The Key (23 page)

“I can’t even imagine—”

“No,” Rema interrupted him. “I don’t want to talk about it. I don’t even want to think about it. Distract me, please.”

Darmik fidgeted with the edge of his tunic. “When I was a child, I used to come here to hide.”

It was a place one could easily get lost in. Her hands caressed the dirt. “I used to hide in our barn, with my horse.”

Darmik laughed. “Why does that not surprise me
?”

His body shifted, closer to hers. “I have something for you.” He pulled
out a small book from his pocket and handed it to her. The black leather was soft. As she peeled back the cover, it cracked in her hands, reminding her of home and her lessons with Aunt Maya. It was a book Rema didn’t recognize.

“It’s
about a young boy who travels to faraway lands. He discovers things beyond his wildest imagination. I thought you could use something to read since you’re always alone in your room.”

“Thank you.” Rema felt safe next to Darmik. This man, who looked so similar to his brother, yet, was nothing like him. He was kind, generous, and thoughtful. If only it was Darmik who wanted to marry her instead of Lennek.

After flipping through the book, Rema glanced at Darmik. The way he sat afforded her the opportunity to examine his tattoo better. The lines came up from under his loose shirt and formed points, like dancing flames.

“Your mark
s are beautiful,” Rema said, reaching out to touch them. “May I?”

Darmik nodded
, and Rema traced along the edges of the black flames. Her fingers tingled from the contact. Darmik’s skin was moist with sweat, and he shivered.

“Did you receive th
ese marks as an infant?” she whispered.

“I did. My father chose the design.” His voice was hoarse.
His hand wrapped around hers, pulling her closer. Darmik’s head leaned slightly forward, and Rema imitated him. Her lips craved his warm touch. She closed her eyes, holding her breath in anticipation.

“Commander
,” someone spoke from the room’s entrance. “Are you in here?”

Rema jumped.

“Dont fret,” Darmik said, “there’s nothing to worry about.” He stood up. “What is it, Neco?”

“
I’ve been searching for you for over an hour. There’s an issue. Your presence is needed immediately.”

Darmik
squatted next to Rema, his eyes penetrating into hers. “I’ll come find you tomorrow. The guards will escort you back to your room.”

Rema nodded, unable to utter a single word. Her body felt like it was on fire.

****

Ellie c
ame shortly after hearing news of Rema’s punishment. She had been talking non-stop since she arrived, trying to keep Rema’s mind distracted. It was working, and Rema was grateful for her kindness.

Rema
was sitting on the settee, holding her necklace. “
OK
and
AM
have to stand for something,” she said. “My aunt’s name is Maya. Maybe
AM
stands for Aunt Maya.”

Ellie
sat down next to Rema, looking at the key.

Rema continued,
“And maybe
OK
is supposed to be
UK
? Then it could stand for Uncle Kar.”

Ellie leaned over and
studied the inscription. “I don’t know. Everything is clear. It doesn’t look worn, so I’d say it’s supposed to be
OK.
”

“Then the
significant word here has to be
back
,” Rema said. She remembered having a birthmark on her back, but that couldn’t possibly mean anything.

“Not just
back
,” Ellie said, “but
look back
.”

“
OK
and
AM,
” Rema thought out loud, “
look back
.” Suddenly, she had an idea. “Maybe I’m supposed to look at the clues backwards, you know,
look back
.”

“
So instead of OK and AM, it should be MA and KO?” Ellie asked.

“Exactly.
Do these letters mean anything to you?”

“No,” Ellie r
esponded, tapping a finger on her head. “But let me think. I have heard the name Mako before. Maybe it’s a clue to a person named Mako?”

“Hmm,” Rema pondered
. She’d also heard of the name Mako, but she couldn’t remember where or when. “That makes sense because the next line says
Trust in him
.”

“
So trust in Mako?”

Rema nodded.
They were finally getting somewhere. Now she just had to figure out who this Mako was.

“There’s one thing I
don’t understand,” Rema said.

“Only one?” Ellie joked.

“Why is my name in capital letters too?”

Ellie was about to respond when the door opened
, and Darmik entered. His eyes passed from Rema to Ellie and back again, both of them still sitting side by side on the settee.

Ellie put the
necklace around Rema’s neck. “Anything else?”

Rema slid the
key under her dress. “No, thank you.”

Ellie raised her eyebrows
, trying to suppress a smirk. She leaned in and whispered, “I’ll come back later for the sack. It’s hidden under your bed.” Ellie curtseyed and left.

“Good morning, Prince Darmik
,” Rema said.

H
e glanced around the room. “Is there anyone else here?”

“No, I’m alone
now.”

Since that day
in the rose garden, Rema and Darmik hadn’t had the opportunity to be alone. Anytime she stepped foot out of her room, she was accompanied by her guards.

“Excellent.” Darmik opened the door and went back into the hallway.
He handed each of her guards a coin, and then pushed a cart covered with cloth into her room. Sitting on top was a plate of food.

“Thanks, but I already ate,” Rema said.

Darmik smiled and shut the door. He moved the cloth aside and pulled out a roll of dull, brown fabric. “Your disguise, shirt and skirt. Today, we go into the city. Alone.” He gave her one of his grins—a mixture of mischievousness with a touch of happiness and excitement. Rema couldn’t be sure because he so rarely smiled. She was under the impression that he was always working, serving Prince Lennek and King Barjon. And he never did anything for himself. He had no life of his own.

