Chapter Sixteen

Liane took a step closer to the bed, where Sebestyen’s bride was being trained.

The potion she’d collected from Gadhra this morning had not been necessary for this session. Perhaps it wasn’t wise at all. But she’d wanted to see this girl squirm. She’d wanted to see Sophie Fyne degraded. No one could be as beautiful and good and loving and disturbingly perfect as this woman appeared to be.

That was what Liane wanted, right? This girl would be no shy bride on her wedding night. She’d be well-educated in the art of sex, she’d be no better than any other concubine.

So why had one word made Liane’s blood run cold?

“What did you say?” she whispered.

“I’m sorry,” Sophie said again.

Liane grabbed Vito by the hair and forcibly pulled him away from the girl. He stumbled back awkwardly. “You’re sorry who?”

“Kane,” Sophie whispered. “I love him, isn’t that terrible? I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him, but I did. And as if that isn’t bad enough, now look at me...”

Liane shooed the Masters away, and reluctantly they left Sophie’s side. “That’s enough for now,” she said.

The Masters didn’t argue, but Vito did raise an insolent eyebrow.

“I’ll send for you if I need you.”

They quickly dressed and left, closing the door behind them. Liane sat on the bed beside Sophie. She covered the naked and trembling girl with a pink silk bedspread. “This Kane you speak of, what is his family name?”

Sophie shook her head and grasped the coverlet to her breast. “I can’t say. I can’t. I shouldn’t have said even his given name. I promised I wouldn’t.”

The way Sophie had jumped when she’d heard the name Liane...was it possible? “Is his family name Varden?”

Sophie’s eyes flew open. “I didn’t say that did I? At first I thought maybe you were his sister, but...that can’t be. You’re not like him. He’s fine and honorable and good...” She swallowed hard. “They’ll hurt him if I raise a fuss. That’s what you said. I have to marry the emperor so they’ll let him go.”

Sophie actually believed that Sebestyen would release his prisoner if she did as he asked. Where had she been living all these years, to be so naive?

“Kane is your friend?” Liane asked, horrified. “He’s the one the soldiers are holding on Level Twelve?”

“Yes,” Sophie whispered. “Don’t let them hurt him. Please. Let him go and I’ll do anything. I’ll even marry the emperor if I have to.”

Liane brushed a strand of hair away from Sophie’s face. “The baby, is she...Kane’s daughter?”

“Yes,” Sophie whispered.

Liane closed her eyes. What was she to do now? Everything had been going her way in the past few weeks. Everything! Sebestyen relied upon her more every day. She had his ear; she had his body. She’d betrayed Maddox to get to this place. How could she risk it all in the name of a boy she hadn’t seen in sixteen years?

But risk she would. Sebestyen had taken the possibility of simple happiness away from her. Home, family, children—they were impossible. She wouldn’t allow him to take her little brother.

Kane lifted his head and stared at the soldier Nairn through a red haze. Blood stung his eyes and marred his vision, pain shot through his body from head to toe. His cheek hurt where Nairn had marked him. His head pounded, there above the eye. Blood poured from the wound, blinding him.

It was a nightmare that would never end. The soldier who’d killed Duran hit and slashed and kicked and talked. He talked and talked until the sound of his voice was as painful as the blows and the cuts.

Where was Sophie? Was she locked in a dark cage like this one?

No, her father was a minister, an important man. She’d be safe here. Who would dare to hurt someone so beautiful and kind? What kind of a monster would raise a hand to someone like her, a woman who would never hurt another living soul?

No matter what happened he couldn’t say her name, not even right before he died. He couldn’t let Nairn know what Sophie meant to him. They had been traveling together, that’s all. The soldiers didn’t need to know anything more.

So when her name came to his lips he bit it back. He swallowed it. He tasted it.

Kane was vaguely aware that his clothes were in shreds, and there was blood pooling in other places on his body, not just on his face. Nairn swung his stout stick once again. Pain radiated through Kane until it was no longer specific, but wafted through his entire body. Was the left leg broken? Was something beneath the skin, on the left side of his body, also broken?

