The False King: The Cerith Kingdom Chronicles: Book III (The Cerith Kingdom Chronicles 3) Read online

  "Alyx. Evander. The Vresal army that is challenging the borders of this land everyday, the fact that there is a serious suspicion that Prince Alik might have helped in Evander's kidnapping, take your pick, Your Highness," Josette hissed.

  There was very little change in the manner of dress of Eamon and his men, even as winter settled around them. Their cloaks were thicker, but the chitons remained and they were still bare chested. The sandals that they typically wore were traded in for boots that stopped just below their knees. But it could have been a warm spring day for all you could tell by looking at them.

  "Do you believe that Evander is still alive?" Eamon asked. He kept his eyes on his blade. Paige went deadly still.

  Josette bared her teeth at Eamon and turned away from him and paced to the door and back.

  "I know not," she finally concluded.

  "But you would like to think him still alive?" Eamon ventured.

  Josette didn't feel like she needed to answer that. She paced back to the door again.

  "Then why do you speak to me and not Alyx or even Gael? They are the royals here. I am merely a general," Eamon said.

  Josette stopped, her back to Eamon and closed her eyes. She tried to banish the look on Alyx's face when they had forced him to come home; the look of terror and utter betrayal at returning home without Evander. She tried not to remember hearing Gael sob every night she passed his room.

  "Because I fear if I tell them, I will give them hope that he lives still. That he might be out there, only waiting for a rescue. And I fear that if I do return with only his body or perhaps no news at all, it will finish them both off," Josette whispered.

  It was a dark truth she did not want to confront but it kept her company late at night when she patrolled the grounds and the castle.

  The sound of Eamon's whetstone ceased and Josette turned.

  She had never seen the man so tired. He still had the bulk and the drive he arrived with, but the life of him, the part that drove him on and on, seemed to have left.

  Josette knew that feeling.

  "Would you take some men?" He asked.

  "I would prefer not to."

  Eamon nodded and looked down at his sword. "Then go. Leave tonight. Take Eros. I will say that you were called back to Nightfell but I do not know why. Take what you must and say it is under my orders."

  He looked up at her and those bright blue eyes of his were dimmed.

  "I will find out everything possible," she promised.

  "See that you do," Eamon replied.

  Chapter 2

  Evander tried to keep count of how many times the sun passed overhead but it was impossible when there were days that he was beaten so badly that he didn't know how long he slept.

  As the days blurred, Evander was worried about what was going on outside. He heard voices, those belonging to the guards, and sometimes they spoke of the most mundane things but sometimes they spoke of people who were coming too close to their encampment.

  When he heard that, Evander's heart pounded so fast, that he felt he might lose consciousness.

  It never came to be. Days passed and Evander refused to give up hope, even though all the signs pointed to his family believing he was likely dead.

  He wondered if that were for the best.

  Since he was taken, Evander had not seen Thomas. Or the man who referred to himself as such.

  Evander paced the length of the small tower, eleven steps one way, eleven back, and thought of how he had possibly not seen what was right in front of him all along. It only made perfect sense that whoever had been launching these attacks had intimate knowledge of the inner workings of the castle and the royal family. And sure, they had enemies, Evander most of all, but there was really only one person that hated them enough to try and do this.

  It all just seemed so impossible.

  Evander was sitting on the ground of his cell when the door was jerked open.

  Miss Vail was there, her arms crossed over her chest, glaring down at Evander. He couldn’t help but think that if she had a different life, maybe learned a little kindness, and was not poisoned by the rot that lived in Thomas, she might have looked completely different.

  Instead her large hooked nose, thin hair, and beady eyes just served to remind him of what kind of ugly business she made her life in.

  He smiled up at her.

  "He wishes to see you," she sneered.

  Evander couldn't help but study her. She was probably Auelina's age, but unlike his sister, Evander didn't guess that this woman had much joy in her life. Her dark hair was pulled back away from her face and in the few times that Evander saw her, he had never seen her wearing a dress. It was usually black leathers, and a dark cloak that didn't look heavy enough to stand the winter chill.

  Evander was becoming very familiar with the cold.

  "Is he here to beat me in person? Does he tire of his goons having all the fun?" Evander asked. He didn't move from his spot on the ground.

  "Get up," Vail snapped. Her front two teeth were longer than the rest and Evander could imagine her gnawing on a bit of wood, like a woodchuck.

  "Why? I like it here. It's so comfortable and warm," Evander replied.

  Vail snarled and gestured for two men to come inside and Evander wondered if his daily beating would commence earlier than usual.

  Instead, the men made him stand and forced him outside.

  Evander got his first look around the tower. Usually he only saw what was visible from the open doorway but now he saw that his cell was a building apart from the rest. There were stables and a blacksmith's shop, and several cottages lined up next to a large manor house. It was a tiny village, but not so unfamiliar from others that Evander visited in his life.

  The men here outnumbered the women easily. Everyone that he passed gave him strange looks even as Evander smiled at them.

  They probably thought him mad.

  Or they hated him for whatever injustice that their leader claimed he had done.

  Vail led the way to the large manor house. Her thin frame cut through the people here and they scurried to get out of her way. There were more than a few looks of pity sent his way and some glares as well.

