“THE QUEEN IS INVOLVED.”
On a dark and warm Monday morning, King Delton found himself walking to the private prison at the palace, glancing down at the head of Inferno’s secret service. Felix pushed back a lock of gray hair and kept his eyes trained ahead. His long face betrayed no expression, as usual.
“What?”
It had been a while since he had heard any mention of his wife. Even longer since he’d seen her. Ninety-nine years to be precise.
Torches blazed inside the king’s personal prison, which was situated on the palace grounds and guarded religiously. It was saved for the most dangerous criminals—people he personally kept an eye on. Inside it, sat the man who could lead him to his greatest enemy.
“We have been spying on the queen, as you requested.” Felix’s deep voice resonated in the closed stone walls. “It looks like she is—”
Felix stopped when they neared the prisoner. An empty cell passed them by, a reminder of his failure to capture the most notorious criminal the continent of Atea had seen in the last century—Ifer.
For the last few years, Ifer had been his greatest obsession; the one thing he wanted to destroy at any cost. The crime lord had eluded the kingdoms of Elysium, Terra, and Inferno for almost a century. His illegal empire grew and grew until it spanned the entire continent of Atea. Initially, Delton hadn’t cared about Ifer, but that changed the day he found out that he planned to overthrow Delton and claim Escayton.
Nobody stole what was his. And Escayton was his land. After Karina’s betrayal, he had plotted and schemed, sacrificing himself on the altar of marriage to make Escayton his. It was a trophy that symbolized his victory over the past, over the ill-fated love that he had never quite healed from. As long as he had Escayton, he could keep his inner demons at bay, and pretend that he had some measure of control over his fragile heart that broke over and over again even though his lover was dead.
But Ifer threatened to take that delicate peace from him. And for that, he had to die.
“Has Osric spoken?” He shoved the prison key attached to his necklace back in.
“No,” Felix sighed. Three months ago, they’d captured Osric, Ifer’s right-hand man. Felix had been trying everything from torture to manipulation, but nothing had worked. When his army general, Darius, had brought Osric back, Delton had been determined to make him talk. But several weeks had passed and they still didn’t know Ifer’s identity.
His feet came to a stop before Osric’s prison. He lay hunched in one corner, an ominous shadow bound in chains. A bowl of food lay untouched inside his cell.
“It looks like you’ve decided to put us all out of our misery and kill yourself.” Delton’s raspy voice echoed among the closed stone walls. Firelight gleamed on Osric’s shaven head, illuminating his squarish face, his hulking build, and the scar on his face.
“You,” he spat. His eyes narrowed. His body reached forward but he didn’t get up.
“It is Your Majesty, to the likes of you,” Felix interjected.
“Your Majesty?” Osric clicked his tongue. “I’ll never think of you as my king.”
Delton stepped forward, glimpsing the hatred on Osric’s face. He’d been that way ever since he arrived in Inferno as Xara’s bodyguard. Delton had never liked him but he hadn’t expected him to collude with Ifer either. “It looks like Xara hasn’t trained her servants well. The queen’s bodyguard is colluding with Ifer. What a disgrace—”
At the mention of the queen’s name, Osric became alert. “You have no right to say her name after the way you treated her.” So, this is what it was about. “You exiled her on your wedding night. She was so young…so hopeful, but you had to destroy her hopes…,” His nostrils flared. ”Only a monster would do what you did. And for what? She only wanted your love.”
“Love?” He laughed at Osric’s naivety. Love was a lethal weapon that rivaled the sharpest sword. It cut directly to the heart. He’d learned that the hard way, thanks to Karina’s betrayal. He would never love again, never give his heart to someone who could stab him in the back.
“This isn’t about the queen. It’s about Ifer,” Felix interrupted Osric’s tirade. “Why does Ifer want Escayton?”
Osric shrugged, refusing to answer. His breathing calmed as he fell back against the wall.