The soldier swung again, and the stick landed on the leg that hurt so badly. Kane’s vision began to go and he was glad. Unconsciousness would be a relief.

But it didn’t come. He held on because he knew with unconsciousness would come death. He wasn’t ready for death, not until he knew Sophie was being cared for.

Even Nairn was surprised when the door to the cell opened and a woman walked in. Kane blinked, but still couldn’t see well. It wasn’t Sophie. That’s all that mattered. He didn’t want her to be in this awful place; he didn’t want her to see him like this, chained to the wall and bleeding. The woman who entered was dressed in an official red robe, and her hair was not fair like Sophie’s.

“What are you doing to this man?” she asked sharply.

Nairn lowered the stick he’d been using this go-round. “He’s a prisoner.”

“A prisoner you were ordered not to harm.”

“No, I was ordered not to kill him,” Nairn argued. “He’s not dead. Yet.”

The woman walked closer to Kane, her blurred movements slow and graceful. She removed a scarf from around her neck, wet it in Nairn’s drinking water, and wiped the blood from Kane’s face. Her hand on his cheek was so gentle. “This is bad, but it can be fixed. There will be a scar, I fear.”

There was something familiar about that voice. The woman who wiped the blood off his face and out of his eyes sounded very much like his mother. His mother had been gone so long, he was amazed he remembered her voice at all. Maybe it was a hallucination. Maybe he was already dead.

“The fecking rebel marked me in battle,” Nairn protested indignantly. “It is my right to mark him in return.”

Kane blinked as the woman bandaged his bleeding head with her scarf. He could see her a little bit better now. He really was hallucinating. The woman looked like his mother. Before she got old and broken by hard work. Before the loss of her daughter made her age twenty years overnight. The truth hit him hard, making his heart hitch.

“Liane,” he whispered.

She smiled and nodded.

Nairn became concerned. He hefted his stick in one hand and took a step toward Liane and the prisoner. “I was not informed that the prisoner was of interest to Emperor Sebestyen. I was told we’d most likely be allowed to do away with him in a day or two. If I was misinformed, then you have my deepest apologies.”

Liane lifted her hand, and Nairn stopped in the center of the cell. He came no closer. “I’d be happy to escort the prisoner to more appropriate quarters if his position in the palace has improved.”

“Don’t listen to him,” Kane whispered. “He’s lying.”

“Why would I lie?” the soldier snapped. “I live to serve Emperor Sebestyen. Please allow me to see the prisoner to better quarters, if that is the emperor’s wish.”

Another minute with Nairn, and he’d be dead. Kane knew that. “Don’t listen to Nairn. He wants to kill me the way he killed Duran.”

Liane’s eyes filled with tears, quickly and briefly. And then they were dry. “No. Not Duran. He’s the baby. You’re mistaken.”

Kane shook his head. “I wish I was mistaken, but I saw him die. This bastard sliced him open and posted his head on a stick and—”

He didn’t know where the knife came from, but Liane moved quickly and suddenly there was a short but deadly-looking blade in her hand. She spun, and before Nairn knew what was happening she’d slit the soldier’s throat.

Nairn barely had time to lift a surprised hand before he dropped to the floor.

Liane snatched the keys from the soldier’s belt and began to unlock the chains that tethered Kane to the wall. “I’m going to get you out of here,” she said.

Kane shook his head. “I can’t leave without Sophie and the baby. Help me find them and then the four of us can escape together.”

“No,” Liane snapped. “I’ve done all I can do. I’ve jeopardized enough. I’m going to walk you to a side exit. No one will question us. I want you to get out of the city as quickly as possible, and don’t come back.”

Kane shook his head. “I’m not leaving Sophie.”

Liane pushed him against the wall. He was so weak, he thudded against the stone wall and lost his breath.

