Chapter 11

CHAPTER ELEVEN

T erena sat back against the cool stone and closed her eyes. She’d awakened not long ago but wasn’t sure what time of day or night it was. The meals were sporadic, and between beatings and sleep, she hadn’t kept track of time.

The general had yet to come and see her. Part of her thought it a blessing—maybe he’d believed Ormano’s assessment and hadn’t bothered to check for himself.

Voices drifted nearby and she moved into a crouch, her one good eye blinking in the dimness of the cell. As they neared, she heard whimpers and sobs, scuffling on the floor as if something—someone—was being dragged.

Terena moved closer, reaching out with her bruised left hand and lightly grasped an iron bar. As she peered out, she saw two Imperial Guard dragging someone between them, the small figure slumped over. General Peleon appeared behind them and Terena jerked back, careful to stay out of his sight as she watched.

The guards dropped their burden into the empty cell across from hers and one of them locked the gate before moving back. The general sauntered closer to whatever poor soul they’d dumped in there.

“Your father’s been sent for, but according to his steward is in Ermanel,” the general said. Terena leaned closer. “I fear he won’t make it in time for your execution, but we’ll make sure your body is prepared for when he arrives.”

The general paced in front of the cell, his head down, thoughtful. “Of course, I will tell him I gave you every opportunity to confess your co-conspirators, and you refused. I can only assume that means someone you love is involved, so perhaps I’ll detain your father when he gets here.”

No response from the figure shadowed in the cell. Terena couldn’t make out any movement at all.

Long seconds passed before the general shook his head and made to leave. The figure rustled in the rushes on the ground. Thin arms came into view as pale hands grasped the iron bars.

“Please, I beg you,” the person whimpered and Terena startled.

Was that a girl? Gods, he put a child down here? She sounded as if she was ten.

“Please,” the voice sobbed again, “I am not conspiring with anyone !” That last was screamed at the general, a face finally appearing through the bars.

Terena’s blood drained from her face.

Sonah Yahn.

They had Sonah Yahn in a cell.

“You were with both princes when it happened. Prince Isher confirmed for us you did, in fact, taste the wine before either of the princes drank it and then you left.”

Terena’s eyes narrowed.

So. Isher had survived her attack.

“He claims he was drugged,” the general continued, “has no memory of anything after that until he was attacked by Terena Luca.”

At this, Peleon looked over his shoulder at Terena’s cell. She let him see the hatred that burned on her face when she stared back.

“Is that who you’re protecting? Did Terena Luca put you up to this?”

“Terena wouldn’t do that,” Sonah said, her voice weak, her forehead against the bars of her cell .

Sympathy speared through Terena when she saw the bruise marring the young woman’s left temple, how pale she was. “She loved Prince Lerek. She would never harm him.”

“And yet she attacked Prince Isher!” Peleon’s voice boomed as he pivoted, his eyes boring into Terena’s, his face thunderous. “He begged her to stop, but she tried to kill him.” His eyes narrowed when he spoke again, directly to Terena. “The guards heard her, ran to help their prince while she brutally attacked him!”

“No,” Sonah said, her voice firm. The general snapped his head back to her, crouching down so his body blocked her from Terena’s view.

“Yes!” he hissed at her. “Yes, she attacked him. My men were there, and the prince confirmed it. When he finally woke up after what she’d done to him!”

Peleon threw Terena a scathing look before turning back to Sonah. “If you don’t confess, you will die alongside her. And your father will stand trial for putting you up to this.”

At first, only silence met the general’s harsh words.

Then, a soft laugh.

Terena blinked.

Sonah’s laugh turned louder, until it was a hysterical cackle. Full bodied and harsh, she laughed until the general rose.

“My father,” Sonah said between bouts of laughter, then laughed even louder. Peleon motioned to one guard, and the man stepped forward to unlock the cell. As he heaved open the door, Peleon lunged inside and dropped low, viciously landing two quick punches on the girl.

Terena winced when the laughter abruptly stopped. She flinched again as another punch landed. Sonah only grunted, silent at last.

“I can’t wait to see you pulled apart tomorrow,” Peleon snarled down at her, then stood. He spat at the ground or on Sonah—Terena couldn’t tell—before striding out of the cell. The guard surged forward to close and lock the door.

General Peleon didn’t bother to look at Terena as he strode out of the dungeons, the guards following behind .

Terena waited a minute more, listening after their departure—silence broken up by the quiet sobs coming from Sonah’s cell.

“Sonah,” she called out.