“What about Prince Walric?” Delton asked. “He’s involved with Ifer too, isn’t he?”
Prince Walric was Xara’s cousin. Walric had been the heir to the throne of Escayton since King Elian didn’t have any heirs. However, Delton had him cut out of the family register and exiled as soon as he married into the family. It looked like Walric had decided to become a traitor and nuisance by allying with Ifer.
“We saw him,” Felix said. “I know he is in Skera at the moment.”
“If you know everything, why bother questioning me?” Osric wasn’t afraid. Though scars dotted his arms and his shirt hung on his ribs, he refused to divulge any information.
Delton could feel a headache starting to bloom. “Because Ifer is trying to steal something that is mine. And you assisting him makes you a traitor.”
“Escayton was never supposed to be yours,” Osric said. “If you hadn’t forced the princess into marriage—”
“I did not force her,” Delton countered. “Her father agreed to my terms.”
“Because he had no other choice. You threatened to declare war on Escayton if he didn’t give in.”
“It’s not my fault if Elian was too incompetent to manage an army.” Delton exhaled. Elian should’ve thought twice before plotting the murder of his parents like a weasel. He deserved everything he got and more.
“That doesn’t make you the rightful king.”
It did. What did he know? He’d claimed Escayton with his blood, sweat, and tears. With the ashes of his pain.
“Does Walric think he’s the rightful heir?” he asked. “Is that why he’s doing this?”
They both knew what he was asking, Is Walric Ifer?
Osric’s stony silence followed.
“His Majesty asked you a question,” Felix said.
“One I refused to answer.”
Delton’s blue eyes blazed red. “Do you think your silence can protect Ifer? Not even death can free him from my wrath. Nobody takes what is mine and Escayton will always be mine, whether you like it or not.” He gripped the iron prison bars. Hard. “I will hunt that bastard down and slit his throat, with or without your help. And when he’s gone, it’ll be your turn.”
Osric remained silent, but he didn’t miss the shudder traveling up his shoulders. They both knew Delton didn’t make empty threats.
“You don’t know who he is.”
That was the problem. It kept him awake at night. Delton had encountered many foes in his long life. He’d won wars and annexed kingdoms with ease, but Ifer only existed in the shadows, and nobody could declare war on a shadow. Not even the king.
“I hope Ifer is as loyal to you as you are to him,” Delton said, turning in Felix’s direction. “Felix, send out a message that we will behead Osric publicly in a month. Let’s see if Ifer cares enough about his cronies to pay me a visit.” Osric’s face turned at that, the chains binding his wrists pulling. “Make sure he stays alive until then. Force feed him if you must.”
“He won’t come. This is entirely unnecessary. If you want to kill me, kill me now,” Osric said, but the worry in his eyes told another story. Ifer would come to save his ally. That’s what Osric feared.
“You are in no position to make demands,” Delton said. “You will stay alive until I have that bastard in my hands. Then, once he’s dead, it’ll be your turn.”
With that, he turned away.
“I’m done here, Felix.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Felix followed him out of the prison, rushing on his heels. He passed the royal gardens filled with dead flowers and dried weeds. The Palace of Inferno looked like a gothic building with spires rising from the mist, like a demon’s claws. No stars twinkled in the dark sky. A red full moon hung overhead.
“What were you saying about the queen?” King Delton asked, stepping into the main palace building. Guards and servants curtsied to him as he passed the arched hallways leading up to the court. On the way, he heard a sharp, crackling sound.
“Petronilla!” His pet parrot, a gift from the King of Terra, chimed. Felix sighed. The green bird couldn’t pronounce any non-human names. Petronilla was his army general and probably the only human the parrot had met. Others found it annoying how she kept calling her name. He often considered killing the bird, but kept it around for amusement.
“It seems like Queen Xara has been in touch with her cousin.” Delton stopped and turned.
“What!? Prince Walric?”
“Yes, he has been visiting the palace often.”
