The Ring Keeper, page 36
Ana knew no more.
When Ana opened her eyes, it was dark and utterly silent. She no longer sensed anyone on the other side of the wall. Had the man escaped? She hoped so.
Her arm was wedged painfully into the hole. She barely had the strength to pull it free before she passed out again.
Ana opened her eyes and squinted against the light of a torch, which seemed dazzlingly bright after the long darkness. The light came nearer, and a hand touched her. A voice whispered her name.
“Cirana.”
She realized she knew the voice. Gavin. He had found her and come to take her home. It had been so long since she’d seen another person that she wanted to reach out to him, to ask him for help, but she didn’t have the strength. A barely audible whisper escaped her lips. “Please, help.”
He heard her. “I’m here,” he murmured, touching her face. “It’s all right now. Please forgive me. I found you as quickly as I could.”
Gratitude washed over her. She wasn’t alone anymore. He would take her out of the darkness. She felt his arms lifting her and the motion of being carried, then nothing more.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Year of Warding 42, Hakvere, Ara
Ana
ANA DID NOT KNOW where she was when she woke again. She lay in a large, soft, canopied bed. It felt delicious to her after the dirty stone floor of the cell. Looking down, she noticed she was clean again and wore a white nightdress made of a smooth, rich cloth.
An ornately furnished room surrounded her, with soft rugs and elaborate tapestries. A fireplace stood opposite a tall window covered with thick velvet drapes. Nothing looked familiar to her, and the luxury of her surroundings was a shock after the cell she had been trapped in for so long.
A servant came in with a tray of food and set it on Ana’s lap.
“Where am I?” Ana asked, but the woman behaved as if she had not heard. She kept her eyes on her hands, not looking up, then left without a word.
The food smelled delicious. The tray contained freshly baked bread, roast beef and apples. She had dreamed of a meal like this while she had been so hungry and weary of the dismal prison rations. But she remained so weak that it took a great effort to move her hand from the tray to her mouth. After eating a few bites, she slid the tray aside and tried to stand, but she didn’t have the strength.
Desperate to know where she was, she slid out of bed and crawled across the floor to the window. Pulling herself up to the sill and pushing aside the heavy drapes, she looked out to see flickering torchlight on stone walls, and far above, clear white stars. For a moment, she thought she must be dreaming again.
Ana didn’t know how long it had been since she’d seen the sky. She gazed at the beautiful stars until exhaustion overwhelmed her, and she crawled back into bed.
She lay still, staring at the room around her. None of this made any sense. Had she lost her mind, after all? Finding herself in this luxurious room was even stranger than hearing voices in the dark. Maybe she would wake up in the White City and discover it had all been a dream. Or maybe she’d wake up back in the dungeon, alone in the dark.
She closed her eyes, but when she opened them again, the room was still there. Examining her arm, she found scrapes from the edges of the crack in the rocks. It hadn’t been a dream.
What had happened to the man in the other cell? She hoped he had escaped, that he was all right and could go home now.
If Ana had more energy, she would have tried the door. For now, she had no choice but to rest. She didn’t want to sleep in this strange place without even knowing if she was safe. But weariness forced her eyelids closed.
When she awoke, Ana saw actual golden sunlight coming in the window. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. She wanted to run to the window and look out, but she still felt so exhausted she couldn’t even get out of bed. Her eyes closed, and she dozed again.
Ana felt a hand gently brush her cheek. “Cirana?”
She woke up to Gavin looking down at her with warm brown eyes. “How are you feeling?”
“So tired,” she whispered. “But I’m grateful to be out of the dark.”
“I’m sorry it took so long to rescue you,” he apologized, taking her hand.
“What happened? Where was I?”
“A group of outlaws who hide in caves in the hills captured you. They had you locked in their stronghold, and it took some time to figure out how to get you out. I think they intended to hold you for ransom. I’m sure Emperor Callonen would pay a mountain of gold to get you back.”
“A mountain of gold?” That idea shocked her. But if it were true, then her captivity had been an attempt to attack Callonen after all.
“He’d trade whatever he had,” Gavin said. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get there sooner. When I finally found a way to get you out, I came here for help. The king of this land is a very kind man. He offered us his hospitality until you are well again.”
“How did I get outside the Warding?” she asked.
Gavin shook his head, his brows furrowed in concern. “Your bodyguard… I saw him take money from a man who came to the city. Maybe they paid him to betray you. After you healed Rosie, he attacked us. He tried to kill me, but I escaped. I was wounded in the fight and couldn’t catch up with him. He took you out of the Warding. I followed as soon as I could.”
“My guard? Toren?” She knew him well. They had spent a lot of time together, and she’d sensed nothing from him but loyalty. She tried to imagine him betraying them, but she couldn’t. “Toren can’t have done it,” she whispered in disbelief.
“I know it’s hard to believe.”
It was. Gavin seemed and sounded so sincere. Ana couldn’t sense any deceit from him. But she couldn’t believe Toren betrayed her. Was Gavin lying? “There must be some other explanation.”
