Chapter 14 - Don’t Let Them Cut Me

The dungeon doors slammed shut between us. That sound hit me right in the chest like a punch. I turned my head back even so, chains clinking as my wrists burned and my throat burned too, everything just burning. Cassian was gone. Not dead, I did not see him dead. But gone anyway. And that made my stomach turn over. A guard barked for me to move. They yanked me forward and I stumbled, boots scraping on stone. I almost fell because my hands were chained in front and I could not catch myself properly. Rehn walked ahead like he did not care if my face smacked the floor. Gold and red uniforms all around, different group from before, different eyes, less pretty like palace types, more like real soldiers. That was good in a way. Also worse somehow. Soldiers do not hesitate much. I tried pulling my wrists apart to ease the bite of the cuffs. It did not work, they just dug in harder. I shouted at Captain Rehn, my voice all raw, where are they taking me. No answer came. I shouted again about the Emperor. Then a guard slammed the butt of his spear into my back. Not enough to break bones. Enough to make me quiet. I sucked in a breath and tasted blood on my tongue. My neck stung from where Cassians blade had touched, cut just enough. I hated that part of me was grateful he did not finish it. I hated how his voice still echoed in my ear, that word fall. I wanted to scream more but held it back. If I lost my voice, that was my only weapon gone. We started up some stairs, narrow ones, hidden away, the kind nobles act like do not exist. My legs shook from the fight earlier, from crawling, from throwing up, from all of it. A guard shoved me up another step. I snapped at him to stop pushing, I am going. He cut in with just walk. So I walked. We passed a door with a slit window and I heard crying inside, a womans voice muffled. Not Maris, not Clar, someone else entirely. I looked anyway. The guard grabbed my jaw and yanked my face forward, no looking he hissed. I bit his fingers because my brain felt broken by then. He cursed and slapped me hard. My head snapped to the side, ears ringing loud. Rehn turned his head finally. His eyes looked flat, empty. Do that again he said to me and they will remove your teeth. I stared at him breathing heavy. You are helping them I spat out. Rehn did not react at all. He just said keep walking. The corridor we reached smelled like clean wax and polished stone, upper palace levels for sure. Servants scattered when they saw me coming. A few stared openly. A few whispered behind hands. I forced my chin up and said nothing, because begging would make me cry and crying would make me do something stupid. This young attendant with a tray froze as we passed by. He looked at the blood on my neck. Then at my chains. Then at my ring. Recognition flickered there, like from rumors he heard. He opened his mouth as if to say something. A guard shoved him into the wall and the tray crashed down. Rehn did not even glance back. So that is the rule I guess, silence everywhere. If the palace keeps you silent you die quiet. No, that is not right. I swallowed hard and raised my voice anyway. His Majesty is alive I shouted. My throat tore on the words but I did it. A guard hit me again and I stumbled forward. Rehn stopped so sudden the other guards froze too. He turned fully to face me. His face showed no anger. Just calculation, like he was figuring odds. You want to scream he said low so they kill you right in the hall. I panted for breath. I want people to know I said. Rehn flicked his eyes to the ceiling like listening for footsteps above. He leaned in closer, voice almost gone. People knowing does not help he said. People believing that helps. I swallowed again, lips shaking. How I rasped out. Rehn did not answer. He motioned for them to move me. They dragged me through another set of doors into a warmer room. Curtains there, bookshelves, a desk, small brazier burning. Not some dungeon hole. More like a guard office. Two men inside snapped to attention when Rehn came in. They looked at me like I was street trash someone hauled in. Rehn said out. They hesitated a bit. He repeated it sharper, out both of you. They left quick. Door shut behind them. Rehn did not unlock my cuffs, of course. He went behind the desk and poured water into a cup like any normal day at work. Then he looked over at me. You swallowed evidence he said. My stomach turned bad. I stayed quiet. Rehn lifted the cup a little. You are bleeding he said. I am fine I told him. You are not he replied. He set the cup on the desk edge and nodded at it. Drink. I just stared. Is it a tonic I snapped. Rehn narrowed his eyes. It is water. I did not budge. He exhaled through his nose, annoyed maybe at something else. Lady Vale he said if I wanted you dead you would be already. Everyone says that I muttered. His voice got colder. And everyone might be right. My chest tightened up. I stepped closer anyway and drank because my throat