The Key (14 page)

Rema

Rema
forced all of her rage to remain hidden inside. If she wanted to keep her aunt and uncle safe, she had to leave with the prince. When the time came, and Rema was certain it eventually would, she would make Lennek pay for murdering Bren and threatening her family.

Placing one foot in the front of the other,
Rema moved away from the pasture toward the rear of the house. She glanced back and saw Aunt Maya sobbing on her knees while Uncle Kar embraced her. Bren’s lifeless body was strewn next to them.

“Any day now,” Arnek said
, coming to where Rema had stopped. He took hold of her wrist, pulling her inside the house. “Change your attire. You’re filthy.”

Rema
hurried to her room, grabbing the first dress she came across. When Arnek turned his back to her, she pulled off her clothes, feeling vomit rise in the back of her throat. The bloodied dress dropped to the floor, reminding her of Bren’s lifeless body, crumpled. After she changed, she moved to the washbasin, splashing water on her face and hands, the water turning red.

“Prince Lennek is ready to depart.”
Arnek took hold of her arm, leading her from the house.

A
massive, dark brown carriage stood with six horses harnessed to it. The entire thing was surrounded by two-dozen mounted soldiers.

Arnek
stepped forward and threw open the door, almost hitting her.

Inside, t
wo cushioned bench seats faced each other, with several royal-blue pillows for back support. Lennek was sitting on the far side in the forward-facing seat, tapping his foot.

The prince’s
head slowly turned her direction. “A little faster, Rema. I don’t like to be kept waiting.”

Stepping into the carriage, Rema sat down on the bench
, catty-corner from Prince Lennek, wanting to put as much distance between them as she could. Arnek slammed the door shut.

Rema
looked through the glass window at her house. She pictured Uncle Kar, smiling, as he rode one of his horses back from town. Aunt Maya’s stern expression while she carried another bucket of water to the barn. Bren chasing Rema around the front garden, both of them only five years old, laughing.

T
o keep from crying, Rema pinched her own arm, forcing her mind away from the memories.

The carriage lurched forward
, and Rema wondered if she would ever see her aunt and uncle again. She pressed her hand against the necklace resting on her chest, the only piece of Aunt Maya she had to take with her. Rema glanced back to see if any of the soldiers had stayed behind. It didn’t look like anyone did.

Prince Lennek patted the spot next to him, bringing her attention back inside. She did not want to sit any closer to the vile man, but she feared his temper and
of what he was capable. Shifting to the other bench, she sat on the same side as Lennek, but pressed up against the door, as far away from him on the bench as possible. The prince chuckled, not pushing the matter any further.

When they rode over the hill out of her small town, all
Rema saw were fields of wheat. Bren’s house, the forest, and everything she had known and loved were gone. Rema glared at the prince.

“Next time, I suggest you do things the easy way.
” Prince Lennek laughed. “This was far too much work. I hoped to be back in King’s City by now, not in the bloody middle of nowhere.” His hand lay on the seat between them, his fingers drumming against the soft fabric.

Rema
didn’t respond. She wanted to yell and scream at Lennek, blaming him for Bren’s death, but Rema didn’t want to put her aunt or uncle in further danger. Biting the inside of her cheek, she inhaled a deep breath, and focused her attention outside the carriage.

The scenery blurred.
Rema remembered the time Bren had taught her to shoot a bow and arrow. When she had showed him how to jump off a horse, grabbing hold of a tree branch. And playing hide-and-seek. She had been afraid marriage would’ve confined her. Now Rema would take a life without adventure if it meant getting Bren back. Guilt consumed her—his death was her fault.

She pictured
Bren’s lifeless body in her arms, sticky blood covering her hands and dress. The metallic smell making her sick. There were still traces of his blood in the lines of her skin and under her nails. Closing her hands into fists, Rema looked back out the window. Prince Lennek’s face reflected in the glass with a sadistic smile.

There was a
rustling sound as the prince slid toward the center of the bench, his hand still resting on the seat between them. Then he slowly moved his hand closer to hers until it was only inches away. The left side of her body pressed against the side of the carriage. Prince Lennek’s hand wrapped around hers. It felt like snakes slithering up her arm.

He fingered her band. “When we get to
the castle, I’ll make sure this is taken care of since you’re no longer engaged to
him.
”

Rema tried to squeeze her fingers out of his grip.
Lennek chuckled, and then released her.

She
wanted to punch his face. How dare he touch her—this horrible, evil man, who had killed Bren and taken her away from her family?

Her nails dug into her
arm. Rema hated him. If only she could open the carriage door and shove him out.

“Suit yourself,”
Lennek continued. “It’s a long ride, and you’ll eventually talk to me.” He smiled at Rema, mocking her.

How did so many live under this royal family’s oppression? Why did no one stand up and fight?
Surely, fighting for what was right and what one believed in was worth the risk. Because if no one stood up against this tyranny, it would continue until they eventually lost their land, livelihood, and homes.

Though she was only one person, and female, she swore she’d find a way to fight this royal family.

Forcing her attention back to the countryside, she remembered that Darmik was part of the royal family. In fact, he was Lennek’s own brother. What was Darmik doing right now? Riding through various parts of the island? Maybe she’d catch a glimpse of him somewhere. Her heart pounded faster just thinking of him.

