Iron Crowned Chapter 16

Kiyo asked no questions when I called Enrique anchor and told him Id be pop of town and show up of cont do for a while exclusively that I trusted him to carry on. Really, Kiyo give tongue to little at all as we hurried tush to my house. Within minutes, I had a small satchel packed, and then we were remove to the Otherworldly crossing. No matter what ups and down feathers had occurred in our relationship, he knew me well. He knew I had to act on this immediately.The questions began once I reached my castle.How the hell, I began, did this adventure?I was in genius of the receiving rooms, Kiyo by my side as I stared down Shaya and some of the soldiers who manned the grounds. Rurik was with them, which gave me mixed tactile propertys. I was glad he was back from Dorians. I trusted him more than any(prenominal) otherwise military guy al close here. That world farming, on that point was a small post of me that held him responsible. How could someone as heart-to-hear t as him squander consent to this happen?He grimaced, as though b sustainoff my purposes. A small group sneaked onto our grounds, over military forceed her holds and similarlyk her. He hesitated. She only had two with her, Your Majesty. As youll recall, her musical accompaniment was lightened. Still. There is no excuse.I hadnt witnessed this potpourri of diplomacy and respect from Rurik since well, actually, Id never authentically witnessed it. With Dorian? Yes. Not with me. Jasmines abduction had really gotten to Rurik, no question. I was moderately sure he was taking it individualally. unsloped now Id besides caught the minute basaling in his carry onfully worded find ab forth her lightened guard. That had been my call. I had done it in response to her bully behavior and had let her knocked out(p)side more. Id known it was a electric potential security risk simply not one that involved her leaving against her go out.Were at war, I state. Regardless of he r guard, this whole incur out should leave been under lock-down.He nodded, demo growing grimmer. As I verbalize, theres no excuse. I transmit full responsibility.I waved a hand dismissively. Its too novel now. I know youre doing your job. Dont lay yourself out for the slaughter. Volusian said there was a posting?Shaya handed me a piece of modus operandi over parchment. Kiyo leaned over my shoulder as I read it silently to myselfTo Eugenie, Usurper poove of the dagger Land, Daughter of Tirigan Stormi, KingAs you no doubt know by now, I have your child at heart my custody. If you wish her re morose to you alive, you and the Oak King will surrender unconditionally to me. You will terminate hostilities immediately, withdraw your armies, and cede your lands. Additionally, you will turn over the alleged Iron meridian to me.If you do not comply with these terms, your sister will be executed at noon, three days from the receipt of this letter. For now, she is alive, and I h ave given her into the guardianship of my nephew Cassius.I a confront your response.Sincerely,Katrice, Queen of the Rowan Land, loved of the GodsI confronted up at the many watching eyes. Given her into the keeping of my nephew Cassius. Does that mean what I think it does?Shaya grimaced. That is the nephew she wanted you to marry.why execute Jasmine then? I demanded. why not marry her off to Cassius? Isnt that a waste of one of Storm Kings daughters?Katrice hates you, said Kiyo softly. At this point, she in all probability doesnt even care intimately the prophecy. She wants to start up back at you, hurt you, and if that means killing Jasmine, then its probably an acceptable loss oddly if she tries to then give you to Cassius by and by this surrender.So Id pay off to live?Kiyo shrugged. Longer suffering.why choose her as a surety though? I didnt know why I was arguing the logic here. none of it mattered. Only the outcome did. Everyone knows we dont get along.Everyone also p robably knows thats been changing a little, said Kiyo. You brought her to Dorians.And, added Shaya, a royal family member usually makes the best hostage in these situations.These situations. For a moment, I nearly s miened on my feet, wanting(p) to close my eyes and pass out. It had energy to do with the heat. It was this. All of this. This situation ever so ingeminateing itself. Me and Jasmine, cursed by our blood, incessantly to be used and captured as possessions in a greater game. Id hated Aeson, only if at least hed lured Jasmine into some pretext of love before taking utility of her. But what almost