Daughters of Ruin (30 page)

(He blinked a few times (he was probably overwhelmed (traumatized (his mind must have been a shambles (
think straight
(she could have said it, but it would have reminded him of Marta, and at the moment, she wanted him to think of his future with her))))).) He smiled. “Thanks, Susu. But when this is over, I'll still be the stable hand.” (Which meant he didn't think the Meridan nobles would bow to him, even though the keep was his by right (he was wrong about that (but he'd always been a stable hand and never seen the power that titles held over people)).) “But I'll still visit Tasan,” he added, “just to see you be empress for a while.” (Which pleased Suki (she thought the first thing she'd do was hold a meeting of nobles and kill anyone who opposed her (or acted like Rhea or Declan (overly friendly and manipulative))).)

Endrit made an uncomfortable laugh (as if he'd heard her say some of it (and wasn't sure how to react)). Suki didn't know how much of it she'd said aloud.

In the black, black, black.

With wastewater up to her waist.

Her hand on the slime stonewall.

Hand at her hip, hand groping ahead.

Hand in her hand.

She moved her lips to words she wasn't thinking.

The words on her mind were “prison break.”

(The word on her mouth was “Tola.”)

The guards shouted “prison break” when they saw a shadow in the yard (because they were idiot recruits (just bodies on the wall (because it came from outside and walked
toward
them))).

It was Rhea (finally (she must have taken her time running to the other side)). She held her arms in the air. All the guards converged on her position, pointing crossbows (It was still too dark to see anything but her silhouette.).

“Come on.” (Endrit.)

They (Endrit and Suki) ran out from behind the wagon cart (across the yard) (sprinting) (heads down) (shot full of bolts by idiot recruits while sneaking in the night would be an unworthy death).

At the time Suki suspected that Rhea
wanted
to get caught (distraction was her idea), that she had plotted with her precious father, but later she realized Rhea was just another pawn.

(When Declan turned on her too (she should have known (Rhea couldn't mastermind a tea party)).)

But that was after they got caught.

They ducked into the cellar door and used Marta's map to pass through the kennels (it was quiet (Hiram's shinhounds must have all been out carrying messages)).

Endrit spied a guard at the entrance of the dungeons (but she was asleep (and Suki walked right up to her)). She could have slid the dagger down through the divot at the base of her neck (straight down like measuring the water's depth (but Endrit grabbed her wrist and whispered, “What're you doing?” (The guard startled (light sleeper) and Endrit had to knock her out with an ax handle))).

The dungeons had sconces with torches (but the flames were guttering and needed replacement (the morning guard would do it)).

They crept. Endrit was too agitated (to find his mother) to talk. They might have found her tortured (if they had found her at all (but instead, they were caught)). They had walked through the dungeons and found them empty (which meant only that Declan had a prison elsewhere). The hour was approaching sunrise.

Suki would have given up, but the evidence (no guards lurking, no one tending the sconces) meant they had it wrong.

Endrit opened the map (Suki was the one who'd discovered it (she'd idly mentioned that the entire keep was connected by the underground burrows (Declan could have spied on them, even in their privacy (and that led Endrit to the Protectorate wing, where each of the young queens had her own chamber (and below that, a training room (and below those . . . ? (the map showed only hidden stairs, leading farther down))))))).

In the black, black, black.

Was it forever black?

With her hand on the slime stonewall.

Hand at her hip, hand groping in front.

With his hand. His fingers.

Waist-high in wastewater.

Tola.

She was always kept just a few hundred feet below in a dank, black hole.

So very close she could have shouted or howled and haunted the keep.

But never did.

For fear or for desolation.

Made silent.

Made animal.

When they descended to the lowest level on the map and came finally to a great circular room (under the Protectorate dining hall) that branched out in several directions (like a wagon wheel), Endrit stopped to check the map (and guards poured in from behind all the doors (even the one they had entered from (which meant they were followed (expected)))).

Suki thrashed like a cat in a burlap sack. Endrit lifted his ax (and a sword in the other hand) but took a hard armored fist to the back of the head. They surrounded him on the ground (kicked at his ribs and face).

Suki broke her dagger (she thrust it backward over her shoulder at the guard holding her (impaled his mouth (he clenched his jaw (she yanked it out (but left the tip snapped off in his bone))))).

He fell and let go.

Suki almost fainted (from the rush of pain (from the guard clamping on her wounded shoulder (and then releasing it as he fell))).

