The Key (15 page)

“Are you all right?” Rema rushed
to examine the girl’s cheek. Rema’s stomach twisted—she knew, without a doubt, that this was her fault as well.

“I’m fine, miss,” the girl replied quietly.

“What is your name?”

“Lilliet.”

“Did the prince do this to you?” Rema demanded.

Lilliet lowered her head. “He did. And he said that no one is to feed you. You eat with him, or not at all.”

Rema had no respect for a man that hit anyone—especially a female servant. How could Prince Lennek be so cruel by ordering Bren’s death, physically hurting people, and abusing his power? Shouldn’t a prince be a leader for his people? A person of exemplary constitution and someone they could all look up to? A protector of the civilians that made up the kingdom he ruled over?

Tears filled
Lilliet’s eyes.

“
Then I guess it’s a good thing that I’m not hungry,” Rema replied.

Lilliet smiled
, and then winced in pain. “Do you need anything else, miss?”

“
No, don’t worry about me. But please,” Rema said, “let me know if there’s anything I can do for you.”

Lilliet
curtseyed and left.

There had to be a good number of people
that Prince Lennek had offended or made enemies of over the years. Maybe Rema wasn’t alone in her quest to rid the kingdom of him.

Sitting down o
n the edge of the bed, Rema examined the necklace again. Aunt Maya had said it held the key. Well, obviously, it was a key. She turned it over. There was a line down the side of the shaft. Running her finger along it, Rema felt a small bump and pressed it. The shaft opened like a book.

Mesmerized, Rema examined the inside.
On the left was the number “2” and on the other side was writing. It was very small, and Rema had to scoot closer to a candle in order to read it.

REMA

remember to always look

back

and you’ll be

OK

but not at night, only in the

AM

Trust in him,

Your family

Rema certainly didn’t expect a riddle. She reread the message again. Aunt Maya had said it was a precious family heirloom. Rema’s wristband stated her birth name was Tabitha. However, her aunt and uncle never called her by that name, not even when they were mad at her. When Rema asked about it once, Aunt Maya said that “Rema” was just a nickname. Perhaps other family members had gone by the name as well? She tried to recall if she’d ever been told about another Rema. Nothing came to mind.

There was a knock
. Lilliet entered discretely, carrying a bag. She closed the door behind her.

Rema put the necklace back on and slipped it under her dress.
“How are you doing?”

“
Fine, thank you.” Lilliet fidgeted with the strap on the bag. “Um, I have something for you. I hid it in this pack.” Lilliet opened the bag and pulled out a small bouquet of flowers. “These are for you. My mom grows lilies. She wanted you to have some to brighten up the room. I put the yellow sunflower in there because it reminds me of your hair—the coloring.”

T
hey were beautiful and smelled sweet. Lilliet put them in a jug of water, and then pointed to the bag. She whispered, “There’s also food and water in there.”

“For me?” Rema asked. Lilliet nodded
. “Thank you.” She was shocked she was being treated so kindly. Lilliet curtseyed and left.

Although she
wasn’t hungry, Rema knew she needed to eat in order to maintain her strength. If she was going to find a way to stop Lennek, she had to be alert at all times. Besides, eating felt like a small victory since he had ordered no one to bring her any food. Opening the bag, Rema found an apple, a small water skin, and some meat wrapped in bread. She forced herself to eat as much as she could.

With a full stomach, Rema climbed under the covers and stared out at the moon. Aunt Maya and Uncle Kar could be looking at the moon right at this exact moment—safe from their home. They were probably furious with Rema for going with Prince Lennek. But it was worth it. She would do anything to ensure their safety.

Her focus right now, however, needed to be on deciphering what the message in necklace meant and discovering what Lennek planned to do with her. He obviously had a motive and a reason for choosing Rema. If only there was someone who could help her figure this out.

Darmik’s image flashed
through her thoughts like a shooting star—there one minute and gone the next. If he was willing to warn her about Lennek at the river, then perhaps he was aware of, and didn’t agree with, his brother’s actions. However, the chances of seeing him again were slim. Darmik roamed the island, leading the army.

Rema smiled and felt her face flush. S
haking her head, she tried to rid herself of all thoughts concerning Prince Darmik.

****

When they set out the next day, Lennek chose to ride his horse rather than sit with Rema inside the royal carriage. She was glad to have the time alone, able to look at and enjoy the scenery without his presence reminding her of all she’d lost.

The
land they rode through changed from green, rolling hills and trees to large, gray mountains. The soft ground became rocky and rough, making the carriage bounce around. Off in the distance, Rema saw what she assumed were the Middle Mountains. Uncle Kar had told her stories about them when she was a child. Mostly how difficult it was to survive the rugged terrain, so as a result, no one lived there. The steep mountains were so large that they disappeared into the clouds.

Over the next couple of
hours, the mountains continued to loom ahead of the carriage, never seeming to get any closer. When the light faded, they stopped again at an inn for the night.

The next day, to Rema’s dismay,
Prince Lennek joined her in the carriage. “Miss me, darling?” he asked, laughing.

Rema was done ignoring him. She needed to figure out what game he was playing, otherwise, she had no hope of winning.
“Yes,” she said sarcastically. “I was dying of boredom without you.”

Prince Lennek’s
eyes were keen, understanding more than she intended.

“Good
,” he said, playing along. “We need to get to know one another a little better before we reach King’s City.”