  When they entered the house, Evander's mouth began to water when the scent of roasting meat filled his nose. The main hallway was wide and lined with torches. There were no tapestries here and Evander understood why. Tapestries were given to people with a history, as a gift, to someone they admire. It was something to mark an occasion or to remember something special.

  This man would not want to remember anything. Nor did he have anything special happen to him. Not in the last fifteen or so years, anyway.

  They brought him into a large room where there was a roaring fire and a large table. It was probably used for dining, or maybe to serve as a meeting place.

  Whatever the reason, the man who named himself Thomas sat there, a plate in front of him. There were bones and a leftover piece of bread there. The man did not acknowledge Evander being brought in and barely blinked when Evander was thrown to his feet.

  He only turned when and met Evander's eyes when Evander pushed himself back onto his haunches and met his gaze.

  "Evander," Thomas said and inclined his head, only once.

  "Hello, father," Evander replied.

  ∞∞∞

  Given leave, Josette began to pack that very afternoon. She did not want the others to know what she was doing or why, so she would wait until midnight, when she could sneak past the guards without any trouble at all. Eros was used to her presence now and they would often ride together, sometimes with Paige as well. The horse was silent and Josette often wondered if she was magic, after all. No horse that size should be that good at sneaking up on people.

  When the time came, Josette pulled her dark cloak up over her head and slipped a pack on. She left through the servants quarters, so rarely guarded this time of night. She made sure that she didn't leave any trace of herself behind and w
hen she made for the stables, the night was quiet enough that she felt she could hear for miles around.

  She slowed when she approached the stables and stopped altogether outside of the doors. She heard voices inside, whispering, but couldn't make out the words. Josette closed her eyes, tried to shut everything out but the whispering voices but she could still not make out the words.

  She peered through the slats and could only see two figures, both cloaked, both disappearing in and out of Eros's stable. Josette wanted to hiss at the intrusion and then another thought struck her:

  What if they were about to take Eros?

  Josette could not let that happen. For one, she needed that horse. It was the only one that could carry her long distances and the only warhorse that she trusted to protect her. Eros had proven herself time and again when Josette was in need and she would not take another horse on this journey.

  And she was Josette's last connection to Evander.

  Josette pushed the last thought away and watched as one figure brought an unfamiliar saddle over to the stable. It was black on black and Josette could only imagine how it disappeared against Eros's back and how impossible it would be to see a rider in the dead of night, especially if the rider was also wearing black.

  Josette decided after she dispatched whoever was trying to steal Eros, she would take the saddle as well.

  She slipped inside when she heard the two in deep conversation and slipped into the stall next to them.

  Alyx's horse, Eros's sister, was there. Snow white and gentle as a newborn bunny, Ranger sighed at her but gave no other indication that someone was in her space with her.

  "...look. The clasps are all wrapped in leather."

  "For what purpose?"

  "To silence them."

  "That's genius."

  There was a pause and Josette imagined the two fitting the saddle on Eros's back.

  "I thought you said she would be here tonight."

  "She will be. I just wanted to be early and get everything ready for her. Especially this new saddle. Ever since -"

  Josette stepped out of Ranger's stable and stepped in front of Eros's.

  She did not like what she saw.

  Paige was there, dressed in new riding leathers. Her cloak was black, as was everything else she wore. Even her hands were encased in black gloves. In the corner of the room was a pack and Josette noted that her hair was pulled back in a complicated braid that looked distinctly like the Ataton style Josette was used to seeing on Eamon's men.

  Paige and Nicolas both froze in their movements and stared at Josette.

  "Who did your hair?" Josette finally asked.

  "Nicolin," Paige answered softly.

  One of the men closest to Eamon, if not the closest. He also had a soft spot for Paige that made Josette suspicious at first but then she realized that Nicolin treated Paige much as an older brother would.

  He was also fiercely protective of her.

  "Did he know what you were up to?" Josette asked.

  "I told him I would be sparring some of the kitchen boys," Paige replied and she looked away, guilty over lying to her friend.

  "And Prince Eamon? Those are his knives," Josette said and looked to the belt that Paige wore.

  "After you left to pack, Eamon gave me the belt. When I asked why, he didn't answer," Paige said.

  Paige was a lot of things but a thief was not one of them.

  "Nell and Art? What did you tell them?"

  Paige squirmed. She had obviously not said anything to her brother and sister. She probably snuck out, just as Josette had.

  Josette pinched the bridge of her nose, a habit she was picking up from the De Loughrey family and Lord Ethan.

  "Please, Josette," Paige whispered.

  This was why Josette never wanted children. They were the best manipulators of emotions and Josette simply could not have that.

  "And you helped her?" Josette asked the other figure in the room.

  Nicolas did look guilty. He shifted from foot to foot and Josette had to hold back the urge to snap at him.

  "The saddle was ordered months ago, my lady. It has been sitting on the shelf and when Paige approached me, I could not say no. All I could do was offer her the best and safest way to travel. Both her and you," Nicolas said.