The carriage continued
forward. Although Rema had never been in the northern region of Jarko, there was a familiarity to it. Bright-green rolling hills were separated by forests that were dark and foreboding. Trees so tall she had to crane her neck to see the tops. Every so often, they passed a small town in the distance. Their party only stopped once to change horses, and Rema didn’t speak a word to the prince for the rest of the day.

When they reached the border
between Jarko and Kaven, they stopped at an inn for the night. It was a large, gray, stone building that looked like a lavish house. This definitely wasn’t a place travelers, traders, or merchants used; it was a spot for wealthy, vacationing nobles. Dozens of servants, dressed in white clothing finer than what the common citizen wore, exited through the intricately carved wood doors. They dropped to one knee in greeting. The carriage door opened, and a soldier helped Rema down. Lennek exited behind her.

“This’ll have to do
,” the prince said. “Arnek, give the orders.”

The mousey man
spoke to a soldier wearing a plumed helmet. The soldier yelled instructions, and the guard dismantled. In all the commotion, Rema heard a servant say that one of the prince’s men had ridden ahead, to warn the inn that they were coming, and as a result, the entire place was empty of guests and the staff doubled.

A
short and chubby man addressed the prince. “Your Highness.” He knelt. “I am the owner of this fine establishment. If there’s—”

“Arnek,” Prince Lennek interrupted. “Take care of everything. And see to my room. I’d like to get out of my traveling clothes and have a drink.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Arnek answered.

Prince Lennek went inside, a tra
il of servants and guards following him.

“Um
.” The owner looked at Rema, his face red.

“This is Rema
,” Arnek snidely said. “She’s a horse merchant’s niece and is traveling with the prince.”

Rema wondered why
Arnek despised her. And what was wrong with being a horse merchant’s niece? After all, Arnek was a servant, too.

“I understand,” the owner said.

A few people moving about looked at Rema with raised eyebrows or sneers. Rema had no desire to be degraded in such a way. “No, you don’t,” she said, demanding the owner’s attention. Arnek’s eyes widened. “I insist I have my own room.”

“I
’ve duties to attend to,” Arnek mumbled. “Clearly, I’m not needed here.”

The owner nodded
, and Rema thought she saw a spark of compassion in his eyes. He whispered to a servant girl, who approached Rema, curtseyed, and said, “This way, miss.”

She led Rema in
side. There was a small foyer with a large sitting room beyond it. The girl took Rema to a grand wooden staircase, up two flights, and down a long hallway. She ushered her into a room with a small table, two chairs, and a bed off to the side covered with a yellow quilt. The walls were painted pale yellow. The pink curtains were stitched with white flowers, and they billowed against an open window.

“I’m sorry you’re on the same floor as
...but it was the best that could be done, given the situation,” she said softly.

Rema nodded. Two
soldiers had followed them to the room. “You can leave,” Rema said to them.

“We have orders to guard the door. We’re your protection
,” one answered. They stood in the hallway on either side of the door.

“Very well,” Rema replied. She walked over and closed her door so she
could have some privacy.

“So,” Rema said to the servant.

The girl looked about fifteen and was very thin. Her knees were thicker than the rest of her legs and bones protruded from her shoulders.

“
This is the third floor?” Glancing outside, Rema felt like she was standing atop her cliff back home. She sucked in a breath, and looked at the extravagant courtyard below. Two additional guards were posted on the ground, ensuring she didn’t escape this room the way she had at the governor’s.

“
Yes, miss,” the girl replied, staring at Rema with wide eyes. She had probably never seen blonde hair or blue eyes before. “Is there anything else, miss?”

“No. I’m fine, thank you.” Rema tried to smile.

The girl curtseyed and left, closing the door behind her.

Staring at the forest in the distance, Rema wondered what she would see tomorrow. She had never been this far from home,
nor had she been so far from her family.

Hopefully
, since Prince Lennek had her in his possession, Aunt Maya and Uncle Kar would be safe. But what would happen when Rema did something to displease him, or he became bored with her? Would Lennek dare send his men to threaten her aunt and uncle again? Would her only family be used as leverage to get her to do whatever Lennek wanted? Rema shuddered.

Aunt Maya’s words came back to her.
Remember what I gave you. It holds the key.
Rema felt the necklace lying beneath her dress. A small sense of hope took root.

The servant girl knocked and entered. “Miss, Prince Lennek wants you to join him for dinner. I’ll
escort you.”

There was no way Rema could eat, especially with Lennek
, after witnessing Bren’s death. “Please tell the prince that I’m not feeling well and am going to bed.”

The girl
curtseyed and left.

Once alone, Rema’s fingers felt for the clasp at the back of her neck. She
unlatched the delicate gold chain. Holding the necklace in her palm, Rema fingered the heart-shaped red ruby diamond and the cylindrical shaft of solid gold. Maybe Uncle Kar had given the expensive necklace to Aunt Maya as a wedding gift.

Someone knocked.
Rema closed her fingers over the key and turned to see the servant girl enter with an angry, red welt on the side of her face.