Seize the Crown Read online

  I have only just finished my breakfast but I am starving.

  What else is there to do in this horrible little tower room?

  Eat and worry. Sleep in the dark and cry.

  I have eaten.

  I have slept.

  And so, I cry.

  Again.

  10

  MILLARD IS LOUNGING on a chair, his crown on his head, a little maid standing ready to pour wine should he run out and another passing him food when he clicks his fingers.

  He is enjoying being King but he’s ridiculously angry with Everleigh. Angry and hurt. After the horribleness of yesterday, he wanted to have a gentle week, while he waited for his new coronation, his proper coronation; he wanted to please himself and relax and enjoy being the King, but now she has forced his hand by trying to kill him.

  He frowns, remembering his sister’s duplicity. After he let her live, she repays him with a knife to his throat. He shivers, if he wasn’t such a light sleeper he would never have heard her close the door to his bedroom, so quietly, but loud enough to wake him. And then he would be dead, and what sort of a reign would that have been?

  She’s wilier than he thought, and more determined to be Queen than he would have imagined. He is her brother, after all, couldn’t she just be pleased that he was King, and forget all the nonsense of prophecies?

  It’s what he would have done if things were the other way around.

  It was a worry.

  He had waited a long time to be King, and he had plans, good plans. It wasn’t fair of Everleigh to try to spoil them. Kings get riches, and women, and respect and the whole world makes sure they are happy. What do dead Kings get?

  Nothing.

  The hounds and the men had lost her last night, and frustratingly he has no idea where she’s gone. He’s sure she isn’t staying in the castle or it’s grounds, but he has instructed Wolf and Brett – Wolf’s number one, to do a full and final check. He wants every room, every alcove, every cellar checked, inside and outside. There are a million places to hide and he won’t rest and enjoy his Kingship until she is locked up with Addyson.

  Poor Addyson. Cursed from birth and now locked up. He feels a bit bad, but not bad enough to consider letting her out, or visiting her. He might do that tomorrow. Visit, not let her out. Sadly, she will have to be locked up at least until he finds Everleigh. She’s not much of a threat by herself. She is only eleven. Nearly twelve, but still too young to worry him.

  Everleigh on the other hand...every time there’s a knock at the door he jumps, sure it will be Wolf with the news that they have found her. He has made sure all his men know not to hurt her; if she is to suffer, it will be at his hands.

  Last night, he’d been angry and when he set the hounds on her he truly hadn’t cared if they caught her and killed her, but the morning has made him forgiving.

  That’s what will make him such a good King, if only people could see it. He can defend himself and kill if he needs to, but he can also be forgiving and merciful.

  Merciful King Millard.

  After all, she had held a knife to his throat last night. His own sister. No wonder he was angry enough to send the hounds out. No one could blame him for that.

  But today he feels calmer. He will capture her and explain to her that he has waited too long for his throne; he isn’t going to give it up.

  It is his now.

  And if she doesn’t play the game, then he’ll kill her and it will be her own fault.

  He calls for a page. He wants to speak to Ginata and Will. They know Everleigh better than he does and one of them must have an idea where she is. She is far too incompetent to be fending for herself.

  DELLA USHERS FINN AND Everleigh out of the door. “We need fish for lunch,” she says and then adds in a whisper to Finn: “And don’t upset her.” She shuts the door behind them. She’s pleased to have a Queen to look after but she has a feeling that the little princess is in more need of a kind ear and a friendly face.

  Everleigh laughs. “I heard that!”

  Finn grins. “My sister is a bit bossy. And a bit of a mother hen. She’ll be in her element looking after Addyson. And you, of course.”

  “I’m glad. I’d hate to feel like we were in the way.”

  “Not at all. She loves looking after people. She hates that I’m too old for her to boss around anymore.”

  “She’s a fair bit older than you.”

  “Yes, ten years. Once our parents died, she took over as my mother. I don’t have the heart to tell her to stop. It makes her happy.”

  “Telling you what to do?”

  “I don’t always do it. But I let her think I’m listening. It’s easier than fighting.”

  “She loves you.”

  “She does and I’m glad. She could have gone off and left me alone, but she didn’t. I think she’s missed out, to be fair. Put her own life on hold.”

  “That’s nice, family is so important.” She can’t stop her voice catching on a sob.

  “I think you were really brave yesterday. It was a scary thing to watch.”

  “Did you know that Macsen, that’s the one who got his head chopped clean off, had killed my father, the King?”

  Finn is quiet for a moment. “There were some rumours doing the rounds. But I wasn’t sure. I don’t know what to say.”

  “There’s nothing to say. I’d like you to understand why I want to kill him, Millard, I mean. And why Addyson’s so important to me.”

  “I get both of those things. Even if you didn’t want to be Queen, I can understand you wanting to kill your brother for what he did.”

  “I don’t just want to be Queen. I’m meant to be. Just like I was meant to die. I never questioned that either.”

  “The Kingmaker thing... I...um.” He pauses, a flush spreading over his cheeks.

  “What?”

  “I used to see you, around the castle grounds, or down by the river when I was younger. I used to watch you and think you were the bravest most fearless little girl ever, living with the knowledge that you would die and still being able to smile.”

