"My family, Adrion. Where are they?" I asked.
The prince squeezed my palm and answered calmly, "They crossed our borders just fine. The guards reported it to me this afternoon. I’ll inquire with the king and Cillian on their whereabouts within Apollo in the meeting room." The prince sounded calm and yet my anxiety seemed to spike. I had seen Rhey today... he was fine. They must have all been fine, my racing heart began to slow down to its usual steady beat. "Rest tonight. I will see you in the morning with more information." He squeezed my cold hands in the warmth of his. I believed him. And yet, believing was the very thing that had disappointed me in my past.
Chapter 52
Announcement Day
"The King's fleet has been busy of late. All the way from Beorg Harbour to the island off the coast better known as Phoenix Shadow. The prisons of Apollo have become full; the rest are now being transported to the island where they shall live out the rest of their sentence."
Reports from the War General of Apollo. Sir Cillian Findlay.
The dungeons were the only part of Apollo filled with darkness. With barely lit lanterns that did not have enough oil to keep the flame strong. For the prisoners under the castle, the darkness must have been a punishment tool, keeping away the light that Apollo had to give. A sharp unsettling feeling since last night's ball wallowed its way into my core to take permanent accommodation. I wondered why I hadn't seen Red since yesterday afternoon and if he even attended the ball at all. A small bubble of anxiety throbbed in my chest.
"There are four quadrants that make up the dungeons, each with six guards stationed. These are the day shift guards whom you will mainly find here," Inanov spoke and walked along briskly, not meeting my eye. The concrete floors were damp, creating a biting chill within the area and the roaming smell was nearly rancid. It truly was not a place where one would make it out alive or even sane.
"Are you going to talk to me about anything other than the obvious number of guards stationed within the dungeons?" My question was meant to cut some of the tension between us, yet it seemed like it added more because he remained quiet. "You're upset... with me." I acknowledged, hoping he’d take the bait.
Inanov let out a frustrated sigh. "Indeed." He pointed toward another door. "That is the second exit which leads up to the guard house stationed by the gardens."
"Why does it upset you so much?" I pestered him, not caring about the directions he was giving me. Inanov turned around a corner and then pointed at a stairway that went further down.By Nocturna's name, this place was massive."That is where the interrogations take place."
"She broke her vow, it leaves their arrangement null and void," I stated instead of ignoring the obvious essence of confrontation in the room.
"And what a hypocrite you are, Morana. Has he not kissed you while betrothed to Izlana? What makes him... or yourself any better?" Inanov snorted.Well... for starters, we did not commit incest...
But I had no other answer... I had no authority to state anything of a vow made to her only as a woman when the prince had been committing devious acts with myself. I suddenly felt bitter and then unexpectedly disappointed in myself. I was no better than Izlana. Yet all I could say was, "He believed me. When I confessed about seeing Izlana with her brother," I whispered and yet my voice still carried an echo. Inanov let out a frustrated groan and turned toward me.
"And yet you ask why it upsets me so much? This is the exact reason why!" he whispered harshly. "You gave him exactly what he wanted. A reason not to marry her. And yet, that is what the kingdom needs." He stood before me, his eyes filled with blazing anger.
"Why do you want him to be with someone he does not want?" My question was genuine; it simply did not make sense to me. Inanov cared about the prince, I knew he did, yet he wanted the prince to wed someone he did not love or want.
"Because their union will secure his place for the throne whereas his sister has no one of importance to wed. Izlana was bred and taught for the sole purpose of being Queen." I didn't mean to show him that much of my emotions because when he saw the look on my face, he scoffed. "You think he feels more for you? You're a shiny new toy that intrigues him and makes him feel things he is not used to. You're like an exotic new creature, trust me, he has been around many others." His voice raised, and I'm sure the prisoners here enjoyed getting some sort of entertainment. "You aren't the first person he has had physical relations with outside of his betrothal." And justthen, something like hurt flashed behind Inanov's eyes, it was beginning to make sense.
My eyes softened. "You and the prince..."
"Oh please, save your pity. The prince had gotten drunk one night and we shared a kiss. The day after he said it was a mistake. There was nothing else to it. But I also mean it when I say thatAdrionneeds to sit the throne.He is the best chance Apollo has. His sister is blood thirsty, and his father dreams of wars."
"On that we can agree. I will do whatever it takes to ensure he sits the throne." Inanov looked surprised by my sudden agreement and then turned around to mutter.
"You will only end up getting hurt."
"I know." Was all I had answered; I was no fool, Adrion and I could be nothing more than what we have. It would be pathetic to hope that fate would allow us to live happily ever after.
I followed Inanov until I noticed a curved wooden door with a large lock on it. Ominous whispers seemed to fit into my space, and I felt the sudden urge to open the door. I stepped forward, touching the latch that clinked and was immediately pushed back by a guard.
"No entry. Read the sign," the guard gruffly muttered. I looked up to see the faded sign, which confirmed what the guard had said. My shadows whispered and muttered amongst themselves, seemingly attracted to whatever was behind that door.
"Come, that room is off limits. Only the king and the medics go in there. His majesty likes to work with experiments," Inanov whispered and led me through the remainder of the dungeons.
***
I decided to roam around the lower region of the castle where servants bustled in and out with laundry, food and ornamentsof little golden trinkets. They seemed to bow their eyes down, quieting when I neared. I had thought there would be a chance to find Red around these parts of the castle, looking for him would also give me something to concentrate on as Adrion had been held up in meetings the whole day with no news about the status of the arena performers. "Did you hear? There's going to be an announcement at the square today," a maid whispered to the woman who kneaded a fluffy lump of dough. Deciding not to declare my presence, I pushed myself further into the wall and listened closer.
"Course I've heard, Tilly, it's all everyone's been chatting about. You better not be attending, you're on chicken shit duty today." The woman, muscled and slightly burly, huffed as she lifted and fisted the dough, performing the act time and time again.
"I really want to go, Addi, George will be there. We want to watch the announcement together. You should come." Tilly giggled and I nearly walked away, bored from their conversation until I heard Addi's response.
"Go there for the war general to see that I am not stationed at my post? No, not ever in the daylights. Gilda is filled with rot and thieves. You lot might loiter around there, but you will never catch me in Apollo's name, round those parts." Addi took her well kneaded dough and began to fold it onto a tray.