“Don’t you understand?” Liane snapped. “Your Sophie is going to be empress, two days from now. It’s been decided and there’s nothing you can do about that. It’s too late for her. But it’s not too late for you. Forget Sophie. You can find another woman, someone like her perhaps. Make more babies, build a house, plant in the spring.”

“I can’t forget Sophie.”

“Why not?” Liane snapped. “You forgot me.”

Kane lifted a weak hand to Liane’s cheek. Constant pain radiated through his body, but by focusing on her face he remained strong. After all these years, she was here before him. Changed and yet...not so very changed.

“I never forgot you. None of us ever forgot you.”

Her expression did not soften one bit. “I couldn’t tell it from here.”

He raked his thumb along her cheek. It was worse than he’d imagined. All this time, had she thought her family didn’t care? That they hadn’t tried? “The day you were taken, Father went to the local sheriff and demanded action. He demanded your return. He was killed right there at the sheriff’s office.”

Liane flinched.

“Mother was never the same, after you left. She buried Father and tried to keep the farm running. When Stepan insisted on going to the palace itself to rescue you she tried to stop him—but not very hard. She hoped and prayed that her eldest son could find her only daughter and bring her home.”

“Don’t tell me this,” she whispered.

“He made it to the city, but when he reached the palace and demanded your release, the soldiers killed him. They brought him home and tossed him on the doorstep like a bag of garbage. I wanted to march to the palace and revenge Stepan and you, but Mother wouldn’t allow it.”

“You were twelve years old,” Liane whispered. “You wouldn’t have had a chance.”

“I wanted to try to save you. We all wanted to try. Mother used to say a prayer every night—”

Liane closed her eyes tight. “No more.”

After all these years, she was right here before him. A different person. A woman, not a girl. He did not know the woman she had become, but she was his blood. And all this time she’d thought her family didn’t care. That was as ugly as her kidnapping and all that had followed.

“Did you really think that you’d been forgotten?”

“Yes.”

“We never forgot you,” Kane said. “We’ve fought for you since the day you were taken. Mother died in shame and sorrow, and when she was gone they burned the house and gave away the land. Six years ago, when the rebels banded together under Arik’s direction, Duran and Valdis and I all joined.”

“No!” Her eyes flew open. “My brothers are not rebels!”

“Brother, not brothers,” he said in a harsh voice. “It’s just me, now. Valdis didn’t last a year.”

Those tears shone in her eyes again, but the eyes were hard. So hard. “All the more reason for you to get out of here now.”

“Not without my woman and my daughter. I’d rather be dead than leave them here.”

Liane cocked her head to one side and gave him the strangest look, as if she had no idea what that kind of love was all about.

The quarters that had been assigned to Galvyn were very nice, if a touch feminine for his tastes. Servants were available at all hours of the day. They came at the tinkling of a little silver bell that sat on his bedside table, ready to serve his every need. He was well aware of the guard posted at his door, and he knew what that meant. For the moment he was a prisoner as well as a guest. That that would soon change. When Sophie and he were married, everything would change.

He made the best of his stay, prisoner or not. The bed was soft and warm. The food was the best he’d ever tasted, the wine sweet and rich. Beautiful women bathed and dressed him, and even though they did not say so, he knew that if he wanted any one of them in his bed they would be on their backs in the blink of an eye.

But he showed no interest in them. The women who served him were pretty, especially the redhead, but he doubted they’d be discreet. It simply would not do for word to reach Minister Sulyen that his daughter’s fiancé sought pleasure elsewhere.

He had not seen Sophie’s baby since being assigned to these quarters, and that suited him well. Of course, one day he and Sophie would have children of their own, and when that came to pass the little brat would have to meet with a tragic accident. His children would not share their mother’s love and attention with a bastard. The brat was being cared for, of that he was certain. The emperor would be sure to take good care of his Minister of Defense’s grandchild.

Bors had taken up residence in the city for the time being.

Soon he’d return to his post in the Southern Province, but not until this new and highly placed connection in the palace was in order. He wanted to be sheriff of the province he called home, and a friend in the palace would help spur that dream along.