  “Why were you in the castle grounds?”

  “My father, before he died, was one of the farmers. He used to bring meat over to the royal kitchen most days. I’d go with him.”

  “I never felt brave. It was just a fact, like being a princess or a girl. But when Halfreda told me I would live, that I could live, I don’t know how I ever thought I could willingly die. Who knows what might have happened, but life to me now, is everything. It’s freedom, it’s hope, it’s...”

  He smiles. “We all want to get older, wish away the years but it’s just getting closer to death.”

  “I’ve had enough death for now. Well, except for wanting my brother dead.”

  They are both silent for a while.

  “Did you love that young knight very much?”

  Everleigh cannot find the air to breathe to speak the words; her breath catches in her throat and she feels like she will choke on it. She nods.

  Finn pats her arm. “Come on, the fish won’t catch themselves.”

  Ginata

  I AM STANDING BEFORE the King and he is trembling with rage, actually trembling.

  I paint a calm smile on my face, I have to look innocent in all this. He cannot know the part I have played in hiding Everleigh. Or Addyson.

  “My King.” I bow low, take a deep breath and look into his eyes. They are small with rage, small and cold, but I hold them. I do not shy away or let guilt colour my gaze.

  “I need your help, your magic, or whatever.”

  I do not answer, but smile, encouragingly.

  “My sister, my dear, darling, sweet, innocent, kind and loving sister, tried to kill me last night.” He spits out the words and the shock on my face is real enough, which seems to placate him slightly. He turns and reaches for the ever-present wine. I don’t get offered any, which tells me his frame of mind. Not the affable host today, but the vengeful King.


  “How?” I am shocked. When I left Everleigh, she was settling down to a late supper with her sister and looked as innocent as a lamb. A smile twitches on my lips and it takes all my will power to straighten out my mouth; she is feisty this one. Fierce.

  “Came at me with a dagger in my bedchamber. She is lucky I was groggy with sleep or she would have been dead at my feet.”

  “She is lucky.” He will take these words one way, though I mean them another. When I see her I will tell her how careful she needs to be. I cannot believe that she has not realised it yet. How close she is to dying at the hands of this madman.

  “Wolf has been looking for her all day, but she has vanished. He is extending the search tomorrow out of the castle and into the villages. Someone is hiding her. Someone is helping her. They must be. She can’t fend for herself, there’s no way. Her handmaiden’s disappeared too, there’s not much they can do alone together, though. Some traitor is helping them.”

  I nod along, masking the knowledge of my guilt, though I do not actually feel guilty for it.

  “You say you don’t know where she is, then find her. Use your magic. Find her.” If he only knew.

  My legs go weak at the thought. If he only knew, I would be dead.

  “I do not know. I have no loyalty to your sister. Though I helped Halfreda it was never to aid Everleigh. I have only met her a handful of times. But... it may not be easy to see, if someone is hiding her, that will mask her whereabouts...let me make up a fire...let me try.”

  “Try...yes. Try.”

  I nod and smile. “I am sure you will find her soon, my King, and then you’ll...?”

  “Lock her up. Or kill her if she makes a fuss.”

  I nod again, fear curling around my innards; I can picture it like a furl of black smoke, withering my insides.

  “While you try.” He emphasises the word and I understand the warning, trying is not good enough. Only results will be of any use here. Only results will guarantee my safety. My life. “I’m going to visit my other lovely sister. See how the tower is suiting her.”

  Panic fills me, a hot and liquid churning, drowning the black smoke.

  He cannot go to the tower. He cannot.

  “My King. I have had an idea. What if I go to the tower and speak with Addyson? She has always been close to Everleigh and it may help me to take in some of that...essence...”

  He is silent, watching me with narrowed eyes. “Essence?”

  “They are sisters. They have a bond. And she will be happy to see me.”

  “As opposed to me! True. I cannot argue. I am the big bad brother that killed Macsen and locked her up. I didn’t kill our father though.” He nods. “Yes. You go to the tower, give her my love and apologies. See what you can learn about Everleigh and I will see you this evening, at supper.”

  I nod and bow. “Yes, my King.”

  If he doesn’t expect to see me before then I may have time to go to my old cottage and warn Everleigh. Again. But first I have to see Lanorie.

  The guards barely glance at me when I get to the tower and I realise it was probably easy for Lanorie to make the switch with Addyson. Not easy for her to decide to do it or carry it out in the logical or emotional sense, but easy in the physical sense. These guards may be handy with a sword, but they are obviously dim-witted.

  I slip inside the door and close it behind me. I put a finger to my lips before Lanorie cries out and I step towards her.

  She collapses into my arms and cries, oh so quietly, but she cries.

  I pat her and soothe her as best I can, rocking her in my arms. We sit upon the bed and she sobs some more.

  “It’s fine, Millard has no idea.”

  She wipes her hands over her tearful face and pushes her hair out of the way. She looks up at me, her little face miserable. She is only fourteen, still a baby really.

  “Is Everleigh pleased with me?”

  All she wants is Everleigh’s love and approval. If she only knew that she has always had it. Even after everything.

