Chapter 6

Rissa wasn’t sure if she believed her own ears. Did that hateful little man just announce that Drake had claimed himself king? Their uncle wouldn’t do such a dishonorable thing… would he? Of course, he would. Rissa’s lips thinned to a grim line as she answered her own question. Drake was a slimy snake, always undermining their father’s decisions and hating having to follow his orders. Anyone with half a brain could see how much Drake resented his brother and his title. Everyone but her father. No matter how disrespectful Lord Drake was, Marcus always overlooked it. He’s family, was his answer to everything his brother did wrong. She’d overlooked a lot of Drake’s faults at her father’s request. He had trusted way too easily. And look where it had gotten him.

Shaking her head, she trained her bow on Eisner directly below her and squinted her eye. She could take him out. Right now. What was Trystan waiting for? Give her the signal and Eisner was a dead man. His soldiers as well. Didn’t matter they were outnumbered. She’d take pleasure in killing them all. They’d already chosen their path. They deserved no mercy.

“You truly believe you can take us to Calis without a fight?” Rissa heard the steel in her brother’s voice and a tiny smile lifted the corner of her lips. Now we’re getting somewhere. Maybe Trystan did have some fight left in him after all. She had begun to believe otherwise since Davi’s death. No. Not going there. Not now. The enemy below was the focus right now.

Dammit, Trystan. Enough with the talking already.

“Oh, dear me, no.” Eisner’s voice settled over her with an oiliness that she could practically feel on her skin. “I’m hoping for a fight, to be honest. Like I said, my men here are getting bored. But take you to Calis I will, one way or another. King Calis always gets his way. You should know that by now. Before we commence, however, I must ask you to order your archers to step down.”

“I have no archers,” Trystan growled, but Eisner responded by clucking his tongue and pointing a finger toward the younger man.

“Please, don’t bother to lie. You have archers trained on us as we speak. One of them your sister, no doubt, since I don’t see her around. I’ve studied you all on my visits to the palace. The girl is more than adequate with a bow and arrow. Princess, please come out and join us. I’d feel much better knowing you weren’t planning to shoot me in the head.”

“Ri, stay where you are,” Trystan ordered over his shoulder, not taking his eyes off Eisner. He really didn’t need to say so. Rissa had no plans to do otherwise. She leveled her bow on her forearm once more and caught Eisner in the crosshairs.

“Anytime now, brother,” she whispered.

“I wouldn’t say that if I were you, Prince Trystan. For you see, I didn’t come without a backup plan. Bring her to me.”

Rissa lowered the bow once more and watched in puzzlement as a guard made his way through the throng from outside the gate. He dragged a girl behind him. With no regard to the cold, the girl was dressed in nothing but rags, her blonde hair hung loose and wild about her shoulders and one side of her face was swollen and bruised. She stumbled to a stop next to Eisner, her hands tied in front of her, as the soldier yanked her head back and settled a knife at her throat. Rissa had no idea who it was until Alixa’s cry of “Ella” pierced the air.

Ella? Rissa pulled the name from her memory. This was Alixa’s maid and Edric’s sister? But she was supposed to be dead.

“Release her,” Edric’s tortured voice elicited a small whimper from the girl.

“Now why would I do that? After I gave you two ingrates a home and fed you as well as my family, you both turned around and helped this treacherous little wasp run straight to Marcus Renauld with news of my loyalty to King Calis. Calis was not happy with that breach. My rations suffered greatly because of the three of you. I was punished. Withheld my rightful share and no wine. Do you know how much I love wine?”

“What have you done to her?”

Rissa almost didn’t recognize Alixa’s voice, it was so ragged and strained. It didn’t seem right to hear the usually snarky Alixa sound so broken.

Eisner spread his hands wide in fake innocence. “Me? I’ve done nothing. You caused this, my dear. All of it. Ella’s suffering falls entirely on you and her brother.”

“Ella…” Alixa stepped toward her friend but was met with numerous sword points as her father’s soldiers cut her off, allowing her no access to the other girl.

“Uh, uh. No comforting allowed. This is my time, remember?”

“What do you hope to achieve by bringing the girl here, Eisner?” Trystan demanded, and Rissa rolled her eyes at the question. Who cares what he’s doing, brother. Give me the signal to shoot.

