“No. One way in, one way out. Keeps the castle safe and secure.” The narrow bridge made it impossible for an army to cross. “Get going. I’d like to be inside where it’s warm.”
Allyssa nudged her horse forward. It snorted, and she awkwardly patted its neck, wishing her wrists weren’t bound. “Come on, boy. Nice and slow.” The horse stepped onto the bridge. “That’s it.” She kept her eyes focused on the wall surrounding the castle, refusing to look down. The wind thrashed across her body; terror seized her heart, making it difficult to breathe.
The bridge ended, and Allyssa gladly nudged her horse onto the small platform where Soma, Odar, and the soldiers who had already crossed waited. Once the remaining men joined them, Soma faced the stone wall and knocked on the iron door.
A one-foot-by-one-foot section slid open, revealing the top of someone’s head. “State your business.”
“I’m escorting two prisoners for my mother, Queen Jana,” Soma said. The wind continued to thrash against them. Allyssa wanted the door opened so she could get off this crowded platform before someone fell off.
The man nodded. “Proceed.” The window slammed shut, and the massive iron door groaned as it opened to admit them.
They crossed through the thick perimeter wall. On the other side, the royal family’s castle stood tall and imposing, no smoke rising from the chimneys. The windows were dark, and no one was about, giving the place an empty and lifeless feel. Soma led the way down the deserted road.
“This castle is one of the oldest on the mainland,” Odar said, coming alongside her. “Hundreds of years ago, Prince Nero of Emperion was engaged to marry the princess from Russek. Instead of going through with the arranged marriage, Nero left with his secret lover, Atta. Russek and Emperion went to war. However, they reached a truce after only a few weeks of fighting and have been living peacefully ever since. Even when Emperor Hamen, a man known for waging war and invading other kingdoms, ruled, he never went to war with Russek.”
“Interesting,” Allyssa said as they neared the castle’s entrance. “However, now that Russek has kidnapped me, I can assure you Emperion will wage war on this kingdom, and they will bring it to the ground.” She just wished she would be alive to see it.
The corners of Odar’s lips bent upward as he fought a smile.
The gate swung open, and the group entered a stone courtyard surrounded by the castle. The enormous structure consisted of a mismatched combination of square towers and round spires of various sizes. Some were topped with turrets, others with statues of men wielding swords. No flags or banners flew. Not a single sentry was visible.
The assassin pulled his horse to a stop before a darkened archway and whistled. Two sentries emerged out of the shadows with their swords drawn.
“I have two prisoners for my mother, Queen Jana.” He dismounted, indicating for everyone else to do the same. Allyssa awkwardly slid off her horse, and Soma cut her bindings before moving over to Odar and slicing through his. He then dismissed the Russek soldiers who had accompanied them there. The men took the horses and headed toward the stables.
“This way,” one of the sentries said.
Allyssa hesitated, wondering if she could run and hide somewhere. Shifting her weight, she scanned the area for exits. As she did so, four additional sentries came out of the dark archway and surrounded them. Six armed men and one assassin. There was no chance of escaping now.
Chapter Eight
Soma disappeared into the dark archway. Odar hurried after him, not once glancing Allyssa’s way. She followed, the sentries herding her forward. The archway led to a short corridor. The only light came from a couple of windows that were so dirty she couldn’t see through them. The corridor felt chilly and damp.
From her studies, she knew this castle was King Drenton’s primary residence. However, the place was so dreary and depressing that she wondered how anyone, especially a king, could live here.
At the end of the corridor, they stopped before an arched door while Soma played with the lock. The sentries surrounding her and Odar towered above them. Each man wore black leather armor with a fur cape draped over his shoulders. Their hair hung loose. But what Allyssa found most intriguing were the intricate black marks swirled over their foreheads and cheeks. Each man had a different, yet similar, pattern. Since Soma didn’t have one, she believed it was some sort of military mark.
The door swung open. “Follow me,” Soma ordered, stepping into another corridor, this one glowing with bright light. Warmth spread over her as she entered, and one of the soldiers took her cape, yanking it from her shoulders. “Won’t be needing this.”
Without faltering, she continued along the corridor, glad to finally be in a section of the castle that had some life to it. Torches hung on the walls, interspaced with faded tapestries. There wasn’t a single window in sight. Two sentries stood guard on either side of an oversized door.
“Your Highness,” the one on the right said, swinging the door open to admit them. “Welcome to court.” A strip of thick red carpet led from the door to a raised dais fifty feet away. The room was alight with torches, and a fire roared off to the side in an enormous hearth twice as tall as Allyssa. Banners with the royal family’s crest hung from the rafters. Three dozen people mingled about the Throne Room.
“Prince Soma, Princess Allyssa of Emperion, and Prince Odar of Fren,” the sentry holding the door bellowed. A collective gasp resounded through the room.
Keeping her head high, Allyssa started walking along the runner. The people she passed murmured to one another, craning their necks to see her. She had to be a mess. When was the last time she bathed? Regardless of her own appearance—and smell—she would carry herself with dignity since she was the princess of Emperion and heir to the throne.
Those gathered had to be members of the Russek court. Most of the noblemen wore thick wool tunics, pants, and a sash across their chests that revealed their family’s crest. The noblewomen had on dresses made from heavy fabric that covered their arms and neck. The colors were dark and muted. Not many donned jewelry, giving Allyssa the sense that their clothing was more utilitarian—not what she was used to seeing at her own court.