“How strange. Does he hope to find something that Osric left behind?”
“It is possible, however…” Felix paused. “I ask you to reconsider beheading Osric. There might be a better way to get to Ifer. One that doesn’t involve so much publicity.”
“I am listening.”
“We know that Queen Xara is in touch with her cousin. She can lead us to him. She could be our key to success, but we will have to be very careful with how we use her.”
“How do you plan to use her?”
“We will use her to trace her cousin’s whereabouts, without her realizing what is going on. She’s your wife. You must go to her. She will confide in you.”
Delton laughed. Xara and he hadn’t spoken in almost a century, and he didn’t have any illusions about her affection for him. Considering he’d exiled her on their wedding night, she probably hated him. Wasn’t that why she was meeting her cousin?
“I don’t think this plan will work, Felix. She won’t welcome me with open arms if Osric’s words are anything to go by.”
“But she will welcome you reluctantly. It is better than sending spies. You have access to every corner of the palace as well as to her private thoughts. There is a lot you can discover.”
“You want me to be a spy?”
“Your Majesty’s military abilities and intelligence are unparalleled.” Felix’s obvious flattery made Delton smile. The old man knew how to get his way. “I believe it is best if you approach the queen.”
“Don’t you think she will be suspicious if I return after so many years apart? And for what? The pleasure of her company?”
She wasn’t going to buy it. Not if she was helping that traitor.
“About that…the whole country expects you to produce an heir,” Felix said. “I know that you and Queen Xara have lived apart for many years, but surely she can’t object to performing her duty?”
Delton coughed. He didn’t want to produce children with King Elian’s daughter. He’d rather die than have that sullied blood run through his line.
“I have no desire to produce an heir.”
“Regardless of your motivations, it is a convincing reason to take up residence at the palace of Cadia. The queen won’t be able to refuse.”
No, she wouldn’t be able to refuse. But he wanted to refuse.
Felix’s glassy eyes looked up at him with hope. What rational reason could he come up with to avoid visiting his wife?
Several years had passed since he’d last seen her. Surely, she must be old and withered now. Though people from Escayton were immortal and aged very slowly, they did age. All he remembered of her was her final plea to him before she left Inferno City to begin her exile in Snakefront.
“I will do whatever you want me to do…I’ll atone for his sins.”
He should’ve taken up her offer when he could. But he’d had other plans for her. He’d ended her exile early because he felt bad for her. Clearly, Delton had been mistaken about her character. She was just like her half-sister—deceptive and selfish.
“The queen mustn’t know of our plans,” Felix went on, oblivious to his churning emotions. “If she suspects a threat, she will stop contacting Prince Walric. We want her to do the things she’d usually do so that we may catch her in the act. That’s why General Darius will accompany you. I spoke to him earlier this morning, and he isn’t opposed to the idea. His partner Michael and the queen are good friends. We must take him to Cadia to make her feel safe.”
Michael was General Darius’ lover. He was an angel who had moved from Elysium to be with him. Delton had granted him citizenship two months ago at Darius’ behest. General Darius was a trusted ally, and he was sure he’d help him in this endeavor.
“You care an awful lot about how the queen feels.”
“Our mission relies on her comfort,” Felix said, matter-of-factly. “All our leads have turned into dead ends. Osric won’t speak and we haven’t been able to find any of Ifer’s other men. She’s our only hope. Prince Walric isn’t as strong-minded as Osric. He will confess.”
Yes, Delton knew how changeable Walric’s loyalties were. “Besides, a visit to Escayton might help improve your political image. If the people think you are concerned about them, they might find their loyalties changing.”
It was a valid argument. Felix’s expectant gaze turned to him and he made his decision.
“All right,” Delton said, resigned. “I will begin my journey to Cadia tomorrow. Inform General Darius that he is to come with me.”
“Of course, Your Majesty.” He didn’t miss Felix’s triumphant smile.
