12. Nine

Nine

A ll day, Liam had tried to keep himself busy and distracted by drafting letters to various kingdoms to open new trading routes. The barbarians had set up a new camp right in the middle of the Woir Plateau and claimed it would be their new capital. They also demanded a "tax" for any merchant that passed through their land.

He leaned back in his seat and muttered the words from the letter aloud: "Our tax collector will escort your men..." He stopped and fixed it. "Our tax collector, Vance, will provide an escort through the area. Rencheston will...reciprocate any kindness offered by you and your clan." He sat back and held up the letter, scanning it to make sure it flowed correctly.

A soft knock on the door drew his attention to it.

"You may enter," Liam called.

The snake boy, Sand, from Vasha walked in with a tray of steaming coffee. His strange golden eyes darted from him to the floor. He silently slid the tray on top of Liam's desk.

Liam twitched his brow. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, Your Highness," he replied softly and bowed at his waist. He fidgeted with his scale-covered fingers.

Liam lifted the cup and poured a little bit of cream into it before taking a sip. He nodded. "It is satisfactory. You are excused."

"Thank you, Your Highness. Have a good day." He bowed again, turned, and scampered out of the door, only to let out a startled squeak when he bumped into the chest of Takai.

The dark-haired man smiled and stepped around the boy. "My apologies."

The boy bowed low, blubbered out an apology, and glanced at Liam as if he were going to punish him.

Liam ignored the boy and sipped his coffee. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" Liam asked over the edge of the cup.

Takai stepped into the room and closed the door behind him, as soon as the boy had left. "We have been friends for a few years. You trust me, don't you?" Worry lined his brow.

Liam set his coffee down. They had been sparring partners for years, had gone on a few scouting missions together, and yes—He considered Takai a good friend. "What's going on?" he asked.

"Your father is torturing Asher, the prisoner, as we speak."

Liam saw the look in Takai's eyes. He knew Takai wasn't lying to him. "What do you want me to do?" he almost whispered.

"Help me get them out. Asher and his father."

Liam immediately shook his head. "I'm sorry, I thought I just heard you say you want me to help you help them escape."

Takai stepped up to the desk. "Think of this from a political standpoint. You're torturing a potential ally. The royal family, nonetheless. And all of this over the location of a tree that may or may not exist." He pressed his hands into Liam's desk. "I was in Vasha, Liam. They murdered the queen for no reason. She and the king greeted us and wanted to know why we were in their land, and they shot her with an arrow."

Liam leaned back in his seat. Sir Andrew wouldn't order that, would he? But then again, it served them right. Just a week prior to them sending the soldiers, his father had written a letter to King Mardai requesting the location of the tree. The queen of Vasha was dead because they refused to reply with civility.

"Liam, you can't sit here and do nothing."

The prince stood and took his coffee with him as he walked to the window to take another sip. "If we find the tree, we can bring back my mother. I might even get my leg back. All we have to do is get the location of the tree." He finally looked at Takai. "Isn't their pain worth it for that information?"

Takai straightened. "You really believe it is? Harming another human being?"

"They aren't human."

Takai's jaw flexed. "Come with me." Takai turned and opened the door, holding it and staring at his friend.

Liam heaved a sigh. "Takai, I don't—"

"Come and see what they're doing. If you're going to approve of it, you need to see it."

Liam set his mug back down and grabbed his cane. "It can't be that bad," he muttered as he limped through the door and headed for the dungeons.

"Even if it isn't, maybe you should be the one to ask Asher. He might connect better with you because you two are so close in age," Takai said. "And both your mothers were killed."

Liam snorted. "We have so much in common."

He descended the staircase to the small area where the soldiers sat playing cards.

One man spotted him, a look of confusion on his face before realization dawned on it and he stood. "Your Highness. What are you doing down here?"

The other two quickly stood and straightened.

"I wish to see the prisoner Asher."

The men all exchanged looks before one opened his mouth to answer.

Liam didn't hear it because of the scream that echoed down the hall to him.

"That's him," the guard said. "Your father and the wizard are in there right now."

Liam stared down the cold, dark hallway of iron doors. The prince said nothing more to the soldiers and made his way down the hall and to the open door. Takai followed behind. When he peered inside, his breath caught. A young man very near his age hung from his chained wrists in the cell. His brown hair was wet and plastered to his head. A horrible wound to his shoulder oozed with blood. Even though it had been bandaged, blood had soaked through them and dripped in watered-down trails down his chest and back. His back, which bore fresh red stripes from the soldier standing with a whip, faced him.

A man stood at Wester's side with tears streaming down his cheeks. That was King Mardai. Liam had met him before.

Sickness gripped his stomach and he had to look away. He looked over his shoulder at Takai, who nodded as if to say, "See?"

Asher whimpered. "Please . . . please stop," he said weakly, his voice raw.

No matter who Asher was, Liam couldn't help but see himself. They were the same age. If he were in Vasha, would they have done the same to him? Would they have chained him from the ceiling and beaten him with a whip?

