Royal Games

Chapter 55

It takes me a moment to register the arrow protruding from her side, and the direction the arrow must've come from.

As I scramble upwards, my head whips sideways, where I see one of the assassins lowering a bow.

"Finish her quickly." A gruff, male voice says.

I stare at Darcey, writhing in pain, trying hopelessly to wrench the arrow from her body. Her hands are stained in blood.

I hesitate only for a few seconds. Then my sword is in Darcey's chest. I feel the pressure as the blade pushes through skin and muscle to puncture a vital organ. As soon as I know my blade strikes true, I pull it out and turn away from Darcey's body. I don't want to see the moment her heart stops beating.

I collapse onto my hands and knees, vomiting over my bloody sword. When I look up once more, the assassins are still stood by the door, watching me.

"What is this?" I ask weakly, slowly standing on wobbly legs.

"She," The male nods to Darcey's body behind me. "Was outbid. You weren't our target."

Donovan's words come back to me. Sending my assassins after you was a way to get to Queen Dahlia. But the assassins don't seem surprised that apparently it was Darcey all along. How much does Donovan know? Could he tell me about the prophesy I'm apparently involved in?

"So I'm supposed to trust you?" I ask instead.

"No one is supposed to trust us." The female answers. "But you are safe for today." I shiver at her last two words.

"We are to make sure the deed is done." The male adds. "You can go to find your friends."

Dismissed by an assassin? In the throne room of my own kingdom? At another time I would have laughed. Not now. I have so many more questions rolling around in my head, but I'm too exhausted to demand answers right now. I resolve to pay Donovan a visit soon.

Leaving my blood-stained sword on the floor, I pass the assassins on my way to the door, as they walk towards my dead aunt. My dead aunt. My dead mum's twin. I fight the tears that threaten to fall as the weight of what I've done hits me.

I begin walking towards Traitor's Tower. But the world is too silent. My racing thoughts scream at me, and there's nothing and no one to drown out the sound. My pace picks up, faster and faster, until I'm running.

Using my magic, I slam the door to Traitor's Tower open. I bolt up the stairs. Round and round. It's a wide tower, with the steps circling dim cells. I peek through the tiny windows of each cell I pass. Almost all are empty, but none contain Liam or Marco. Round and round, I continue upward.

Another strike of my magic has the door at the top of the tower flying open. I stop, standing still in the doorway.

Marco sits on the wooden floor, arms chained to the wall in irons. He looks dazed and uncomfortable, but otherwise unharmed.

Liam, on the other hand... If there was anything left in my stomach, I would throw up for the third time today.

He has been strapped upright to the wall with iron cuffs, hovering an inch off the ground. Naked except for his underwear, every mar on his body is on display. His face is gruesomely swelled and bloodied. One bruised leg is twisted at an awkward angle that makes me think at least one bone must be dislocated. But his chest... His chest has been branded with a single word.

Traitor.

A word that certainly isn't true for him. Where the ugly purple letters are, his veins are as black as night. Whatever was used to burn his skin must've been contaminated with negative energy. His ruined chest rising and falling is the only sign he's still alive.

"Key." Marco slurs, fighting to keep his eyes open. "Table."

My eyes dart around the room, before landing on a rounded table against one wall. As I wander over, I notice the array of torture devices laid out on the table and the shelves above. Knives, whips, metal spikes, and so many more things I can only guess at the purpose of. I shudder to think what some of the prisoners in this tower have been subjected to.

I scan the table, but I can't find a key anywhere.

"Wall." Marco adds helpfully.

I move my search from the table and, sure enough, an iron key dangles on a nail in the wall. I grab it and race over to free Marco.

"See fought... I was sleep when see bought me here... See was wrong." Marco slurs as I crouch down to unlock his chains. Even in a drugged state, I have to admit Marco is sharp-minded.

"Can you stand?" I ask, reaching out a hand to help him up. He takes my hand and together we get him steady on his feet. "I need your help to free Liam. If I use my magic to keep him in position, can you unlock the cuffs?" The roles have to be this way round because I'm not sure how safe it would be for Marco to try using his own magic right now.

"Sore." He replies.

I hand Marco the key and watch him stagger over to Liam. Arms outstretched, I direct my magic towards Liam. The moment the iron comes off, Liam's body would slump dangerously without any support. I'll have to hold him up until all the cuffs are off, and then gently lower him to the ground.

It takes Marco a few attempts to get the key into the cuff on Liam's right wrist, but once it's in, the iron releases Liam's arm. There's a resistance against my magic where the iron cuffs are, but I focus hard to keep Liam's limp body aloft.

I'm patient as Marco struggles and succeeds to unlock the rest of the irons. Then I manoeuvre Liam so that he's lying on his back in the center of the room. I'm panting from the strain by the time I pull my magic back.

With a strong tug and a sickening crack, I fix Liam's dislocated knee. He lurches awake, crying out in pain.

I reach out and give his hand a gentle squeeze. "You're okay. I've got you." I reassure him.

"Your mother..." Liam starts, tone filled with panic.

"Won't be coming after us." I interject. I'll tell the whole truth later. I think I'll burst into tears if I try to talk about my mum right now.

"Less ge ou'er here." Marco slurs from behind me.

"Right." I agree. "Are you able to make the journey to my rooms?" I ask Liam. My rooms aren't too far from this tower, so I'm pretty confident Marco can manage.

"I'll make it." Liam insists. I'm not convinced, but I believe he'll try his best. He pushes himself up, hissing through clenched teeth as he stands.

I trail behind Marco and Liam to keep a close eye on them as we descend the stairs. Marco staggers. Liam limps. Our progress is slow, but eventually we make it out the tower and to my rooms.

By myself, I run to Marco's rooms and grab some clothes for Liam to put on. As he's getting dressed in my bedroom, Marco slumps onto a chair in the main room.

I rifle through the drawers in my study room, pulling out various plants and minerals. I pick the petals off a snapdragon flower and crush up a clear quartz crystal. Saltwater is poured from a decanter into two small ceramic bowls. The plants and minerals are added and stirred into the bowls. Then I use magic to turn the concoctions into potions. I boil one bowl until it bubbles and shimmers amber. My magic stirs the other bowl into a milky liquid.

Usually I levitate potions into vials, but I'm too exhausted right now. I've hardly recovered from the exertion in the tower. And the potions are for immediate use anyway.

I carry the bowls into the main room, where a fully-clothed Liam now sits opposite Marco. I hand the amber potion to Liam and the milky potion to Marco, who gives the bowl a dirty look. Both of them drink without question.

Within seconds, Marco's eyes are clear. He blinks, breaking out of his drug-induced stupor. The swelling and blood on Liam's face disappears, although bruises and scars remain. He visibly relaxes.

"What happened?" Liam asks, ever the concerned guard.