Chapter 31

Fortune favorsthose who prepare themselves to receive it.

~ Summer Moon Priestess Tya

Kaylina had only been alone in the dungeon cave for ten or fifteen minutes when a soft scraping came from the far side. She lowered her lantern—and the extremely dry reading Vlerion had given her—and peered into the gloom beyond the pool. Or had that come from in the pool?

Thoughts of deadly water animals returned.

But it sounded like it came from behind the pool. Maybe on the cave wall? Or in it?

If Vlerion hadn’t said the catacombs didn’t run anywhere near the royal castle, Kaylina would have guessed Virts were back there, planting explosives, as they’d planned to do under her meadery.

Maybe those sounds came from someone tunneling in from another cave to rescue her. She snorted. Right. Besides Vlerion and her brother, Kaylina couldn’t imagine anyone bothering. Vlerion was searching for the messenger, and Frayvar didn’t know she was in trouble. She didn’t know whether to be relieved or glad she hadn’t gone to visit him before leaving to see the queen. He had a noble enough heart that he would try to rescue her from trouble, but he wasn’t strong enough to implement a plan that didn’t involve numbers and ledgers.

The scrapes stopped, then started up again, then stopped permanently. An hour or more passed without a sound, and Kaylina’s hopes that someone would break her out died. It might have been an animal moving in the little forest of stalagmites. Though if she was the anrokk that people believed, an animal ought to come over, say hello, demand pets, and filch the cell key for her.

The soft clanks of armor sounded on the stone steps leading to the dungeon. Kaylina closed the book she hadn’t made much progress in and braced herself for her next trial.

A guard walked into view, the one who’d been leering at her.

Kaylina gripped the book, the closest thing to a weapon she had, and vowed to club him if he entered her cell.

Someone walked into view behind him. Jana. Her hood was up, but Kaylina knew her cloak and furtive walk right away.

“If you’ve come to let me out to pee, I appreciate it,” Kaylina said out of a notion that she shouldn’t show fear, shouldn’t give away that her belly fluttered with nerves. “The guards didn’t make a latrine stop on the way down, and there isn’t so much as a bowl in my cell.”

“If you hadn’t been busy rubbing up against the ranger, you could have asked to go,” the guard said.

Jana grunted. “I knew they were sleeping together.”

If only…

“It was the only explanation for how she got a ranger wrapped around her finger so quickly.” Jana pressed a gold coin into the guard’s hand and pointed at the stairs. “Stand over there. Let me know if anyone is coming.”

“For the mead maven? Anything.” He winked and gave her a leer.

“I’m married and old enough to be your mother, you oaf,” she said but sounded as if she liked the attention.

Kaylina curled her lip in disgust at the thought of liking anything from that man.

“I’d enjoy you,” the guard said. “I’m still hard from watching them hump.”

“Disgusting. Over there.” Jana pointed at the steps again.

After giving her another leer, as if any of her anatomy were visible under that cloak, the man obeyed, walking far enough up the steps to be out of sight.

Jana stopped in front of Kaylina’s cell. “The problem with the ones who are amenable to bribes is they’re not exactly the best of the best.”

“Why are you doing this? I never did anything to you.” Kaylina looked toward the far side of the cave, but it had been a while since she’d heard any scrapes. Maybe they’d been her imagination.

“I told you we were competitors. Competitions can be ruthless up here.”

“I hadn’t yet made my first batch of mead when you said that. You couldn’t possibly be worried about me.”

“I’ve been to the Spitting Gull.” Before, Jana had said she hadn’t. “I don’t know where your grandmother gets her honey or the secrets of her recipes, but her mead is the most exquisite I’ve ever tasted, and I’ve tasted a lot. You will not open a meadery here. I’ve worked my whole life to establish my business, win supply contracts with the royal family and other monied nobles, and make enough to buy land for my family, to ensure my children and their children won’t grow up in poverty, like I did. Do you have any idea how hard it is to have a successful business and buy land as a commoner?”

“I’ve got some inklings.” Kaylina knew how hard it had been for her grandparents. “Are you seriously trying to get me killed because some competition might cause you to earn a little less?”

“To lose all my contracts would be more than earning a little less.”

“But I haven’t even—”

Jana’s voice rose as she snarled, “I tasted your mead.”

“The mead you had someone steal from our root cellar?”

“I tasted it,” Jana repeated softly without admitting to the rest. “It’s the same as I had down south. It might even be better.”

This was not the time to feel pride, but Kaylina filed that comment away to enjoy later… if she survived until later.

“Your ranger won’t find the delivery boy.” Jana slid a hand under her cloak.

“Did you kill him after he did your awful work?”

“Of course not. I am, as the queen said, an upright kingdom subject. I’m not a murderer.”

“But you would have no trouble killing me.”