She
went into her bedchamber and closed the door. Slipping on the disguise, the rough fabric scratched her skin and was uncomfortable, especially after all the silk dresses she had been wearing. Yet, Rema welcomed the familiarity of the plain clothes.

Looking into the mirror, her blonde hair
stood out like a beacon. There was no way she could go into public without somehow covering it—she’d be recognized immediately. Searching through one of the ornate greenwood dressers, Rema found a gray scarf and wrapped it around her head. Checking the mirror again, she looked anonymous. She took a step back, and her foot caught on the brown sack Ellie had hidden under the bed. Instinctively, Rema pushed it back under the bed until she realized that if she was going into the city, she should make the delivery herself. She grabbed the bag, her heart pounding in anticipation.

Resting her hand on the
door’s latch, Rema remembered what Darmik had said—they were going to be alone. The last time they were alone, they almost kissed. She closed her eyes, imagining what kissing Darmik would feel like, what he would taste like.

“Are you almost ready?” Darmik asked from the sitting room.

Rema’s face warmed, and she opened the door.

Darmik stood waiting for her. A slow smile spread across his face. “Your eyes stand out. Especially wearing
the gray scarf.”

“Oh.”
There was nothing she could do about that. Suddenly she felt self-conscious.

“What’s that?” He pointed to the sack.

Not seeing any reason to lie to him, Rema answered, “Food. For the people in the city who need it.”

“Are you the one who’s been smuggling food and blankets out of the castle?”
His face was expressionless, not revealing what he was really thinking.

“
Does the king know about it?” Would she get in trouble for taking the food? Would Ellie? Rema didn’t think she could handle another one of the king’s punishments.

“No,” Darmik said
. “A servant reported that supplies were missing. One of my soldiers investigated and reported it to me. Neither Prince Lennek nor the king know anything about it.”

“
Then yes, guilty as charged.” She didn’t want to mention Ellie had been doing most of the work and get Ellie into trouble if anyone else found out. They’d have to be more careful.

“Clever girl.” 

“Are you going to tell your father?” Rema asked.

“No.”
Darmik went into her bedchamber.

“What are you doing?” she asked
, following him.

D
armik took her pillows and put them under the covers. Then he ruffled the bed a little more.

“It looks like someone
is sleeping in there.”

“Exactly. Come on.” Darmik went back into her sitting room and pulled the fabric away from the
food cart. “You’re going to sit under here.”

“On the bottom shelf of the food cart?” She wasn’t sure if she could fit
, especially with the sack of bread.

“Why the hesitation?” he asked, a challenge clear in his eyes. “Afraid you’ll get caught?”

Darmik was a
n intelligent man, in charge of an entire army. Rema was fairly certain he knew what he was doing.

“Hardly,” she replied
. As excited as she was to be spending time with Darmik, if afforded the opportunity, she would escape. She climbed onto the bottom shelf and put the sack on her lap. “What’s taking you so long? Are you afraid?”

“Oh Rema, with you, I’m always afraid.” He dropped the fabric down, concealing her. “Hold on.”

The cart lurched forward, creaking.

She heard the door open
, and they entered the hallway. “Commander,” the two posted guards said in unison.

“The food didn’t agree with Rema,” Darmik said. “She’s in bed, asleep. Make sure she
’s not disturbed. I’ll come back to check on her later.” Rema heard the sound of coins clanking against one another. Darmik must be bribing the guards to keep quiet about Darmik’s visits.

The cart moved forward again.
They traveled down corridors, turning several times. People addressed the commander, but no one suspected Rema was hidden on the food cart. Her legs started to cramp, and her head hurt from hitting the top shelf. After what felt like a long time, Darmik finally stopped and told Rema they were clear.

Climbing off the cart, Rema stood and stretched.
They were in a small, dimly lit room without any windows or furnishings. Darmik told her to wait there while he went and changed into his own disguise, leaving out of one of the two doors.

When he came back, he
wore gray trousers, a long-sleeved white shirt, and a hat low over his dark eyes. He grabbed the sack of food and opened the other door, revealing a black tunnel. They entered, and Darmik led the way through a series of twists and turns until they exited, to Rema’s surprise, outside the castle walls. Rema looked back toward the castle, at least one mile away, amazed.

“
The tunnel is for security reasons, in case we have to evacuate,” Darmik said. The sun was high overhead, concealing his face in shadows. “Speaking of which,” he continued, “since we’re out of the castle and about to enter a large city with thousands of people, I’d like . . .”

Darmik took off his hat, fidgeting
with it. Then he put it back on, pulling it low. “I’d like to be your escort.” His voice was rougher than usual. Rema wasn’t sure what he meant. Wasn’t he already escorting her?

Darmik cleared his throat. “You should be either my sister
...or...my wife, so I can keep ahold of your arm. That way we won’t be separated. I want to keep you safe.”

Rema wished she could see his eyes better. “I’m not some spoiled princess that never leaves
her castle,” Rema laughed. “I’m a horse merchant’s niece. I can take care of myself.”

He nodded, like he expected her to say that. “Nevertheless,” he said, “I’d feel better keeping a hand on you.
” Darmik grinned. “Unless it would make
you
uncomfortable.”

The way he said it made Rema believe he was challenging her
, and she never backed down from a challenge.

“I’m fine with it
.” She held out her arm for him to take. “I might as well be your wife. Unless that makes
you
uncomfortable.”