No response.

“Sonah.”

The crying stopped. Terena heard rustling as Sonah shifted. A long moment passed before she shuffled back to the bars and Terena saw her peeking out, her eyes blinking as she glanced around.

“Hello?”

Her soft voice cracked and Terena closed her eyes. “Sonah, it’s me. It’s Terena.”

“Terena?” Her voice was so hopeful Terena felt a pang in her heart.

“I’m across from you.”

She saw Sonah look in her direction so she held out her bruised hand through the bars and waved. “It’s me, Sonah. I’m here.”

Sonah saw her and the moment she did she started sobbing anew.

“Sonah, please,” she said soothingly. “Honey, I know, I know.”

Her words only caused the poor girl to cry harder.

Terena listened to her cry a little longer.

“Shhhh, Sonah,” she crooned, “honey, listen to me, please. Can you do that for me?”

She watched the girl as she nodded, closing her mouth and with an effort Terena knew was difficult, she controlled her hitching breaths and wiped at the tears on her cheeks.

“Good,” Terena soothed, “good. Take your time, Sonah, take your time. And when you’re ready, can you tell me what happened? Where they’ve kept you since… since that night? Anything at all?”

The girl nodded again, exhaling raggedly. Terena smiled at her, then the girl opened her eyes to meet Terena’s gaze.

“I don’t know what happened,” she said, her words a whimper. She shuddered, her next words stronger. “I was walking outside with Lady Maranou. It was shortly after dinner.”

Terena nodded encouragingly.

“We heard noises near the courtyard entrance, then a guard came running out to speak with Captain Cortis and then they dragged me away.” She wiped at her lip and winced.

“Someone hit me. Hard enough I don’t remember what happened after that,” Sonah said and sniffled. She wiped her nose on her wrist. “At first they brought me down here. I don’t know how long. When I woke up, I was in the kitchens. You know, the room where the female servants take their meals?”

Terena nodded.

Sonah closed her eyes, her face crumpling. “The general came in and started questioning me, asking me all kinds of things that made no sense. Who was I working with? Who told me to drug the princes?” She sighed and wiped at her eyes. “I didn’t know what he meant. No idea why I was even there. I begged him to tell me what was going on, but he got angrier and angrier. He wouldn’t let me see Sybil, Lady Maranou. Wouldn’t?—”

“Sonah, breathe,” Terena said, her voice firm.

She watched as the girl took big gulps of air, nodding her head as she tried to control herself.

At length, Terena asked, “Are you okay to go on?”

Sonah nodded.

“Good,” Terena said softly, calm. “All right. Let’s go back to when you last saw… Prince Lerek. Was Isher with him?”

Sonah shook her head. “Prince Lerek wasn’t there. Only Isher.”

Terena started. “What? Are you sure?”

Sonah nodded. “Aye.” She sniffed. “I thought it was Prince Lerek at first, though.”

“Was anyone else there?”

“No.”

“No guards?”

“There was one at the door, as always. And another just inside the room.”

Terena nodded. “And Alexi?”

“He wasn’t there.”

But he was there when Terena was in the room. There had been three dead guards. The one near the door; Alexi on the settee. The third on the terrace near Lerek.

Terena frowned, thoughtful for a few moments, then lifted her gaze to Sonah.

“Good, Sonah. Can you do me a favor? Can you tell me if Isher had already been drinking?”

The girl tilted her head but didn’t answer. Terena watched her as she waited.

After a long pause, Sonah shook her head and said, “No, I don’t believe so. I walked in and saw Isher—Prince Isher,” Sonah corrected herself and lifted her eyes to Terena in apology, “and I went over and hugged him. I didn’t know he was even in Metilai until I saw him. Anyway, then I drank some wine, and we chatted a bit and then I left. Oh! Before I left he hugged me but… he looked so sad about it.”

A short silence filled the space between them while Terena thought on what Sonah had shared.

“And you weren’t sick at all? Afterwards, I mean. Didn’t feel dizzy or tired?”

“No. Nothing. It tasted like it always does. I was fine. Well… I was dizzy at one point, but I think it’s because I stood too fast. Right before I left.”

Terena caught on that for a second and filed it away for consideration later.

“Only one decanter?”

“I wasn’t paying attention, sorry,” Sonah said. “Did you know Isher grew out his hair?”

Terena looked over at the girl. “What?”

“It was weird,” Sonah said, almost to herself. “I know it’s been a while since he’s been to the palace but… I always thought… anyway, he had it long. Like Prince Lerek likes to wear it. They looked more alike than ever. I mean… obviously.”

