Page 23 of Rook of Ruin
From a far-off place in my mind, I hear a voice—not Alec’s—whisper, “I’m sorry.”
Words mingle together, some questions faster than others. The pain ebbs when each memory is pushed forward and captured by Alec’s web. He answers quickly as he stares into my eyes, unmoving.
“How many times did she try to heal Matron?” The memories come back to me, and I see her lying on the cart, green-black veins across her body. Tears begin to collect on the sides of my eyes from both the pain and memory. Alec answers, then the confirmation of truth is given by the Truth Seer. Blinking to prevent tears from coming down, I try to remain calm and welcome Alec’s mental web and the fangs that bite savagely.
“Why was the Matron’s poison unresponsive?” a lord asks.
“Asked and answered,” the queen replies, sounding almost bored.
He hums and asks another question. “Well then, why didn’t her brace work?”
The fangs dig deeply into my mind until the memory is dragged to the surface. In my memory, I see the glow of my brace. I’m trying to heal Matron, but nothing is working. She is dying. I can’t help her. I’m running, screaming for help and trying again to heal her. “Lady Verlan doesn’t know. She doesn’t understand why it wasn’t working. She desperately tried to find help,” Alec replies.
The Truth Seer agrees by replying, “Truth.” Then several more questions about the Matron follow.
Blood still flows from my nose. The red, metallic liquid is trying to break through my clenched mouth. It slides from my mouth, down my chin, to my neck, and between my breasts. I don’t want to look down and see. I don’t want to look anywhere but those silver eyes.
Several questions are asked about the Rooks. Flashes of the female Rook in the mortuary and then the male Rook and Lawden trying to conduct the interview with the women chained to the wall. My memory shows the male Rook trying to escape the room until my light brings him down.
A throbbing begins in my ears. “What did she know about the female Rook?”She didn’t know her. Truth. “Did she know Lawden?”No, other than in passing, and he was a senior officer. Truth. “Does she know what Lawden had planned?”No. Truth.“Does she know how Lawden was compromised?”No. Truth.A couple more questions follow about Lawden and the female Rook in the morgue.
The stabbing pain in my mind continues, and thick tears trickle down my cheeks, mixing in with my blood. Several more questions about the women who were captured. “Does she know who was captured by the reconnaissance?”No. Truth. “Why was she in the morgue?” Alec’s web finds the memory, and fangs dig into the moment I snapped to, peering down at Matron, feeling confused as to what happened.She doesn’t know. Truth.“Why doesn’t she know?”She thinks trauma to her mind. Truth.“What does ‘trauma to her mind’ mean?”From the events she witnessed . . . loss of blood, a lack of oxygen, plus a concussion from the blast. Truth.“Who cut her throat?”She believes the Rook cut her throat and hurt Matron. Truth.
“What was the blast from?” I picture the light, the small sparks of light pulling together to form a larger, brighter one.A light. Truth.“What kind of light?” The memory of how it happened vibrates in my mind. Alec’s web seizes my memory, and sharp claws grip it before his fangs rip into the silk swathing he created. Alec sees himself through my memory, understands what I felt and the pain that came after my brace began to glow.It started from her brace. Truth.“Who are her co-conspirators?She has none. Truth.“Didshe have any co-conspirators?”No. Truth.The advisors ask a few more questions about any co-conspirators. “Did she conspire against the queen?”No.Truth.
I am holding on to his silver eyes because they are the only thing that can save me, but I know I’m growing weaker—the pain is growing stronger. I somehow realize the thick wetness dripping down my face is no longer tears but blood. I’m crying blood. I want to prove to Alec I can handle his power. He will not break me. A laugh bursts from my mouth, and blood seeps in. I look further into his silver eyes and grin, blood coating my teeth. I hear someone gasp and another shout that we need to stop.
But the questions don’t stop.
