Moonlight illuminated the tops of the trees before him, but the light wasn’t strong enough to penetrate through the lower branches into the bog itself. Caleb knew he’d have to wait until morning to get a better understanding of exactly what they were facing, but even in the darkness, it was clear the Lowetian Forest would’ve been more aptly named the Lowetian Swamp. It shouldn’t have been a surprise that this is where his army became bogged down.
Caleb had gotten an ear-full from Caroline Cook when he’d attempted to explain why he needed to go view the fortifications Clovington was constructing across the way. Despite her scolding, she had actually been more understanding than he had initially expected. He still felt guilty for leaving under the circumstances, but at least she hadn’t berated him for long. Caleb understood her reasoning, and he wished he could’ve stayed behind, but it wasn’t a possibility at the moment.
Despite the darkness, Caleb was certain David was correct in his assessment of the circumstances, and honestly, Caleb thought his second-in-command could have handled the situation himself. However, David had always been hesitant to make decisions on his own when the situation was dire, such as this one. On the ride from Caine, they’d discussed the possibility of building a corduroy road through the driest passages of swampland. They’d initially thought the men might need to burn their way through because of the thick thorns and dense foliage, but David reported that the further into the forest they advanced, the less obstructed the path became, so they determined they could chop their way through the thickest sections as long as they were mindful of the carts and horses that would follow the infantry. The terrain was certainly going to slow them down, but it was not impenetrable, and they would break through in a matter of days.
As for the ridiculous fortifications his scouts reported on the other side of the forest, Caleb was eager to see them in the daylight for himself. Reports came back that they certainly wouldn’t hold against any amount of force and that Philip hadn’t even been intelligent enough to place them on the ridge beyond the clearing. Caleb was confident it was just a matter of days now before the Arterians broke through these meager defenses and penetrated Castle Blackthorn. He was more concerned about what he would find there than he was about calculating his arrival.
Taking Blackthorn would be one thing, but holding it would be another. His supply line was long, and it would be difficult to maintain if he couldn’t find a way to shift it to another location outside of the forest. He wasn’t concerned about the Clovington forces; he was sure they would be practically annihilated after this. He was more apprehensive that Leopold would send down reinforcements from Gradenia, and the first thing those bastards would do is break through his supply line and attempt to cut him off from retreating. He was honestly surprised that Leopold hadn’t reared his ugly head yet. What could the savage be waiting for?
Assuming Leopold would come in eventually, Caleb had to consider how to hold Blackthorn. Either that, or he had to find a way to destroy the fortress. One thing was indisputable; he had to make sure that neither Philip nor Leopold had control of that castle at the end of this. When this was over, there could be no more threat from Clovington.
After a long day riding to the front, the king decided to spend the night out in the trenches with his men. The army life gave him the opportunity to relax, to be a little less royal and a little more common, so he enjoyed his time out here. His only regret was that he would not be able to receive updates from the castle in a timely fashion. He was hopeful that word would be sent to him sometime tomorrow letting him know how their patient was advancing. At this point, he intended to stay with the army until they reached Castle Blackthorn and reclaimed his brother, despite the situation he’d left behind. Seeing the situation for himself ensured him they would be standing in Castle Blackthorn in a matter of days.
Dinner grew cold while Philip listened to Katherine’s lady drone on about her preparations for the wedding. He took a swig of his wine and pretended to be polite, though he was certainly sorry he had asked. She rattled on about the fabrics, the music, the food, going into great detail about how she had wanted a certain flower, but it wasn’t in season, so there weren’t enough for all of the bouquets. So, they had chosen a different flower. But that didn’t look right, so they had to use something else. On and on and on! And then there was the problem of the attendees. Unfortunately, it seemed, none of the dignitaries from Nadoria were willing to come to the ceremony because of the threatening Arterians. Even Katherine’s family had yet to respond, and Joan had sent word to them first thing yesterday morning. Surely, they would have received the dispatch by now!
The meat was dry and the wine was flowing. Philip was trying not to drink too much, afraid of losing his tact again, yet it also occurred to him that a bit of inebriation might make this painful conversation a bit more bearable. It was all he could do not to scream at the chatty little blonde woman to stop talking! But, he was inclined to be patient and show some kindness so as to restore Katherine’s sense of comfort with him.
