The Dark Fae (The World of Fae #1)(29)

Horses meant riders. And riders meant humans. Or so she assumed. Faeries didn’t ride horses, did they?

But what if they did? What if they were the fae who owned the dungeon? She glance up to survey the tower. Stone walls rose on either side of the tower enclosing a fortress. She could see three more towers. Which fae owned this castle? Were they from a minor or one of the major kingdoms?

The horse whinnied again. She shouldn’t look down. What if dozens of fae soldiers waited for her to fall to her death, or if she made it to the bottom of the cliff, arrest her?

What choice did she have? Return to the dungeon tower window and be clapped again in irons? Or could she find her way around the ledge skirting the castle walls? Then what?

Whoever stood below her watched every move she made. Though she was surprised no one seemed to alert the guard in the dungeon.

Were they humans then?

She couldn’t help herself. She looked down.

Men and women dressed in typical fae garments—tunics and breeches for the men, sheer, silky gowns for the women, identified them as fae. At least thirty rode horses, six of whom were women.

A hunting party? Several had bows and arrows.

Did she serve as the most interesting prey for the morning’s catch?

Several of the fae who observed her antics laughed. Okay. So they were undoubtedly courtiers of the castle—owing to the fancy fabrics used in making their clothes.

And she was their morning entertainment. No wonder no one alerted the guard. Whoever heard of a fae making an escape attempt like a human would?

That notion sent a shard of ice into her heart. If they realized she was only a half-fae, whoever was in charge might give the order to terminate her.

She hesitated, undecided as to what to do next. But the longer she held on to her precarious holds, the more tired she became. Still, she had no intention of climbing down all that way, just to be taken prisoner again.

Alicia reached to her right instead of down.

Everyone was completely silent below her.

A rock pulled loose and skittered down to the base of the cliff.

A woman gasped.

Then silence.

Alicia grabbed for another rock and moved a couple of feet sideways. She glanced down. Her party of observers watched, but none had moved.

Her efforts were futile. She knew they’d follow her once she’d covered enough distance. Certainly if she reached the ground, they’d quickly surround her.

She looked up. The walls seemed to touch the clear, blue sky. But small windows cut into the coarse, ivory rock, caught her eye. Bedchambers maybe? Could she run freely through the castle in prisoner clothes and escape some other way?

She had to risk it. Though by now she wasn’t certain her arms would hold out long enough for her to try.

She began to climb upward.

A murmur of conversation ensued. The fae were undoubtedly trying to figure out what she planned now.

“The prisoner is attempting to reach our bedchambers,” a woman said, her voice excited. Then she laughed.

Several laughed with the woman.

So the windows did lead to bedchambers.

“You look so serious, Prince Raglan. Do you worry about her?” another female asked.

“I wonder how the woman escaped our prison tower and what she is doing, scaling the cliff side like a monkey. Very queer, don’t you think?”

Several chuckled while others uttered agreement.

A monkey? Her blood heated. What would they think if they realized she was a half-fae instead?

“Whatever was she condemned for in the first place?” the prince asked. “Does anyone here know?”

Several said no.

So this Prince Raglan wasn’t in charge.

Alicia wondered if he might be intrigued enough with her to keep her out of Queen Irenis’s grasp, if Alicia managed to get herself recaptured.

She looked down at the fae, not sure which the prince had been. Several wore gold medallions, but she couldn’t make out their symbols.

“What kingdom is this?” she asked.

No one answered her. But several fae’s mouths dropped open. Did they think she acted totally rude to address courtiers in such a manner when she was but a lowly prisoner?

To heck with them. She continued her climb upward.

“Why she is heading for your chambers, my prince,” a woman said.

Great. She shifted farther to the right. If she could, she’d find a lady’s chambers and borrow one of her gowns. Then she’d attempt to slip past the guards unnoticed.

“No, no, now she’s headed for Lady Lucien’s chambers.”

Laughter resounded.

A lady’s chambers. Just what she needed.

But she figured, too, the fae would instantly transport themselves to the lady’s chambers, and she’d be apprehended at once.

“Should I inform the guard, Prince Raglan?” a man asked.

“No. This one has been much sport.”

Again, she thought of how much the faeries loved to play with the humans. Only this time she assumed they thought she was a fae.

“But if she gets inside—” The man’s words were cut short.

Alicia glanced down to see a dark-haired fae wave his hand to silence another.

He must have been Prince Raglan. She stared at him for a moment. Why did he seem so familiar? His dark brown eyes and hair, and his powerful, broad-shoulders and tall stature—all reminded her of someone, but she couldn’t make the connection.