Cage of Deceit (Reign of Secrets Book 1) (21 page)

Jarvik waved her over to the corner of the room so that if anyone passed by the entrance or peered inside, they wouldn’t be seen.

“Do you think it wise to be meeting like this?” Allyssa asked. “I feel as if we’re doing something we shouldn’t be doing.”

“That’s never stopped you before,” he said. “But to answer your question, I don’t want my soldiers that have been assigned to guard you to be aware of this conversation.”

“What do you want to talk to me about?” Not that she minded him seeking her out; she was grateful for the opportunity to see him.

“Let me ask you a question,” he said. “If you were in Grevik’s position, and the assassin tortured you and threatened your family, could you keep a secret even under such strenuous circumstances?”

“If you’re concerned about him revealing my true identity, don’t be.”

Jarvik leaned against the wall. “But if the roles were reversed, could you keep a secret that big?”

Why did he care? “Of course,” she said. “I’d do anything to save my friend.”

“What if the assassin threatened to kill your family?” he asked.

“I don’t know.”

He tilted his head back, gazing up at the ceiling. “I want you to know that I never meant to deceive you.”

“I know,” she said. “You were only following Prince Odar’s orders.”

He focused back on her face. “I need to tell you something, and you’re probably going to be upset with me.” His eyes flickered to the door and back to her. “But it’s going to have to wait.”

She nodded, wondering what he had to tell her.

“Right now, I’m concerned about the assassin.”

She was too. The couple of hours she managed to sleep this morning had been plagued with visions of the man killing her parents.

“Since he told you to return in two days if the royal family was still alive, I have to assume he’s going to attempt to assassinate you tonight at the ball.”

“Do you think he’d be so bold?”

Jarvik ran his hands through his hair, messing it up. “I don’t know, but we can’t risk it.”

“What are you suggesting?”

“We need to tell your father so he can notify the sentries on duty.”

That was what she feared Jarvik would suggest. Telling her father meant she’d have to tell him everything. He was going to be livid; however, it was the right thing to do. She had to protect her parents. Her only fear was that she wouldn’t be able to save Grevik. How could she trade one life for another?

“Allyssa?” Jarvik asked. He hesitantly placed his calloused hand on her bare shoulder, sending a jolt of warmth through her. “If you want, I’ll speak with the emperor now.”

“Let me handle it,” she said.

“What are you going to tell him?”

“The truth.”

He removed his hand.

Allyssa turned to leave when she remembered something. “Grevik said it reminded him of that time we caught snake dealers.” She couldn’t believe she’d almost forgotten this important detail.

“You caught snake dealers?” Jarvik asked.

“No. That’s the problem. We never caught illegal snake traders. Grevik said it for a reason, although I haven’t figured out why.”

“I agree,” he said. “It has to be of importance. If I think of anything, I’ll let you know.”

She turned again to leave.

“Wait.” She froze, not turning around to face him. “Allyssa,” Jarvik whispered her name like a soft caress, the feeling in the room suddenly shifting.

She closed her eyes, knowing he stood a few feet behind her dressed in a handsome tunic with his hair a mess from him running his hands through it.

Fabric rustled, and the sound of his breathing neared. Neither of them spoke. Her bare skin warmed from the closeness of him. She wanted to turn around to face him, but knew she couldn’t. Something light and soft like a feather caressed the base of her neck. 

“Allyssa,” he whispered in her ear. She shivered. His finger delicately traced a line from her shoulder down to her hand. “I’m afraid you’re locked in this cage of deceit with me. When you break free, you’re going to hate me.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Just … be careful today in case the assassin is lurking somewhere.”

“Of course,” she said, her voice hoarse.

“Are you armed?” He must have moved further back because she was suddenly cold, and he no longer spoke by her ear.

“Yes.”

“Good. Make sure you’re armed at all times—even at the ball tonight. Don’t eat anything unless it has gone through your food tasters twice.”

“Why the sudden concern?” she asked, still not facing him. “I didn’t think you liked me.”

There had to be more going on than just his desire to protect Prince Odar. Did he have feelings for her? 

“I don’t know,” he answered. “Let’s just say you’ve grown on me.”

Biting her swollen lip, she finally decided to turn around to face him. Only, Jarvik was gone, the interior door slightly ajar.

***

“Why did the squire want to speak to you?” Mayra asked as they walked down the hallway.

“Oh,” Allyssa stuttered, not sure what to say. It would be wonderful to confide in her friends; however, admitting that she had any sort of attraction to Jarvik was dangerous. “He just wanted to go over some security measures.”

Mayra glanced sideways at her. “Whatever you say.”

“Let’s head outside,” Madelin suggested. “We’ve been to the seamstress. No one will find fault if we go to the courtyard.”

“Are you all right?” Mayra asked. “You seem a little frazzled.”

Allyssa stopped walking and turned to face her two ladies-in-waiting. “I’m sorry. I’m just distracted.” She wished she could tell them about Grevik. Glancing at her guards a respectful distance away, she was acutely aware of them watching her every move. Before she faced her father, she needed some time alone to organize her thoughts.

“Is there anything we can do to help?” Madelin offered.