Bors was not a patient man.

Yes, the new quarters were very nice, but Galvyn was getting anxious. He’d been in Arthes a week. No, more than a week. Eight days. Where was Sophie? She should’ve been right behind him; she should have been here by now. Maybe she was having trouble entering the palace, since Minister Sulyen was still away. But surely the emperor had told his sentries to expect her. Maybe she’d taken the longer southern route, though he had expected her to choose the most direct road to her daughter, no matter how harsh.

Maybe she wasn’t coming at all. Maybe she’d rather sacrifice her own child than become his bride. The idea roused a knot of hatred in Galvyn’s gut. If she didn’t show up soon he’d go back to Shandley and collect her himself, and he would not be as gentle with her as he’d been with her child.

Surely Minister Sulyen would understand that at times a woman must be forcefully told what’s best for her. Even if that woman happened to be his daughter.

One way or another, Sophie’s lover would die. Maybe Galvyn would do the deed himself. Then again, when he had an army of men at his disposal, he could relegate unpleasant chores. He’d like to see Kane Varden try to take on an entire army. More, he’d like to see Varden lose.

When the door to his quarters opened in the middle of the afternoon—after luncheon and long before dinnertime—Galvyn jumped out of his chair. Finally! Sophie was here, and he would be summoned to the emperor. Would they be wed right away? Or would the emperor make them wait until Sulyen returned?

He didn’t want to wait. If Emperor Sebestyen learned that Sophie was a witch as well as a gorgeous, well-bred woman, he might very well decide that marriage to a distant cousin and successful merchant wasn’t good enough for her.

The sooner they were wed, the better.

Sure enough, it was two green-clad guards who entered his quarters, not the usual meek women who served him.

“It’s about time,” he snapped as he joined them.

The guards looked at one another; one of them almost smiled. “You’re anxious to get to your new quarters, then,” the amused sentinel said.

“New quarters? I’m not being summoned to the emperor?”

“Not at this time. But Emperor Sebestyen seems to think these new accommodations will be more to your liking.”

Galvyn glanced back at the feminine room. How thoughtful of the emperor. “Should I collect my things now or...” One of the sentinels took Galvyn’s arm. “We’ll have your belongings delivered later in the day.”

People in power did not tote their own things from place to place. There were servants for such duties. “Of course.”

The sentinels flanked him, and that one continued to hold his arm. They walked not to another room on this Level, but to the end of the hallway and the stairway there.

“We’re moving to another Level?” Galvyn asked.

“Yes,” The sentinels walked faster than Galvyn was accustomed to and he had to hurry to keep up, since they still held onto him as if they thought he might fall.

“Can’t we use the lift?”

One of the soldiers laughed. “The lift is reserved for the emperor and his most honored guests and companions.”

“I am an honored guest,” Galvyn argued.

The soldiers did not respond, and the three of them continued to move downward. The stone staircase twisted and turned, it spiraled downward steeply. When Galvyn looked all the way down the center of the stairwell he became dizzy. They did not stop at Level Six or even Level Ten, but kept moving down. At one point the noise was so loud he covered one ear with his free hand, but then the noise subsided, and at last they reached their destination.

The stairway went no lower.

One sentinel pushed the door open, and the three of them stepped into a long, bare hallway. Unlike Level Five, there were no carpets on the floor, no flowers in alcoves, no pretty servants. Only a long, plain hallway with many wooden doors and a couple of rough-looking soldiers.

He balked. “There’s been a mistake...”

“No mistake.” The soldier dragged him halfway down the hallway and one of the soldiers in the corridor unlocked a heavy wooden door. It was flung open with a screaming creak, and Galvyn glanced inside.

Stone walls, stone floors, no bed, no chair, no window. There were only two things besides cold stone in this cell: chains hanging from the wall and a chamber pot. The chamber pot was half full, and it filled the cell with a stench. Galvyn gagged and put his hand over his nose as he was shoved into the room.