He tried to focus on his bride-to-be instead of the woman who spoke for her. Katherine also looked as if she were having difficulty putting up with Joan’s incessant chattering. Occasionally, Katherine threw her elbow in her lady’s direction, as if begging her to stop, but the message was lost, and the woman continued, the rest of the table either feigning interest or engaging in side conversations, despite the rudeness of participating in such an activity.
Unlike the other evening when Philip had preferred a more intimate dinner party, he had invited all of his usual subjects to join them tonight. He wasn’t exactly sure how many more opportunities they may have to gather around this table, and he wanted everyone present, not because he cared about their welfare, but because he wanted as many chances as possible to assert his authority as king. If he found himself a prisoner or a guest in neighboring Gradenia soon, he would no longer command his own table, no longer be the most important person in the room. Therefore, it was essential to take advantage of these opportunities before they were lost forever.
Unfortunately, the blather spewing from the mouth of Lady Joan was just about enough to send him over the edge. He finally found himself interrupting her, turning to Charles and beginning a completely separate conversation about something that interested him; himself. “Charles, tell everyone about the archery contest we had this afternoon,” he commanded.
Charles looked a bit confused. He glanced at the woman who continued to speak as if she hadn’t noticed the king had moved on. Unsure if he should let Joan finish the sentence she was uttering, or if he should do as he was told, Charles began to speak quietly. “It really wasn’t much of a contest.” Philip laughed gleefully, forgiving his man for hesitating to follow a direct order. The king was certain Charles understood that he wanted him to tell the story to get the woman to stop talking, so he gestured for Charles to continue.
Charles cleared his throat and began to relay the tale, embellishing all the parts where the king had been successful and leaving out all of the parts where he had not. And of course, he made light of the fact that the only reason they had been practicing archery was because that was the only part of the army Philip currently thought was competent at all. The cavalry and inventory certainly weren’t up to par, so training with the archers was the only way to make himself believe he had a chance against the Arterians.
The story had been an attempt to assure the nobles of Castle Blackthorn that their king was capable of defending them, and that even in the midst of an inevitable attack, he was so assured of their ability to fend off any enemy that he was partaking in recreational activities. When Charles had finished, most of the sycophants present congratulated the king on his triumph. Philip pretended to be humble, looking down and waving their compliments away, but he relished being the center of attention, even if it wouldn’t last much longer.
The king didn’t miss his wife-to-be’s expression. He could tell that Katherine saw right through the aggrandizement. She snickered quietly to herself each time one of the other diners complimented him on his accomplishments as if she thought it was all a sham, a charade. He narrowed his eyes at her, and the princess looked away, a tinge of fear evident in her blue eyes even when she wasn’t looking directly at him. The idea that she was afraid of him made his smile broaden.
Even if Caleb arrived at the castle that very night, Katherine still belonged to Philip. He hoped the princess realized that. No matter if he had to turn tail and run, Philip planned to take her with him, to make her his wife, and then to insist Nadoria help him reclaim his kingdom. Whether she feared him or loved him, it did not matter to Philip. She was his just the same.
The king’s bedchamber had a full window, and even through the thick burgundy drapes, the light fell directly into Rose’s eyes, making it impossible to sleep. Philip was gone, had left before the sun came up. She’d known he would leave her. The advancing army had all the military men greatly concerned. Last night, after he made violent love to her, he had wanted to talk about the war. Rose knew something was different because he’d never wanted to converse when they were done, certainly not about such important matters. He usually fell asleep or told her to, “Get out! Now!”
But this time, he had confided in her. He sounded a bit like a frightened child. He was afraid of losing his kingdom, his home. He said he didn’t know what he would do if Leopold didn’t send help soon or if Nadoria continued to refuse to honor their agreement.
Though she was slightly concerned for the king and other castle-dwellers, Rose’s primary concern was for herself. If the Arterians were truly as close as it seemed, she would have to find a way to make sure she survived the attack, and if possible, improved her station. As she lay in the king’s bed, surrounded by all of his finery, her mind returned to her lifelong dream of becoming a queen. What kingdom, which king, none of that mattered. If Philip was about to end up a pauper, perhaps she should consider all of her services rendered.
