War (The True Reign Series) (14 page)

Darmik quickly thought.
Ellie and Neco should remain together. Vesha needed someone strong to watch her back. That left Audek and Savenek. Of the two, Savenek was the stronger fighter. Would it be more beneficial to have Savenek with Vesha, or accompanying Darmik?

Gaverek raised his eyebrows, awaiting
his answer.

“
Makes no difference,” Darmik said. “Audek, why don’t you accompany with me?”

“
Uh, yeah, sure,” Audek said. Darmik glared at him, and he snapped his mouth shut. Maybe choosing him wasn’t the best of ideas.

“
Excellent,” Gaverek said. “You two come with me.”

“
Where will the rest of my companions be?”

Gaverek walk
ed toward the door, not bothering to answer.

“
He’s quite friendly,” Audek sarcastically said. “This should be loads of fun.”

Darmik grabbed Audek
’s elbow, dragging him along after Gaverek, a dozen soldiers following. “What part of
keep your mouth shut
are you not understanding?” he hissed.

“
It’s shut! I’ll be quiet now, I promise.”

They went through the doorway, down a short hallway, and then stepped out into the bright sunlight.

“Oh boy, how do you people stand this heat?” Audek asked the soldiers surrounding them.

Shaking his head, Darmik hurried after Gaverek, ignoring Audek completely.

“I can see you are an effective leader and commander. Your subjects are quite obedient,” Gaverek said.

Darmik did
n’t respond. Instead, he looked around, trying to get his bearings. They were in the outskirts of the city near the military compound, which was directly north of the palace. Glancing east, he saw the training facility, nestled among the hills in the distance, where he’d spent most of his time.

“
Where’s the color?” Audek asked, jogging to catch up. “This place is so… blah.”

Darmik ignored him
. He should’ve brought Savenek instead.

Gaverek looked at Audek.
“Everything is functional and serves a purpose. It obviously works, seeing as how we’re the largest known empire in the world.”

“
Naw, that’s not what I meant,” Audek said.

Gaverek stopped and turned to face him.

“I…uh…meant that the place,” Audek frantically waved his arms, pointing to the dry, brown hills and the garrison nearby, “is…uh…rather limited in color.”

Gaverek cocked his head to the side, studying Audek.

“You know…’cause everything is brown.”

“
If you don’t shut your mouth and refrain from talking,” Gaverek said, “I’ll chop off your tongue. Understood?”

Audek nodded.

“Good,” Gaverek said. “Let’s continue—in silence.”

Darmik balled his hands into fists. He wanted to punch Audek. W
hat was the point of teaching him how to behave in Emperion if he was going to ignore everything Darmik had said?

They passed the
garrison and traveled directly toward the emperor’s home, approaching the twenty-foot wall surrounding the palace. Armed soldiers stood on top of it and in lookout towers. After being roughly searched, they were granted entrance. Once inside, Darmik had a clear view of the pristine palace.

The si
ght was astounding and unlike anything on Greenwood Island. The walls were made of shiny white stone tiles, while the roof was covered in gold. Several round towers stood throughout the massive structure. Even more intriguing were the vibrant, colorful gardens surrounding the entire place, a stark contrast to what was outside the wall.

Audek huffed,
about to say something, but Darmik clasped his hand over his mouth to prevent him from speaking. Audek’s eyes widened when he realized what he had almost done.

Th
ey walked along a cobblestone pathway toward the emperor’s home. Darmik had been there once before—when his uncle wanted to meet him when he first arrived at the mainland for military training. After that one time, he never stepped foot in the palace or saw his uncle again.

They
went through a golden doorway, at least fifteen feet tall. Inlaid on each door was the royal crest of Emperion, along with a large key. Audek grabbed Darmik’s arm, pointing to the doors.

Darmik doubted it was a mere
coincidence that Rema’s key necklace matched the shape of the keys on the doors. “Permission to speak?” Darmik asked. “I’d like to make sure my man behaves properly.”

Gaverek gave a curt nod.
“Fine. Just keep your voices low since we are inside the palace now.”

Leaning toward Audek, Darmik whispered
, “This building has been here for centuries. It was constructed when Emperion was first formed over six hundred and fifty years ago.” Rema’s key was no simple heirloom passed down through the rulers of each generation—it had ties all the way back here, to Emperion. It would, beyond a doubt, prove her to be the true heir to the Emperion throne.

The hallway before them
was adorned with gold-framed pictures covering the white walls, richly colored rugs atop the marble floors, and large, ceramic vases filled with fragrant flowers. The ceiling was covered with paintings.

“
This is…it’s…” Audek mumbled.

“
Yes,” Darmik agreed. “Please remember to show the utmost respect before the emperor. Do you remember how to bow and properly greet him?”

Audek nodded, his focus on the ceiling. Darmik followed his line of sight. The ceiling had a painting of
a beautiful girl with long, dark hair. In her hands lay a key—the exact replica of Rema’s.

“
Try not to gawk,” Darmik said. “It makes us look like simpletons.” He hoped no one noticed them observing all the keys. Darmik thought back to his studies when he was here before. He didn’t recall anything about keys being a symbol or having meaning, yet they obviously did, seeing as how they were everywhere.

Gaverek stopped before a large door with a key
-shaped handle. “The emperor is in his receiving room.” He pointed to the door. “When we enter, keep your head down, wait to be presented, and then bow. Once he acknowledges you, you may rise. If you do anything disrespectful, I’ll run my sword through you.”