“This is a mistake,” he said again. “I am the emperor’s cousin. I am to be married to Minister Sulyen’s daughter!”

The heavy wooden door closed on his protests, and a frightened Galvyn retched onto the floor of his new quarters.

Liane kicked the soldier on the floor as she walked past. Nairn. Kane had called him by that name. She would have done more than kick Nairn, but he was dead and she needed all her strength to support Kane.

Her brother was in bad shape. He had lost a lot of blood and he couldn’t put more than the slightest bit of weight on his left leg. His face was swollen and so was his body, and what was left of his clothes would have to be burned. There was no way they could be saved.

Another blow very well might’ve killed him. If he didn’t get care right away, he could still die.

If everything Kane said was true, they were the only ones left. The rest of the family was gone. Dead. All because when she’d been fifteen she’d caught the eye of a soldier who thought she might please the new, young emperor.

“Let me lead you outside,” she whispered. “Get out of the city and find a doctor. I’ll do what I can for Sophie and the baby. I’ll make their lives here as pleasant as possible.”

Kane shook his head. “No. I’m not leaving here without them.”

She didn’t know if it would be possible to save Sophie from Sebestyen. She wasn’t even sure she knew how to try. “Don’t be ridiculous,” she snapped. “Would you truly give up your life for a woman?”

“Yes,” Kane said without hesitation. “I would.”

Liane faced the closed door to Kane’s cell. Both sentinels on duty had seen her enter the room. They still stood in the hallway. From the sounds of commotion on Level Twelve, a new prisoner was arriving. New sentinels, too. A cell door slammed on the man’s protests, and a couple of the guards laughed at his distress.

Liane stared at the wooden door. She couldn’t sneak out of the cell, she couldn’t disguise Kane or ignore Nairn’s body. If there were only two guards, she could kill them both and then make her escape.

But there were more than two sentinels, now. There were four, at the very least. She couldn’t fight her way out of here, but she could bluff her way out. She’d been bluffing her way out of tough situations all her life.

She opened the cell door and stepped into the hallway, supporting Kane as best she could. The sight of the emperor’s favored woman and a wounded prisoner arm in arm shocked the sentinels—four of them, she noted—but they recovered quickly.

“Nairn is dead,” Liane said simply. “He dared to touch me, and no man touches me without the emperor’s approval. He should’ve known that.”

The sentinels stopped where they stood, keeping their distance. “What about him?” one young soldier asked, nodding to Kane.

“He’s to be a Level Three master-in-training,” she explained. “After he’s healed, of course. Nairn damaged him.” She glared at each sentinel in turn. “Did any of you have a hand in damaging this prisoner?”

They all shook their heads quickly. “We didn’t touch him,” one sentinel said. “Nairn said the prisoner Ryn was his.”

Yes, Sophie had given that name when Sebestyen had asked for one. Ryn. Had she known the name Varden would rouse suspicion? A shiver walked down her spine. Did Sebestyen even know her family name? Did he care?

“I don’t believe we’re allowed to release prisoners into your custody,” the eldest of the guards said suspiciously.

Liane smiled. “Do you not know what goes on within these walls, soldier? I not only have Emperor Sebestyen’s ear, I have his hand and loyalty and support. A command from me is the same as a command from the emperor. If you doubt it ask him yourself.” Her smile widened. “But I do have to warn you, he is not in the best of moods today.”

“Do you require assistance?” A younger sentinel who hung to the back asked.

Kane would be difficult to move on her own, she knew that. But she didn’t want any one of these men to lay their hands on him.

“No. I’ll manage.”

She and Kane did manage to walk down the hallway, though his limp was severe and he was unsteady and wheezing. The sentinels parted, giving them wide berth. No one would question why she claimed a prisoner for Level Three. They would all assume that he had some talent, some extraordinary attribute that made him suitable for the position.

And not one of them would dare to confront Sebestyen, about this or anything else.