Unyielding (The Ashborne Trilogy Book 2) (6 page)

As I followed the guards down the now all-too-familiar path toward Emoren’s cell, my mind and heart raced with a hurricane of mixed emotions. Only moments ago I was prepared to say goodbye to everyone I loved and take my own life, and now, my heart was again spinning with the possibilities of escaping this place with Emoren at my side.

Even though I knew Belafor had no reason to lie to me, there was a part of me that was afraid to let myself hope. And if what he had said was true, there was a part of me that was angry at Emoren for keeping things from me. If he had kept this a secret from me, I worried that there was more he wasn’t telling me, especially after what Belafor had said. I had many more questions than I had answers.

As I entered the dungeon, the two men guarding Emoren’s cell turned toward me and drew their swords. I suppose I couldn’t blame them, not after what I had done. The floors and walls where they were standing were still stained with the blood of the men I had killed during my last visit.

“
Don’t move!,” one of them shouted.

I slowly walked toward the two men, extending my arms out on either side of me, showing them that the only thing I was wielding was a loaf of bread. They eyed me cautiously as I approached, and after seeing that I was completely unarmed, they finally sheathed their swords. As I neared Emoren’s cell, the guards’ apprehension toward me made my heart race nervously. It was thick and smothering. Having killed two of their comrades, and now, being down here alone and unarmed, I knew the only thing keeping them from killing me was the fear of my father’s wrath.

As the guard fumbled with his cell keys, I could see Emoren already waiting for me inside. He was leaned up against the old, blood-stained table and wearing a smile that instantly set my heart ablaze. Despite the healing cuts and still-swollen bruises along the left side of his face, he was still the most beautiful man my eyes would ever behold.

The angry look I was giving him was only a facade to mask the heart inside me that wanted nothing but to hold him. I wanted so much to be angry at him for keeping things from me, but my heart simply wouldn’t let me, at least not for very long. When the guard finally opened the door, Emoren’s smile faded as I stormed over to him and threw the bread on the table.

“I was getting worried about you,” he said.

“
Is it true?!” I tried to speak quietly, my body only inches from his own.

He cocked his head curiously. “Is what true?”

“Show me the corner.”

Emoren sighed as he turned and began walking toward the back of the cell. He stood at the edge of the table, not saying a word.

“Emoren!” I stormed up behind him. The stay-silent-and-hope-she-lets-it-go treatment wasn’t going to cut it.

Just as I was about to place my hand on his shoulder, he spun around and pulled me into him. My breath escaped me for a second as he caught me off guard with a long-missed embrace. With his arms around me, my body pressing against his, and feeling his breath against my neck, he was making it incredibly difficult to stay angry at him.

“Emoren-” I whispered.

“
Shh. Be quiet. Just look behind me.”

I watched silently as he carefully lifted his right foot behind him. I couldn’t help but grab two fistfuls of the back of his shirt as his foot slowly slid the hay away from the wall. Just as Belafor had said, there, marked upon one of the stones closest to the floor, was a very faint, circular engraving. I now knew that everything Belafor had said was true.

My eyes began to fill with tears as I was overcome by too many emotions at once. I was so excited that we now had hope, yet I was so hurt that Emoren had been keeping things from me. Emoren held me against him tightly as I pulled my hands up in front of me and tried to push myself away from him. Although there was a part of me that wanted to, I couldn’t bring myself to slap his poor, still-injured face.

“
This whole time? This whole time?! Why?” I strained to keep my voice down to angry whispers.

“
Amber, calm down,” he urged as I continued struggling inside his embrace.

“
Emoren, I killed two men because you were trapped in here and being abused,” I said. “I had to agree to marry Alexander to stop your beatings, and I’ve spent the last few days planning my own death! Damn you, Emoren! Why?!”

“
You’re not marrying anyone, Amber. I had no intentions of leaving without you, so there was no need to say anything until you had a way out, too. Just talking about it is dangerous for us.”

I muffled my ever-louder voice by burying my face into his chest. “Emoren, do you have any idea what I’ve been going through?! I watched you almost die. Why didn’t you just leave me? Why didn’t you just go!?”

