Page 9 of Cages and Crowns
“We have no one else we can risk sending.” My father speaks up from my right. He’s been quiet during this meeting. He says he feels something. Something in the air. He hasn’t had a single vision since Sybil’s death. He said she was his other half and when a seer’s other half passes, their power often goes with it, if it’snot absorbed by the other. Instead of absorbing Sybil’s power, her death wrecked him and left him without his abilities. While he can no longer see what is to come, it didn’t affect his intuition. He always knows when something is going to happen.
Shifting is an ability I am told only I have. I don’t remember my father ever being able to do so, but he said he used to. I, however, have only learned to shift this last year. It started as something random, like a cat or deer, but then I was able to channel it. Control it. My shift of choice is a raven. They are quick, small, and intelligent. Nobody questions a bird flying about, but they would question a cat or deer.
“I could go.” Thelonious’s voice doesn’t waver. He stands at the head of his council table, hands planted firmly on the pale wooden table.
“They think you’re dead, Thel. That will do nothing but cause problems if you show up at their door unharmed and healthy.” Davenport sneers.
“What if we make sure I amnotunharmed and healthy? Make it seem like I have spent the better part of six months wandering the woods. I’ll stay out there for a few days, get dirty, hungry, maybe even ill. They’ll believe I escaped. It will be the same lie they spun about Erik being murdered when he was here all along.” Everyone is quiet for a second. I glance at Nithe whose eyes are focused on his father’s.
“What about Lyla?” My father speaks up again. “Her and Emery are due back any day now with Mal, are you going to leave before saying goodbye?” The queen and the princess went to Labisa for a few weeks, for safety, taking my little sister with them. We were worried about Tobias infiltrating Rakushia, so we had to take precautions.Labisa is on the other side of The Divide, and Tobias wouldn’t risk sending an army that far when we are stationed on his northern border already.
“If I stay, I won’t be able to go. I won’t be able to leave them. This is our only shot, Kass. This will get me close to her.” My father reluctantly nods, understanding. I hate it, but he’s right.He can get in.
“So it’s settled, then? You’ll live in the woods for a few days and then get into the palace, make the boy king think he’s harboring you, and you’ll get close to the princess. Then what?” Davenport’s voice is filled with amusement and disdain. As if he can’t even decide whether he should laugh or yell.
“Make sure the king doesn’t kill her, or she doesn’t kill herself.” My eyes flash to his, and I can almost feel it. Feel her life draining away. She would kill herself. She'd be weak if she didn’t even consider it. If the choice was to stay and be abused and tortured, or end your life and experience peace in the world beyond, why wouldn’t she choose the latter? I wouldn’t blame her, but I hope she doesn’t attempt it.
She just has to hold on a little bit longer.
Nithe and I are dismissed, but we linger in the hallway, waiting for them to be done and hoping they have some sort of information or plan that they can share with us. They don’t keep much from us, but sometimes they do prefer to speak just the three of them, which does nothing but irritate me to no end.
“I don’t think this will work.” I admit. Nithe is leaning against the dark wood of the wall, his head back and eyes closed.
“Do you have any better ideas?” He mutters.
“No.” I pace, my hands on my hips. “I still can’t feel her. Not after the stone was destroyed.” My leather shoes smack the stone floor as I walk back and forth, filling the silence.
“Maybe you aren't trying hard enough.” He says, disinterested.
“Or she’s dead.” Nithe groans and pushes off the wall.
“Enzo, I get that this girl is important, but is she truly worth all of us dying? All of us risking our lives to get her to safety?”
“You don't know her.” I snap, my face heating.
“Neither do you!”
“I watched her grow up from afar, I watched her get beaten by her father and get up again. I watched Tobias rape her, torture her, and then drug her to make her forget. I have seen first-hand her struggles and I have been able to donothing. I know her better than most.” My hands clench into fists, anger brewing beneath the surface of my skin.
“Sounds a little like you are in love with a girl who doesn’t even know you exist.” I don’t hesitate, my clenched fist meeting his cheek before he has a chance to deflect, sending him sprawling on the floor.
“Fuck you, Nithe.” I spit, but he just laughs as I walk away.
Chapter Five
The Caged
Present Day
“Come forward and state your complaint.” Welan bellows out into the crowd, his voice echoing in the silence. The throne room is packed to the brim, with the crowd spilling out into the hallway like one giant wave of people. This isn’t the first time I’ve attended court with Tobias, but it never gets easier. Hearing their woes and fears is one thing, but sitting in the same room I watched Theo get beheaded in is worse. A small, elderly woman limps up to the bottom of the dais before dropping to her knees.
My gaze fixates on the shiny marble below her, my pulse quickening. I can still see the blood pooling next to me, the heads rolling onthe floor. My pulsepounds in my ears and I can feel a tremble run down my spine. I force myself to look away, sending shooting pain into myneck as I jostle the collar. I swallow loudly, forcing the bile creeping up my throat back down.
“What have you come to request from His Grace?” Welan speaks again. The woman’s head is bowed, her gray hair tangled and knotted. She’s wearing a beige gown made of linen, with speckles of dried blood and dirt towards the hem. I slightly lean forward as I take in her appearance, the exhaustion evident on her face.
“Your Grace, I ask that you send aid to the town of Tellavid. It has been raided and all of our homes have been ransacked. We have no food and no shelter that isn’t destroyed. We ask that the crown supply emergency assistance.” Her voice cracks as she stays on her knees, her eyes cast downward. Her hands are knotted together nervously, and I fight the urge to go to her, to help ease her worries.
“Who is it that has attacked Tellavid?” Tobias speaks. His voice is loud, bellowing out into the crowd. People shift, uneasy, and I can see a lot of them are dirty and tired. How many of those attending court were there during the raid?
