“Oh. You have a purpose, princess? Enlighten me.”
His derision warned me that Frand wasn’t my only enemy. For whatever reason, this boy did not like me either. “Not that it’s your concern, but once Fowler is well, I’ll be on my way.” He chuckled at that. I stiffened. “Am I the butt of a joke?”
“I’m merely amused.”
“Why is that?”
“You just revealed yourself to be the late King Relhok’s daughter . . . the true heir to Relhok. Cullan, the current ruler of Relhok, is my father’s greatest enemy or ally depending on the day.” He paused, and his arm stretched along the back of my chair, brushing my shoulders in a way that made me lean forward to escape him. “You aren’t going anywhere, princess. Possibly ever.”
The food in my stomach suddenly felt like rocks as I turned his words over in my head. It seemed pretty clear then that the only way I was leaving this place was through a calculated escape. First order of business: ferret out information on all entrances and exits into the castle.
“Scribe!” the king called, his voice carrying over the conversation of everyone in the great hall and drawing my attention from Chasan. “Send for the scribe!”
Moments passed, and whisper-soft footsteps scurried over the polished floor. “Here, Your Majesty.”
“Are you ready? Take a missive.” King Tebald didn’t wait for an answer before continuing, “It is with great joy that I share the news of the princess of Relhok’s survival and good health . . .” The scratching of quill on parchment filled the air. “She is safe and well and resides with us where, fear not, she will continue to prosper under our most diligent care and affections . . .”
“Father, are you certain that you should alert him that we have her?” the prince asked, an edge to his voice.
Have her. As though I were a possession.
The significance of this sank in, and hope flared to life in me. Cullan would know I lived. He’d have no reason to continue killing girls in his hunt for me. “Yes,” I blurted. “Do it. Let him know.” Please, please, let him know.
Chasan leaned closer again, his liquid voice turning acidic. “You’re not fully apprehending the situation. If Cullan killed your parents to control Relhok, he will not wish you well. He believes you dead now. Are you certain you wish to alert him to the contrary?”
“He already knows,” I responded, my tone urgent, excited at stopping the slaughter of so many innocents with a mere letter from Tebald. “He’s looking for me. That’s what motivated his kill order. If he knows I live, he’ll lift the kill order. There will be no need for it.”
“He may very well be looking for you, but he doesn’t know where you are.”
“Let him know,” I boldly tossed down.
At my emphatic words, the king chuckled lightly, alerting me that he had been listening from where he sat addressing the scribe. “You do remind me of your mother. She was a fine, spirited lass, too. Kind and full of mettle.” I smiled. I couldn’t stop myself. I no longer had this—no longer had Perla and Sivo whispering of past things.
I listened with a light heart as the scribe finished taking down the king’s message.
“Idiot girl,” Chasan muttered beside me.
I bristled, liking him even less with every passing moment.
“That takes care of that,” Tebald announced. “Cullan will know you live now and that you are here. You and Prince Fowler.”
“How long will it take for him to receive the missive?” I asked, anxiousness making me sit up straighter.
“Not long. We’ll send a courier bird out with it at once.”
I ducked my head, so overcome with relief that tears burned my eyes. The senseless killing would stop. I wasn’t foolish enough to think Tebald’s motives altruistic, but the fact remained that he was helping me save lives. For that I was grateful.
I sucked in a breath, relief warming a path through me. “Thank you,” I murmured. It was everything I wanted, after all . . . for Cullan to know I lived so that he would end his bloodthirsty hunt to find me. That had been the goal. Now if he wanted me dead, he could come after me directly. And maybe he would. I swallowed against the bitter lump in my throat, thinking of Chasan’s warning.
I gave myself a hard mental shake. It didn’t matter. The importance of my life waned when held up against scores of others. All those girls, faceless innocents, would not die because of me. The only monsters they had to fight were the ones we all had to fight.
Besides, I would be long gone from here before Cullan’s men showed up. I was uncertain where to go next. Could I continue on to Allu? Continue the journey I had set out on with Fowler? It seemed so long ago since we’d left my tower.