“Did she betray our kingdom?”No. Truth.“Does she know of anyone who has?”No. Truth. “Why did she murder the prisoner, Darren Epher, who we now know as the Panther’s second?”She didn’t. Truth.Several more questions about betraying the queen and about the prisoner. Then a few questions about being a Rook. “Did she enjoy being a Rook?” His web seizes my memories, showing every moment of pride, how I thought I earned my place early, and then how I was crushed by Alec’srevelation. Alec shifts his body, but his silver eyes stay on mine.She thinks it is an honor. Truth.“Did she like working in the Locker?”She didn’t mind it but wished to be sent on missions. Truth.Then a couple more about what I do in my free time. Flashes of Paul and me with Tess’s family, of laughter and children running around. Pain follows.
“Does she frequent houses of ill repute?”No. Truth.“Has she allowed herself to be compromised?”No. Truth.
“Are you seriously asking her these questions?” Simon roars from the side of the room.
“There are nine questions left. They can ask what they want as long as it wasn’t asked and answered before.” The queen calmly speaks. “Continue.”
“Would she willingly wed anyone the queen accepts as a suitor?”Yes. Truth.“What happens if it isn’t a love match?”She hopes that they can at least form a friendship. Truth.
They are trying to find out what I would be willing to do for our kingdom. Flashes of Tess, Paul, and Alec run through my mind without his web extracting memories. My sister telling me what I will be required to do. Alec telling me I’m not a real Rook. Again, the heartbreak I felt finding it out, but understanding the sacrifices Rooks make for our kingdom. A stabbing sensation immediately follows.
“Would she marry to secure peace for our kingdom?”Yes. Truth.“Would she willingly bed someone she marries?”Yes. Truth.Bile begins to form in my throat, and my ears start to ring. “Has herbodybeen compromised?” Swift images surface of when I was reckless in sparring and compromised my position in a match, followed by times when I was confused followed by stabbing pain. Alec squints.No, never. The only time she believes she has been compromised is during a sparring match, when she opened her left side up and lost a fight. Her body has never been compromised the way you are asking. Truth.A fewvoices snicker. “Is she able to produce an heir?”Yes, as long as he is able to provide the means to do so. Truth.A few chuckles escape male lips.
“Let’s be more specific—is she a virgin?” Voices erupt in the hall, shouting from Simon and a few of the women. Alec’s web extracts memories as fangs cruelly tear into me. They are of my young self growing up with a stable boy. The first memory shows how we met. He finds me alone, crying in a horse stall because I’m lonely, and comforts me. The next memory is of the young stable boy, now a young Acros warrior, in the loft of a barn with me, unsure of ourselves, bashful and shy. We kiss clumsily. We have no idea what we are really doing. We kiss and cuddle until we pant. We take off our clothes and laugh. Naked and nervous, his blue eyes stare into mine as he slowly eases inside me, taking my maidenhood. I see the pain I felt, the tears of giving up something so precious. He asks if I’m okay. I nod and he continues. It was my only experience, and it was quick. We smile and cuddle afterwards.
The memory starts to dissipate when another one emerges of his mother seeking me out in the castle stables. Her face is red and blotchy. She gives me a letter, a death notice. I hold on to her, comforting her until she is able to move again. I’m numb. When she leaves, I take a horse out of the stables and go for a fast ride. Too fast. Recklessly fast. I slow the horse and jump off, allowing it to find its way home. I lie on soft grass and curl into a ball and stay there until the next day when Tess and Paul show up. It ends, and pain shoots through my arms. Then I see fury and violence in those silver eyes.
“Asked and answered,” the queen calmly says. “Two more questions. Sir Caddel?”
I’m shaking in the chair, and I hear Simon bark, “I yield.”
“Not an option. Ask your questions,” Queen Inara snaps.
“Are you in love with anyone?”No. Truth.A brief memory of kissing Alec’s neck crosses my mind, but it flits away because it is not love, just attraction. I begin to cough, blood swarming in my mouth. I let it pour out.“What is your favorite flower?”White roses. Truth.
“Thank you, Rook. That is all,” Queen Inara says quickly.
The severe pain slowly recedes, and the relief makes me fall forward. Blood splatters all over Alec’s clean brown leathers. Gasps and murmurs circulate. Strong hands stop me from hitting the floor. I try to smile reassuringly. Blood drips off my face, and I look up into his silver eyes and whisper, “I’m sorry, Alec.” A gurgling sound comes up from my throat. I try not to fear death. I try to remain calm while my body floats off the ground.