Terena frowned. In all the years she’d known the princes, she’d never seen Isher style his hair anything like Lerek’s. He prided himself on his individuality. When she recalled the events of that night, she didn’t remember Isher looking different .

“Anything else you remember?” she asked after a pause.

Sonah shook her head.

“Was it… do you remember? What happened that night?”

Terena hung her head.

“I’m sorry. That was stupid.”

The silence stretched before Terena heard Sonah shift, the rushes beneath her rustling as she moved to lean her side against the bars, then she hung one arm out.

“Your father will come for you, Sonah,” Terena said into the quiet. “He’ll come, and you will be spared. The emperor can’t afford to have such a powerful ally as an enemy by executing his daughter.”

Sonah snorted.

“It’s true,” Terena said. “He needs your father. Now more than ever. He’s about to commit his army in the south. To attack Sparta. Solon’s been planning it for a long time. There’s a legion in Elis right now. And now there’s a new king in the north. And with Lerek murdered…” Terena grabbed hold of the bars with her left hand and leaned out as far as she could. “Your father’s support is crucial to him—Solon needs his army. He wouldn’t risk breaking that alliance because you didn’t get sick from the wine. There could be a thousand reasons you weren’t affected. Your father will come, you’ll see. And they’ll have to free you.”

When Terena stopped speaking, she heard it.

Crying.

“Sonah?”

The girl continued crying, occasionally sniffling and wiping at her eyes and nose.

“Have faith,” Terena urged.

Sonah huffed a laugh. “That’s not—” she sighed, swallowing. “He won’t come, Terena. Because he’s not my father.”

Ormano could not recall a more wretched week.

Not only did he have to watch as the general’s men rounded up those poor souls in Laurica for gods knew what fate, he’d also lost a great friend in Prince Lerek. He’d been one of the few who treated him like a person and not a cleric, or worse, a second son only tolerated because of his knowledge of the gods.

Now, as he sat scribbling away in his bedchamber above the palace temple, he was sure the week would end with him bearing witness to another of his childhood friends losing her life.

Something sounded behind him and Orry turned, his eyes darting around the shadows hiding from the fire and the flickering flame of his candle.

Nothing.

He frowned, turning back to his writing. He’d been researching the powers of the gods when they’d first appeared—or rather, when the first records of their appearance had been documented by poets and bards, and much later, by scholars and historians.

He’d read most of these already, when he’d first begun his religious studies. At the time, he’d done so to pass the exams and impress his professors. Now, it seemed much more relevant to what had happened with Ren and the powers she seemed to manifest more and more.

Another sound interrupted him, closer this time. Orry turned fully, his quill raised as if he might use it as a weapon. After his search again yielded nothing out of the ordinary, he was about to turn back when something struck him in the head.

He howled, slapping his palm to his injured temple only to cause further injury. He whimpered and twisted, casting about for the offending party. His eye snagged on something near his feet and he bent lower.

A pebble.

What?

He bent to retrieve it when something sailed through the window and connected with the top of his head.

“Gods!” He sprang to his feet and rushed to the window, intent on screaming his displeasure at whatever foul person thought it was funny to annoy—and physically harm!—a cleric .

When he saw Croak waving at him from the narrow walkway, Orry blinked. He rubbed at his head and leaned out of the window.

“What in Gaia’s good name are you doing? You hit me twice!”

“What do you think I’m doing?” Croak hissed. “Obviously, I’m trying to get your attention!”

Orry’s lips turned down. “Well, why wouldn’t you just come in ?”

“I’m trying to be stealthy,” Croak said in a loud whisper.

Orry rolled his eyes. “Well, get in here already! You look conspicuous.”

He moved back into the room and headed for his door when he heard a thump and then a scraping noise coming from outside the window.

Surging back toward the window, Orry leaned out in time to see Croak climbing the wisteria vines. He’d planted his left hand on the window ledge when his foot slipped. Orry lunged for him, grabbing hold of his hand, grunting with the effort as Croak’s legs flailed before finding his footing again.

He pulled back and Croak thrust his chest over the ledge, the air whooshing out of his lungs as Orry fell onto the wood floor.

Croak slithered the rest of the way in as Orry scooted back along the floor until he’d grabbed hold of his chair and lifted himself up.

Croak lay sprawled on his belly.

“Imbecile! I have a perfectly good door and a sturdy staircase you could’ve used!”