“Perhaps,” Gavin said, rubbing his forehead.
“Where are we, and when can we go home?” Ana asked. “I want to go home. Please, Gavin? Please help me get home. Don’t you miss the White City?”
Abruptly, she realized why he looked so different. In Sarine, he’d nearly always worn the white-and-gold uniform that marked him as a member of Callonen’s guard. Now, he wore a dark red tunic in a rich fabric.
“Of course I do,” he said, holding her hand reassuringly. “But we must get you well first.”
“Why aren’t you wearing your uniform?”
“It’s been many weeks, dearest, and I had to travel in disguise. Outside Sarine, it’s not very safe to wear that uniform.”
“But we’ll be able to go home soon?”
“Of course. We’re only waiting until you’re strong enough to travel. Don’t worry, you’re safe here in the meantime.” He bent to kiss her forehead, then left her alone.
Ana didn’t see Gavin again until the next morning. His kiss woke her. Though they had kissed many times before, she could feel something was different. He still enjoyed it, but she felt there was more he wanted from her now.
She broke away and looked up at him.
“What’s the matter?” he asked.
“Nothing, I was just thinking…” Anything to distract him. “I was thinking how grateful the emperor will be to you for helping me.”
“Yes,” he said. “But you don’t have to worry about traveling back until you feel better. We are safe, and it’s nice here. I brought you something.” He took out an ornately carved wooden box and opened it.
Ana sat up to look inside and gasped at the sight of a gold necklace, heavy with emeralds. She knew what they looked like because Emperor Callonen had a large one on his crown, which he only wore for formal affairs. He hated wearing it and always removed it at the earliest possible moment. But she remembered the dark-green stone. The necklace Gavin had brought was set with several similar gems, and it must have been worth a huge sum.
“Where did you get this?” she asked breathlessly. It was beautiful, but she didn’t want to keep something so valuable. She’d grown up in a tiny village where no one wore jewelry and had kept her ring hidden throughout her childhood.
“It is a gift from the king. And from me,” he said, smiling warmly at her. “Do you like it?”
“It’s overwhelming,” she said honestly. He fastened the jewelry around her neck, and it felt heavy and cold against her skin. “Why would you give me this?” she asked.
“Because I love you,” Gavin said. “And it’s the most beautiful thing I could find to give you.”
“Thank you.” There was nothing else she could say. That day when she’d healed Rosie, she’d been about to tell him she didn’t want to see him anymore. She really wanted to tell him now, but how could she push away the only familiar person in this strange place?
“Are you strong enough to get up? Our host is occupied today, but would you like to see the castle?” he asked.
She wanted to know where she was. “Yes, please. I think I can walk for a while.”
“Will you join me for breakfast before we go?” he asked smoothly. “I’ll wait in the hall to give you time to dress.”
“Thank you,” Ana said.
“I’ll see you soon,” he smiled at her and went out the door.
As soon as he left, a woman came in with a dark-green gown draped over one arm. The dress was rich velvet and finer even than anything Ana had worn in the emperor’s palace. The woman helped her put it on and arranged her hair elaborately.
“Thank you,” Ana said kindly when she was done.
The woman bowed and left without a word.
Gavin was at her door so soon after the woman left that Ana thought he must have been waiting. He offered his arm, and she took it. They walked out into the hall, then roamed through rooms and corridors and staircases, and finally into an elegant dining room. Gavin helped her into a chair and sat opposite her. Ana felt nervous, overwhelmed by the unfamiliar surroundings.
Servants brought them an amazing variety of food, all expertly prepared. Ana watched Gavin as they ate, and his manners were perfect. He appeared very comfortable issuing orders to the people waiting on them. In the back of her mind, she wondered if that was usual for a young man who was the newest member of the Emperor’s Guard. More than just his clothing seemed different here.
When they had finished, he offered his arm again and asked, “Would you like me to show you around?”
“Yes, thank you,” she said.
They strolled until Ana was lost. After a while, they came to a set of stairs. Exhaustion forced her to climb them slowly. They reached the top and came out onto a high wall. The sun shone between broken clouds, and a chill wind blew. She shivered, but at last she could see where she was.
All around her, thick stone walls and towers seemed to go on for miles in every direction. This place was larger than she had imagined. On one side, a bridge spanned a deep canyon like a crack in the earth. She couldn’t see the bottom from where they stood. On all the walls and towers, she could see guards dressed in blue uniforms and black armor. There was something familiar about them.
“Your friend has a lot of guards,” Ana observed.
“Your safety is very important. The guards are there to protect you.”
“Of course,” she said. She felt trapped by the walls and battlements. They seemed so strong, so impenetrable, and she did not recognize any of the surrounding land. The fortress seemed to be within a wide valley fenced in by rolling hills. There was no way to tell in which direction the White City lay, even if she could escape.
Escape. But how could she? She could barely walk. Even the small exertion of climbing up the stairs had been difficult. Her legs trembled, and she clung to the wall for support.
“You’re tired,” Gavin said, offering his arm. “Let’s go back now. You should rest.”
