Jale startled awake on his sleeping mat. The sound of angry shouts filled the night. He quickly rose from the ground and grabbed his shirt from the chair. He had been given several changes of everyday civilian clothing, a mixture of comfortable shorts and vests. His belongings in his quarters had already been removed and destroyed to make free for whoever Prince Vox wanted to reside in them.

Urgency hung in the dark. He strained his ears to hear more over the raucous noise. With everything else that had transpired over the past two months, his gut told him that whatever had occurred to cause such an alarm in the middle of the night, was not going to bode good news. He finished dressing, pulling on a pair of trousers and leather sandals. Glancing around the room, he wished he had a weapon of some sort. His sword was long lost.

He listened again. More shouts and the pounding of running feet outside of the guest lodge he was residing in, reached his ears.

All of a sudden, he heard the gate to his quarters swing open. Jale’s stomach sank. He took a deep breath and walked out to the open lounge area to wait for whoever was coming for him. Jale closed his eyes and braced himself.

Heavy footsteps pounded over the small bridge. There was no introduction. No knock. No call to announce their presence. The men burst into his chamber, and Jale heard them stop short. He opened his eyes.

A mixture of Prince Vox and the Empress Dowager’s guards stood before him. The sight of Empress Dowager’s guards sent a slice of fear through his chest.

“What’s happened to the Empress Dowager?” he asked quietly.

“As if you don’t know!” Prince Vox screamed in rage, pushing past the guards. “She’s dead! And I know you had something to do with this!”

Jale’s knees nearly collapsed from under him. They actually buckled, but he caught himself. Prince Salren appeared too. In stark contrast to Prince Vox’s rage, Prince Salren looked shocked and distraught.

“I had no hand in this,” Jale stated as calmly as he could. “The Empress Dowager just made me a free man.”

“Exactly,” Prince Vox seethed. “She had ordered you to leave the Empire and never return!”

“Hardly enough to cause me to kill her.” Jale glanced around the room as guards started to turn everything into upheaval. He wondered what they were looking for. There was nothing here worth of value. He hadn’t even been in the quarters for barely twelve hours.

“We’ll see about that,” Prince Salren said quietly.

Jale swallowed. The calm collectedness in Prince Salren’s voice and the ice that was visible in his eyes, was worse than the anger pouring out of Prince Vox.

“Here,” a guard stated, handing a small, narrow phial into Prince Vox’s hands.

Jale’s eyes widened in surprise at the sight of it.

“You MURDERED my mother!!!!!” Prince Salren stormed across the room and grabbed Jale by his shirt, lifting him off the ground as if he weighed nothing more than a small child when in reality, Jale was only a fraction shorter than him.

“Oh, come now,” Jale cried, rolling his eyes. “You can’t believe this, Prince Salren?”

“You poisoned her with a slow reacting drug,” Prince Vox continued to shout. “Her personal taster had no idea that the water she drank was poisoned. It took two hours for my mother’s body to react.”

“And where would I get such a rare commodity?” Jale asked, looking at Prince Salren. “You know this was planted. I have been on the road with you, as a prisoner, for six weeks. I haven’t been anywhere else. Where could I get my hands onto something like this?”

Prince Salren pushed Jale into the wall. “I’m sure you found away,” he hissed.

“Prince Salren,” Jale managed calmly, despite Prince Salren’s forearm holding him in place. “I would never do this.”

“First Emperor Rathner and then the Empress Dowager,” Prince Vox seethed, pacing the floor behind his brother.

“He should be hanged or beheaded,” Prince Salren said viciously, spit landing on Jale’s face.

“NO!” Prince Vox blurted.

Jale and Prince Salren looked at Prince Vox, surprised by the conviction in his voice and the fact that he had disagreed. Jale frowned. Someone who was so intent on seeing his demise was now holding off from finishing him off once and for all?

“We’ll deal with that later, brother,” Prince Vox quickly stated. “For now, let’s put him in the dungeons of the palace.”

Prince Salren paused, the scowl on his face only deepening. “What are you talking about? Let’s get rid of this traitor right now!”

“Brother,” Prince Vox breathed, and he placed an eerily calm hand on Prince Salren’s arm. So different to the raging man he had been only a few seconds earlier.

Didn’t Prince Salren notice the sudden change in Prince Vox? No doubt, if a person had truly done what he was being accused of, they would be slaughtered on the spot. She was the Empress Dowager after all.

“We’ll come up with a suitable punishment together,” Prince Vox continued. “We don’t want to act too fast. We should let the people know what he has done and make a very public display of his execution.”

“I don’t want a public display,” Prince Salren argued. “I want justice right now!”

“But just think,” Prince Vox said hurriedly, “it would be a great message to the people of what would happen if anyone tries to betray us.”