this Cassius? Hed make no attempts at kindness. This was all about penalization and revenge, after all. Had he already raped Jasmine? Was he doing it now? A wicked memory of Leith came to mind, one sharp and soak up in spite of the drugged state Id been in during my ordeal with him. Moments later, it was replaced by an take to of this causaless Cassius lowering hims elf over a cowering Jasmine.I pushed my weakness aside, steadying myself and speech the world back into focus. I false to Rurik. How far are our armies spread out? How soon could we get them unitedly and ring on her? I want to note that phone numberchs lands and burn her castle to the ground I want to have the fucking animosity of heaven rain down on her and I cut myself off, as ball over at my words as the others were. Where had that wildness come from? Well, the situation, obviously. I wouldnt want anyone impel to Katrices nephew before facing execution. But it occurred to me in that moment that my reaction was also personal. Somewhere, in the ups and downs of our dysfunctional family, Id come to care about Jasmine. My provoke came from the loss of her.Easy, Eug, said Kiyo, resting a hand on my arm. There was a nervous note in his voice, reflect by the others expressions. Id once been told that when I was angry, I resembled my father. I took a deep wind and pushed ba ck any further outbursts. tip a massive multitude in while merited wouldnt be Rurik was let off treading lightly, still choosing words carefully. Well, Katrice was already in wartime mode, heavily guarded. After this? The lands outside her heavy-handedowship probably have triple the guard they did before.But if our force was large plenty I began.Rurik nodded. True. Its possible. Especially if especially if my shaper Dorians armies were involved. He looked uneasy at mentioning Dorian, scarcely I could see a considering look on Ruriks face. I had a feeling we shared the same puzzle. Would Dorian summate forces to help me? Possibly not, not if his anger overrode any devotion to me. On the other hand, Dorian was still in this war, and I knew him well enough to think he magnate welcome a full-out show on her castle. Rurik knew that too. With his forces, its possible, Rurik said at last. But Katrices would be defending. It would be bloody. It would be ugly.He didnt sound o pposed to that, per se. He was a military man ugly battles were the way of the world. But we all knew that wasnt inclinationl.My mind spun. disperse of me wanted that large force to get down on Katrice because I thought she deserved it. This was about more than revenge, however. It was about Jasmine. I indispensablenessed to go with the plan most worryly to get her back, and an invading army wasnt it. It would take a smaller group, just as shed no doubt send here, one that could slip in. We were heavily guarded, exclusively with the assorted petitioners and refugees always coming and passing game, it was no wonder Jasmines kidnappers had slipped in. Katrice undoubtedly had a connatural stream of raft coming to her in these times, provided shed probably be on high alert with them too.Imanuelle, I said, realizing too many moments of silence had passed. Can you get me Imanuelle?It was this, finally, that took the groups eyes off me because they all interchange astonished lo oks. Kiyos face grew troubled.Thats your plan? Kiyo asked. despatch Katrice? Eugenie, youre better than that. Hed apparently hear of Imanuelle.I am, I agreed. And smarter. Get her for me. That was to Shaya, who nodded and then gun a look at a hovering servant. He gave a hasty bobfloat of his head and darted out of the room.Ready to repeat history? I asked Kiyo. Itll be like raiding Aesons all over again.Youre issue No. Eugenie, you buttockst go there.I gestured to Rurik and began sorrowful for the exit. You heard him. We give the sackt get in with a large force not easily.Yes, I get that, said Kiyo, following after me. But you cant go.I have to go, I countered.Rurik had hurried along after us. Hes right. project someone else. Ill go. Well sneak in and take her.I came to an abrupt halt, nearly causing both men to run into me. Im going. This is my responsibility. Besides, who else around here can match me as if by magic? I peered back and forth among their faces, daring th em to challenge me.Even so, said Rurik, if youre discovered, youll be outnumbered. And youre an enemy queen. In wartime. base on balls right into your enemys stronghold. I cant allow this.Its not your place to allow me to do anything I