“Amber!” he whispered as he squeezed me tightly. “Don’t you understand! You’re not the only one who has suffered.”

His words silenced me in an instance.

“Has your life been filled with so much abuse that you really can’t see it?” he said insistently. “I stayed. I endured the beatings. I endured it all… just to stay by your side. Because… Because I love you, Amber.”

My eyes widened and I griped him tightly as he returned the three words I had given to him when he was first placed inside this cell.

“I’ve loved you from the moment I held you in my arms, Amber, and nothing - not your past, your father, or the combined armies of Everrathe - will ever change that. Even if it costs me my freedom or my life, our fates will forever be one and the same. That’s why I stayed. And that’s why I’ll continue to stay.”

And that was it. With his words, I finally began to understand this man’s unyielding love for me. No matter how much I hated myself or how dark I became, no matter how little I felt I deserved from this life or who tried to stand in our way, his love for me would forever be unconditional and unwavering. Just the thought of such a love seemed difficult for my mind to comprehend.

And suddenly, what was once only a sliver of light inside the depths of my heart, now blazed forth with the brilliance of the heavens themselves. Emoren’s light cleansed every inch of my soul, extinguishing the darkness, abuse and insanity that had been trying to overtake me, not only during all this, but my entire life. I felt somehow lighter in that moment, as if he had given me a drug meant only for angels.

I pulled back and looked into his eyes. The stormy blue ocean that had become my heart’s home looked back at me with a purity and conviction that left me without any words to respond with. And as Emoren leaned in and pressed his lips against mine, it was then that I truly understood why I had felt the way I did when he left me that first night in Shadowbark. Emoren was the love that had always been missing from my life. With him, I was complete, I was whole, and I was home.

“Oh, Emoren, I’m so sorry.”

“
For what?”

“
For what I was going to do. I was going to marry Alexander in exchange for your freedom, and then I was going to kill myself,” I admitted. “I gave up on us, when you never did. I’m so sorry.”

He gently put his lips to my forehead. “None of that matters now, Amber.”

I leaned back and smiled at him. For the first time in my life, my eyes were watery with overwhelming happiness and love - something that was really, really strange to me. “You’re right.”

“
How did you even know about the engraving on the wall?” he asked.

“
Belafor found me in the courtyard.”

“
I’m surprised he’s still here, it’s very dangerous for him to be in Ashborne. What did he tell you?”

I pointed to the loaf of bread on the table. “There’s a vial of fern medicine baked inside the bread. He told me to give that to you. He also said that even if I had to take my own life, I was to convince you to escape. He said that your life was of far greater importance than all the lives of Ashborne. Emoren, why would he say that?”

Emoren shook his head. “He exaggerates. I’m so sorry he asked such a thing of you. I’m just the last of a poor bloodline that should have ended long ago, same as you are.”

“
What bloodline? Are you royalty or something, too?”

“
No, of course not,” he chuckled. “It’s not important, Amber. There’ll be plenty of time to talk about Belafor’s overreactions once we’re out of here. Were you able to talk with Gentry?”

I nodded and continued speaking softly. “Yes. He mentioned that he might be able to get me outside the walls tomorrow night, but with everything that’s been happening, I haven’t really talked with him in days.”

“When is the wedding supposed to take place?”

“
Two days from now.”

“
Then we haven’t got much time,” he said. “I assume Belafor is waiting for me? Did he tell you where?”

“
Yes… How did you know that?”

“
This isn’t the first time he and I have gotten ourselves into a tight spot.” Emoren smirked slyly, displaying the calm, regal confidence I hadn’t seen in him since before all this had happened. Being so consumed with myself during all of this, I hadn’t even noticed the change in Emoren’s demeanor. Seeing him return to acting like the man I first met made me realize that I had no idea of the hell he’s had to endure inside this cell; a hell that he faced alone while doing everything he could to try and comfort me.

“
What? Why are you staring at me like that?” he asked.

I embraced him tightly without saying a word. I knew I would never be able to make this up to him. My sudden bear hug caught him off guard, but then he smiled and let his arms wrap back around me as he began to understand what I was feeling.

“I’m all right, Amber. I promise,” he whispered.

I heard his words, but I couldn’t let him go.