She took the proffered arm, not wanting to be so close to him, but needing his help. Ana would have much preferred to walk on her own.
There was something different about Gavin. He acted… possessive, and she didn’t like it. She couldn’t sense anything wrong from him, but her intuition warned her not to trust him. Everything that had happened to her was confusing, and his explanations didn’t make sense. She was sure there was more going on than she knew. But Gavin had found her and rescued her from the dungeon. She was very grateful for that. None of the rest of it made sense, though. And he seemed so at home here.
Ana knew it was a bad idea to ask too many questions. For the time being, it would be better to go along, at least until she knew more about her situation.
The next morning, just after Ana had been dressed in another elaborate gown, Gavin met her at the door to her room. “Would you like to meet our host?”
“Yes, of course,” Ana said. Her voice sounded much more confident than she felt, but she hoped it would be helpful to learn more about the master of this place. She might discover something that could aid in her escape. Hiding these thoughts behind a smile, she took Gavin’s arm.
He led her to an enormous hall in the center of the castle. Slender high windows provided dim light to the room. Rich tapestries and heavy draperies covered much of the stone walls, and two thrones stood on a dais at one end. A man sat in one of them.
Gavin didn’t hesitate, and Ana walked forward with him. She couldn’t really see the man on the throne until he glanced up and light fell across a face so very familiar to her. Her heart leapt and relief flooded through her. It was Emperor Callonen.
She would have run to him, but suddenly she knew something was wrong and stood there frozen. She could feel that he was someone else.
The man laughed and rose. He looked exactly like Callonen, but he was dressed in a black tunic made of rich fabric and wore a cape trimmed with dark fur.
“Cirana, can it really be you? I’m so glad to see you, my dear.” He extended his hand and, numbly, she took it and peered up at him.
His face was hard, despite the smile he wore. With a horrible sinking feeling in her middle, Ana realized he wasn’t Callonen, though his features were identical.
“You’ve grown up! It’s been so long since I’ve seen you,” he said, kissing her cheek.
“I…” She faltered. Her throat felt tight, and her lungs constricted. She had been so relieved when she thought he was Callonen, but it wasn’t… it couldn’t be him.
Gavin appeared at her elbow, steadying her.
“Please sit down,” their host said.
Ana looked for a place to sit. There were no other chairs, only the two thrones.
“Sit here,” he commanded, pointing to the seat beside him.
“But… I…” she stammered.
“Sit down.” His tone implied he was used to being obeyed.
Her knees felt alarmingly weak, and she said no more as Gavin helped her to her seat.
He smiled encouragingly at her and held out his hand toward the man. “May I present the king of this land? Everything you see is his to command.”
Ana bowed her head to the king and wondered if he usually allowed people to sit in his presence in his own throne room. King. King of what land? Where were they?
She remembered years before, when Emperor Callonen had told her about his brother, who wanted to destroy him and the White City. Callonen’s brother… Haldreth… The king of Ara was Callonen’s brother. Of course, it had to be. Had anyone ever told her they wore the same face? This had to be Ara. She remembered she’d been told about a dark fortress here. Hakvere. That must be where she was.
Of course. That was why the guards seemed familiar. They wore the same uniform as the men who had attacked her years ago. They had killed Dane. The soldiers had tried to take her, and they would have succeeded if Zarek hadn’t stopped them.
“How are you feeling?” the king asked her.
“I am growing stronger every day,” Ana replied, trying to keep her face a calm mask.
“I’m so glad you are improving. It was fortunate that young Gavin brought you here. I have already sent men out to hunt the bandits who held you captive. If I had only known where you were, I would have sent every man I had to your aid. I have been so worried all this time and have been searching for you for years. I can’t thank Gavin enough for finding you and bringing you home.” He sounded deeply concerned.
“Searching for me?” she asked.
“Yes, of course. After all, I am your father.”
Ana felt as if the ceiling were coming down on her, crushing her. She couldn’t breathe. The room spun in circles and voices faded into a distant buzzing sound. Then everything went dark.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Year of Warding 42, Hakvere, Ara
Ana
WARMTH SURROUNDED ANA. “I must have fainted,” she murmured. Opening her eyes, she discovered she was alone in her room, tucked into her bed. But the reason for her shock came back to her. The king of Ara. He was the master of the demons, the one who had sent them after her. He had caused the desperate journey years ago that had nearly killed Zarek and did kill Dane.
Ana recalled the cold and the toil, the pain of it. But worst of all, she remembered Zarek lying on the ground, covered with blood. Haldreth had been behind all that. He couldn’t be her father. It just was not possible.
She lay back on the pillow, trying to control her emotions. In her mind, she reviewed everything Callonen had told her. His brother Haldreth had left the White City and gone to Ara. He had taken her mother away with him all those years ago. Maybe he had brought her here?
Ana burst into tears. Was he being dishonest? She could sense his deceit, yet she didn’t think he was lying about this. Could he really be her father? And if it were true, what had he done to her mother? She wept until the pain in her heart dulled as she drifted into an uneasy sleep.
