Rise (The Order of the Krigers #1)(46)

Sitting there, I tried to remain calm and conserve my energy.

***

Someone yanked me to my feet, startling me. The soldat roughly shoved me out of the room and led me down a dimly lit hallway lined with iron doors. Occasionally, someone moaned or chains clanked. We climbed a set of narrow stairs and came to a locked door. The man banged twice, and the door swung open.

He grabbed my arm and took me into an enormous hall, the ceiling at least three or four stories above my head. Tapestries lined the walls, and rugs covered the gray stone floor. Torches lit up the massive room, reflecting off the stained glass windows near the top, which allowed in the gray light of day.

The soldat kept a tight hold on me as we crossed the room and stopped before an arched door where two sentries stood on either side.

“Inform His Highness the prisoner is here.”

One of the sentries disappeared inside the room. He returned a moment later and granted me entrance.

I stepped inside a large, elegant dining room, the door clicking shut behind me. A table stretched the entire length of the room; heavy curtains covered the windows, blocking the daylight, and torches hung on the walls illuminating the room in a soft glow.

At the head of the table sat Morlet wearing his black cape, concealing his face in shadow. No guards or servants were present.

“Greetings,” Morlet said. Even though this was the first time I had ever spoken to or seen him in person, he was exactly as he’d been when we communicated through my dreams. “I didn’t think you’d come.”

“I didn’t have a choice,” I answered, unable to believe he stood only a few feet from me.

“You always have a choice,” he said. “Whether you make the correct one is another matter entirely.” Two plates of food sat untouched on the table. “Care to join me?” He pointed to the chair on his left.

“Tell Skog Heks to release my father,” I demanded, feigning confidence.

Morlet chuckled. “She doesn’t have him,” he admitted. “I only said that to get you here.”

Skog Heks didn’t have my father? Morlet tricked me? Anders and Vidar had warned me not to trust him. Shame washed over me at how gullible I’d been. I would never make that mistake again.

“My guards tell me you didn’t have your bo staff with you.” His words were short and clipped, as if upset.

“I was on my way to retrieve it when you brought me here.”

He slammed his hand on the table, making me jump. “I thought you already had it.”

The only exit in the room was the door through which I’d entered.

“Sit down,” Morlet growled.

I hesitated. Should I try to escape?

“Oh, my dear Kaia,” he purred. “You’re not going to be shy now, are you?” He stood and glided over to me. There were at least two soldats outside the door. Was it possible to outsmart Morlet and fight off his men?

“Well?” he asked.

I shifted my weight from foot to foot. Stay and see what he had in store? Or make a run for it? “Why are you wearing your cape?”

He placed his cold hand against my cheek, and I flinched. “My cape is always on unless I’m alone in my bedchamber,” he whispered. “You are the only one who has seen me without it.” His hand warmed, and a sense of calm melted through me.

“Why do you hide behind it?” My head started to feel heavy. He had to be using magic on me. I took a step back, away from him, breaking our physical connection and immediately felt better.

His hand dropped to his side. “It’s easier this way,” he mumbled as he turned and went back to the table, taking his seat. Morlet ate his food, his face hidden. “I suggest you eat while you can.”

My stomach growled because I hadn’t eaten since yesterday. Inhaling the scent of honey bread, I took a seat and picked up a spoon, taking a bite of the porridge sprinkled with cinnamon. It was delicious. Before I knew it, my plate and bowl were empty. Morlet tilted his head revealing his chin and a sly smile.

“Since I don’t have my weapon, are you going to release me?” There was no reason to keep me here without it.

“No.” He stood, the chair scraping against the stone floor. “Killing you is the only way for the dark magic that resides inside of me to be returned to its rightful owner.”

“Then what?” I asked, wiping my mouth with a napkin and leaning back on my chair.

“I’ll be free from this wretched curse.” His fist pounded on the table, rattling the eating utensils.

“That’s not what I meant.” I stood to join him. “What are you going to do with yourself once you’re free from magic? Will you start ruling justly?” If the Krigers were going to die so balance could be restored, he’d better plan to right the wrongs of Nelebek.

Morlet laughed, the sound dark and menacing. “If I have my way, the rest of my days will be spent alone in the forest, away from the capital.”

“Who will rule in your place?”

“I don’t care what happens to Nelebek,” he spat.

Was he so self-centered that he couldn’t see or understand what he was doing to the kingdom? “In your obsession to capture the Krigers, you’ve completely neglected Nelebek. You dishonor the memory of your parents and brother. If you became better acquainted with your people, you’d see they’re working like animals yet starving to death. I’d hoped that once you were free from your burden, you would become the ruler this kingdom needs. Clearly, that’s not the case. You’re rotting away just like Nelebek.”