“Where did Belafor say he would be?”

“
He said he’ll be waiting in the forest to the East,” I replied without letting go.

Emoren pushed me back enough that he could look me in the eyes. His expression was very serious now. He glanced over my shoulder at the guards who were ignoring us before divulging his plan.

“All right. Listen. We’ll escape tomorrow, on the eve of your wedding. There’s only a day or two for you to prepare, so please, don’t waste time coming back here to see me.”

“
But, Emoren, what if something goes wrong? What if you can’t get away? What if you think I haven’t gotten away and you stay?”

He smiled reassuringly as he stared into my eyes. “Tell me… No, promise me that no matter what happens, you’ll meet me in the forest, and I swear I’ll believe you.”

My mind couldn’t help but run through all the things that could go wrong. What if one of us escaped and the other didn’t?

“
Amber,” he urged, “say it.”

“
All right. I promise, Emoren. I’ll be there.”

“
As will I, Amber Ashborne. I give you my word.”

We stood silently for a few moments, staring at one another; our eyes were filled with love, hope and heartache. Without having to say a word, we both knew what the other was thinking: that this would be the last time we would see each other until we were outside of these walls, and if one of us failed, it would be the last time we would ever see each other ever again. I wrapped myself around him one last time, kissing his still-injured lips so hard that I’m sure it must have hurt.

“I love you,” I breathed without fully removing my lips from his.

I knew time was working against us, but Emoren let me hold him for longer than we both knew he should have. Reluctantly, I finally let him go and turned to leave. Before reaching the cell door, I looked back and smiled at him. I took one last look at the blonde savior my life could no longer be without.

Before I left he smiled at me and whispered, “I’ll see you on the other side, my love. Be careful.”

As I walked back toward my chamber, twilight was beginning to take hold of the sky, and I knew it wouldn’t be long before Penelope would arrive to have dinner with me. Once I reached my room, I stopped and stared at the door handle. With everything that had happened and the constant surveillance I was under, this room felt more like a prison than a place of refuge. I didn’t want to go in.

As the two guards took up their usual posts outside my door, I sat myself down on the sill of one of the corridor windows and stared out at the courtyard below. Sitting there, watching the sun leave the sky as I waited for Penelope, I felt better than I had in a long time. There was an immense amount of comfort and relief in knowing that no matter what happened to me now, Emoren was going to escape to safety, and it felt as if a tremendous weight had been lifted from my shoulders.

I promised him that I would meet him there, so I still needed to figure out a way to keep that promise. Despite all the thinking and analyzing I had already done, I was still no closer to figuring out how to elude my armed escort and sneak outside the castle. If I could come up with some way to ditch the ever-watchful eyes surrounding me, I was sure I could manage to get outside these walls, but aside from using some kind of magic that didn’t seem to exist, I couldn’t come up with a way to travel the castle grounds unnoticed.

“About time,” one of the guards said.

Out of the corner of my eye I could see two guards coming up to replace the ones that had been watching me all day. Given the time of day it was, I could only assume they were taking turns watching me in half-day shifts. As the royal guards exchanged positions and greetings I wasn’t paying attention to, I could see Penelope far down the corridor. Even from this distance I could make out the bright smile on her face as she walked toward us carrying a large tray of food for our meal together.

As she got a little closer, I waved to her. With my mind and heart now freed of everything that was weighing me down, I was looking forward to enjoying some time with her before getting back to planning my escape. Our dinner would give me the opportunity I needed to be honest with her, as well as give her the gift I had already prepared. No matter how this story came to its end, I was certainly going to miss her.

Just as my mind began returning to trying to figuring out how to elude my captors, I watched as Penelope’s foot got caught in her gown, causing her and the large tray she was carrying to come crashing to the ground. I smiled sympathetically at her endearing misfortune and began walking over to help her.

“No, no, no!” she said as she tried to salvage the mess of food that was now covered in dust and dirt from the stone floor it was scattered upon.