“What I hope to achieve, boy, is to take you all prisoner. Calis requires you and your sister, and Briggs Villard. I’m just here to fetch you all and get back into his good graces. Now if you cooperate and come along quietly, I’ll let the girl and everyone else go free, including my back-stabbing daughter.”

“And if we don’t come willingly?”

“Then the girl and everyone else here dies and I still capture you. So, what do you say? Call off your archers and I’ll command the knife to be taken from the girl’s throat. Tit for tat.”

Don’t do it, Trystan. Rissa yelled silently at her brother’s back. Quiet stretched out for what felt like an eternity. Rissa was almost convinced Trystan was going to give up without a fight and her fingers tightened on her bow. She sure as hell wasn’t about to. Finally, Trystan’s steely tone floated up to her.

“My father was the bravest, smartest man I’ve ever known. He would never let Calis win that easily. Not without a fight. And neither will we. Today we will honor King Marcus Renauld by claiming victory. Stop hiding behind the girl and fight justly like the nobleman you claim to be.”

Trystan took a stance and held his sword in front of his body, ready to fight. Pride competed with the fear coursing through Rissa’s heart as she did the same with her bow.

“So be it.” Eisner’s tone was nonchalant with no indication of what was about to occur. Crimson blood splattered the young girl’s rags, her scream cut short, as the soldier carried out his threat and sliced his knife across her throat. She crumpled to the ground in a heap as Alixa’s agonized shriek pierced the air.

The girl’s death and Alixa’s scream were like sparks to a powder keg. Chaos broke out as Rissa loosed an arrow in retaliation. It sailed through the air and buried deeply into the murderous soldier’s thick neck. He grabbed at the arrow in shock as he fell to his knees and disappeared under the horde of soldiers at his back.

The roar of the attack was deafening, but Rissa exhaled, pushing all her emotions out and settled her stance. No time to be afraid. She nocked the next arrow and aimed straight for Eisner. Feeling for the wind. She could not miss. Calm settled over her as she zoned in on her target, but as if he sensed his impending death, Eisner ducked in amongst his men, hidden from her view.

Cursing with frustration, Rissa targeted the next in line. No time to pick and choose. She needed to take out as many of Eisner’s men as possible. The arrow sailed true, and the soldier Edric was battling screamed as the barb pierced him straight through the heart.

Again and again, she volleyed shots into the crowd below, taking down their enemies until she had no more arrows to spend. She threw her bow aside in impatience and grabbed the rusty sword she’d left leaning against the balcony rail. It wasn’t the best blade, but Trystan needed her help.

Terror thrummed through her veins in time to the pounding of her footsteps on the marble stairs. She refused to let it overwhelm her. Trystan was right. Her father would never give up without a fight. Calis could not get his hands on another member of the Tri-Gard. She would protect the senile old man with all she had or die trying.

Taking the stairs two at a time, Rissa hit the main floor and skidded to a stop as she caught movement out of the corner of her eye. A pale young girl emerged from the library at the bottom of the stairs, her face a mask of panic. Anna. Lady Yaro’s seer daughter.

“Wha-what’s happening?” the girl stuttered as she wrapped her arms around her thin frame.

“We’re under attack. Lord Eisner and his men,” Rissa responded as a shadow fell over the marble hallway. “Go. Hide,” she whispered. The terrified girl ran past her and up the stairs as fast as her legs could carry her. Moments later, a soldier barreled through the open doors, his hulking frame covered in a tunic of Isenore’s colors rather than Cullenspire’s plainer garb. One of Eisner’s men.

His cold, mud-colored eyes fell on her, and he actually smiled as Rissa held her sword in defense in front of her body like Avery had shown her. His smile widened as he took a couple of steps her way and she backed up from his approach.

“What do we have here now? Did they really leave a little girl in charge of protecting the old man?”

He was looking for Briggs.

“Don’t come any closer,” Rissa growled, hoping she sounded far more threatening than she felt.

“Or what?” he questioned as he took a few more steps.

“Or I kill you,” she answered bluntly. It didn’t seem to scare him at all. He actually laughed as he pointed to her blade.

“I hope you aren’t trying to scare me with that?”