The moment's dizziness was enough (another guard swung her spear handle and smashed it into Suki's ear).

The floor was smooth bedrock.

(The guard said, “Yield or die” (as if she were playing in a yard game (she had her spear at the ready (so Suki yielded))).)

Declan was there later (walked in like it was another day at his own court (with Rhea flapping at his heels (and the king's dragoons (real soldiers (oath and honor-bound (trained not to eat daggers)))))).

A smug man (probably supposing that he'd won (again)).

(Torches at every door.)

(One hundred feet of rock above their heads.)

(Above that, another dungeon (where they'd all grown up).)

(The broken dagger at her feet.)

Endrit was held up by two guards (one stupid enough to keep her nose directly behind him (a snap back would drop her (later) (after Declan said what he said (and the killing started)))).

Declan approached Suki in the half-light (unbothered by the dead guard at her feet (squinting a bit)). “That's her,” he confirmed (which meant he'd come to make sure the prisoner was the heir to Tasan (dressed in farm clothes)).

“Where's my mother?” said Endrit.

(He got punched in the kidney for the impertinence, but Declan smiled (still while looking at Suki).) “You'll all join her tomorrow.”

Before (or after) he said it, Suki turned to Rhea and spat, “Traitor. Turncoat. Loser. Whore.” (Anything she could think of.)

“I didn't say anything!” said Rhea. (Meaning she wasn't the turncoat whore who pretended to help the plan by being a distraction, only to tell the guards exactly where they were.)

Even Endrit's faith in her seemed shaken (he wouldn't look at her (which was something deep, because she had hooks the size of her legs around him)). “I didn't—” (Rhea exclaimed again, but a dragoon grabbed her by the arm to keep her in place) “—let go of me! Father!”

“Don't call me that,” said Declan (stuttering with anger). “I had one child.” (He whipped around (all smugness and calm suddenly gone and the frayed edges beginning to show).) “I had one perfect child, and all of this was for him.”

(He'd intended Rhys to be king.)

“But look at us now.” The soldiers all widened the circle (like spooked sheep). “We're stuck with you.”

Rhea's face was twisted and breaking.

“So obviously less than. So weak that one sister leads you, one teaches and outsmarts you, and this one”—pointing to Suki—“even disdains you. You were the last of four. How could you ever rule Pelgard? I put my blood in the cup only to see it disappear. Only to watch you fret and stumble, even at the lowest bar I could set. You were going to help them? Were you ever my child?”

They watched as every nervous fear manifested before Rhea's eyes (every deep-held longing for her daddy's approval dashed and flung to the opposite corner (he hated her)). He hated her.

Declan gathered himself (he had been shouting (he breathed heavy and pinched his nose)). He was young still (he could have an heir come of age still (before he died)). He spoke (this time to the guards), “Lock them up individually. Set one guard at each door. Tomorrow bring them all. We hang this one for colluding with his mother”—(Endrit)—“this one for betraying her own family”—(Rhea)—“and this one”—(Suki)—“for—oh, does it matter? The people will love to hurt Tasan again.”

Suki knew he meant Tola. He admitted it (he had killed her (he admitted it)). “They've only got two left in the passel,” he added. (Suki's siblings, he meant (he'd taken Dato and Tola, and intended to take her (the third heir)).)

Suki flew, shrieking, at Declan.

Words she couldn't remember.

Scattered images.

A further tear in the gash in her shoulder.

A tussle.

A piercing jolt in her left calf (where the soldier behind her stabbed a spear (right into the meat of the calf)).

Suki fell onto her stomach at Declan's feet (the air rushed out of her lungs).

Endrit used the moment to snap his head backward (the guard's nose splattered blood (with a crunching sound)). Endrit turned on the second guard, a man twice his size (the one with armored gauntlets that had hit him the first time to the floor).

Endrit was already battered (his lip swollen, his shoulder from a hundred years ago (when Suki had helped him wrap it (his ribs))). They looked like a bear fighting a limping dog. The giant guard swung a heavy fist. Endrit didn't even see it coming (his eye was bruised on that side). Endrit fell again (blood pouring from his face. His sandy brown hair matted to his skull (wet and sticky from blood). The guard lifted his sword (a killing blow).

Rhea shouted, “No! He's the heir! He's Taylin.”

The bear-man stopped at hearing the name of Kendrick and Valda's son.

Rhea pulled enough slack from the dragoon holding her to reach into her pocket. She held the crest aloft (it shimmered in the torchlight).

“He's the true king of Meridan. You can't kill him.”