“You’re a girl venturing into a world you’re ill-prepared for. If your grandmother wanted to extend her empire, she should have sent someone with more experience, someone with more than a child’s toyfor a weapon.” Jana glanced at the sling on the desk.

Likely so, but Grandmahadn’t sent Kaylina. She didn’t point that out to Jana.

“The dose in the mead wouldn’t have killed you. Just confirmed your guilt while giving you crippling abdominal pain and explosive diarrhea. At the queen’s feet.”

“I’m extremely disappointed I didn’t try it.”

Death might have been more merciful.

“She might have killed you afterward. Likely would have. She has a history of getting rid of people.”

“So I’ve heard.”

“The funny thing about those who use poison to solve their problems is that they’re quick to believe others will do the same.”

“Did you start the fire in the castle when you were stealing my mead?”

“I did not. I believe that was a test.” Jana withdrew her hand, a small vial of a purple liquid inside. “The Virts wondered if they could trust you or if you were feeding information to the rangers that people kept noticing at your side.”

Yes, they hadn’t done a good job of feigning there was no link between Kaylina and the rangers. Kaylina and Vlerion.

“Had the castle burned without intervention, they would have believed you were an entrepreneur working on your own. After all, not even the fire brigade would go near that cursed place.” Jana squinted. “Not unless they were ordered to. Not only did the fire brigade assist in putting out the flames, but Lord Vlerion himself did.”

“If the Virts hadburned the castle to the ground, even if I weren’t working with the rangers, I wouldn’t have been eager to jump in bed with the arsonists who targeted me.”

“A risk I believe they were willing to take. You’d have to speak with their leaders for the details. I suspect they mostly wanted the catacombs and that exit into the city to remain unwatched.” Jana set the vial on the crossbar next to the gate.

“Is that the same poison that you sabotaged my mead with?” Kaylina glanced toward the stairs, wondering if the guard was listening, or cared if he was. Probably not. He’d been paid.

“In this small concentrated dose, it would be fatal,” Jana said. “I’ll leave it there in case you want to end things instead of getting your ranger killed.”

Kaylina looked sharply at her. Did Jana know about Vlerion’s secret?

“I saw the way he looked at you. When he doesn’t find the messenger, he’ll be driven to do something foolish. Ask yourself if you want him to give up his career and probably his life for you.” Jana raised her eyebrows frankly. “If he attacks and kills guards to break you out… even if he only defies the queen’s wishes… it’ll be the end for him. Even nobles aren’t above the law.”

“I’m innocent. Breaking me out wouldn’t be a crime.”

“Except that I’ve ensured that it would be.” Jana smiled, bowed, and backed away.

“Because you’re too much of a coward to compete fairly with me for customers?”

“I haven’t gotten this far in life by being fair.” Jana pointed at the vial. “I suggest you make your decision quickly. That guard has some notions about what he’d like to do with you. Acts that might also drive the ranger to rage-fueled slaying if he returns at an untimely moment. Love prompts young men to make poor decisions.”

“He doesn’t love me.”

Kaylina had little doubt about that, but if Vlerion was drawn to her because she was an anrokk… might that not be as powerful as love?

“We’ll see.” Jana turned toward the stairs. “Unless you make the selfless choice and end your life before he can lose everything.”

After planting her vile seed, Jana walked away without looking back.

Alone again, Kaylina stared at the vial. A tremble went through her. She wouldn’t consider the horrible woman’s offering, but… Could she live with herself if she did get Vlerion killed?

“Gods,” she whispered.

A clank from the stairwell made her realize she wasn’talone. The guard hadn’t left.

Kaylina plucked up the vial and slid it into her pocket.

Gripping the book in both hands, she stepped back until the cold chiseled stone wall pressed into her shoulder blades. The guard sauntered into view, his expression smug, that of a man who had dastardly plans in mind and knew he wouldn’t get caught.

Kaylina didn’t know whether to wish Vlerion were there to protect her or not. Seeing the guard approaching her might cause him to turn. The man might deserve an end at the claws of the beast, but… the queen wouldn’t see it that way. The law wouldn’t see it that way. And then there was the possibility that the beast would kill her after killing the guard.

“The king is giving his speech,” the man said. “Hearing him stumble through his rehearsed words isn’t that scintillating, but people are supposed to listen. I doubt anyone will come down here for the next hour or so.”

“Maybe you should go up and listen too. Prove yourself a good guard deserving of a pay raise.”

“I’ve already been paid more today than I make in a month.” He showed the gold coin, bit into it to dent the metal, and slipped it into a pocket. “And if I’m reading the moon craters right, the only one who cares what happens to you is that ranger, and he’s not here.” The guard opened the desk drawer and pulled out the keyring.

Nerves dampened Kaylina’s palms as she gripped the book. If he opened the gate because he wanted to rape her, and she could avoid that fate, she could get out. Escaping from the rest of the castle wouldn’t be easy, but if most people were watching that speech, maybe she had a shot. She would have a much better chance of clearing her name from outside the dungeon than in it.

