Cost Of The Crown

Chapter 11

Daveigh's POV

"You will not change your mind, will you?" Hearth asked. Kade had convinced him that I needed to build up my strength for the battle, so he had joined us while Hearth was removing the manacles. Once they were off, I rubbed my wrists tenderly.

"Why can't you just be happy with torturing him?" I raised my eyebrows. Hearth sighed, handing my necklace back. "Thank you," I said softly. I wasn't expecting to see that ever again.

"Get to the arena," Hearth ordered, with no explanation.

I let Kade lead me away. "I don't think he likes me very much." Kade did not laugh at my joke.

"He's just trying to punish you," Kade sighed. "But you'd do well to listen to him. He knows what he's doing."

"I'm sick of listening to people. That's all I did in the palace."

"Daveigh, come." Kade took my wrist, but I pulled it out of his grasp almost as soon as he made contact with me.

"I'm not going anywhere," I said, my voice shaking.

"Shh, it's okay," Kade soothed, wrapping his arms around me. His accent was thick, like usual. It was soothing, but I was in no mood for that.

"If you don't listen to Hearth, he's going to kill Dare. It's best just to do what he wants, okay?" I looked at the ground and nodded, letting him pull me to the arena.

"What can I do for you?" Malakai asked after we opened the door.

"Hearth ordered more training. Also he threatened to take back his promise if she didn't listen to him," Kade explained. Malakai nodded, understanding. Kade gently pushed me into the arena, and I stumbled a bit.

They both stood against me, readying their powers.

I was out of energy, but they attacked anyway.

"He is only gaining more and more control," Kade said to my brother. "We may be on the same side here, but he'll do anything he can to torture her."

Soon enough, there he was, standing beside my brother, inspecting me. "Hit her harder," he ordered. "She needs more training."

"General, there's no need to be angry with Daveigh," Malakai coaxed. "She's only trying to keep her best friend alive."

"I'm being very generous with her now, but the minute she disobeys me, I will kill King Dare myself. When she's not training, I want her either eating or sleeping. No leisure of any kind." With that, he stormed out of the arena.

"Yes Dad," Malakai muttered.

"What did you just say?" I demanded.

My brother sighed, sitting down. I sat with him, but I did not look at him. My gaze was fixed on the sand.

Kade stood close to me, hand on my shoulder.

"Theia would have been thirteen, when he died," Malakai began. She had a job then, and could support us enough, but we starved for a few years until she got conscripted. Then we had a larger sum of money coming in. By that time, Malakai and I were twelv, and already knew how to take care of ourselves. Theia knew conscription was her fate, so she made sure we knew how to run the house.

"Dad died in the war, I remember." He had to be wrong. There was no way that man was my father.

"Daveigh, do you honestly think we were old enough to remember what he looked like? It was eight years ago," Malakai said softly. "Also, there's a reason that Ash has been telling you this whole thing is not your fault. Dad faked his death to start the rebellion. You only set in motion. About time, Dad says. He's been waiting a long time for something to fight for."