Gerard bit into the cloth gag.
“I hate to see you like this. Truly I do. Please do not think this is personal or that I wish harm to befall you. It isn’t that at all!”
Gerard tried to speak. But the cloth muffled his words.
He needed answers. He wanted to know why she was doing this, what she had planned, and if she had been the one working with Warden Flint. But most importantly, Gerard had to find out where the rest of his family were. He doubted this plan involved just Gerard.
Had they been attacked? Taken? Were they already dead and he was the last alive? And what was happening to Elias at that moment?
Gerard forced himself to breathe as best he could through his nose. Panicking would not help the situation.
They walked for several minutes. Or he thought it was minutes. It was hard to keep track. His hands, shackled behind his back, grew numb from loss of blood flow. The tunnel angled upwards.
Finally, they stopped at a large, heavy-looking wooden door. The tall, lanky man at the front unlocked it with a large key and opened it. A cool breeze brushed Gerard’s heated face. Fresh air filled his nostrils.
They exited into a small, darkened alley. Two carriages waited outside. But otherwise, the alley remained empty.Gerard looked around. Were they still in the upper monastery?
The two men pulled him inside one of the carriages. One sat on either side of him. Adelina got in and sat opposite. She clutched her hands together. The lanky man got in beside her. Still, no one spoke. The other two climbed onto the front of the carriage.
After a moment, they lurched forward. The carriage rattled through the cobblestone streets. Gerard glanced out the window, trying to identify something. Anything. But he recognised none of the buildings they passed.
After several moments, the queen consort spoke, “Do you think we can remove the gag? It does not look very comfortable or easy for him to breathe. Perhaps if he promises not to yell or scream, we can remove it.”
The lanky man glared at him. “Do you promise not to scream?”
Gerard nodded.
The man tilted his head. “If you yell, I’ll smash your mouth up so bad you won’t be able to speak ever again. And then I’ll shove the gag back in. Understand?”
Gerard nodded again.
After several long moments, the man untied and yanked the gag from his mouth. Gerard took several deep breaths. He moved his lips and swallowed. He considered asking them to remove the shackles too but doubted they’d be so obliging.
“Adelina, what is all this? What are you planning and why?”
She didn’t answer straight away. And after several moments passed, he began to doubt she would. She stared at her lap.
“Your father has never been a good husband. He’salways been … negligent as a spouse. Not that I expected a great deal of attention,” she rushed on. “He is the king. He is busy and has his duties. But …” She trailed off and looked out the window.
“But he always treated me like … cattle to be bred. I was meant to give him children. That was all the use he had for me.” She licked her lips. “And I gave him children. Strong dragons. I did everything right. I was loyal. I was attentive. I mended his clothes by hand. I ensured his favourite meals were always prepared by the kitchen. I tended to all his needs.”
Her chest heaved as she took a deep breath. “I ignored all the women he bedded. Every single one. No matter who they were or how many. I never commented on his numerous bastards.”
She closed her eyes. “I never even said a word when he took my sister to his bed. She was my only sister. My closest friend in the whole world.” Her voice wavered. “She gave birth to his son a year and a half ago, and she is pregnant again with his next child.” She sniffled and wiped her nose.
“I’m sorry, Adelina.” And Gerard meant it. Even if she was a traitor who had betrayed him, he did feel sorry for her. He’d always pitied Adelina because of his father’s treatment of her.
“And I didn’t know about …” Gerard had seen his young cousin once. Maybe the boy had even been presented to him. But he’d not known that the baby was his half-sibling as well.
There were always new names being added to the registry that kept track of his father’s offspring. He didn’t always pay attention to them. But he had known of his father’s philandering ways and obsession with producing offspring.
Perhaps Gerard should have said something to his father on his stepmother’s behalf. Stepped in in some way. But of course, his father’s behaviour had started when Gerard was but a boy. Probably even before his birth. Still, he’d stood by and watched his father treat his stepmother terribly and done nothing.
“I’ve tolerated so much. Too much.” Then she shook her head. “But that isn’t why I do this. I would not do this for my own sake.” Her voice grew steadier. Her shoulders straightened. “I do this for my children.”
“Your children?” Had his father treated his half-siblings poorly too?
Gerard had never had much to do with them. They were younger than him. His years training and time fighting in the war had not allowed him much opportunity to develop close relationships with any of them.
