Shadaya: Out of Darkness (Gemstone Royals) Read online

  Eunice shrugged, “I think your father’s greatest crime was having a mind of his own as a member of Dravian court and as the king’s most valued combat consultant”

  “So, you think he was innocent?”

  “An innocent Dravian noble?” Eunice asked incredulously, “well if there were to be one, I would think it would be your father.”

  Shadaya nodded, “thank you Eunice. You always say the right things.”

  “But not what you want to hear right now?”

  “I just want the truth. I think… it will help me… move forward.”

  Eunice nodded understandingly and reached out to gently touch her shoulder, “the truth will find its way. But if it takes too long in coming, what will you do in the meantime?”

  “I’ll find it first,” she replied, lifting the tea cup to her lips.

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  The prince stood still as his tailor pinned and measured him, he needed a new and even more ostentatious outfit for what he believed would soon be his official coronation, and this time the weight of gold would not deter him. He had earned the respect of the council and now he had no doubt that they would accede to his every command. He had a new vision for Dravia, and he couldn’t wait for that weight of gold upon his head, in order to make that a reality.

  He turned his head to the pesky captain of the guard, careful not to shift and mess up the measurements, "the young heir to the Cort estate, you say he has taken up residence at the Cort mansion in Arduway?"

  The captain nodded as though bored, the prince could clearly understand that. Gossip among nobles was hardly relevant to the duties of the captain of the guard, but when it had bearings on the order of the kingdom, he would expect him to look more intrigued.

  He slapped his tailor's hand from his shoulder and swept the heavy train aside so he could step down. The Captain's height never intimidated him, nothing ever intimidated him.

  "He left so suddenly after father’s death, I was hoping he would have stayed around… get me up to speed on what he and my father was plotting. As future king I should know. Do you think he might be trouble?"

  The captain shrugged, "my sources say he has only been preparing for a ball."

  "A ball!" the prince sputtered then exploded in laughter, cackling until he was red in the face.

  "Does he really think the nobles of Dravia would venture into that village for his sake. He must really have no clue of what it is he has really inherited."

  "So, I take it you would not be attending your majesty?"

  The prince chuckled, "captain, I must lead by example. However, it will not serve the crown to disregard the possibility of an additional connection. Let us prevent this… young foreign heir, from making a fool of himself before the other nobles by inviting them to that damned place. Let us send him an invitation to a… small get together. A way of welcoming him."

  The captain nodded, "how do think they would respond to him being Riboni.”

  He sighed, the truth was he had a very personal dislike for the Riboni people, he saw them like rebellious cockroaches; hard to stomp out and always where they did not belong. He trusted no part of them. But he needed to grow his following before he took his next step. The new Lord Cort might not be ideal but he was a noble and an Ilk, with resources behind him that Haddin could find use for. Additionally, he must know something about the element. Haddin had a good feeling that’s what the Ilk bonded with his father over.

  “I will attend to your request your majesty."

  The prince nodded, "yes do that."

  As Hesk made a move to leave, Haddin stopped him, “one more thing captain. You kept referring to sources regarding this newcomer. But I am yet to hear your own thoughts.”

  The captain continued to look at him with that stoic mask he utterly disliked.

  “My only thoughts regarding the new noble is that since his arrival we have had problems with that Shadow character. Botched selections and stories of some heroic figure roaming the streets at night. I am trained to make connections and investigate patterns. Right now, I am looking into any possible connection between the Lord Cort and those incidents.”

  Haddin nodded, “impressive observation. That’s why you are the captain.”

  With that, he waved his hand as though batting away a fly and stepped back up on the tailor's stand.

  “You do not seem bothered by this at all,” Hesk stated boldly.

  The prince shrugged, “I trust you to do your job captain.”

  Turning to his tailor he growled impatiently, Hurry, I have a meeting, that I do not believe I might like very much, with that pouty traitor’s daughter. "

  "The Quadin heiress?" the captain asked, shifting from obvious boredom to eye opening intrigue.

  “Yes, she intends to make a case for a prisoner I suppose."

  "And do you intend to release the girl upon her request? Because it is I who had her servant brought in and I explained to you that it was a matter of utmost importance to the crown that we question the servant. We cannot submit to the entitled heiress, eager to throw her weight around on the cusp of her inheritance."

  The prince waved his hand, "I captain, am merely eager to see what the young Quadin seedling has grown into. I hear she is quite a beauty, ornamental even."

  He slanted a glance at his head guard and smiled sneakily at the tightening of his gloved fists. It seemed his old captain had a bit of a soft spot for the Quadin heiress. He turned his head and smiled cruelly.

  “Do not worry about it. I am only giving the lady an audience, it will do us no good to deny our nobles our attention. But I assure you, I will not get in the way of your duties. I will stall the lady Quadin and put her mind at rest.”

  Captain Hesk lifted his chin and then bowed slightly in resignation, he knew he could not question Haddin. Even he was beginning to see that Haddin’s influence was growing daily and it would not serve him well if he gets on his bad side.

  “Thank you, your majesty.”

  "That would be all Captain," the prince said.

