Pieces of Jade (Pirates of Orea) (8 page)

James’s eyes were fixed on mine, but he spoke to the guard behind him. “
Rasminson, make sure no one enters this room while I speak with Jade.” The guard nodded. James stepped in and shut the door behind him. “I’m ready to talk.”

James hadn’t changed his bloody clothes. He looked pale, his normally neat hair in a tangled mess, and his wounds still oozed through its bandage.

“I know.” I swallowed hard, unsure how to start. “I’m so sorry James. I never—”

He held up his hand and my apology caught in my throat like shards of cut glass. It felt like an ocean separated us.

“I told my father August was killed in the skirmish. By the pirates.”

“Why?” The single word was all I could manage.

“My father is with the body now. He’s locked himself in the room and refused entry to everyone—I doubt he can even hear us anymore. He’s . . . he’s inconsolable.” James looked at his hands. “He said it should have been me.”

My fingers covered my parted lips. “He didn’t mean that, James.”

The prince’s voice was dulled. “Yes he did.”

His words hung in the air, and with them came the certainty that just as I’d killed August, I’d killed any and all traces of James’s boundless optimism.

“Do you love me?” James still stared at his hands, and the words caught me by surprise.

“More than my own life.” I grabbed his hand. “I’d do anything for you.”

James’s muscles relaxed under my fingers. “Oh Jade.” His voice broke as he said my name. I threw my arms around him. He stood still as a tree in winter until I finally withdrew from him.

His shoulders sagged and he exhaled. “More than anything I want to believe you.” After a moment he stepped toward me and cupped his hand around my cheek, his thumb stroking my face. Slowly he lowered his lips until they rested so close they almost touched my own, and my pulse quickened. His hands were shaking. He took a deep breath and stared me in the eyes. “Tell me again that you love me.”

“I do love you.” I pushed his dirty hair from his bruised forehead. “You know that.”

“I never wanted to rule,” James said. “I’m too soft. I wasn’t meant for it. I’m not strong enough. I’m not . . . August.”

“You’ll be a better king than August ever could have been,” I said. “I’ve always thought so.”

James stiffened, looking at me with sudden horror. I’d said something wrong, but I had no idea what it was. “James, what is it?”

“You planned it.” He choked, stepping away like I was some demon witch. When he spoke again, his voice had a hard edge to it. “You always thought I’d be the better king? You’d do anything for me? You planned to kill him the first chance you got—you knew I’d lie for you.”

His words were a slap. “What?”

James still stared at me in disbelief.
“My father was right. He said the only reason you wanted me over August was because I was easier to control. That you just wanted the power of the throne to yourself. I’d just be some . . . some puppet to your whims—by the night sky, I already have been. I really am daft.”

“No, James. He’s lying. Your father would say anything to destroy our bond,” I said. “I never wanted the throne. I only wanted you.”

But he wasn’t listening. His jaw set in a firm mask and his lips thinned to a straight line, he glared down his nose at me. And, for the first time in my life, I noticed his resemblance to his father. To August.

“You always said you wished there was no August.” His nostrils flared. “And now there’s not.”

I blinked at him, my mouth falling open at the accusation. The conviction in his voice chilled me. He truly believed I’d planned to kill his brother. That it was premeditated. I forced myself to speak past the hurt crushing my chest. “How can you think that?”

James crossed his arms. “I saw you kill him. There was no hesitation on your end.” His eyes bored into mine, daring me to contradict him. “You picked up a sword like you’d trained for that moment. You stabbed August without hesitation.”

“I thought I was being attacked from behind. I turned on instinct and thrust the sword.” I clasped my hands together, raising them to my chest. “When I realized what I’d done . . . oh James, I’m so sorry.”

He took a step towards the door, shaking his head. “Maybe it’s better this way. I wasn’t sure I could stand by and watch it happen.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I loved you. I really did.” He stepped back, avoiding my gaze. “Please remember that.”

“
Loved
?”

James tugged on his hair. “I can’t fix this, Jade. It’s too big. I just don't have the power. I never did.” His hand clenched around the doorknob. “I tried to change it by taking you away with me, but it only made things worse. But none of us are above the law, Jade, not even you. You deserve this because of what you did.”

“No.” My mouth formed the word but I couldn’t summon the breath to speak it, as if my body had been turned to stone. Betrayal tore through my heart like lightning destroying a tree, leaving only a charred stump that would never heal. He could condemn me for an accident, but not for purposely killing August. That he believed I could do that to
anyone
—that he thought me so callous, so evil—made my head spin. Didn’t he know me at all?

“Believe me. This is the more merciful ending.” James opened the door and addressed his guards. “Take the Emmía to the dungeon. Do not alert my father or the rest of the council.” James grabbed my arm and thrust me at
Rasminson. “Jade Crawford, you are hereby sentenced to death for the murder of the Crown Prince of Orea, by my authority as the new heir to throne. In one hour, you shall hang by your neck until you are dead.”

With that proclamation, he pushed me toward them.

“James, please,” I said, clutching at his arm. “I know I deserve to die, but don’t let me go to the gallows with you thinking this was all planned. It was an
accident
. I would never—”

James shook me off. “Take her. Now,” he ordered the guard
.

Rasminson
looked startled by his orders, as did Jones, the other guard. They hesitated, but then their eyes traveled to my neck where my medallion should have hung.

Jones grunted in surprise and
Rasminson’s face fell. He shook his head. “Oh, Miss.” They took hold of my arms, more gently than I would have expected, and escorted me to the palace dungeon. James watched them guide me to the first corner, where I stole one more glance at him.

His face spoke more than words ever could. Cold and unforgiving, he nodded at me once before turning to walk away, taking with him
all the love I’d once had for him.