As I continued walking over to her, I watched as the two guards who had just been relieved of duty continued talking and walked right by Penelope, as if she didn’t even exist. Not only did they not stop to help pick her up, they didn’t even bother to watch their step as they passed her. Seeing this, at first, I began to get angry, but then it hit me; suddenly, everything became clear. I had found the solution I had been desperately searching for. Invigorated with brilliance, I raced over to Penelope’s side and began helping her clean up.

“Penelope, you’re a genius!”

“
What? I’m sorry!” she frowned.

“
No- That’s not what I meant. You’ve given me a great idea. You’re wonderful!”

“
Look at it! I spent all day preparing this for us and now it’s ruined! I can’t even walk right. How am I wonderful?”

I took her hand and showed her the uncontrollable grin I was wearing. “It’s fine. I promise.”

All she had seen from me lately was the darkness I had been trying to contain, and when she finally looked up at me, I could see relief and surprise stretch across her face in the form of a smile.

“
You’re back. I mean- You look like you again.”

I nodded and smiled.

“I missed you!” she laughed. “What are we going to do about supper? I had been looking forward to this all day.”

“
Don’t worry about it. I have something I need you to do for me.”

“
What? We’re not eating together now?” She always reminded me of a puppy when she pouted.

“
By now, my father’s probably already dined. They always prepare too much for his meals. I’m sure there’s more than enough left for the both of us. Just go and bring whatever you like. If they say anything, tell them they can take it up with me,” I said as we finished putting everything back on the tray.

“
Oh! That’s a great idea! They always prepare such good stuff for the king.”

“
Yep. You go ahead. I’ll prepare the table in my chambers for us. When you get back, we’ll talk. Oh, and I have a gift for you,” I smiled.

She became noticeably excited. “Really?! What is it?”

“I’ll show you when you get back. So you better hurry.”

“
Oh, a surprise! I love it! I’ll be right back.” I felt good seeing the pep in her step as she started back toward the castle’s kitchen.

“
Oh! Penelope! Bring a big thing of wine, too!” I yelled out to her.

She turned and looked at me with a surprised and intrigued expression. It was rare that I ever had alcohol with my meals, and even more rare was Penelope getting to enjoy wine reserved for Ashborne royalty. I smiled and nodded slyly at her, letting her know I was absolutely serious.

“This is going to be so much fun!” she said as she giggled and hurried off to fetch our meal.

# # #

After preparing the dining table in my chambers, I waited impatiently for Penelope to return. I was brimming with excitement and anticipation. Not only because of the meal we were about to have, but because, thanks to Penelope, I now knew how I was going to elude the Royal Guard and escape from Ashborne.

As reluctant as I was to involve her in this, if everything went according to the plan I was beginning to formulate, no one would ever know she was involved, and as if by magic, I would vanish from this room under the very noses of the guards who were watching me. But first, I would have to tell Penelope everything, as she was going to be the key to all of it.

It wasn’t long before I heard someone kicking on my door. The bastard guards outside weren’t even decent enough to help the poor girl open it. I walked over, opened the door, and greeted Penelope with a bright, loving smile.

“
I’m back! And I got wine!” she giggled.

“
It looks wonderful, Penelope.”

I took the tray from her and told her to have a seat. “I’ll serve you tonight.”

“Wow, you must be in a good mood,” she teased. “I’m so glad to see you acting like your old self again. I was so worried about you. I didn’t know what to do.”

“
I know. I really am sorry for making you worry like that.” I poured her a glass of wine and prepared a plate of food for her.

I wasn’t doing this because I was about to ask her for her help, well, not entirely. I truly wanted to express my gratitude toward her and apologize for how I had been treating her. This gesture of role-reversal would say what I knew I wouldn’t be able to put into words.

“I can’t even remember the last time we drank together,” she said as she took a big gulp.

“
Whoa, don’t drink too fast,” I laughed. “This stuff is quite a bit stronger than the watered down stuff in the tavern.”

After serving Penelope, I served myself and sat down across from her. There was much to say, but for right now, I was just going to eat and drink with her. After all, this would probably be the last time I would get to do so. I didn’t know how she was going to react to everything I was about to tell and ask of her, but at least in this moment, I knew she was thoroughly enjoying herself.