felt like sandpaper, blood taste stuck there. The water hit raw spots and hurt going down. I swallowed and it hurt more. Good though, pain meant I was still alive. Rehn watched like counting every second. Where is Kael I asked him. Rehn jaw tightened. Contained he said. Alive I pressed. He did not answer right away. My stomach dropped low. Captain Kael alive I said again. Rehn eyes flicked away for half a second. That was enough for me to know. He is dead I whispered. Rehn snapped back not yet. Not yet. So soon after everything. My hands shook against the chain. Then help him I said, sounding stupid even to me. Rehn looked at me like I asked him to shift the sun. I am helping him he said by not letting you get executed before he can speak. My throat closed up. So you are using me. Rehn did not deny it. He stepped closer, voice low. Listen he said the Chamberlain is locking the story down, regicide, kidnapping, mad duke, poison bride. If that sticks as court record you are done. I swallowed hard. And Cassian I said. Rehn eyes narrowed a touch. Duke Nocten is already done in their story, you are just the excuse. My chest went tight. Where is he. Under guard Rehn said flat. Not dead. Not dead. I exhaled hard without thinking. Rehn noticed that. You care he said. I care about surviving I snapped. Rehn mouth twitched, not quite a smile, more like sure whatever. He turned away, pulled a sealed pouch from a drawer, tossed it on the desk. Kael half he said. My breath caught sharp. What. Rehn pointed. He handed it to a runner before taken, came to me. I stared at the pouch like it could bite. You have it I whispered. Rehn nodded once. My stomach flipped over again. So the whole proof split now, half in my stomach, half in his hand. Great, perfect, I hate this setup. Rehn said they will search you soon, not just clothes, your body too. My skin went cold all over. I did not speak. If I did I would say no and it changes nothing. Rehn went on, Soren already told them you swallowed something, physician comes with medical say so. If he finds paper he destroys it, calls it poison. My chest hurt from tightening. They will cut me I whispered. Rehn eyes flat. Yes. The way he said it made me want to slap him. I did not. So what do we do I asked. Rehn studied my face a moment. Then you stop fighting like cornered girl, start speaking like witness. I laughed once, ugly sound. They gag witnesses. Rehn gaze sharpened. Not in front of wrong people he said. I swallowed. Who I asked. Rehn did not answer right off. He went to the door, cracked it, spoke low to someone outside, words I could not catch. Shut it again and turned back. We bring you to Council Hall he said. My stomach dropped bad. Council Hall meant nobles, high officials, clerks, records kept. Also meant Adrian could show up any second with that soft smile of his. They will kill me on the way I whispered. Rehn said they will try. I stared at him. Why are you helping I demanded, voice shaking. Do not say duty. Rehn face went tight. Because I saw His Majesty on stone he said. That was it, his real crack showing. My chest burned. Rehn added and because Kael is my friend. My throat tightened more. Then hurry I whispered. Rehn nodded once. He stepped close, grabbed the chain between cuffs, pulled me to the door. Stay close he ordered. We left the office. Two of Rehn men joined right away, flanking me tight. Tighter than before, like ambush expected. We moved fast through corridors. Servants pressed to walls. A noblewoman in pale pink stepped from side hall, saw me chained, froze up. Her eyes went to neck blood. Then to Rehn. Then away quick. She said nothing. Coward. Smart kind though. I swallowed and raised voice hoarse. Tell them the Emperor is alive I said to her. She flinched like slapped. Rehn yanked me forward harder. Stop he hissed no look back. I snapped why. He cut in low because she works for Chamberlain. My stomach dropped again. I shut up after that. We turned into long hall with tall windows. Sunlight hit my face and I almost cried, felt so wrong after dungeon stink. Then soldiers ahead, not Rehn. Royal knights, blue capes. My blood turned ice. Rehn stopped instant. The knights stopped too. Their captain stepped up, smug look. I knew him, Captain Ravel from Cassian study. Of course not dead. He smiled seeing me chained like holiday gift. Captain Rehn he said loud, hand the prisoner over. Rehn did not move. This is imperial custody Rehn said. Ravel laughed. This is royal jurisdiction, she poisoned His Highness, now regicide too, makes her everyones problem. Rehn jaw tightened. Ravel gaze slid to my ring. He smiled wider. And wearing House Nocten mark, how filthy he added. My stomach churned. Rehn said stand aside. Ravel did not. He stepped closer, voice smooth. By order of Crown Prince Ravel said Lady Seraphina Vale to physician for exam now. Examination. My stomach dropped. Rehn grip on chain tightened. Ravel smiled at me. He will get what you swallowed. I jerked back, no use. Rehn