As much as she wanted to become a royal, part of her truly cared for Philip, especially since he had finally confided in her after all of these years. Perhaps, if he escaped to Gradenia, he would agree to take her with him. Then, as a guest in Leopold’s land, perchance Philip would realize at last that he was truly in love with her and would ask her to be his wife. Even if her king no longer had a kingdom, she would still technically be a queen. And that was all she had ever wanted.
Sitting at a writing desk in the corner of her room, Katherine puzzled over the paper in front of her, holding a quill and studying what she’d done so far. It had been a long time since she had written anything. Refusing to write allowed her to keep her thoughts private, just like her refusal to speak, so sometimes, when she’d been asked to write as a child, she simply would not do it. But today, she needed to let Matthew know what she had discovered on her subterranean exploration of the castle. The best way to do that was by drawing a map, which would be easier for her because drawing was less invasive.
Looking over her work, she decided the message was clear. She gave it a few moments to dry, thankful that Joan was out in the castle somewhere working on wedding preparations. As soon as she was certain she wouldn’t smear the ink, she gathered the items she’d be taking with her, slipped the paper in the top of her basket, and headed out into the hall.
Most of the men were back at the front, so the castle was relatively quiet. The noblewomen tended to keep to themselves during the day, holed up in their rooms playing games together or refining their talents—art, embroidery, piano. Only a few servants passed by Katherine as she hurried on her way, and none of them paid her any mind.
Upon reaching the top of the stairs, Katherine found Matthew in good spirits. He was eager to wolf down the sustenance she’d brought him, drink the fresh water, and pass the debris from his project through the door. He called her Angel, which made her blush, and she waited for him to settle against the door before she handed through the map.
“What’s this?” He unfolded the thin parchment. Matthew’s eyes lit up when he realized what she had brought him. “Is this a map?” She acknowledged that it was, and watched as he pored over her recreation of the layers below the castle. Blackthorn had no dungeon below, as Philip preferred to keep his prisoners in more accessible locations. Beneath Blackthorn, tunnels and passageways created a tangled, confusing web that would be difficult to navigate, particularly by someone unfamiliar with the castle and in a hurry to escape. Additionally, Katherine had noted that all but one of the passages led either to the north or to the west, the two directions he would need to avoid. The only tunnel that led to the southeast happened to carry waste away from the castle. Katherine had considered an attempt at prying off the metal grate that obstructed the opening of the narrow passage to see exactly how disgusting a journey through this viaduct might be, but she couldn’t get it loose, and if the smell was any indicator of what lay on the other side, she was relieved to have an excuse to avoid it. If Matthew chose that avenue, he would have to discover its culmination for himself.
The king studied the rendering closely for several moments while Katherine strained to see him. Occasionally, he would make a quiet comment. “Oh, so this one leads here. Yes, yes. I could go that way but, no. Hmmm.” Finally, he turned back to look at her and asked, “What do you recommend, Angel?”
A little shocked he’d include her, Katherine took a moment to consider the question. She had thought long and hard about what she felt would be Matthew’s best prospect, but she hated to advise him because she didn’t want the responsibility of knowing she had chosen a path that may eventually lead him to recapture--or worse--death. Nevertheless, he had asked her council, and she absolved to answer him. She gestured for him to give her back the paper, which he did, and she used a small piece of charcoal to trace a path on the parchment for him.
Handing the paper back to Matthew, she pointed, and he studied the line she’d drawn intently. “What’s this?” he asked, indicating a doorway that Katherine had drawn on the paper. She took it back and labeled it appropriately. “War room,” he read. In order to use that route, he would have to walk right past Philip’s command center. “Interesting,” Matthew mumbled. “Yet, considering all of the other possibilities, that route does make the most sense.”
There was one other important inscription. In the tunnel she had indicated he should take, Katherine had written, “Shoes and clothes.” Matthew considered this before asking, “Will you leave these here for me?” She nodded. “Have you already?” Again, she nodded. “Where did you get them?” Katherine smiled broadly, wishing she could tell him. Somehow, he understood. “Do they belong to the king?” he asked.