Chapter 7

The grating of a key in the lock jolted me awake. Was it an hour already? The time went by so quickly—in the darkness of the cell, I’d swear only a quarter of that time had passed.

But it didn’t matter. My thoughts pinpointed to one glaring thought. I was going to hang.

For murder.

My heart pounded as I squinted into the darkness, torn between hope and fear. Despite what he’d done, some sick part of me hoped to see James walk through the open door. The rest of me longed for the torment of waiting to be over, hoping to see the guards coming to collect me for my execution. So when the door groaned open I wasn’t prepared to see Lady Meredith’s royal robes swish into the cell.

What was she doing here? It was beneath her to visit me in this place. And then I noticed Pearl trailing behind her and I understood. Lady Meredith was allowing her to say goodbye.

I stood, sniffling. “You came.”

“Of course, I did.” Pearl moved to my side, tucking her blonde hair behind her ear. “I’ve taken care of you since the cradle.”

“As sisters should,” Lady Meredith said, closing the door behind her. Her dark hair was swept back into a simple twist, accentuating her elegant neck. The smile in her warm brown eyes made the dungeon less gloomy.

“My lady.” I dropped my
eyes, afraid of the judgment I would see in hers. Despite our age difference, she’d been a dear friend to me most of my life. I’d assumed she would now despise me, like James. “How did you know where to find me?”

Lady Meredith shuddered at a mouse that skittered across the floor. “Pearl and
Rasminson found me at the same time. They were both quick to tell me your situation.”

“Why would
Rasminson do that? It could put his position in jeopardy.”

“Because he cares about you. Just like I do.” Pearl threw her arms around me and I wished my hands weren’t shackled. I longed to cling to her. She hadn’t held me like this since we were children. Back then, I’d crawl into her bed after a bad dream, and she’d chase the monsters away. But this was one nightmare she couldn’t vanquish.

Lady Meredith strode forward and I braced myself, afraid of her censure. It was her step-son I’d killed—she must hate me.

“They’ve chained her wrists,” Pearl said to Lady Meredith.

“It’s okay,” I said. “The magic has already settled in. The pain’s almost gone.” The irony was that by the time it disappeared entirely, I’d be hanging from a noose.

Lady Meredith’s hand rested on my head before dropping to my arms and unshackling my wrists.

My head jerked up. “What are you doing?”

She rolled her eyes. “Helping you escape, of course.”

I pulled back so fast my head hit the wall with a painful thud. “Escape? I can’t escape. I killed August.”

“Yes,” Lady Meredith said. “But it wasn’t murder. I know you’re not capable of that. Obviously it was an accident. You shouldn’t die for that. That isn’t breaking the Edicts.”

“My medallion fell off,” I admitted in a small voice.

“They aren’t perfect,” Lady Meredith said. “Their rigidity doesn’t always take into account that accidents happen.”

“But August is dead and it’s my fault. I deserve my sentence. I can’t run away.”

“You must.” Pearl chafed her hands against my wrists, helping the blood to flow again. “Listen, Jade. You’ve always been so loyal, to our family, to your friends, but mostly to the kingdom. You firmly believe in the Edicts and I know you want a chance to purge your sins by paying with your blood, but you can’t. You’re not a normal citizen. You’re the Emmía. The people of
Orea need you to live. You need to produce a female heir or the kingdom will
never
have another Emmía.”

I pushed away, bringing my fist to my mouth and biting down on my knuckle as I stared at Pearl. How had I not realized that
? The only way to atone for breaking an Edict was death. The thought of not dying for my actions, of living with my mistake—of being denied that final absolution for sins—felt like a different kind of death. And somehow, it was so much worse.

Pearl smoothed back my hair. “Will you escape so
Orea can live?”

I nodded. “Yes, but we must explain it to James. He has to understand.”

Lady Meredith shook her head. “There isn’t time. I was afraid I would be too late. They may be on their way down here, even now. Here, take this.” She drew me to my feet and passed me a bundle of clothes. “Change quickly. If you dress as a boy, you should be able to travel safely. We’re getting you out of here.”

She turned me around, her deft fingers quickly undoing the row of thin buttons down my spine and shedding me of my petticoats and skirts.

Once I was dressed in my new clothes, Lady Meredith spoke again. “You have to forgive yourself, Jade. It was an accident. I know it. We must hurry. My husband will likely find out about your execution. He will not react well. I’m afraid—” She trailed off, looking stricken, and kissed my forehead as she pressed a travel sack into my hands and led me out of my cell. “In the pouch is a map to a witch in Castleport. She will help you if you mention my name. And give her this letter.”

“A witch?” I staggered back as I realized what she was suggesting. Wit
ches—Guardians turned evil—could not be trusted. But I took the thick envelope, and tucked it inside my blouse.

Lady Meredith must have seen the doubt in my face. “Believe me when I say she’ll help you.” She grabbed my shoulders and shook me slightly. “Promise me you'll find her
and give her this letter. It is of extreme importance.”

“I promise,” I managed to mumble, my mind still slow with confusion.

The rustle of clothes drew my attention to my sister, exchanging her dress for mine. “Pearl?”

“I’m going to be a decoy. To give you more time to escape.” She drew a shawl over her head, hiding her face and hair. Wearing that, she could easily pass for me. “I’ll go another way and lead them off your path.”

“I can’t let you do this. It’s too dangerous,” I told them both. “You could both lose your medallions.”

“We’ll be right as rain if you go right now.” Lady Meredith said. “The king hasn’t condemned you to death. James’s orders aren’t law yet.”

James didn’t have the power to make royal decrees? That seemed odd. August used to make them often. “Are you sure? Still my medall—”