“You won’t kill me,” I said. “I’m the only hope for your plan to succeed. Let’s not pretend otherwise.”
Conner sat in the other chair facing his desk, his eyes pleading with me to accept his offer. “Sage, no harm will come to you upon that throne, and you can reign only for as long as you want to.”
“Then I can hand the throne over to you.”
Conner’s face reddened and he stood, yelling again. “Hand the throne to anyone you choose, just make it to someone you trust. I am not a villain in this story, no matter how many times you’ve attempted to frame me that way!”
“Are you a hero, then?”
“I’m just a man trying to do what I think is best for my country. If I’ve made mistakes along the way, they were made out of a desire to do the right thing.”
“I have terms,” I said.
“You’re insufferable,” Conner said. “Have you waited for this moment since we met? To force me into a situation where I must give in to your whims or else see everything I’ve worked for all this time go to waste?”
“Tobias and Roden must accompany us to the castle.”
“Why?”
“I promised that if you chose me, I wouldn’t allow you to kill them. It’s the only way I’ll be able to keep that promise.”
“It’s a foolish idea. They’re a threat to you now.”
“If you had left with Roden just now, Tobias and I were going to be killed, correct?”
Conner waved a hand in the air. “I can’t deny that, nor will I apologize for it. The two boys not chosen know everything. They can use that knowledge to blackmail you, harass you, and intimidate you for the rest of your life. Information is a dangerous thing in the wrong hands, Sage. As of this moment, they are the greatest threat to you.”
“But I will decide how to manage that threat. There’s more. Imogen will come to Drylliad as well.”
“Fool boy! May I remind you of the betrothed princess Amarinda? Imogen has no future connected with you.”
“Once I’m made prince, I’ll pay off her debt to you, then set her free. Either all of them come with us, or I don’t.”
Conner cursed, then grabbed a small marble statue off his desk and threw it at me. It whisked past my shoulder, hit the far wall of his office, and cracked the wood paneling. He probably intended to miss, but maybe not. “You are not the king yet!” he growled. “I’ll bring them with us, only to get your stubborn head into the carriage with me. But until you are crowned, I am the master, and if I see a need to dispose of them, I will.”
“Fair enough,” I said, then a mischievous grin snuck onto my face. “So do you want to bow to me now or wait until we reach Drylliad?”
Conner brushed past me and into the entrance hall. He shouted orders for a carriage to be prepared for seven travelers. Cregan would now be our driver.
“Hail His Majesty, the scourge of my life,” Conner said to Roden and Tobias as he stomped up the stairs. “I fear the devils no longer, because I have the worst of them right here in my home!”
Since Conner’s traveling group had now swelled from only himself, Mott, and Roden to a group of seven, we were informed that there would be a delay before we could be ready to leave. Tobias looked pleased and relieved, but Roden’s expression was almost murderous as he stomped away. I wasn’t sure where he was going, but knew he’d return when it was time to leave. He couldn’t risk being left behind.
After changing into riding clothes upstairs, I told Mott that I wanted to go for a ride. “This may be my last chance to be truly alone, perhaps ever,” I explained. “Let me have that time with my thoughts.”
Mott gave a permissive bow of his head. “Be careful. You’re Conner’s prize now.”
“I’m never careful,” I said, grinning. Mott didn’t smile back.
I walked past the kitchen toward the back door of Farthenwood that would lead me to the stables, and was only barely outside before someone punched me in the arm. Not a hard punch, compared to most hits I’ve taken, but an angry one.
Imogen had been standing just outside the door. She’d probably seen me in riding clothes and came out to wait for me.
“What was that for?” I asked, rubbing my arm.
She glanced around to make sure we were alone, then hissed, “How dare you, Sage? How dare you interfere with my life?”
Genuinely confused, I took her by the elbow and led her farther away from the door, beside a tall hedge where we would not be easily seen. “What are you talking about?” I asked. “What have I done?”
“You’re the prince now?”
“Looks that way.”
Tears welled in her eyes, though she was obviously trying hard to push them back. “And you’re bringing me to Drylliad with you?”
“I can get you away from here, from whoever treats you so badly.”
“And then what, Sage? What happens to me in Drylliad?”
I shrugged, unable to understand why she was so angry. “You go free. Once I’m made prince, I’ll have access to the treasury. I’ll pay off your mother’s debt to Conner and you’re free.”
She shook her head stiffly. “I won’t have your charity. Not from an orphan and certainly not from a prince.”
“It’s not charity. You’re my friend, and I want to help.”
If possible, that made her even angrier. “Do you think this is helpful? I had a place here, Sage. I understood my life.”
“You have no life here. I’m giving it back to you.”
“No, you’re not. I know what this is.”
I folded my arms as I faced her. “Oh?”
“You’re afraid to go to Drylliad, correct?”
A little anxious perhaps, but that didn’t explain her anger. “What if I am?” I replied. “You don’t understand what —”
“I understand perfectly. You played Conner’s game and won, but now that his decision is made, you’re afraid no one will believe the lies. You want help in convincing the court. You think by bringing me to Drylliad, I’ll feel obligated to lie for you.”
Strong emotions rose in me. Not exactly anger, though that’s how it sounded when I spoke. “You think that’s my plan, that I’d use you in such a way? I had no idea I was such a horrible person.”
Her face softened somewhat. “You’re not horrible, Sage. But look at what Conner’s turning you into. Don’t you see it? I’ve watched you go from this orphan boy who might’ve become my friend to Conner’s prince, who’ll never be anything but his costumed servant.”
“I’m nobody’s servant.”
“Yes, you are.” She shook her head sadly. “You gave in to him. You let Conner win. I didn’t think you would.”
“Imogen, there is so much more happening than you know.”
“And does any of it matter more than your freedom?” After a slight hesitation, she added, “I’m disappointed in you. I’d rather you had run. That would be better than this.”
“Run?” Truly angry now, I started to walk away, then turned back to her. “Then you’d condemn Tobias to death, make Roden a puppet king, and doom yourself to a life here. Conner’s held you down for so long, you’ve forgotten what it’s like to breathe free air.”
“And you’ve given your life to his control forever. You’ll never breathe free again.”
I started to answer, to say whatever was necessary to make her understand. But in the end, I hesitated too long and finally only managed to suggest she should pack her things before Conner was ready to leave.
She shook her head, then hurried back into the house. As much as I wanted to follow her, gut instinct told me that would only make things worse. She could believe whatever she wanted about me, but she was still coming to Drylliad.
There were a few stable boys tending to the horses when I arrived there a few minutes later. No sign of Cregan, who was probably now having to get ready for our journey. The longer I avoided him, the better. Cregan had wanted Roden to be chosen. He’d be furious with me for winning out at the last minute.