The princess nodded, and they both began to laugh, Matthew a little too loudly considering the circumstances. Katherine glanced down the stairs, glad to see no one stirring at the bottom by the door.
“Well, Angel, it seems you’ve thought of everything. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate all of your help.” She smiled back at him, hoping he knew how much it meant to her that she’d been able to assist him.
Katherine had one more thing to hand him, but she wasn’t sure if it would fit through the narrow opening. She was determined to try, so she got it out of the satchel she was carrying and held it up for him to see.
“What’s this?” he asked as she attempted to wedge it through the opening. It was a thick black piece of cloth, the type one might find on the back of a piece of furniture. She also had a few finishing nails but there was no way a hammer would slide through the constricted opening. He would have to use the knife, or something else, to pound the nails in around him. It was not fool proof. Upon close inspection, anyone would certainly be able to see that this piece was not attached securely, but she was praying that Philip and his men were just the sort of fools who might fall victim to this sort of trickery.
“Unbelievable!” Matthew exclaimed once they were able to work the thick fabric through the slot. “This—this just might work!” He immediately went over to the large shelf, scooted it out from the wall, and held the material up to see if it was long enough. It was a tad bit too long, but it would certainly fit the back of the cabinet. “This will do nicely!” He took the fabric and the finishing nails and placed them inside of the back where he was almost finished creating an opening big enough to slide inside the piece and hide. The work looked tedious and slow going, but she imagined he had nothing better to do. At least he was making some progress.
Matthew slid back across the room on his knees, bumping into the door. “Angel, I don’t know how to thank you enough for all of your help. You’ve been so unbelievably kind. If there’s ever anything that I can do to repay you, please know that I will.”
She smiled back at him, wishing she could find a way to tell him just how much he had come to mean to her. Even though she had only met him a few days ago, it seemed as if she had known him always. He had restored her faith, proven that those in power can still be kind, and let her know that it was possible to find a kindred spirit, even in this world full of war and revenge.
Sitting there on her knees, staring through the slit at his handsome face, Katherine could almost believe that, perhaps, under different circumstances, she might’ve even been able to give her heart to this king. She’d fought off the thought each time it had entered her head, but looking into his brown eyes, it was there just the same.
Matthew was staring back at her intently. “Your eyes are so beautiful. So clear.” Katherine smiled at him, wishing she could touch him. It had been six months since his wife had passed away, and while that might not seem like much time, he’d spent so many hours alone, she wondered if he’d ever be able to move on, to love again, after watching his wife die. Could a heart so wounded ever heal?
When he spoke, Katherine believed she might have her answer. “Angel, would you consider going with me?”
Katherine’s eyes widened. She had not been expecting the question at all. Of course, of course, she wished to go with him. But the logistics would be nearly impossible. How would she know when he was able to escape? How would she be sure to find him without tipping Philip and his men off to his location?
He must have misread her expression of confusion as refusal. “It’s all right. I understand,” he said sounding bitterly disappointed.
Shaking her head violently, she attempted to convey her message. His puzzled expression told her he didn’t comprehend. She motioned for the paper, and after a second, he realized what she wanted and handed it back through the slot. She simply wrote, “I am scared,” and handed it back.
He read it, considered it, and then gently asked, “Scared of being caught? By Philip?” She nodded, and then so did he. “I see.” Disappointment still damped his smile, but at least he understood that it wasn’t that she didn’t wish to be with him. “If… if there was a way, would you come? Or if I was able to send for you later, would you meet me?”
Even though Katherine couldn’t imagine how that could ever be the case, this time she nodded her head vigorously, which shifted his smile. “Good, good, that’s a relief. All right then. We will figure it out, won’t we?” Once again, she nodded. He smiled at her reassuringly. “We’ll find a way to be together, safe and sound, beyond these castle walls. I promise.”
Katherine leaned forward as closely to the slot as she could, and he did the same. She wanted to believe him. Somehow, she had a feeling this promise would never come to pass.