Chapter Twenty-Nine
Exiting the palace, Allyssa attempted to gracefully descend the stairs without limping or hunching over. Approximately fifty soldiers mounted on horses surrounded a lone carriage, ready to escort her to Emperion. No one from the royal family was there to see her off.
“Princess Allyssa,” Allek called out from behind her. He hurried down the stairs, catching up to her. “I’ve just been assigned as part of the Fren envoy.” He took her arm, helping her down the remaining stairs.
“It will be nice to have a familiar face on my journey.”
He smiled and opened the carriage door. She climbed inside, refusing to take his proffered hand for help.
“I’ll be traveling on horseback alongside the carriage. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to wave your hand, and I’ll see to your every need.”
“Who assigned you?” she asked, taking a seat on the plush bench.
He hesitated a moment before replying, “His Highness, Prince Odar, specifically asked me to accompany you on this journey. He placed you in my care.”
She bit her bottom lip so she wouldn’t cry or scream.
“Are you ready to depart?”
“Yes, I’m ready to go home.”
He bowed and shut the door. Someone shouted orders and the carriage lurched forward, the soldiers riding alongside. Wasn’t Odar going to say good-bye? She glanced back at the ornate Fren palace for the last time. Movement in one of the windows caught her attention. A man stood there, his forehead leaning against the windowpane, his right hand wiping his cheeks. The carriage turned, cutting off her view of the palace and its inhabitants. And just like that, Odar was gone.
***
Allyssa lost track of time. They traveled all day, only stopping at small inns when it was too dark to adequately see. On more than one occasion, she thought of stealing a horse and riding to Emperion on her own. However, journeying in the carriage afforded her body the time it needed to heal. Each day, her injuries faded a little more, and she became stronger. Allek took his job seriously and never left her side. He even went so far as to station a guard in her room at night. She shivered, remembering her restless sleep last night. It had been plagued with her time in the dungeon, Jana torturing her, and Odar breaking her heart.
Maybe she could fall asleep in the carriage for a few hours. She pulled her legs onto the bench and rested her head against the side, trying to get comfortable. Several men shouted orders to one another, and the carriage slowed. It couldn’t be much past midday, far too early to stop for the night. And from the look of it, they were in the middle of nowhere. They came to a stop, and Allek knocked on her window.
She opened the door. “Is everything all right?”
“We’ve reached the Emperion border.”
“And?” Weren’t they going to take her to the castle in Lakeside? If they intended to leave her here, she would demand they at least provide her with a horse. Fren’s hospitality was severely lacking.
“There’s a man up ahead,” he said, gripping the hilt of his sword. “He’s standing in the middle of the road.”
For a brief moment, she feared it was Soma. But he was dead. “What does the man want?”
“To speak with you. He said his name is Neco, and he was sent by Empress Rema and Emperor Darmik to escort you home.” She jumped out of the carriage. “Wait!” he insisted. “It could be a trap. Do you even know a man by that name?”
“Yes.” Shoving around Allek, she ran past the Fren soldiers until she saw Neco. Her heart swelled with relief, and she couldn’t stop the tears. She ran to him, her ribs and leg sore, but she didn’t care.
When she was about five feet away, he dropped to one knee, bowing his head. “Princess Allyssa.”
“There’s no need for formalities,” she said.
He stood, his eyes raking over her body from head to toe. “You’re injured?”
She threw her arms around him. “My wounds have been tended to.” She’d never been so glad to see him in all her life.
He kissed the top of her head and held her at arm’s length. “I can’t believe you’re alive,” he whispered.
“That makes two of us.” Dirt crunched behind her as Allek approached.
“Are you…alone?” Neco asked. The question sent a ripple of pain through her, the loss of Odar still too fresh to talk about. “I’m sorry, did I say something wrong? The Fren messenger informed us that the prince was alive as well.”
Taking a deep breath, she replied, “I am alone. Prince Odar chose not to accompany me.”
He gave a curt nod. “Your parents asked me to bring you home. I’d like to dismiss the Fren soldiers. Is this satisfactory to you? Or do you wish to continue on with these…men?” His body turned stiff and rigid—he was furious, barely containing his ire. Good, because his feelings toward Fren mirrored her own.
“I wish for you to escort me.”
“Excellent.” He looked at the Frens. “Thank you for delivering the princess. You are no longer welcome in Emperion. Good day.”
Allek stepped forward. “Your Highness, I need to speak with the empress and emperor about the marriage contract.”
Neco cleared his throat. “As you have been granted permission to speak on your sovereigns’ behalf, so have I.”
Allyssa folded her arms and waited for Allek to say the dreaded words. Would Neco see her as a failure? Her parents had tasked her with seeking the king and queen’s approval and marrying Odar. She didn’t accomplish either one.
“Fren wishes to sever the marriage contract between Prince Odar and Princess Allyssa.”
“We assumed so based on your lack of help when Russek attacked us,” Neco responded. His hand rested on the hilt of his sword. “But I must know, on what grounds?” His voice was calm and laced with fury, sending a shiver down her spine. Bloody hell—she missed him.
“Russek no longer poses a threat to our kingdom.”
Now that Fren knew Russek intended to destroy Emperion, they’d mistakenly assumed they were safe. Jana would seek revenge for the murders of her mother and children. Odar was a part of that. Instead of explaining any of this to Allek, she kept her mouth shut. Odar had already made up his mind.
“That is what they think?” Neco clarified. “That Russek is no longer a threat because King Drenton is dead?”
“Yes, it is,” he responded.
Neco turned his attention to Allyssa. “The empress said the choice is yours.” There was a choice? “The contract is signed. If you wish to hold Fren to it, we will go to war if need be.”
Allek stiffened. She rubbed her temple, trying to decide what was best for Emperion. They had control over Kricok, Landania, and Fia, making their army the strongest on the mainland. Plus, the state of Russek was rather precarious.