“
But there would be blood everywhere. Would the emperor want you ruining his room?” Audek asked in mock horror.

Gaverek
’s gaze darkened. “You wouldn’t last a day under my command.”

“
Then I guess it’s a good thing I’m not under your command. Now, are we going to do this? I’m ready to meet the all-powerful emperor.” He clasped his hands together. Darmik was on the verge of running his own sword through Audek, just to get him to shut up.

“
Excuse me,” Darmik addressed the servant passing by. “May I please have the sash around your waist?”

The girl looked confused,
but she complied. Darmik took the fabric and tied it around Audek’s head, covering his mouth.

“
You’re going to get us both killed. Keep your mouth shut.”

Gaverek
chuckled and opened the door. Darmik stepped into the receiving room. Walking down the center aisle, he glanced around. There were several velvet-covered sofas and goldwood chairs throughout. In one corner stood some sort of tall, stringed instrument. The walls were adorned with framed portraits of all the emperors who ruled through the years. At the end of the aisle was a raised, marble dais with two intricately designed golden chairs. Looking closer at them, Darmik saw there were keys engraved in the gold—keys that matched Rema’s necklace.

Other than their party,
the room was empty. Gaverek instructed Darmik and Audek to wait by the dais. There was a door off to the side, and Darmik suspected the emperor was behind it.

Gaverek
knocked on the door, mumbling something that Darmik couldn’t hear, and then he straightened and announced, “His Majesty, Emperor Hamen.”

A regal
man with fair skin and black hair entered the room. He wore an emerald-green tunic embroidered with the Emperion crest. A gold crown embedded with emeralds sat atop his head.

Darmik dropped to his knee, bowing his head in submission.

“Rise,” the emperor commanded in a deep, authoritative voice.

Darmik stood and looked at the man before him.

“I didn’t think I’d see you back here,” Emperor Hamen said.

“
Uncle, I didn’t expect to be back here either.”

The emperor smiled, catching Darmik
’s familiar use of wording.

“
I assumed I’d receive a…” Darmik searched for the right word—not
warm
exactly, “a more hospitable greeting—one befitting of my station.”

The emperor crossed his arms
, his broad shoulders pulling his tunic. “Everyone out.”

Darmik kept his focus on his uncle. He felt
Audek’s questioning stare, but he refused to take his eyes off the man before him.

When the room was completely empty except for the two of them, the
emperor asked, “Why are you here?” His eyes appeared tight with concern.

“
You sent an assassin to my kingdom,” Darmik answered, trying to ascertain if Rema had already arrived or not.

“
Greenwood Island is not
your
kingdom,” the emperor said, moving to the window. “What have you done with my man?”

“
Nothing,” Darmik said. “But he has taken something of mine.”

“
Oh?” The emperor stared outside, his back to Darmik.

“
Yes. And I’m here to get it back.”

E
mperor Hamen turned around to face him, his eyes cold and hard. “And what is the item you
think
my man took?”

“
The woman I am going to marry.”

The emperor
’s eyes narrowed as he stood there facing Darmik, studying him.

“
You’re a hard one to read,” he said, rubbing his chin. “I have you and your companions thrown into the dungeon, you watch your friends’ interrogations, and you don’t fight back. Why? Simply to be granted a meeting with me?” He turned and faced outside again. “I thought it had something to do with a piece of important information you may have…accidentally…stumbled upon. But that’s not the case. You’re here because of my assassin.” Emperor Hamen went to one of the velvet chairs and sat down, tapping his fingers on the armrest. His eyes roamed over Darmik as if he were dissecting him. “Stop standing there and sit.”

Darmik did as requested, taking a seat
on the sofa opposite him. He kept his mouth shut, waiting for his uncle to continue.

“
Tell me what you know of the assassin’s mission.”

Now was the time to tread very carefully. Darmik decided to fabricate a story.
“The assassin was looking for Lennek’s fiancée, Rema, who was sentenced to be executed.”

The emperor nodded, knowing all of this already.

“Greenwood Island has a small band of rebels who try to undermine the king whenever an opportunity presents itself. In an attempt to flush out these men, I put a decoy on the gallows. The real girl was executed, and the decoy was rescued by the rebels. I used her to follow them to their base camp. Your assassin took my decoy.”

“
And this decoy, as you call her, is your fiancée?”

“
She is.”

The emperor leaned back on his chair, a hint of a smile across his face.
“Why so careless with the ones we love?” he asked, staring at Darmik.

Darmik didn
’t know how to respond to his uncle, but he got the distinct impression he was missing a vital piece of information.

“
I’m going to be honest with you,” Emperor Hamen said. “I find it hard to believe my assassin made a mistake.”

“
I tried explaining the situation to him, but he wasn’t interested in reason.”

“
Well,” the emperor mused. “It seems we have a problem, don’t we?”

Darmik
’s heartbeat quickened. Was Rema already dead? Was he too late to save her?

“
My assassin hasn’t returned yet.”

Relief
coursed through Darmik, and he suddenly breathed easier. If he was smart about it, he could save her.

“
You will stay here until he does,” the emperor continued. “When my man arrives, I will verify the girl’s identity. If you are lying to me,” Emperor Hamen said as he stood, “I’ll have your companions executed.”

Interesting that the emperor would threaten the lives of
his friends, but not Darmik himself. Why couldn’t Darmik have a single normal, decent relationship with a family member? Why did everyone treat him like dirt? Go out of their way to degrade him?