30. Sorcha

Chapter thirty

My eyes cracked open, greeted by a harsh light. I was lying on something relatively soft, staring up at a single lantern hanging above me. My head spun as I tried to recall what happened.

Right—Damyr kidnapped me. I sat up abruptly and instantly regretted it. My world spun and my stomach turned. I put my head between my knees, trying to ground myself.

"Finally awake," a voice in front of me said. I looked up to find Damyr standing there, his previously kind face looking much different, almost unhinged. He was on the other side of a row of bars, keeping me in. The walls around us were sturdy concrete, but the cell looked decrepit and cracked. If I had to guess, we were some kind of retired prison.

"What am I doing here?" I asked.

"Just a bit of a bargaining chip, that's all. Sorry to bring you in the middle, but I'm doing what must be done."

"What are you talking about?" I needed to keep him talking, keep him distracted to give Zarios the best chance of finding me .

"I'm assuming Zarios hadn't told you," he said. "He probably feels shame around the whole thing."

I watched him pace as if he was the caged one. "I had the opportunity to become Clarak of Mertis, just like my father had, and his father before."

"I thought it had nothing to do with blood?" I questioned.

He scoffed. "Only children believe that. No commoner could become a Clarak, much less Grand Clarak. That bastard just got lucky."

I didn't believe that but didn't dare say it aloud. "That didn't matter, though," he continued. "Stranger things had happened, and I knew I was going to be Clarak of Mertis. My whole life was set in front of me. With my best friend as Grand Clarak, I had a better chance of being chosen anyway. That was, until those snakes betrayed me. They allowed my father to convince them I had a ‘problem'" he air quoted. "As if everyone didn't have their own fun. And to send me away, right before the trials? I was seen as weak. He put Naram up instead, and he took my rightful place, that ungrateful peasant ," he spat. "He has no noble blood to speak of. He doesn't deserve it."

"That's why you attacked in Mertis," I said, all the pieces falling together.

He looked back at me, as if I'd pulled him from his vision. "I hoped to at least take out Naram, but the idiots in my employ couldn't even do that much. I want them both gone, and you're my ticket to do that."

"Why stay by him for all these years?" I asked. "You're his head of guard. "

He shrugged. "Keep your enemies close and all that. That pity job when I came back meant nothing. It was a consolation to the power I would have had. I was set up, and now, they'll all pay."

It all made sense—the symbol, the letters… It all fell into place except. "Why bring Prator into it?"

His gaze cut to mine. "I'm not surprised Zarios figured that out. I knew he would eventually. Prator was just an easy way to get men and weapons. That idiot believed I would give him Grand Clarak and happily accept Clarak of Thvetharion. He just hates the progress Zarios is trying to make. I only had to promise the bare minimum to get him to agree."

"And what about the magestones?"

"Ah, that was Prator's only good idea," he said, looking into the distance fondly, like everything he did was a pleasant memory. "We sold off half to fund some of our troops, but we kept some, just in case."

My mouth felt dry. Though we'd figured a lot of it out, some of it was new. I tried to wrap my head around it. "What will you do with me?"

He cocked his head. "Once I get Zarios to hand over his position willingly, I'll have him killed, and you can go back to your lush princess life."

An idea formed in my head, and I smiled. "Good," I said.

His brow quirked. "Good? I'm telling you my plans to kill your intended, and you're pleased?"

I nodded. "Between us, I hate him. He threatened me in Peradona, told me it was the only way to prevent a war, and if I didn't, he would hurt my family. I had no choice." I let the crocodile tears fall easily. "I'm glad he'll be gone. He has done us both wrong."

A twisted smirk took over his face. Having someone validate his views gave him a rush, which was exactly what I expected. "I knew there was something I liked about you," he said. "And that makes sense. He would do anything for his strange sense of justice."

I sniffled, rubbing my eyes for show. "I knew you were the real brains behind everything when I got here. I just didn't expect you to be this smart. I've always wanted a bit of power myself. I saw the way you gazed lingered on my sister. Though I'm not her, you could pretend."

My doe eyes drew him in, hook, line, and sinker. He approached the bars. "Take not only his kingdom, but his woman too? I like the sound of that. Though your sister is much more attractive, I guess you would do."

His words made me want to end him right there, but I needed him to let me out. I stood, glad my head seemed a bit clearer, and moved forward. "Good," I said quietly. "That poor bastard could hardly get it up. I would love him to know a real man had me before he perished."

I let my sleeve slip from my shoulder, dipping my shirt a bit more to reveal the top of my breast.

His eyes caught the movement. He licked his lips. "I think that could be arranged."

He opened the door and stepped in, not bothering to shut it behind him. He approached me, sliding his hand up the side of my face.

I let out a small, fake moan, feeling him up as well. Just as his lips were about to touch mine, I reached for the dagger in my waistband and drove the blade into his side, right into his liver.

He cried out and fell to the ground. I pulled the blade free and wiped it before bounding towards the door. He grabbed my foot, and I fell, the air knocking from my lungs.

I kicked my foot back, crushing him right in his snout. Blood began pouring from it, and he released me, his hands going towards it. I got out and slammed the door shut, locking it.

He reached around himself. "Looking for these?" I asked, holding his key ring up.

His eyes widened. "You stupid bitch! Let me out!" He rushed the door, but I stepped back, watching him struggle.

I leaned in a bit, but not enough to let him grab me. "Never underestimate me."

With that, I walked away, leaving Damyr's screams far behind me.

Time to find Zarios.