We laughed and joked as we dined. Neither of us thinking of or talking about what was going on in the kingdom. It reminded me of older times, and I couldn’t help but realize just how much I was going to miss her. The way she always saw the brightness in the world when I couldn’t; the way she always tried to lift my spirits no matter what I was going through; and the way she served me unconditionally - not as a servant of the princess, but as a friend.

“
I’m finished eating. Remove my plate and fill my glass!” she joked.

“
Yes, Your Highness. Is the wine to your liking, Majesty?” I stood and bowed.

“
Hmm. It will have to do.”

Despite only having half of a cup of wine, she was noticeably tipsy and enjoying the role-reversal to the fullest. She tried her best to wear an aloof, royal demeanor as she commanded me, but we couldn’t help but burst into laughter as she did. I cleared her plate, poured her some more wine, and cleaned the rim of her cup with a cloth before serving her.

“See… this is how you’re supposed to serve a princess,” I teased.

“
Hey!”

“
I’m just kidding. No one does a finer job than you, Penelope.”

“
That’s right! And don’t you forget it.”

Before I retook my seat, I poured her a large cup of water. I much preferred to just drink with her and have a good time, but I knew I was going to have to talk to her soon. I couldn’t let her get drunk with what I was planning to ask of her. I also couldn’t help but think about the fact that I would be leaving Ashborne very soon, and my heart was starting to miss her already. After all, was my only real friend. As I retook my seat, Penelope seemed to notice the subtle change in my mood.

“What’s troubling you, my servant?” she said.

“
Penelope, I need to tell you something.”

She knew right away that the fun we were having was over and that I was about to let her in on everything that was happening. She set her cup down and scooted her chair right beside mine. She smiled at me as she put one arm across my shoulders and grabbed her wine with the other.

I laughed. “You’re drunk, aren’t you?”

“
Am not. I’ve just missed you. The wedding is only days away, who knows what will happen after. Will I go with you to Benethil?”

“
That’s what I need to talk to you about, Penelope”

“
Please tell me you’re not going through with it!”

I chuckled softly. “No, I’m not.”

“Thank God!”

“
But I still have to leave…”

“
What? What do you mean?”

I quietly stood up and walked over to my vanity. Penelope’s face became filled with concern as I reached into the drawer and pulled out the bag of gold and tied document I had prepared. She looked up at me as I walked over and set them in front of her.

“What’s this?”

“
That document forever absolves you from royal service, and the money is for you and your family to leave Ashborne.”

“
What? No. No, I don’t want this. I’m your handmaiden. I’m not going to leave you. I-”

“
Penelope, Emoren’s locked in a torture chamber inside the castle.”

“
What!?”

I sat down beside her and took her hand. It was time to tell her everything.

“I’m sorry for treating you like I have. I truly wish I was as strong as you are. I’ve never deserved to have a friend like you. And despite how I act sometimes, there’s not a day that goes by that I’m not thankful for having you in my life, Penelope.”

“
I don’t know what you’re talking about. You deal with so much more than I can imagine. I’m about as strong as a bag of puppies,” she joked, trying to ease the tension that had stormed the room. “Why’s Emoren locked away?”

“
No. Don’t say that. You’re much stronger than I’ll ever be. Penelope, it’s time I told you whats going on.”

She sat there quietly as I told her everything. I told her about Emoren, about him being used as leverage against me, about me being confined to the castle grounds, about the abuse Emoren had endured and why I agreed to marry Alexander. I told her about the part where I was planning to take my own life, she immediately wrapped her arms around my neck before I could finish.

“Don’t you ever! If you ever killed yourself, I- I would kill you!”

I laughed at her very Penelope-like threat. “I’m not. I’m not marrying Alexander or killing myself. You didn’t let me finish.”

Although I could smell the wine on her breath, I knew these emotions where her own. I had made sure that she only had enough to enjoy herself. Not because she had such a low tolerance, but because of how dangerous the plan was that I was going to ask her to be a part of. I knew that wine or no wine, she would help me in any way I asked, but I wanted that decision to be her own, not the wine’s.

“
Good. So what are you going to do?” she asked.

“
Penelope, I’m going to escape Ashborne; Emoren and I both are.”

“
How? He’s locked away down there and you have every soldier in Ashborne watching you.”