  As the man walked toward the door he added, "and please... your presence is not required at the meeting with lady Quadin, have the evening off."

  "yes... as you wish your majesty."

  The prince turned and frowned at his reflection, "oh my Baltezar," he said to his tailor, "is that a wrinkle or a crack in the glass?"

  The old tailor sputtered, "Your majesty... uh... you look flawless as always."

  "Hmm," he said, pulling at the pale skin at the corners of his eyes, "good answer. I want to look my best for my meeting today. First impressions are ever so lasting."

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  With her head held high Shadaya stalked into the lavish palace with one of her guards walking ahead of her. Even though it was customary for a noblewoman to be escorted at all times, Shadaya was taking little chances at Dravian court. Bertrand just would not do for meetings such as this. This time however, Shadaya wanted to do it right, not with a sword nor in righteous indignation. It had been almost two months since she had last officially attended court. She had just turned nineteen and was to pay her respects to Rad and the king according to Tradition. The other time she was here, she was party to a treasonous act of burning the castle barracks and setting one of Haddin’s prisoners free. She had teamed up with both the rebels and the Aldorians, something that in her wildest dreams, she never thought she would do. She had done all of that in the hopes of keeping Haddin from taking the throne. She thought surely the council would have denied him, that Drayton would be back in time to try him for his activities. But none of that had happened, and while the community lived in fear and prince Jasper in hiding, she had to go on with her life as usual. Being here now, stirred up butterflies of anxiety. She placed a hand over her stomach and took a deep breath.

  The manor guard who had served her father as was evidenced by his salt and pepper hair, nodded toward her and pushed the doors to the throne room open. Shadaya stepped in, expecting t
o join the crowd of aggrieved villagers who were waiting to have their issues resolved. Instead she was met with an empty room, the stained windows to the side now covered with a large piece of wood. She was not surprised at the empty throne room, citizens would be wise to no longer risk seeking the prince’ interventions. With his uncertain moods, his solutions were often unexpected and most times cruel. The king had been a hard man, but he was fair.

  "Lady Quadin?" A stoic voice addressed her from beside the door.

  She turned to face the blank faced palace guard, who dipped his head stiffly in acknowledgment of her status.

  “Please, this way," he said with a sweep of his hand.

  Shadaya frowned, "I am here to see the prince," she protested.

  “I need this matter resolved today,” she said firmly.

  The man only nodded, his expression just as unreadable as before, "aye, and that you shall mi lady. Prince Haddin will see you in his private chambers."

  Shadaya tossed a nervous glance at her escort and he gave her a reassuring but almost imperceptible smile. With a lift of her chin she followed the palace guard into the recesses of the castle Demeris.

  She tried to stay calm and tell herself that maybe the prince had matured past the boy she knew growing up, but she was no fool, the prince's disrespect towards women was a well-known fact in Dravia. And he was not one to let class damper his lewd advances. Even during her father’s days at court, when she would visit, she could feel his leery interest in her. He was always lurking in the shadows, his cold eyes always preoccupied with mischief.

  "This way," the palace guard said as he stopped before a wooden double door, "the prince's private meeting room, where he meets with nobility such as yourself."

  Shadaya was sure she saw a sneer on the stoic soldier's face, but he just as quickly dipped his head and extended his hand toward the door. Shadaya's guard stepped forward and opened it for her.

  Shadaya gasped a little at the sight before her, the prince stood in the middle of the room. Richly attired in a flowing fur cape, and golden tunic, with his trousers disappearing into leather boots that reached just below his knees. But it was not his attire that shocked her, it was the sight of him standing so well put together while gripping the chin of a trembling man kneeling before him.

  He turned to look at Shadaya and sent a polite smile her way, "lady Quadin, you are just in time," he said with a devilish grin.

  His grip tightened on the man's chin, "maybe you can help me with my predicament."

  With wide eyes Shadaya took a tentative step toward him. She heard the door click shut behind her. But she could sense her guard’s presence in the room with her and for that she was grateful.

  "I highly doubt that your highness. You seem to have your own handle on the situation."

  He smiled, clearly pleased with her answer. He then returned those steely blue eyes onto the man kneeling before him, a desperate plea in his eyes.

  "This man is a thief," the prince continued, "and in his attempt to escape, crushed some of my most precious flowers."

  He released the man and turned to his desk where a single red rose stood in a glass. Its petals were rich like blood itself and seemed like they would feel like velvet against your fingers. Shadaya stared at it in appreciation, it was beautiful.

  "Crushing such a beautiful thing is crime enough but crushing it before it has had time to reach its fullest potential is an even greater crime," he purred as he removed the flower from the glass and ran his finger along the petals.

  "See these special flowers are fully capable of taking care of themselves," he pulled a long black thorn from around it and held it up to his eyes, "but they need time to fully mature before they can do that. Until then, they are vulnerable, not much different from any other delicate plant. Tell me mister," he turned to the thief now, who was shaking like a leaf still on his knees.

  "Do you know how they take care of themselves?" the prince asked.

  Shadaya could see the bobbing in the man's throat as he swallowed hard, "No your highness."