Prince Lennek slouched o
n the seat, putting his muddy boots up on the velvet bench across from them, appearing disinterested. Rema hated to admit it, but he was handsome. The side of his lips curled as his eyes sliced over to her. She’d been caught staring.
Conceited
, she thought. He was beautiful, and he knew it. Rema hated the idea of finding a murderer, someone so vile and repulsive, attractive. It sickened her. She focused her attention outside the carriage and remembered Bren, beaten and bloody from orders given by the prince.

“When we reach the city,” Lennek
said, “I’ll introduce you to the people. Then I’ll propose, you’ll accept, and a huge party will be given in our honor. We’ll be married in a few weeks.”

“
Why wait so long?” she asked, the hatred seeping through. “What if you get tired of me and change your mind?”

“Hmm,” he
smiled, as if contemplating how much to reveal. “You needn’t worry. Everything is going according to plan.”

I
t was only a matter of time before Rema discovered what Lennek was up to.

T
oday the mountain range was closer—cold and unwelcoming, rising straight up into the sky. They were topped with snow and desolate of trees. No wonder nothing survived up there.

“I want to make sure you play the part,” Lennek said, recapturing her attention.

“And what would that be?” She glared at him. “Just so we’re absolutely clear.”

Prince Lennek
chuckled softly. “Rema, darling, you are a feisty one.” Feisty? He had taken her away from her family. He had ordered Bren’s death. Rema was filled with rage.

Lennek’s
countenance changed. His eyes turned shrewd, the lines of his face hardening. There was a ferocious quality to him that sent a chill over her body. “You will maintain your place.” He must have seen the confusion on her face. “You’re a horse merchant’s niece. Don’t you ever forget that.”

“How could I possibly?” she harshly said.

“Hmm,” he mused. “Then make sure you don’t forget that I am the Crown Prince, and as such, you are obedient to
me
.” His menacing eyes penetrated into hers.

Rema
tried to control her emotions. There was no way Prince Lennek could know how afraid she was of him. “I understand, Your Highness,” she said, bowing her head, mocking the prince.

Lennek turned so his entire body faced her
s. Rema tried to focus her attention outside the carriage, but he reached for her chin, forcing her to look at him. Their eyes locked. “You are going to be my wife,” Lennek said in a low, cold voice. “You will be royalty. Do you understand?”

“No. I don’t,” she answered
as his nails dug into her chin. “Let go of me.” Rema knew she was out of line by making demands, but she wanted to know what she had to work with—how far she could push him until his temper exploded.

Lennek smiled wickedly at her. “You’re mine now. Get used to it. I’m giving you everything. Show some gratitude.”

He leaned closer. She could smell him—an odd mixture of rosemary and horse. Rema refused to close her eyes.

“And don’t forget, if you don’t play the part to
my
satisfaction, I know where your aunt and uncle live. I won’t just have them killed. They’ll be brought before you, tortured while you watch, and then slowly dismembered.”

H
e released Rema’s face, pushing her away from him like she was cow dung. Lennek slid back into his side of the carriage, no longer looking at her but at a sapphire ring on his finger—the ring of a prince.

The next day, the scenery once again changed. The mountain range gradually transformed into low
, rolling hills, and the greenery came back like a welcome blanket. But what amazed Rema the most was what lay in the opposite direction, to the east. It looked like the land abruptly ended and the clouds hung level with the carriage.

Lennek noticed her fascination.
“That’s the ocean,” he said. “You can’t tell with the fog.”

“What?”

He pointed out the window. “In a few hours, you’ll be able to see it.”

The ocean was something Rema had only ever dreamed of seeing. Climbing onto her knees, she tried to get a better view
, but the white mist was too thick, concealing the mystery beneath it.

A
s the day wore on, the fog dissipated and Rema finally got her first glimpse of the sea. The water went on forever—farther than she could comprehend. It was dark blue, almost black, and the sun’s light sparkled on it.

Lennek knocked on the window
, and the carriage pulled to a stop. At first, Rema assumed they were changing horses, but Lennek stood and pulled her from the carriage, keeping a firm grip upon her arm.

“What’s going on?” she demanded.

“You need some etiquette lessons,” Lennek sneered.

“I’m sorry,” she
politely said. “What’s going on,
Your Highness
?”

He
yanked her behind the carriage, and Rema stumbled. The royal guard formed a loose circle around them.

“It’s obvious you’ve never seen the ocean,” he said.

“So?”

“So
...I thought you’d like a closer look.” His face was unreadable.

Oh.
Rema didn’t think a kind and thoughtful Lennek was possible.

Lennek
led Rema away from the road, his men opening a path for them. When they reached the edge of the land, Rema gazed out in amazement. The green grass ended and the land abruptly dropped straight down. The cliff, composed of black and gray stones, glittered in the sun. Fifty feet below, the water pounded against the land, spraying and making a raging noise like it had a life of its own.

Rema leaned over the edge to get a better view. Lennek’s hand tightened on her arm.

“Do you think I’m going to jump? That I’d choose death over being married to you?” she asked.

“The thought never crossed my mind
; however, pushing you over the edge did.” He squeezed her arm harder, and Rema yelped.

All he had to do was
nudge her. She felt stupid for walking right into his trap. She should have known better—a nice Lennek didn’t exist. She would have to remember that for next time. Slowly, Rema tried to slide her feet back from the edge, shifting her weight away from the cliff, but his hand on her was strong. He wouldn’t let her move.

She refused to beg for her life. Rema’s rage matched the angry, turbulent ocean below. She wanted to scream and kick at the prince, but he was stronger and had the upper hand.