He felt the pressure release and screamed relief, panting from the pain, his head swimming.
“Why did the girl transport you? When did you meet for the first time?” Abaddon asked.
He tried to catch his breath, moaning as he waited for the pain to subside. He knew he had to be careful now, and not reveal the soulmate bond. Since no one had believed them at first, it was easy to tell the truth. He didn’t try to sit up, but spoke slowly, gritting his teeth against his agony, “We only just met. Perhaps seven or eight days ago. Raelene said her mother must have imprinted Laegenshire on her as a baby. She said most likely, I was simply the first person she saw in Laegenshire.”
“So Graely didn’t know of her existence until then.”
Kaevin couldn’t think of a reason not to admit the truth. “No. None of us knew about her.”
“Excellent!” Vindrake beamed. “They have not had a great deal of time to influence her against me. I may still be able to sway the girl. Perhaps she will prefer living in luxury with me to living in poverty with Stone Clan.”
Kaevin decided to keep his opinion on that matter to himself. Vindrake wouldn’t hesitate to kill her if he thought he had no chance to control her. He wondered how Alora was faring. Was she frightened? Had her head started hurting from drain on their soulmate bond? The pain in his hand made it impossible for him to determine whether his head was aching. And what about his father and Jireo? He’d seen both of them badly wounded. Were they still alive? He felt his mind drifting toward sleep, but he knew he needed to stay alert, in case there was a rescue attempt.
“Lena!” Vindrake’s exclamation jarred him awake. Vindrake’s gaze focused somewhere over Kaevin’s prone body. “Lena,” he said, smiling sweetly. “I’m so pleased you contacted me.”
Kaevin twisted to look behind him but saw no one.
Alora tried to look calm, but her hands were shaking. Raelene had assured her he could only see her head. She hoped it was true, or he would know how frightened she was. As Nordamen had predicted, Vindrake must have been warded with iron, and thus an attempt to transport him would only allow a face-to-face conversation. Morvaen had been ready with his sword in case he had transported to Alora.
“Hello, Father. I was told you wanted to speak to me.” Alora’s job was to buy time for the rest of the group to travel to the camp with Nordamen. She would then transport to them with Raelene and Morvaen. Her Uncle Charles was currently wearing an iron belt taken from one of the fallen enemies, so she could
have a conversation with him without moving him.
“Yes. I would like to see you, daughter. When we last spoke, I invited you to come to me. To see all the advantages I have to offer you. But you have avoided me. Why are you shunning your own father?”
“Father,” she spoke slowly, remembering Nordamen’s warning that Vindrake could detect lies, even though the conversation was not in person. “You seem like a very powerful man. I assume you didn’t become such a man by acting impulsively. I may be young, but I hope I’ve inherited enough of your wisdom to carefully consider my options before making decisions.”
“Yet you have been consorting with Graely and his son.” Despite his accusing words, he seemed to puff up at her indirect praise.
“I’ve spent very little time with Graely, and my time with his son was largely out of my control. I met him by accident in much the same way I met you, Father. But to be honest, my uncle would prefer I stay with him until I am much older. And, I have no doubt my uncle has my best interest at heart.”
“But your uncle cannot train you in using your gift,” Vindrake argued. “Can he?”
“Are you offering to come to my home and train me?”
His eyes narrowed for a moment, but he made his expression pleasant again. “I cannot come to you. I have a kingdom to rule. You must come to me and take your place as my heir. I long to spend time with my only daughter.”
“What is this I’ve heard about you holding someone prisoner? You told me I could come and see your kingdom for myself and then decide if I want to stay. How can I trust you not to hold me prisoner when you are currently holding another person prisoner?”
“I think you’re aware the person I’m holding prisoner is Graely’s son. You may not realize Graely and his son have committed many grievous acts against me. It is well within my right to execute him. But I’ve offered to let him go free in return for Graely’s cooperation in returning my daughter to me.”
“In my home, it’s illegal to execute someone without a fair trial and a jury of peers.” She fought to keep her voice from quavering at the thought of Kaevin’s execution.
“Your home? At Aranch? Yes, perhaps I should come to visit you at your home sometime. Would you care to advise me about the most direct route?”
She was quiet, attempting to decipher the meaning of his words. He must be fishing for information. Why was he asking about their ranch? Had Kaevin revealed where they lived? “I actually can’t invite you to my house without my uncle’s permission. But I’ll ask him, and let you know what he says.” She frowned. “But you’re trying to distract me. I was telling you I don’t think you should execute anyone without a fair trial. You once told me I’d been fed lies about you. This is your chance to prove you’re not a monster who murders young boys.”
His smile transformed into a sneer before her eyes. “I will not be lectured by my daughter of fifteen years. I am a judge and the king of this realm, and I have deemed him guilty and worthy of execution. You have the ability to prevent that from happening, simply by coming to me. If you feel so strongly he should not die, then come. If you choose not to come, his blood will be on your hands.”
Alora swallowed hard at a sudden urge to vomit, and her hands trembled in her lap. She blinked rapidly, fighting against the threatening tears. “I think I’ll come. But I need to ask my uncle first.” She closed the communication as Raelene had instructed, and was relieved to find it worked easily. Immediately, she fell sobbing into her grandmother’s arms. Raelene patted her back and spoke soothingly.
“You did well. It will be fine—everything will be fine. Catch your breath and tell us what he said to you.”
*****
Kaevin tried to stay focused, but he felt himself slipping in and out of consciousness. He knew Vindrake had been talking to Alora, but he couldn’t hear her voice. He tried to deduce her words from Vindrake’s responses. When Vindrake spoke about Kaevin’s execution, he found himself longing for it. Only the thought Alora would die with him made him want to fight for his life. He knew they must be planning a rescue attempt, but he also knew any attempt would be futile.
“What did she say?” Abaddon asked Vindrake. “Will she come to you willingly?”