Liam turned to leave, or tried to.

His father caught sight of him and said, "Liam! I am thrilled you've joined us. You've met King Mardai. This is his son, Prince Asher." His father spoke as if standing beside a beaten man were any normal way to greet someone.

Liam glanced over at Asher, who only lifted his gaze. Liam cleared his throat and quickly looked back at his father. "I...heard you were down here. I wanted to see for myself." He forced a smile, though it felt unnatural with a tortured prince dangling feet from him. "This is Asher? The prince from Vasha?" He walked in to get a closer look, but not really because he wanted to. He wanted to go back to his office and talk to Takai further.

Asher flashed his teeth at him. If he had been an animal, it may have been frightening, but he only looked like he was in pain.

Liam's father rested his hand on his shoulder. "Yes. We've set up the groundwork. Wester is going to take him to his tower and start on his mind tomorrow. We will soon know where Merete has been imprisoned and will free her."

"What will you do with them after you get the information you want?"

"I will keep the king and prince imprisoned. Their kingdom will be vulnerable and weak without anyone to lead them. Or perhaps I will execute them."

Liam looked at his father. "Execute them for what?"

"For their crimes, of course." His smile faltered. "You've never questioned me before. What is wrong? Is something on your mind?"

"I was only thinking that..." He paused and looked in Wester's direction. "Maybe this is a conversation better to have tomorrow when we can speak in private."

Wester smirked. "I'll return King Mardai to his cell. You two, with me," he said to the soldiers.

As soon as the wizard and guards were gone, Liam quickly said, "Father, imprisoning the royal family of another kingdom could impact us politically. What if other kingdoms find out what we've done?"

His father dropped his hand back to his side. "Liam, I have this under control."

"Do you? Truly? There are no kingdoms who are allies to the Karasha people?" Liam leaned forward, making his concern evident.

"My son." He put his hands on Liam's shoulders. "You should not have sympathy for the people responsible for your mother's death. You can come to the interrogation tomorrow."

"And how do you know Mother can be brought back? I spent all night searching the library for proof that—"

"Sraylin has promised such," his father interrupted. "Keep your faith in me." He patted Liam's cheek and walked out the door. "Are you coming?"

Liam glanced at Asher, who seemed to be barely awake. "I'd like to lower him back to the ground so his shoulder doesn't rip out."

"Do as you wish."

Liam walked over to the wheel on the wall, unlocked it, and lowered Asher until the prince collapsed to his knees, breathing with evident relief.

"Thank you," Asher said weakly.

Liam nodded. He studied the stranger. He hadn't spoken to Asher at all and wanted more information. He wanted to know their side of the story and demand to know why Vasha didn't come to his mother's aid.

"Liam?" his father said.

Liam relaxed the chain until there was enough Asher could lay down. He turned and left the cell.

Takai locked the cell door after them.

"I had Sand bring me coffee. Would you like some too and we can sit and talk?" Liam asked.

His father nodded. "That would be lovely."

But as they walked, Liam's thoughts returned to Asher and his father. He knew his father's hatred for the Karasha ran deep, but he never imagined his father would stoop to torture for any reason.

But if it brought his mother back, wouldn't it be worth it?

"What did you wish to discuss?" his father asked as he sat.

"Do you know why Rose created the plague?" He leaned against his desk.

His father shook his head. "We never uncovered that."

"Is it possible at all that you could be wrong?"

His eyes narrowed slightly. "Liam, what's wrong?"

"I just wonder if this could be handled...differently. A discussion instead of torture?" He pushed off the desk and took the seat beside his father. "I know you have the best of intentions. I want Mother back just as much as you do, but I don't agree with what is happening."

His father reached out and took his hand. "Son, if you only knew everything about what happened back then. There is so much you do not understand, in spite of being a victim yourself. The Karasha made their choice fifteen years ago. They lied, and continue to do so. I know it is difficult for you to understand that not all people in life are good."

Liam let out a heavy sigh. "Father, I'm no longer a child. I have been in battles to the north, in case you've forgotten. I know not everyone is good. But we invaded their home. We murdered their queen."

Immediately, his father shook his head. "No. Not murder. It was an accident. I spoke with Sir Andrew myself and they made a threatening movement and had no choice. Liam, I am doing wha they would do if the roles were reversed."

Liam nodded reluctantly, torn between his father, friend, and heart. While a part of him leaned toward believing Takai, he also trusted his father. As the king, he knew far more and had lived through many more political situations than Liam knew. He couldn't betray his blood when he knew little himself.

"Forgive me, Father."

"It is good you ask questions." He patted Liam's hand and grunted as he got to his feet, then let out a little chuckle. "Your grandfather used to say, This getting old is for the birds. They call these your golden years. Don't you believe it. I'm beginning to understand why."

Liam laughed. "You're not that old." He licked his lips. "Father, if doing all of this brings Mother home to us...it's worth it."