“You’re taking me hostage.” I cross my arms over my chest. “Is that what this is?”
“I’m offering you protection.”
“And why would the most wicked king in Dratheria help me?”
“They’ve only taught you one side,” he replies, voice low and accusatory.
He turns and walks away, heading toward the front of the castle. I don’t follow immediately, stubbornly holding my ground. It’s oddly quiet in the castle halls, causing suspicion to rise within me. I glance behind me, then to the front, and my left and right. Not a soul lingers in these halls. Wrath’s footsteps are the only sound that echoes down the cavernous space, leaving me with more questions than answers.
On impulse, I surge after him.
“Where are all the guards?” I call out.
He doesn’t slow down or wait for me to catch up with him. “There were only around a hundred men protecting Avelisar.”
“That's it?” The words tumble from my lips before I stop them. “And what of the rest of the people?”
What happened to the guests at the wedding? What about Queen Kathryn, Tallulah, and the other handmaidens? What about the cooks, stable hands, and bird keepers? It’s shocking to think they ended everyone that quickly. An entire kingdom wiped from existence in a single afternoon.
“It’s best if you don’t ask questions you won’t like the answer to.” Wrath levels me with a look.
He lives up to his name. I shouldn’t be surprised that the most ruthless leader in Dratheria has an unsavory side. A heart untouched by remorse, moved only by its quest for power. Wrath is keeping me alive, and part of me is starting to believe he needs me for something.
The closer we get to the castle’s exit, the less time I have to make a decision. For years, I begged Itheon to free me from the castle walls every day and night. And now, I am outside them, eagerly racing back to my father’s captivity.
I ask myself what the warlord would do in this situation, how they would navigate such peril. They would use thisadvantage to infiltrate enemy lines and dismantle their kingdom from within. If I go to Khalessor, I can provide Valentin with valuable information.
“Make a choice, Raelys.” Wrath cuts into my thoughts as we exit the iron doors and enter the courtyard below.
Dozens of Elvarrans move through the space, all armed to the teeth with weapons. I watch some pack up large satchels full of gold and other looted objects, plundering the castle for its riches. Others mount their horses and prepare to depart, their expressions calm and armor spotless despite the slaughter.
I count at least seventy Elvarrans, give or take. These soldiers have to be only a portion of Khalessor’s army, yet they hold enough force to expunge the entire kingdom. These warriors are far more fearsome than anything I’d ever seen. There is no running from this situation.
“Fine.” I scowl at him. “Take me with you.”
I catch the corners of his lips turning upward as he turns. “Taryn!” he calls for someone as he approaches his horse. Wrath mounts the large brown steed with a dark mane and tail, and when he sits tall, he looks like a statue carved from stone.
“Yes, Your Majesty?” The woman with rich brown skin and short hair from the garden rushes over to us, two twin daggers strapped to her thighs.
“Grab a spare horse for Raelys. Make sure she doesn’t fall behind,” he commands.
“I know how to ride.” I snap at him.
Wrath chuckles as he rides off, leaving us behind.
“This way, quickly.” Taryn turns and strides across the courtyard.
She leads me to the stables. Taryn opens the door to a stall and brings out a black-and-white spotted mare for me, adjusts the reins, and then gestures for me to get on. I put my foot inthe stirrup and swing my leg over smoothly, mounting the horse.
Taryn gets on a light beige horse beside me. “Ready?”
I nod and give the horse a light tap. I follow Taryn out the front gates, past the walls, and into the wide-open land. The sun is setting, the sky a brilliant shade of orange and pink. The open landscape stretches for miles in every direction, seemingly endless.
“We ride for five days until we reach Sinaia. We will cross the Northern Alps the following daybreak and return to Khalessor.” Wrath’s deep voice booms across the space, his horse at the head of the pack.
Someone rounds my left side, stopping their horse behind mine. It is Barnham, dressed in full armor with a spear in hand. He whistles up to Wrath, giving him a signal that everyone is here. The riders take off immediately, galloping quickly north.
Taryn rides beside me, keeping a close eye on my every movement. She likely suspects I could turn and run at any moment. The thought is tempting, but armed only with the dagger Lydia gave me, I wouldn’t survive.