“Emperor Rathner didn’t need to slaughter anyone in public to get them to follow him,” Prince Salren hissed.

Jale looked over Prince Salren’s shoulder and saw the fury that washed over Prince Vox’s face at that direct insult.

Something seemed to flash over Prince Salren’s face as well. If only Jale could know what was going through the man’s head.

Prince Salren swore and lowered his arm, and Jale slid down the wall. From the corner of his eye, he saw Prince Vox signal to two guards, and they immediately stepped forward and took each of his arms. They started to drag him towards the door.

“Be careful, Prince Salren,” Jale called over his shoulder. “Prince Vox is determined to control the empire. You will be next!”

The guard on his right smacked him across his face with his free hand. It landed right over the top of his nose. Light shattered in front of his eyes and they instantly watered. Unable to see for a couple of seconds, Jale felt the curve of the little bridge that led to the entrance of the guest quarters. In a few minutes, no doubt, he would be placed inside a cell.

>>

Empress Crael heard the shouts of alarm and orders ring through the night. Since Emperor Rathner’s death and the twin’s disappearance with Delba, she could not sleep well. Her body ached for her loved ones. She also had a hollow empty feeling of not knowing what to do. She had always prided herself in helping to run the Empire. What would she do now?

She rose from her sleeping mat and saw through the shadows that Lana was already sitting up. From Lana’s frozen poise, she was trying to get an idea of what was happening.

The Empress lowered herself onto Lana’s sleeping mat. “Can you hear what they’re saying?” she asked.

Lana reached out for her in the darkness, and Empress Crael took her hand within her own.

“The Empress Dowager is dead,” Lana croaked.

“What!” Empress Crael gasped.

Shock stumped her thoughts for a moment, her mind going completely blank. Instead of hearing the shouts and voices, all she could hear now was the beating of her heart.

“We’re not safe anymore,” Empress Crael uttered, the horrible realization of that fact terrified her to her core. They needed to get out of the palace and Dalenia, now.

Lana didn’t respond. She was listening again.

“The guards are leaving Jale’s quarters,” she whispered.

“Is he alive?” she asked.

“I think so,” Lana responded.

The night fell silent once again, but Empress Crael continued to hold onto Lana’s hand. Her mind started to race. What would they do now that the Empress Dowager was dead? There was no doubt in her mind that she had been murdered. Whether it was Prince Salren or Prince Vox who was responsible, she didn’t know. Either one of them could be vying for complete control of the empire.

“What do you think we should do?” Lana asked.

Empress Crael gazed at Lana. Her inability to see would be a big hindrance in escaping the palace quickly, but there was no way she would ever leave Lana behind. Lana was small. They could easily share a horse. The problem was getting to a horse and getting out through the gates without being seen.

A noise outside their chambers caused them both to stiffen. Empress Crael believed it was the door to their quarters. Sure enough, the sound of heavy feet, a sole person, stomped over the small bridge towards their building. Empress Crael and Lana stumbled to their feet, holding onto each other.

Empress Crael glanced around their room for a weapon. The only thing she could think of was the water jug on the side table. She stepped towards it, picked it up and held it behind her head ready to hurl it at whoever it was that had invaded their space.

The door to their sleeping room slowly creaked open. “Empress?” she heard.

Through the darkness, she determined the outline of a person.

“Prince Salren?” she said. She didn’t lower the jug.

Prince Salren stood calmly. “You both need to leave the palace,” he told her, glancing at Lana as well. “The Empress Dowager has been murdered and most likely, you will be next.”

Empress Crael slowly lowered the jug. “You’re going to help us?” she asked.

“I don’t want you to tell me, but if you have any idea of where Emperor Rathner’s children are, I want you to go to them and see to it that they are raised and educated to enable them to take over the empire one day.”

Empress Crael nodded, and she sensed Lana moving towards her.

“Will you help us leave?” Lana asked.

“Yes,” he responded. “But we mustn’t delay. Pack a small bag so you can travel light. You can ride?” he asked Empress Crael.

“Yes, we can ride together,” she replied, taking Lana’s hand into her own.

“What about Jale?” Lana asked. “What happened to him?”

“They have taken him to the dungeons for the murder of the Empress Dowager,” he responded.

“He would never…” Empress Crael started.

“I know,” Prince Salren told her. “I let my emotions take over, but I’m not foolish. The man couldn’t be responsible for all of this. I’ve had him watched closely since he was placed in the guest quarters. He has not walked out of those walls. I guessed Prince Vox was up to something. I warned my mother, but she did not believe me that he would do something so drastic.”

“Can you help us get Jale out of the dungeons so he can come with us?” Lana asked.