  And technically speaking, Paige could probably just order him to do what she needed done and Nicolas was obliged to do it. Josette wasn't clear on what Paige's exact title was now, but Josette wouldn't be surprised if Alyx-

  "Alyx," Josette breathed and looked to the two children. "What of him?"

  "Eamon will think of something," Paige said confidently.

  Josette wanted to strangle the girl.

  "It is a hard ride and will take a very long time. I hope that Eamon can lie well," Josette said.

  Relief passed over both their faces.

  "Thank you," Paige whispered.

  "Remember that in a few weeks when you are hungry and cold and tired. Finish up. We need to leave soon."

  ∞∞∞

  Every day was the same. Alyx wasn't sure how to tell them apart anymore and it seemed like they all bled together and created one long, gray, waking nightmare.

  He woke.

  Dressed.

  Barracks.

  Meetings.

  Lunch.

  Council.

  Dinner.

  Bed.

  Of course, sleep never came easily. It was more often Alyx laying still and flat on his back and staring up at the ceiling above him and thinking of the last time he fell asleep with Evander. He wondered if maybe he wasn't such a sound sleeper if he and Evander could have fended them off.

  Then, of course, came the rage.

  Why did they take Evander and not him? Why would Evander not wake him? Had Alyx not proven himself over and over to be a formidable opponent?

  Why had they not just killed him?

  When sleep came, it was in pieces. It was often the only thing that Alyx registered in color, splashed with red and haunted with screams. He would startle awake, reach for his blades and realize that he was late, far too late to change anything that already happened.

  And it began all over again.

  He woke.

  Dressed.

  Barracks.

  Meetings.

  Lunch.

  Council.

  Dinner.

  Bed.

  On that day, Alyx noticed that Josette was not there with Eamon and neither had Alyx seen Paige. A creeping panic started in Alyx's stomach when he entered Eamon's meeting area in the barracks and they weren't there for the third day in a row.

  Eamon was there, poring over maps and a few of his men were gathered round. Eamon was to report to Alyx later that day on possible scouting parties and where they should be sent.

  Gael was there as well, with new reports on where the borders needed more men.

  Cade would be sent out with the news and more men to relieve the ones that needed to come home.

  When Alyx entered, the men bowed but Eamon remained standing. It was a rule that Alyx relaxed for visiting royalty.

  "Your Highness," Eamon said and straightened up from his map.

  "I have not seen Paige or Josette in days," Alyx said.

  "Josette wished to take Paige back to Nightfell. She received word that her mentor was dying and Paige wished to join her. Josette tried to talk her out of it but-" Eamon shrugged and crossed his arms over his chest. He seemed prepared for a fight.

  "Who gave her leave?" Alyx asked, speaking of Paige. Alyx had no authority over Josette but Paige was another story.

  "I did," Eamon said.

  The men glanced between the King and Eamon and no one dared to move, not even Ethan, who stood behind Alyx.

  "Why?" Alyx asked in a low voice.

  In the past months, Alyx had learned to read Eamon like the others in the castle, like anyone close to the De Loughrey family. But now, Eamon's face was unreadable. It was impossible to discer
n what he was thinking and Alyx did not like it.

  "Because Josette is the closest thing that Paige has to a mother and both you and Evander are like fathers to her. With Evander gone, I couldn't tell her no. Josette leaving Paige would have killed her, the same that Evander being gone is killing her. She is a young child, Alyx. She needs someone," Eamon replied.

  Someone.

  It would have hurt less if Eamon had pulled his battle ax from the wall and struck Alyx in his torso.

  "And what am I?" Alyx asked.

  "Grieving. Dying, maybe. I don't believe you have decided," Eamon said gently.

  "She is my responsibility-" Alyx began.

  "And she needs you here. But you aren't. I do not say this to hurt you, Alyx, but I had to let her go otherwise see her drown in the collective grief that gathers here like a swamp," Eamon said.

  Alyx knew he was right. He knew it in his soul and one day he would thank the prince, but the only thing Alyx knew right now was pain and anger and hurt.

  "Leave. I want you and your men gone in a fortnight," Alyx said and turned on his heel.

  ∞∞∞

  Eamon expected as much of a reaction from Alyx and had already spoken to Gael and Cade about it. It was too late to call Josette and Paige back and frankly, Eamon did not know in which direction to send a scout. He didn't share that with either prince, because Josette was right. Hope might kill them.

  What he did not expect was the meeting that night.

  He was still obligated to attend and when he did, he stood outside the great hall for a moment, squared his shoulders, and went in.

  Eamon could not remember a time when he missed his twin sister so much. Lissandra would know what to say and how to handle this. She was the gentle hand that would queel the fire in Alyx and she would know how to soothe him, at least for a time.

  Alyx was seated at the head of the table and Eamon could feel his icy glare on him. He sat next to Aldous and waited for the council to begin.

  "Eamon and his men will be leaving in a fortnight," Alyx began.

  "No they won't," Gael replied. He already seemed poised for a fight, though he also looked like he hadn't slept in weeks.

  "He let Josette take Paige to an encampment filled with spies and assassins without consulting a member of the royal family," Alyx snarled. "If I cannot have a general that I can trust, then what is the point of having one at all?"