  “She is delighted that Addyson is safe but petrified for you. She wants you out of here.”

  “I want out of here too. I could hear rats in the night. Whether there are any or not, I heard them. I imagined them coming to take bites of me, little nibbles.”

  She’s crying again, did she ever stop? I hold her tight, trying to give her strength and comfort.

  “We’re not sure how to do it, yet...”

  The unspoken truth is, whoever we switch her with will die. As soon as Millard realises the trick, he will kill whoever is in the room out of pure fury.

  “I don’t want another death on my conscience. I’d rather die myself.” The words are brave, but her voice is shaking.

  “It won’t come to that. We’ll sort it out.”

  “Is she safe, Everleigh?”

  “Yes.” Do I tell her where they are or is that a foolish thing to do? I do not want to judge her on her past indiscretions, but I need to cultivate my wisdom, the wisdom that came so naturally to Halfreda.

  “And Addyson?”

  “Both safe, and both so thankful to you. We can’t believe how brave you were. All of us.”

  “I can’t believe how brave I am.”

  We both laugh and then cover our mouths with our hands.

  “So, you just wait. And keep being brave.”

  “I will wait. But I know I’m waiting for Millard. And not for rescue.” She sobs so violently that I can barely keep hold of her.

  “I came instead of him. He wants to visit his sister. If I can, I will keep him away.”

  “Thank you.”

  I rock her again as she cries, more quietly now. I feel so sorry for her. I don’t know her well, but I can feel the love she has for Everleigh, the hope in her voice that she will have impressed her Queen. And Everleigh did forgive her and does love her and is worried sick about her being in here.

  But I cannot think for the life of me what we can do. This King is a clever King, and he is thinking more than one step ahead of us. The only thing we can think of is a switch and yet it means the death of an innocent. A young innocent too.

  Everleigh will not do it and I do not want to either.

  I have dabbled in the dark side only once when I helped Halfreda to make a death draught and I don’t want to go there again.

  We want Everleigh to be Queen but with as little bloodshed as possible.

  Except for Millard’s blood.

  I’m not sure I care how much of his blood is spilled; it is the only thing that will stop him. Locking him up is too good for him.

  11

  WILL IS WOKEN FROM sleep by one of Millard’s men. They shake him roughly on his shoulder and then shout until he swims reluctantly away from sleep and stares up at them.

  “The King wants you.”

  Will dresses quickly, while the guard waits outside. Last night at the feast, he had tried to be funny, tried not to worry about Everleigh or Lanorie, but it was impossible. Everleigh had been his friend since they were small, two children growing up at the castle, with very different roles, but kindred spirits somehow. And Lanorie, a girl who would never fall in love with him – a fool is not a lovable man – but so beautiful and sweet that he mooned over her regardless.

  He had carried out all the tricks he had learned from his father, without any effort, just acting on instinct, while his thoughts flipped from one girl to the other, pain in his heart but a grin on his face.

  Millard had clapped him on the back, beaming, and Will had realised afresh what a maniac he was – like a small child, filled with benevolent bonhomie when the world was going his way, but able to change in a second and have a murderous tantrum. It was scary.

  He wonders what he wants this morning, and his tread is heavy as he follows the guard through the castle corridors to Millard.

  “Fool.” Millard raises a glass to him and Will smiles. Does he want to be entertained or to kill him? Who could guess?

  Millard walks tow
ards him, goblet in hand, smile on his face, eyes sharp. Will bows low and raises his head warily, reluctantly.

  “Funny little fool. Always lurking around Everleigh. In love with her, are you?”

  Will shakes his head rapidly, happy to be telling the truth. “No, my King.”

  “Where. Is. She?”

  Will shakes his head again. “I have no idea.”

  Millard steps even closer, right in Will’s face. “I won’t kill your father, if I find out you are lying. I will kill you. And her.”

  “My King...” Will cannot think of anything to say.

  Millard steps back and watches him over the rim of his goblet.

  Will holds his gaze but then drops his eyes. He does know where his Queen is but he would never give her up for anything. He would happily die if it kept her safe.

  Millard nods at the guard and then at Will. “You may go.”

  Will bows low and backs away.

  Millard smiles at the guard. “Follow him.”

  Will walks slowly down the corridor and as he suspects, a guard follows quickly behind, but slows his pace when he sees Will. Will acts as though he hasn’t noticed and takes turns skipping and then walking to his room. Once inside he sinks to the floor.

  If Millard suspects that he knows where Everleigh is, it may be that he can’t see her again until she is Queen. He will not risk her life. But he will speak to Ginata.

  He waits a while and then ventures out of his room. The guard is still there, pretending that he’s not there for Will.

  “Got such a headache,” Will says as he passes. “Really need something from Ginata.”

  He walks to her room and leaves the guard standing outside, just down the corridor, still trying to look nonchalant.

  Ginata opens the door and smiles, pulling Will inside.

  “We’ve got a problem.”

  “I know. Millard still thinks I know where Everleigh is. He just called me in to ask me again.”

  “Did he tell you what she did?”

  “Who? Everleigh?”

  “Yes.”

  “No. What?”

  “Came here in the middle of the night, and tried to kill him.”