snapped. Or you either. I turned to Kiyo for that, stroke his words. We wont be discovered. Not if Imanuelles as peachy as she claims. I was so threadbare of men telling me what I could and couldnt do.I left them and stalked off down the hallway toward my bedroom. Neither followed me right away, but I just barely heard Rurik mutter to Kiyo, Well, if shes caught, she will get a massive army descending on Katrice, at least. My lord Dorian wouldnt permit anything less.The flaw in my plan, as it turned out, was waiting on Imanuelle. After our last meeting, shed left my kingdom, and finding her wasnt easy. You couldnt just openly summon a famed assassin. Girard was at my court, however, and apparently had secret ways of displace messages to his sister. I didnt ask any questions about his means, so long as she showed up. wait for her gave us time to plan strategy. at once my advisors grudgingly accepted that Id be going personally and once Rurik accepted that he would not be accompanying me they fell in line to pool their familiarity about Katrices castle. Id joked earlier to Kiyo about this being like our break-in to Aesons but really, it was true. This time, we had no guide personally to take us in. We had to rely on anecdotal experience from those who had been there and could make best guesses at where Jasmine might be held. And that was presuming Katrice was actually keeping her on-hand.Perhaps the most surprising part of all of this was Kiyos acquiescence. Id expected protests about my gum elastic or perhaps a diplomatical solution. But, no. He realized the immensity of saving Jasmine. And he too knew this was probably our best shot at least on such short notice.You should know, Rurik told us later, that you arent go ing to be able to arrive Volusian. He, Kiyo, Shaya, and I were in my bedroom, which Id made my improvised war headquarters.Why not? I asked. That was a surprise. Id been counting on his muscle, something I had to admit Id missed while chip for the crown. What was the point of an undead minion if I couldnt puke him to right(a) use? He can go in with us invisibly.Rurik shook his head. Everyone knows about him. Katrice does. Shell have people on-hand who can ace him. Shell also probably have those with the power to banish him. Enough of them united together could.You have a lot of religious belief in her, I noted dryly. Volusian was unattackable to banish I couldnt do it but Rurik had a point. Get enough magic-users together, and they could ultimately pull it off.He gave me a twisted smile. Shes not stupid. And she has advisors. Not as nigh as yours, of course, but they would have thought everything over before kidnapping Jasmine.A knock on the door break off any response I might have made, and after I called entry, a servant showed Imanuelle in.Finally, I said.She swept in, draped in billowing red silk underdrawers and a matching, midriff-showing top. The assassin arched an eyebrow and gave me an amused look as she put her hands on her hips. I dont wait around on your every command, Thorn Queen. And last time we spoke, you made it pretty clear, you didnt want me around. Have you finally come to your senses? From what I hear, nows a pretty good time to get rid of Katrice. Imanuelle paused carefully. Although, getting rid of her before now would have been even better. Would have saved you and your sister a lot of trouble.I bit off any snide remarks. We cant have Katrice killed. Im pretty sure the instant her people found her dead, Jasmine would be next. I necessitate you to sneak in and get Jasmine out of there.Imanuelles cocky smile dropped. Thats not what I do. I kill. I dont rescue.Ill do the rescuing. You need to get me and Kiyo in. Disguise us with this supposed power you keep bragging about. Or is masking more than one person out of your skill-set?I can do it, she said, narrowing her eyes. But itll cost you.We can afford it, I said, trying to force out the pained look crossing Shayas face as she no doubt added up mental ledgers.Imanuelle said nothing for some(prenominal) moments as she pondered it all. Just you two?Yes. And you, of course, I added.Do you have any idea where youre going in there? she asked.Kiyo and I exchanged looks. strain of, I said.Kind of. Imanuelle snorted. Fine. Ill do it. But Im only there to disguise you. Im not fighting if you get caught.You dont have to, I assured her. Well entertain you.This brought another scoff and a peremptory curl of her lip. If they detect us, I can get myself out of there, believe me. Youll be on your own.