“Tell me, human. What is your connection to the prince?” He looked intrigued and ready to devour my words. This was my opportunity, I realised. I had the king’s ear and I could make him understand, we could reach a bargain or some kind of a contract in exchange for Ansgar.
“It is true; I am Ansgar’s mate. It can be confirmed by the royal family in Sylvan Regnum. I saw them only three days ago and they send their kindest regards.” I did not know if that was something expected of me to say, but I thought it would look good and as my entire body shook under the sole attention of the king and the entire hall, I didn't really know what the best dialogue response would be.
“So you’re here to see the prince and make him whole again?” his eyes sparkled with delight.
“My king, the human doesn’t understand the situation and we should first—”
“Yes, indeed. I am here to see Ansgar,” I replied before Rhylan had a chance to speak and mess this whole thing up. What was the point in bringing me here if he was now trying to keep me from seeing Ansgar? I hoped the king was more sensible and helped me get to my prince.
“Wonderful,” the king rubbed both his hands together, mimicking a warming up by the fire gesture, and sat on his throne, more relaxed and joyful than before. Meanwhile, Rhylan looked like someone was cutting his leg off and didn't have the ability to scream.
“My king, we had an understanding,” he uttered, the words slitting from him in an eruption of anger.
“I am merely fulfilling the human’s wish, general. Wasn't that the understanding?” King Drahden looked the face of innocence, which made me realise that whatever this was, I had played right into his hand.
“Yet she does not know the terms, doesn’t understand the situation. Allow me to instruct the human first and then we can have a discussion,” Rhylan insisted, almost pleading with the king, yet his eyes remained fixed on me, wide and scared as if trying to convince me, to communicate with me and stop me from asking for Ansgar.
“You should have instructed her better, dearest Fear Gorta. The human has chosen,” he said with a cunning smile. “Alas, to prove my generosity to my trusted general, I will allow her to ask again,” the king nodded, making his crown shake in between his locks of silver hair.
“Gratitude,” Rhylan released a breath and a bit of colour came back into his eyes until the king’s words made us all shift to him. “Now.” King Drahden gestured towards me, a command to step closer and on the dais, where both of them stood. I hesitated for about three seconds, debating what to do next and looking scared at Rhylan’s reaction. I had never seen him like that, so terrorised, like his life was in immediate danger, but before I could decide, a group of soldiers appeared out of nowhere and circled me, making me understand that I had no choice but to follow the king's command.
So I climbed the five stairs separating us and reached the throne, bowing with a small curtsy.
He looked pleased, so he settled more comfortably in his throne and voiced one question.
“What do you wish from me, human?”
I slowly turned my gaze to Rhylan, who urged me with pleading eyes before I said, “I wish to see prince Ansgar, immediately.”
“Of course,” the king smiled, whereas Rhylan looked like he was going to faint. “Marreth, please do the honours,“ the royal spoke again and another soldier appeared out of nowhere and stepped on the dais, beside me, with a long bow to the king.
“This is my commander, Marreth. He used to be myfirstcommander, but your mate didn't feel too comfortable with that arrangement so he made some changes of his own,” the king smiled. Not knowing what to do, I smiled back. “He will escort you to your mate.”
With a nod, we were both dismissed and the soldier made a full 180, so I had no choice but to do the same and follow him.
“My king, I beg of you, this cannot be done. It cannot happen.” I heard Rhylan’s voice and turned to see him being restrained by several guards while trying to get to us.
“You can see her again tomorrow, general. That is if her mate doesn’t snatch her from you first,” the king’s content tone of voice was the last thing I heard before being pushed away by the soldiers.
When I saw Rhylan in such a state, my first instinct was to turn and go back to him, but the six soldiers surrounding me became violent and grabbed at me, pushing me out of the throne room. It was only when the doors closed that the commander ordered them to release me and grabbed me by the arm to silently lead me through a vast chain of narrowing hallways.
When I realised that they led back to the way we came from, the nice candelabras and adorned carpets replaced by mud and dirt, I started arguing and asking questions, demanding answers, shaking and protesting, but it was no use. The male’s grip on my arm didn't loosen one bit and the soldiers trailing us did not stop, not even when I threw myself to the ground and refused to continue walking.
One of them made a move to hit me with the hilt of his sword in an attempt to force me to stand, but the commander stopped them with the threat of not wanting to be the one to mark the general’s guest. He then grabbed me in his arms and continued to walk with me until I saw no point in struggling or resisting and relaxed, as much as one can in those conditions.
I took a moment to analyse the commander, his rough features, and the scars on his neck. They looked like someone had tried to stab his jugular, but even so, he seemed softer than the others. Not in stance or body, because he was as strong as any warrior and probably wore a ton of muscles underneath that armour, but something about him made me ease into his touch, knowing that he would not hurt me, that some part of him was not as dark as the rest of the firelings accompanying me.
“Lean on my shoulder,” I heard him utter through his teeth, making it sound like a huff from the extra weight he had to carry.
I looked at him with a questionable gaze and a raised eyebrow, telling the fireling that there was no way in hell I would sit in a lover’s embrace with him, but his eyes shifted abruptly from me towards his shoulder and back again, a silent command that I had no choice but obey.
When I did, he shifted his right hand to push my body in an upward position, forcing my chin to stick to his neck, but before I could object, he started whispering into my ear.
“Ansgar is not alright, they tortured him for a long time then drugged him. He lost his mind and he is killing everyone. Going inside his cage is suicide.”
I didn't have time to comment, because he shifted me back and continued walking with me as though nothing had happened. I struggled to find myself, to reach for a reaction, to understand what was happening and what he had just told me. Ansgar’s cage.Cage.
That Ansgar,my Ansgarhad been tortured. Tortured! And drugged. And now he had lost his mind. What had they done to him? He had suffered for so long while that bastard Rhylan was living the life, having cocktails on the beach and fucking my friend. A burst of rage came onto me and I knew that the next time I saw Fear Gorta I would make him pay. All the attention, all the niceties and friendship had been a ruse to waste time and keep me away from Ansgar. Who was being kept in a cage. A cage!