Endrit sat up on the floor, bleeding.

The bear-man awaited orders.

Declan (with sword in hand) approached Endrit. “I most certainly can.”

The usurper almost made the thrust (at Endrit's chest (but Suki was up (with the broken dagger from the floor (with enough blade yet to do good work (to sever Declan's hand fully at the wrist))))).

The sword (and hand) fell at Endrit's feet. Declan stared at where his hand used to be (for a moment it was just a raw salmon steak (with round white bone (and then it sprayed (a meager fountain (and he screamed))))).

Suki took the moment to push the dagger up and under the bear-man's rib cage (searching for the bear-size heart). He toppled like a tree.

Next would be Rhea (and then another for Declan). Suki bent to lift the bear's double-edged sword (she had the hilt (but Endrit grabbed her hand)). “Don't,” he said. (But he'd never know what he was asking. “Don't, Susu.”)

He didn't know (and she didn't want to be Susu anymore (not the way it was (sibling intimacy (instead of the other kind)))).

She helped Endrit to his feet (because he didn't let go of her hand). And when she looked up, all the dragoons (the king's men) were at salute toward Endrit.

They knew he was king.

(And they had Declan the usurper (a guard was already wrapping a belt around his wrist to stem the blood).) They'd have a trial. Endrit would marry Rhea, and kiss her.

It didn't matter. Suki wanted Declan dead (but Endrit didn't allow it (when she demanded her revenge (and the dragoons listened to him (and Rhea stood beside him (as if she weren't just as much a usurper (and Endrit even defended her (when Suki screamed exactly that (as if standing up for him absolved her (and so Suki ripped her arm out of the guard's grip and took the map from where Endrit had dropped it (and grabbed Declan's severed hand) and left (the guards had no right to stop her (and the last she heard was Endrit calling out, “Suki! Suki, just wait a minute and we'll straighten this—” (but Suki had opened and shut the door by then (the door that led farther down. Down to the lowest tunnel—where stairs led into water waist-high, that led into wretched depths so black, black, black that her eyes strained and nothing else (nothing guided her but her hand on slime and stone holding Declan's hand (when she reached it, she didn't even realize it was a door at first (Declan's hand jammed into the frame and she heard it rattle the hinge (and a whimper or howl from inside (and when she pushed it open, it wasn't even locked, it was just black, black, black (the deepest dungeon in all the keep (and Suki realized there was a creature inside, because it scuttled into a corner when the door opened (it said, “Don't, don't. I'll be quiet” (and somehow in her heart, Suki knew it was Tola (because maybe the voice? Or the fact that it was hidden so well? Or the sudden feeling that she wasn't even necessary for all this, Declan already had the heir to Tasan and Suki could have been home, she could have belonged at home and learned old Tasanese, the way all true heirs would and now she stood in the black, black, black, and she said, “Tola? Is that you?” (and she heard only raspy breathing (“Tola? It's me, Suki.” (and the creature (she must have been broken (her mind must have been a horrible tangle of tortured half-part thoughts (like a beast, she must have been branded with the fear of her master (Declan) and Suki heard a “Su . . . Su . . . Su . . .” in stuttering breaths between sobs (and if they returned together, Tola would be the hero returned and Suki (the one who was barely even Tasanese (but the one who'd crippled Declan (would be shunted aside (and she would watch her crazed broken-minded sister veer the empire into ruin (and Suki could never return for Endrit (it was obvious from her sobbing, “Su . . . Su?” and the voice drew closer (it was dark, so they moved by sounds, and Suki heard the creature rise up and stumble toward her (arms open, probably (but she didn't move aside (Suki didn't move aside or warn her sister that she held a dagger (it was reasonable to draw it, when she entered (and she felt the weight, the horrifically light weight of a Tasanese queen running herself into the point of the knife, up to the hilt (they were face-to-face (Suki felt the gust of foul breath leave Tola (and she still held Declan's severed hand (which she used to keep Tola from falling forward (Declan's hand rested on her impaled sister's shoulder (“Suki?” was the last thing the creature said, and Suki replied, “Yes. I'm not Susu anymore” (and she ran out when she felt Tola fall backward, off of her knife, onto the dungeon floor (she ran out of the room, down the tunnel that Declan built (walked straight (and thought straight (only one thought (only
one
thought (that she would emerge from the dark hole as (Tola reborn (and return to Tasan (to go home (to take power (to come back to Meridan and burn everyone and everything to the ground)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))).