“Can’t,” Croak said, his voice muffled with his face on the floor. “City Watch all over, looking for me.”

Orry blinked. “What? Since when? I haven’t heard?—”

“One of the men I’m with heard them,” Croak said as he lifted himself up off the floor. He dusted off his breeches and stood, hands on hips. “Said I’m being sought for questioning.”

Orry shook his head. He pulled out his chair, motioning Croak to take it and moved to sit on his bed. He watched his friend as he plopped into the chair. His face was flushed, but he couldn’t tell if it was from the climb or nearly falling.

“Have you seen her? ”

Orry didn’t bother asking who he meant. “Yes, of course. Almost as soon as I arrived. She’s being kept in the dungeons.” He hung his head before continuing. “She’s been worked over, Croak.” He lifted pained eyes to his friend. “She’s in terrible shape. The Royal Inquisitor.”

Croak closed his eyes for only a second. When he opened them again, there was resolve in them as he sat forward, bracing his forearms on his legs. “What are they saying? What did she say? All we’ve heard is crazy shit I will not believe unless I hear it from you.”

Orry splayed his hands. “It’s not good, Croak. They have her because she attacked Isher. At first they thought she’d killed the guards and Lerek too. Maybe they still do. The general hasn’t said. They’re also holding Sonah Yahn.”

“Sonah? Little Sonah Yahn?”

“Aye,” he said, “they think she drugged the princes and let in whoever it was killed the guards and Lerek.” Orry wiped a hand over his face. “I saw her too, poor thing. She looked terrified, with no idea of what’s going on. Or what’s going to happen to her on the morrow.”

“What do you mean? They won’t execute her,” Croak scoffed. “Ovenno will?—”

Orry shook his head. “No. Her father’s in Ermanel. He won’t make it in time. The girl is to be executed alongside Terena at dawn.”

Croak gaped at him. “But… that will start a war! At the very least, the royals will gather and protest! The dukes?—”

“He doesn’t care,” Orry interrupted. “The emperor doesn’t care. He’s in a rage, I tell you. He’s out of his mind with grief. He wanted both of them killed on the spot but General Peleon convinced him to allow him time to question them. Especially after what Terena did to Isher.”

“What do you mean? What did she do?”

Orry steepled his hands and gazed across at his friend. “Apparently, Ren attacked him without ever touching him. She did the same to the guards.”

Croak looked at him expectantly when he didn’t elaborate. He motioned with his hands. “How? What’s that mean?”

“According to Isher—and a few of the guards that were there—she used some kind of… power. Somehow, she choked him, elevating him several feet off the ground.”

“Ren’s strong for a woman,” Croak grumbled.

“No,” Orry said, shaking his head, “No, you misunderstand. Croak, Isher and the guards all said she was nowhere near him when she did it. She was standing by Lerek. Well away from where Isher had been sitting. When the guards came in, they saw her with her arms raised as if she were choking him, and there across the way, high up on one of the pergola columns, was Isher, flailing against invisible hands!”

Croak stared at him in horror he tried to mask by ducking his head. “They lie.”

“Croak.” Orry frowned across at his friend. He spread his hands. “All of them? I mean—I know it sounds absurd. Nothing like that has happened in close to a thousand years! When the last of the demigods were killed.”

He was silent, hoping some of what he had shared was sinking in. He dropped his chin, then lifted his eyes once more to his friend. “Also… I talked with Ren. She said?—”

“Stop.”

“Remember the time?—”

“Stop. Orry.”

Orry pressed his lips together and leaned back.

A long time passed before either spoke.

“I wish we had the luxury of time, Croak, but,” Orry shook his head. “I need you. I need your help to free her. They’re going to make it a public execution. Not only is she being charged with murder and treason, but she’ll be executed as a god.” He shook his head when Croak leaned forward with his mouth open and forestalled him. “Listen, I gave my judgement she is not a god — if she was, she’d have manifested powers to free herself. The fact she cannot heal after the tort—sorry… anyway. It didn’t matter what I said. I’m certain Peleon changed my judgement to suit his purposes.”

He looked across at Croak, his mouth screwed up in frustration. “They won’t let me back in to see her.” Orry reached out to Croak. “I hope you’ve thought of a way to get her out of this, Croak. Because tomorrow she is going to be executed. I hope you have a plan to rescue her. Her and Sonah Yahn.”

Croak’s head snapped up. “ Both? ”

Orry scowled at him. “You honestly think I’d let another innocent be sacrificed because of the emperor’s grief? Ren said it too. We have to get them both. And we have a few hours to come up with how. So,” Orry sighed and slumped his shoulders. “What’s the plan?”