  Instantly the prince's gaze hardened, and his expression contorted into a vengeful and brutal glare. He reached for the man’s chin again and yanked it up to him, forcing the man to push himself up on his knees.

  "Allow me to demonstrate!"

  "Please, please," the man cried, reaching up to restrain the prince's hand.

  "Touch me again and you will never use those hands again," the prince warned, his blue eyes sparking with rage.

  He then proceeded to wave a thorn before the man's eyes. The slow movement of his arms a contrast to his previous outburst.

  "You will lose your sight and then within a week the poison will claim your life. Between that time your family can buy your life back from me for four hundred dravs."

  Even Shadaya knew that was an outrageous fine to place on a peasant, there was no way he would be able to make that payment.

  "Please, please," the man begged, "I am sorry your highness."

  "No, you are not, but you will be," with that the prince plunged the thorn into the man's left eye.

  The agonizing scream that filled the room, caused Shadaya to cringe. She took an unconscious step backward toward the door. She had never witnessed the prince's cruelty first hand. Many had said he was one who loved to take punishment into his own hands, and that his father allowed him to. Now she could see it and she believed, just as he clearly wanted her to.

  The man fell forward, crying in agony as the prince straightened up and dusted off the invisible dust from in front of his tunic.

  "Get him out of here," he instructed calmly.

  Chapter 8

  Shadaya was trying to keep her gaze averted as they dragged the man from the room, as he passed by her, he moaned in agony, drawing her attention. She looked. Already his eyes were swollen shut and black veins were forming around them, seeming to suck the life out of the man's eye. Shadaya felt nauseous.

  Once the door shut behind him, Shadaya turned her attention to the smirking prince, who had taken his seat with a business as usual air. It was as if he had not just sentenced a poor man to death.

  "Lady Quadin, to what do I owe the pleasure? It has been so long since a Quadin has graced my palace, I feel almost nervous. Your family’s soaps have been a personal favorite of the palace for years, though I do find it slipping in consistency."

  Shadaya looked right at him, despite her growing aggravation, "you are the first of our customers to complain. We give our allotted palace contributions just like every other family, and we give nothing but the best to the royal family. But I will be sure to look into it.”

  The prince nodded as though pleased by her response. As though it mattered to her how pleased he was.

  “However, your majesty,” she continued, “I have come on matters other than business.”

  “Yes, I am aware of why you are here. There isn’t much that slips me.”

  “So, you know about Reeva?”

  The prince shrugged, “I’m sorry but I do not make the effort to know any of my prisoners by name. What I am interested in is, why do you think I should honor your demands to release her?”

  "Because your highness, she does not belong there. She is unsuited for the selection and she is a valuable member of my staff. And the way she was taken from my estate is unacceptable."

  "Ah ha, I see. How noble of you. However, your servant is more than an addition to the selection now, although I do not know why she would not like to serve her kingdom that way. It's a great honor to her family."

  Shadaya's hands folded into fists at her sides and she hid them in the folds of her dress, "what could you possibly want with her?"

  He sighed dramatically, "I tragically lost one of my men the other night... and your servant was witness. I simply wish to find out what she knows."

  Shadaya's jaw tightened as her thoughts raced, she knew Reeva had seen nothing of consequence that night. And though she was relieved that her part in it wou
ld not be uncovered, she was not so sure about Reeva's safety once the prince realized she knew nothing or failed to believe her.

  "Once you find out what she knows, can I have your word that she will be returned to me, safely?"

  The prince shrugged, tugging on his smooth chin like he was actually thinking it over.

  "Very well," he said finally.

  Shadaya frowned, she could not believe he had agreed so quickly. He was demonstrating such authority, it made her uneasy.

  "To be honest I have my full quota of girls for the month, the gods will be satisfied. I have no need for your servant. Although I hear she has much potential that our preparation rituals would surely uncover."

  Shadaya lowered her gaze, she could not stay here a minute longer. The man was personified evil.

  "I appreciate your kindness… your majesty," she said, trying not to trap her words behind her clenched jaw.

  The prince smiled and stood up from his desk. She fought to stand her ground as he approached her and extended his hand. Shadaya hesitated only briefly before putting her hand in his. He kissed the top of her hand and then turned it over, frowning slightly at the bruises on her palm.

  "Oh dear, my lady. I should have a word with your guards. It is not suitable for a lady’s skin to be so marred… like a commoner."

  She smiled stiffly, "they cannot keep an eye on me all the time," she said, "especially with my clumsiness."

  He kissed her hand again, "I dare say, you are as graceful as a swan."

  It took great effort to not cringe as his lips touched her bare skin, especially when he kept those cold eyes trained on her. She withdrew her hand from his and curtsied.

  "When shall I send for Reeva your majesty?"

  "Come again in two days’ time."

  "I will send men.”

  “Won’t you come yourself?”

  “I anticipate being busy then. Thank you, your highness," she nodded and turned to leave.

  "Oh, one more thing Lady Quadin. I am hosting a small ball. We are going to celebrate the return of a Pillar name to the Dravian court. I would appreciate it, if you could come.”