“Why don’t the two of you prepare my dress for this evening? I want to stop by the library to grab a book. I’ll be along shortly.”

“You’re always at the library,” Madelin commented, rolling her eyes.

“She likes hiding in there,” Mayra added, playfully jabbing Madelin in the ribs.

“If the two of you must know, I need a moment alone before I find my father to tell him something.”

“What are you going to tell him?” Mayra asked. 

“I will explain everything later.” As Allyssa walked away, her guards trailing behind her, something tugged on her memory. Something about snakes, but she couldn’t quite pinpoint the memory she was searching for. 

A group of courtiers stood up ahead, talking to one another. Striding straight down the hallway, Allyssa maintained her position in the middle, expecting them to move out of her way. She hated to be so bold, so forward, but it was the way a princess was expected to act. Keeping her head held high as she passed them, they all bowed and offered words of congratulations. Allyssa thanked them as she strode past, not stopping.

When she reached the entrance to the library, she saw Jarvik and Odar sitting inside at a table with a pile of books between them. Several Fren soldiers sat at nearby tables, also combing through books. No one noticed her hovering in the doorway, so she backed up and proceeded down the hallway.

Turning the corner, she headed to the north tower, throwing the door open and entering. She climbed the hundreds of stairs, her legs burning from exertion. When she reached the top, she opened the door and went outside, the cool air caressing her skin. Allyssa smiled, reveling in the feeling of being up so high. The sun warmed her skin, and a sense of calming peace filled her. 

The guards remained inside on the stairs. Marek pushed past them and came outside to join her.

“Am I to have no peace?” She sighed.

“There is no such thing with war looming on the horizon.”

“I came here to be alone so I can think. I can’t do that with you here.”

He leaned against the waist-high stone wall. “I can’t allow you to be out here alone.”

They stood shoulder to shoulder in silence, overlooking the city.

“What’s bothering you?” he asked.

The image of Grevik bruised and strapped to the chair while the assassin sauntered around him, threatening him, was seared into her mind. She had to tell her father about the assassin, but she feared it would result in her never seeing Grevik again.

“Is there something going on between you and Jarvik?” Marek asked, reaching out and clutching her hand. “I’m the head of your personal guard and one of your best friends. You can tell me.”

“I came out here to organize my thoughts before I go and speak with my father.” She took a deep breath, holding tightly onto Marek’s hand. “Grevik is being held captive by an assassin sent here to kill the royal family.” 

Marek rocked back on his heels. “The one we ran into that night?” She nodded. “You mean to tell me you left the castle without me—which you promised not to do—and went to meet him?”

“Yes.”

His jaw clenched and he released her hand, punching the wall. “Is this why you’re suddenly so close with Jarvik?”

“Yes, I took him with me.”

“You trusted the squire from Fren, but not me?”

“I knew you’d never let me go. I had to find out what the assassin wanted.”

Marek made an odd noise, shaking his head in disgust. “You’re lucky to be alive.”

“He doesn’t know who I am.”  She proceeded to tell Marek about her two meetings with the assassin, along with seeing Grevik last night and his cryptic message.

“Snake dealers?” Marek questioned.

Leaning against the stone wall, looking out over the city, she replied, “Yes. We captured many criminals over the past couple of years, but snake dealers weren’t among them.”

There was some commotion on the stairs behind them. A Fren soldier emerged out of breath. “Your Highness,” he said. “I was told to give this to you immediately.” He held out a piece of paper.

Allyssa took it, and the Fren soldier left. Unfolding the paper, she read a hastily scribbled note:

Found a reference to snake traders.

Emperion uses the term for traitors who are put into exile.

She turned the note over. There wasn’t anything else. Marek leaned over her shoulder and read it. His face paled.

“What is it?” she asked, her heart pounding in her chest.

“This term originated twenty years ago when your mother took the throne. My father said she couldn’t sign the execution order for Empress Eliza or Princess Jana.”

“Yes. Instead, she banished them to a remote place in Emperion.”

“Do you remember anything else from your studies?”

The air rushed out of her and her head spun. “Eliza and Jana were taken away on a wooden cart under the guise that they were illegal snake traders—which was rampant at that time—so no one would know who they were.” How had she forgotten that? “They lived in exile for several years until they suddenly disappeared. No one knows where they went or what happened to them.”

“My father suspects they left Emperion completely. He thinks they sought protection from a neighboring kingdom.”

Did her father’s half-sister Jana really send an assassin to kill them? “Do you think she wants to reclaim the throne?” Allyssa asked.

“Possibly, but the timing is questionable. I think this is somehow tied to Russek.”

Jarvik’s words came back to her—the king of Russek recently married a widower who came to court with her elderly mother. Could King Drenton have married Jana? If so, was it Jana’s daughter who went to Fren to woo Prince Odar? She recalled Jarvik saying no one knew who Princess Shelene’s father was.

“It doesn’t make any sense,” Allyssa said.

“It makes perfect sense. King Drenton of Russek sent your family that letter telling you to go into exile in order to avoid the upcoming war, just as your family had sent Eliza and Jana into exile all those years ago. Jana wants to reclaim the Emperion throne and is using Russek’s might to do it.”