Sonah looked across at Terena Luca’s cell. Despite the shadows, Sonah managed to see the bruises on Terena’s face and body, with one eye swollen shut. Blood crusted her lip, and the hand hanging out of the bars was caked in blood and swollen.

The good eye stared back at her. “Who’s not your father?”

Sonah sniffed and wiped at her nose with her wrist. “Duke Ovenno. He’s not my father.”

Terena didn’t respond. Sonah closed her eyes and dropped her gaze to the middle of the room. “I feel strongly he is not coming because he doesn’t want to, not because he’s not at home. I’m not his daughter, so it’s a good possibility you’re not dying alone tomorrow.”

“We’ve known you for years, Sonah,” Terena said, her voice harsh. “If you’re not his daughter, who are you, then? What’s your real name?”

Sonah looked across at Terena, resigned. “Sonah is my real name. But Yahn is not.”

Terena scoffed. “Lie.”

“Truth,” Sonah said. “I’m an orphan. Left on the steps of the Lethe Monastery seventeen years ago. They only ever called me ‘Sonah’. Duchess Ovenno came to see me there, I was told, and my plight moved her so much she visited every year on the day I was brought there.”

Sonah shrugged. “When I was nine, the abbot took me to see Duke and Duchess Ovenno. A year later, on the tenth anniversary of my arrival, they presented me to Emperor Solon as Sonah Yahn. I couldn’t even tell you if they had a daughter, but I guess they must, because I was expected. I didn’t understand half of what went on that day. Only that I wouldn’t be going home to the monastery.” Sonah bent her head, her eyes glazed as she recalled. “I remember seeing my new room. Being presented to Sybil—Lady Maranou. I met the other girls the next day and gods, I remember that day very well, too.”

“How did you let it go on?”

Sonah lifted her eyes to Terena, blinking a few times to settle her focus. “Before he left, the duke said he would have the abbot murdered if I said anything. That man raised me,” she whispered. “I told myself I could do this. For him.”

A long silence pressed in. Sonah lost herself in her thoughts, then took a breath and said, “I’m scared.”

Terena said nothing for so long, Sonah thought she might not have heard. Didn’t matter. Didn’t stop it from being true.

“I am too.”

Sonah’s eyes welled.

“Why is this happening?” She hated how weak she must sound to this woman whom she admired.

“I don’t know. There are too many things it could be. But each time I think it must be this one,” Terena laughed, gesturing to Sonah with her hand, her voice bitter as she said, “I find out something like that .”

“I only said it because you looked like, you know, hopeful,” Sonah grumbled. “I didn’t want you thinking we might get out of this because of the duke.”

“I understand it though,” Terena said, as if she hadn’t heard Sonah. “I don’t know any duke—any father—liking the idea of giving over his firstborn daughter to be the Royal Taster for the Crown Prince. Duke Ovenno doesn’t have a son, though. So either he didn’t want to give up his daughter and played a dangerous game by placing you in her stead, or?—”

Terena looked up, her jaw slack.

Sonah stared at her, caught between fear and resignation .

“The general asked you about conspirators,” Terena said. “Did he say anything else about that? Did he mention any of the royals?”

Sonah shrugged one shoulder as she leaned into the bars. “Maybe? I was mostly crying. Pleading my innocence. Fat lot of good that did.”

“Did he ask about your father at all? Did he say anything about him at all you remember?”

“Other than he wasn’t in residence when the general wrote to him of my arrest? No.”

Another silence. Sonah felt the weight of the day. The week. Her eyelids drooped.

“The duke is planning a coup.”

Sonah arched an eyebrow. “What?”

“It makes sense,” Terena muttered, and Sonah sat up straighter to focus.

“What now?”

“The duke doesn’t need to come; you said it yourself. And if he’s not in Ovenno and can’t come in time to save his daughter, the emperor executes you and now,” Terena laughed, “Now Duke Ovenno has a reason to go to war. Wait, no. No. The emperor still holds the other heirs. And their daughters. He wouldn’t risk that if they are allies.”

“Maybe he just wanted to save his daughter,” Sonah said.

“Someone knows.”

“Hmm?”

“Someone knows,” Terena said, “about you. He’s being set up. And the others won’t believe him because the duke doesn’t have a child at stake anymore. He doesn’t have an heir, and he switched his daughter with a fake. It’s not a coup, it’s a diversion.”