Rissa held the sword in out in front of her, holding on tight with both hands, trying to keep the blade from shaking. “I said that’s far enough!”

“Get out of my way, girl.” The soldier sprinted across the distance separating them, swinging his massive broadsword and connecting with Rissa’s. The shock reverberated up her arm and into her shoulder. She grimaced in pain. For a moment they stared, hatred in each other’s eyes, blades intertwined before the man looped his blade low and jerked upward, tearing Rissa’s sword from her hands and sending it clanging down the hall.

Weaponless, Rissa turned to run, but a huge hand settled on her shoulder with a vise-like grip and pushed her straight into the wall. Her head bounced off the wood with a hollow sound as black spots filled her vision, the threat of passing out all too real. Her knees wobbled, and she nearly sank to the floor, but the meaty hand grabbed the front of her tunic and pushed her back into the wall, her toes dangling just above the marble floor and his sword at her chest. She yanked in vain at the hands holding her, trying to loosen his grip.

“Where is the old man?” the soldier growled in her face, his breath enveloping her with its rotted meat stench. She gagged in reflex. “Answer me before I slice you open,” he spat as he shook her a bit more.

Rissa fought to control her panic as Avery’s words popped into her head. When you are in a frazzled state of mind, you cannot act with speed or clarity.

Her eyes fell on the knife sheath at his side and a spark of hope bloomed.

“Please,” she begged as she stared up at him. “Don’t hurt me. You need me alive. I’m Princess Rissa. Eisner and Calis would want me alive. You can’t hurt me.”

His muddy eyes opened wider in recognition, and the black toothed smile crossed his face again as he realized what her confession meant. He had the princess in his possession. Eisner would be pleased. His grip loosened as he dropped her back on her feet and lowered his blade. Rissa made her move. Before he could react, she ducked, evading his grasping hands and yanked the knife from his belt. She dodged around him, so she was at his back. She kicked at his knee with all her might, connecting solidly and sending him stumbling off balance. He growled as he tried to catch himself against the wall, and spun with his sword out, not seeming to care that she needed to be taken alive. Rissa evaded the wildly swinging blade and caught him in his side with the knife. It sank deep, up to the hilt and she ripped down on it, slicing him open from his side to his gut. He died with a silent scream still on his lips.

Rissa stumbled back as he collapsed, his flowing blood staining the white marble floor. That same blood covered her hands, and she stared in horror as they started to tremble. This wasn’t the first time she’d killed, but it was the first time her hands had directly taken a life. This was different. Shooting an arrow was by far easier than staring into someone’s eyes as the light left them. She clasped her hands to stop the trembling and closed her eyes, breathing in deep through her nose.

The sounds of the outside battle finally registered. Trystan and the others were still fighting Eisner.

Pull yourself together. Trystan needs you.

Wiping her bloody hands on her thighs in disgust, she leaned over the soldier and grabbed the heavy sword from his lifeless fingers. She pushed what she’d just done to the back of her mind and turned to run for the entrance, hoping against hope that her people were still alive.

She hit the cold air expecting to see the worst, but a miraculous sight met her eyes. Whereas Cullenspire’s soldiers had first been outnumbered by Eisner’s men, the grounds were now crawling with what looked like villagers—women and men dressed in peasant garb- overrunning the enemy soldiers with pitchforks and axes and home-made spears. Rissa paused in disbelief, even as her frantic eyes searched for her brother.

“Princess!” Lady Yaro sprinted across the distance separating her from Rissa, the fear evident in her voice. “Are you injured? You’re bleeding.”

“It’s not my blood,” Rissa answered, distracted as she continued to search for Trystan. Her panic mounted as he was nowhere to be seen. “I need to find my brother.”

“No, you can’t go into battle.” Lady Yaro stopped her headlong flight by grabbing Rissa’s wrist holding the sword. “The landowners still loyal to your family have come to aid us. Let them and my men handle this. You must stay safe.”

“Let me go.” Even as Rissa yanked on her arm a horn sounded, startling both women.

“Retreat!”

The yell echoed on the wind. Rissa met Lady Yaro’s gaze, the older woman’s expression as confused as her own. Was the enemy truly retreating? She prayed to the earth it was so.