voice cold. No. Ravel smile thinned. Captain he said do you want charges too, Chamberlain drafted for Kael, can add you. Rehn did not flinch. Ravel leaned in, voice lower like advice. Choose a side he murmured, Emperor dying anyway. My skin cold. So that line spreading, dying anyway. Meaning do what we want. Rehn said move hard voice. Ravel face twisted. He lifted hand sharp. Royal knights stepped up. Rehn men did too. Steel half drawn. My heart slammed. No. If fight in hall I get stabbed accident. Rehn spoke teeth clenched, do not move from between my men. Like I could anyway. Ravel smile back nasty. Take her he said. They surged forward. Rehn yanked me back as first knight lunged. Sword flashed. Rehn man blocked. Metal clanged loud. Shouts went up. Footsteps thundered from side ways. More guards to noise. Chaos again, bright hall this time. I wanted to scream. Bite someone. Curl up stop it all. Did none. Did what body does now. Grabbed my voice. His Majesty is alive I screamed, throat ruined but loud as could. Chamberlain locked him in dungeon. Heads snapped around. Some faces pale. Some looked away fast. Ravel eyes narrowed. He shouted she lying, trying to. New voice cut in sharp. Enough. Everyone froze. Man in gray robes pushed through guards. Not noble clothes. Clerk robes, council kind. Wax tablet in hand, looked furious not scared. Captain Rehn the clerk snapped, Council assembling now, ordered to present prisoner. Rehn exhaled harsh. Ravel smile twitched. Clerk looked at Ravel like trash. And Captain Ravel he added, Council did not summon you, stand down. Ravel face tight. Glanced at knights. Then growing guards watching. Witnesses too many. Ravel backed half step, calm forced. Of course he said smooth, we only assist. Assist sure. Rehn did not wait. Pulled me forward fast, dragged through gap while all stared each other. We moved. Wrists burned. Ribs ached. Throat throbbed. Kept walking, stop means death. Reached tall doors, guarded by two with black trim, Rehn crest. They opened. Inside antechamber, marble, lamps, chairs for nobles waiting. Too clean. Too public. Too many people already. Stomach dropped, nobles there, men gold chains, women sharp eyes, clerks writing. Whispers started right off seeing me. Vale. Chains. Nocten. Regicide. Skin crawled. Rehn shoved me to small raised spot, like for defendant. Leaned close. Speak only when asked he hissed. I snapped back they never ask truth. Rehn eyes narrowed. Then make them. He stepped away to clerks. My guards stayed close. Stood there chained, room buzzing. Looked for Adrian. Not here yet. Looked for Cassian. Not here, course not. Looked for Kael. Not either. Stomach twisted bad. Then main doors to Council Hall opened. More officials in. Behind them Lord Chamberlain Hest. Alive, clean, no panic now. Walked like he wrote the end already. Soren at shoulder, calm same. Blood ice. Hest saw me quick. Eyes glittered. Raised voice for whole room. There she is he announced, Lady Seraphina Vale, caught in Emperors private wing regicide attempt. Whispers exploded. Rehn turned sharp. Lord Chamberlain. Hest cut off with raised hand like servant. And Captain Rehn he continued smooth, thank you delivering her, loyalty noted. Rehn jaw tight. Soren smiled at me. That small one. You look tired he mouthed no sound. Wanted to jump him. Did not. Stood shaking. Hest stepped closer, held up sealed document. Big wax seal shiny fresh. By emergency authority His Highness Crown Prince Hest announced loud, Council suspended, matter high treason handled. Stomach dropped. Suspended. No witnesses, no record, no talk. Meaning out back disappear. Rehn snapped you can not suspend. Hest turned head slow. Oh he said watch me. Gestured. Royal knights poured in. More than before. Ravel with them, smiling again, like not stood down. Surrounded room. Nobles backed scared whispering. Some tried leave. Knights blocked doors. Soren looked at me, spoke soft but I heard. You tried buy time he said cute. Chest seized. Hest pointed at me. Take her he ordered to physician, get swallowed proof, then execute. Execute. Just so. No dawn. No trial. Hallway only. Breath broke. Rehn stepped forward sharp. No. Hest smiled. Yes. Rehn hand to sword. Knights raised theirs. Nobles shrank. No one spoke now, all watching who bleeds first. Soren stepped up, small leather case. Not weapon. Medical. Opened bit so I saw, hooks, blades, stomach things no. Soren smile wider. Do not worry he murmured quick. Hands shook chains clinked loud. Then new voice from Council doorway. Calm, sickly sweet. Seraphina. Adrian walked in. Pale mouth, dark blue coat, victim eyes. Looked at me chained like bad pet. Then smiled. I heard you swallowed evidence he said soft. How troublesome. Turned to physician behind, white coat smooth hands. Blood ice. Physician bowed. Adrian voice gentle. Cut it out of her he said. Physician stepped toward me, tools opening. It seems like this part just keeps getting worse, I am not sure how it ends yet.