But the guard stood between her and escape.

He stepped close to the gate, slipping the key into the lock. He was tall, muscular, and broad-shouldered, with a flanged mace at his hip and chain mail protecting his torso. And she… she had a book.

Nonetheless, she lowered into a crouch, Vlerion’s lesson on balance coming to mind. She might not be able to beat the guy, but she had to try.

“You going to club me with that?” Amusement gleamed in his dark eyes.

The lock clinked.

“As many times as I can.”

“Exciting.” He gave her a long look from head to toe, his gaze lingering in select spots.

Fury flowed into Kaylina’s limbs, making her believe that maybe she could get the best of the guard.

He opened the gate and strode toward her.

Instead of taking a swing, she threw the book at him, hoping to startle him.

He raised an arm, deflecting the heavy object. She rushed in, trying to take him off guard, and turned and dropped her shoulder, aiming an elbow to his groin.

But he was fast and shifted his body. Her elbow struck his hip, jarring her and not hurting him. He grabbed her and spun her, thrusting her against the bars and pressing his body against hers from behind.

“Very exciting.” He laughed and bit her ear.

Pain sent another blast of fury into her. She screamed, more rage than a cry for help, and stomped down, catching his instep. But she wore only slippers, and his boots protected him.

She grabbed the bars, trying to push and twist away, but he used his greater weight to keep her pinned. One hand snaked down, jerking her dress up.

Kaylina whipped her head back and caught him in the nose so hard that cartilage crunched. His grip loosened. For a second time, she threw her head back, clipping him again.

He cursed and let go, tears springing to his eyes.

She whirled and reached for the vial in her pocket, but unless she could force it down his throat, what good would itdo? Instead, she lunged for the mace at his hip.

The guard recovered enough to stop her, grabbing her wrist. She kicked him in the shin and jerked her arm away.

Doubting she could win a fight, she spun toward the open gate, intending to run instead.

But a tremendous boom came from the far side of the cave, from where the scraping had been.

The ground quaked, and the cell gates rattled as rubble flew. It splashed into the water and clunked to the ground. Smoke blew over the pool, filling the air, and men’s voices sounded as the noise of the explosion dwindled.

The guard swore and thrust Kaylina aside as he lunged for the gate. She had her second chance to grab the mace and snatched it from his hip. This time, she was successful.

With the weapon in her hand, she backed away.

“Damn it.” The guard spun toward her, reaching for it as he glanced at the smoke, the shapes of men visible streaming into the cave.

Kaylina swung the mace at his head.

If he hadn’t been distracted, she wouldn’t have gotten the best of him, but she cracked him square above the ear. He pitched to the ground.

Armed men ran around the pool and toward the stairs. Virts? Here to assassinate the king? There were dozens of them, and they carried swords, axes, maces, and crossbows. She was positive they hadn’t come to hear their monarch speak.

Kaylina crept to the open gate, hoping that the smoke would keep them from noticing her. Then she could escape and… and what? She didn’t know. Find Vlerion.

But two men in the lead paused to look at her.

“Didn’t we rescue you once before?” one asked with a laugh. His face was vaguely familiar. He must have been at that first jailbreak.

“I rescued myself, thank you.” Kaylina admitted their explosion had helped with that, but she raised the mace, hoping she looked capable—and that they didn’t have any notions of capturing her.

He laughed again. “Yeah, you did.”

“Shit,” someone closer to the stairs barked, pointing in that direction. “Ranger!”

Vlerion.

At first, Kaylina’s heart soared. But he was alone, and there were at least forty men, with more rushing into the cave. Even he couldn’t win against such odds.

A snarl from behind startled Kaylina. The guard.

He sprang on her, smashing her against the bars again and grabbing her wrist. She tightened her grip, refusing to let go of the mace, and cursing herself for forgetting about him. She’d thought she had knocked him out, damn it.

Her dress ripped as he pawed at her with one hand and twisted her wrist with the other. The tear of fabric was audible in the suddenly silent cave, and Kaylina looked toward the stairwell, afraid Vlerion would shift.

Utter rage filled his eyes. Kaylina clubbed the guard with the mace, knocking him to the ground again. It didn’t calm Vlerion. He transformed right before her eyes.

His clothing ripped, his skin sprouted short auburn fur, and he grew even more muscular and powerful, the laces of his leather armor snapping under his bulging torso. Claws thrust from hands that had turned paw-like. When he threw his head back to howl, his jaw broadened and his teeth elongated into fangs.

By all the altered plants in the world, that change had to hurt.

Between the shadows and smoke, a lot of the invaders might have missed Vlerion’s shift, but every head turned at the roar. When the beast charged into the cave, half the men yelled and scattered. But half the men raised their weapons, aiming to kill him.