And is if answering Rissa’s unspoken prayers, the Isenore soldiers began to dissipate in realization that they were now outnumbered and losing ground. They turned tail and ran through the gates, leaving behind their injured comrades without a second thought. Some landowners chased after them, screaming obscenities and ordering the cowards back, but it did no good. They disappeared into the evening shadows, leaving silence in their wake.

Rissa stood for a moment, her breath wheezing in her chest, before realization struck her, and she went running into the courtyard. Avery was the first one she saw, and she almost collided with the woman.

“Trystan.” His name stumbled out of her mouth. “I need to find Trystan.”

Avery shook her head, her eyes scanning their surroundings. Cullenspire’s soldiers picked themselves up in a daze. Some bent over bodies on the ground. Some wept.

Lady Yaro appeared at Rissa’s side again. “The last battle we had here…” She paused and wiped a tired hand over her face. “Your father and Adrian Coille fought alongside my husband.” Her expression turned dark. “That was the last time any of us had any hope.” She turned away from them. “My daughter’s inside. I need to go to her.”

Rissa’s eyes found Alixa and Edric next, huddled over the body of the girl Eisner had brought with him. If her heart wasn’t already cracked beyond repair, it would break for them. They’d thought she was dead and then for one moment they’d had her back.

Rissa ran a shaky hand through her hair. Would losing Davi again be worth looking him in the eye once more? No. She didn’t think she’d survive seeing the light fade from him again.

Turning from Alixa, she wiped her bloody hands on her shirt. Where are you, brother? Her heart beat painfully in her chest. She had to know he was okay.

She lifted her eyes at a commotion up ahead as a man pushed through the crowd of injured and tired people. When his gaze found her, relief flooded his face.

Rissa sucked in a breath. “Trystan.” She ran the short distance between them and fell against him. “Thank the earth you’re okay.”

His arms came around her and he held on tightly. “I lost sight of you. You weren’t supposed to leave your post, especially not to join the fight down here.”

“You can’t tell me what to do.” His shirt muffled her words.

He released her and met her eyes sternly. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

“Yeah, yeah. If you’d have died and left me as the only heir, I’d have killed you. I’m no queen.”

Her words pushed them both into silence for a moment as the aftermath of the failed attack swirled around them.

“Eisner got away.” Trystan sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “He ordered the retreat and I just… let him go.”

“No one else needed to die,” she said quietly.

“Do you think he was telling the truth?”

Rissa’s eyes hardened. “Eisner wouldn’t know the truth if it cut off his balls and shoved them down his throat.”

Trystan snorted but there was no humor in it, only disgust because they both knew. Despite their feelings about Eisner, he hadn’t been lying.

Rissa sighed. “Uncle Drake stole our father’s throne, didn’t he?”

“I think that’s a fair assumption.”

“He can’t get away with it.”

“He won’t.” Trystan raised his face to the falling snow.

“What are we going to do about it?”

“Think about it, Ri. If Drake had taken control of the palace, do you really think he has allies among the nobles? Among Father’s nobles? Where would our friends gather?”

“I quite enjoy Whitecap,” she said, finally catching on. “I think we’ll find many friendly faces there.”

“Briggs should be well enough to travel.” He glanced back towards where Briggs was being kept safe inside. “Dammit, we’re supposed to be heading into Dreach-Dhoun.”

“Trystan.” She gripped his arm firmly. “What’s the point of going into Dreach-Dhoun to save our kingdom if we don’t have a kingdom any longer?”

“I thought all you wanted to do was run towards Dreach-Dhoun to take your revenge?”

She released a long breath. “Davi is gone, Trystan. Nothing I do will change that. Father is gone as well. I don’t want to lose Dreach-Sciene too.”

He nodded. “We’ll leave tomorrow for Duke Coille’s estate at Whitecap. If we have allies, that’s where they’ll be.”

She offered him a grim smile and turned to head back inside.

“Ri,” he called after her. She paused but didn’t turn to face him. “You know you still have me, right?”

Her lips twitched, and she started walking again. She had a journey to prepare for. It wasn’t the trek she’d been expecting, but it was the one she needed. After feeling helpless to save so many people in her life, it bolstered her knowing she could do this. They would save their home.