crown to me and I lost some of my fight. I picked myself off the ground and brushed at the leaves and dirt now tangled in my dress and hair before grudgingly accepting my crown.
As soon as my fingers wrapped around it, I felt the tickle of energy run up my arm. I promptly tucked it away in my satchel again, closing the bag tightly and making sure it was secured to my body.
Ar—Taelonwaited patiently for me to finish. And when I was ready, he waved a gallant arm and said, “Right this way, Your Highness.”
17
The ride to Soravale’s castle proved silent and unpleasant. After I’d retrieved my trembling Shiksa from her hiding place, Taelon’s royal guards led us back to the road, where Oliver and I were loaded into a wagon meant for prisoners.
I slumped against the narrow bench that made my bum go numb and tried to breathe through my frustration. We had been on the road for more than a day. Taelon had made plenty of stops to make sure Oliver and I were able to relieve ourselves and eat, but I grew tired of his forced kindness. Especially when all he did was lock us up again inside the wagon that had been meant for him.
I would have reminded him of that, had I been speaking to him.
I could tell that my behavior was trying his patience. He stood by his actions and his decisions. But he did not understand. I had trusted him. I had believed him when he told me who he was. And he had let me.
Besides that, he wasn’t just anyone from my past. He had been my betrothed. He was once my future. And when my life had been stolen from me, he had been the reason I still had a future—even if it was wholly different than the one intended for me. And up until now I had been beyond grateful to him. I had owed him the debt of my life.
Except he wasn’t the boy I remembered. He wasn’t honest and admirable and loyal to his future. He had abandoned his country and his people when he ran off to lead a destructive band of rebels. He made allies with thieves and horse bandits. He lied to me.
The boy I knew once upon a time had disappeared, and in his place was a criminal who happened to have royal blood.
“How much longer?” Oliver groaned. “I hate this carriage.”
“That’s because this carriage is meant for convicts,” I reminded him. Shiksa crawled from the satchel that still rested against my hip and used her tiny claws to climb over my chest. Sensing my distress, she nuzzled her little face against mine. I closed my eyes against the feel of her fur and cold nose. I let my fingers play with her long tail while I decided how to tell Oliver the truth. “Oliver, they might deal with us like criminals when we get to the castle. They might lock us up in a cell while they investigate my claims. But Hugo, Taelon’s father, has always been just. I cannot imagine he would treat us unfairly.”
“And what will happen once he decides your story is true?”
Shiksa settled in the crook of my neck. Her tiny teeth attacked the top button of my cloak. She had grown since I first found her. “I don’t know.”
Oliver wiggled until he sat up straight. “But Arrick believes you to be who you say you are. He clearly means you no harm as he’s had abundant opportunities to slit your throat. And if this king is as fair and just as you remember him, then he might also believe you.”
I nibbled on my bottom lip. “That is a possibility.”
“Then, dragon’s blood, Tessana,” he snorted. “Arrick is our only ally. Why are you mad at him? We need him!”
I sat up and poor Shiksa tumbled off me. Her fast feet caught her before she dirtied her pure white coat on the filthy floor. Giving me a look, she jumped up to the bench again and settled herself on my lap.
“He lied to me!” I exclaimed. “He knew who I was the entire time and said nothing! What kind of man parades a woman through highway, country, and forest without at least hinting that they knew each other in a different life?” I swallowed back the rage building inside me. “Oliver, he saved my life when I was a child. He is the reason I’m alive today.”
Oliver’s eyes narrowed. “Which is a perfectly acceptable reason to hate a man.”
I made a sound in the back of my throat. I didn’t want to play this game. If I wanted to hate Arrick—dragon’s blood!If I wanted to hateTaelon, I could.
The wagon rumbled to a stop. The sounds of horses galloping over rough road ceased, replaced with shouted orders and the great creaking of wood and the clanking of chains.
When the wagon began moving again, Oliver jumped to his feet in an attempt to peer through the tiny window. “I can’t see anything!” he complained. “Oh, wait. Is that… It’s so dark out. Is that a moat? Ooh torches! We’ve reached the castle.”
The wagon lurched and threw Oliver against the door. He picked himself off the floor with a curse.
When he sat down again, he tried to hide his excitement. “I’ve never been in a palace before.”
I yawned.
“It’s like you announced you’re royalty and now I have to suffer your spoiled temperament. Your foul mood is ruining this adventure for me.”
I decided now was not the time to bring up the wildebeest, the fire, or being chased through the woods. “I apologize,” I’d meant to sound snide, but the words came out honest. “I’m just… I’m just… I cannot believe we were together for weeks and he said not one word! The man is abominable.”
“But he—”