Empress Crael saw him fight with himself, contemplating Lana’s suggestion and his own desire to see Jale’s ruin.

“As much as that would infuriate me, I believe that it would increase your chances of survival if you came across trouble on the road,” Prince Salren stated flatly. “I loathe the man, but he does know how to use a weapon.”

Empress Crael stepped forward and took Prince Salren’s hand within her own. “Thank you. I know you do not like him, but Jale does have an honest, gentle heart. He was betrayed by his own people.”

Prince Salren didn’t respond to her words. Instead, he removed his hand and nodded to their room. “Collect the belongings you wish to take with you, and we’ll head to the prisoner cells now, collect Jale, and then leave. I’ll wait outside while you dress. Be quick.”

Empress Crael glanced around the room. There were very few possessions she needed to take with her. She placed what few personal items she had held onto and placed them into a small carry bag along with two changes of clothes before helping Lana to pack as well. The two bags were small, the perfect size to place into a satchel on either side of their horse.

“Where will we go?” Lana asked.

“I don’t know but wherever it is, it will be far from here,” Empress Crael answered grimly.

“Do you know how to contact the Talekan Assassins?”

“I honestly don’t.”

Before they could speak further, Prince Salren knocked once and opened the door.

“We need to make a move. I’m pretty sure Prince Vox has no further plans for this evening so as not to draw any suspicions to himself, but we can’t be certain.”

Empress Crael nodded. “Let’s go get Jale.” She turned to guide Lana, and the pair followed after Prince Salren out of their quarters and across the bridge.

The palace grounds were quiet. Nevertheless, Prince Salren paused at the entrance of their quarters and surveyed the palace grounds. Empress Crael followed his cautious glances and happy that she didn’t spy anyone, she followed him when he stepped out.

Prince Salren led a path towards the back of the palace grounds where, in the cold, underground dungeons, they would find Jale. It was positioned a good distance away from the main building that it took twenty minutes to reach it.

For one heart-wrenching moment, Empress Crael wondered whether this was a trick and whether Prince Salren was actually guiding them to their own cell, or even worse, their own death. Would they be locked up too? Would they be executed, accused of also having a hand in the Empress Dowager’s death for all the people of Dalenia to see? The Empress held onto her bag and wished it was heavier. It wouldn’t cause Prince Salren much damage if she hit him over the head with it.

Fortunately, it appeared as if her fears were not going to be realized. When the entrance to the palace dungeons loomed into sight, Prince Salren instructed them to stop.

“Wait here,” he ordered. “I will go and get Jale.”

Empress Crael stood behind the hedge and watched Prince Salren with his long strides reach the entrance. He spoke with the guards for several moments, and Empress Crael frowned.

“Something’s wrong,” she told Lana.

“What?”

“He’s not going inside?”

“Do you think it is a trap?” Lana asked.

Secretly, Empress Crael was happy she was not the only one who had that concern, but as she watched, she saw Prince Salren point to the cells. The guards stood aside, and he walked through the entrance, disappearing inside the doors and to the cells underground.

“He’s gone inside,” Empress Crael breathed with relief.

They waited. Time drawing out and as each moment passed, Empress Crael’s heart rate increased. All of a sudden, Prince Salren returned through the doorway and stopped by the guards.

Empress Crael swallowed down her fear. “He’s alone. Jale’s not with him.”

After a short exchange, Prince Salren left the guards and started in their direction again. Empress Crael drew back, pulling Lana with her. Was Prince Salren about to drag them into the prisoner quarters as well? If he was, he was going to have a fight on his hands. She might not be trained to fight as a soldier but was not immune to the ways in which women could fight off an attacker.

Prince Salren rounded the corner.

“He’s not there,” he told them. “Jale hasn’t been put into the cells. I even went in to double check.”

Her immediate fear for their safety was quickly forgotten. “Do the guards know where he was taken?”

“They didn’t know, but they said they heard he was being transported somewhere else,” Prince Salren informed them. “And I have a good idea of where.”

Empress Crael was about to answer, but Lana beat her to it.

“Prince Yernal of the Keglar Kingdom,” she said.

They were silent, no one responding to her words as if they didn’t want to voice their agreements.

“It doesn’t change your plans,” Prince Salren told them. “You are to leave immediately.”

“But what about Jale?” Empress Crael argued.

“Yes,” Lana spoke up. “We can’t just leave him.”

“Right now,” Prince Salren said, waving them quiet. “We need to get you both out of here. Jale is a grown man. He can take care of himself. The pair of you need to leave for I can’t guarantee your safety if you stay.”

He pointed in the direction of the stables far on the other side of the palace grounds.

Empress Crael frowned and cast her gaze at Lana. Her unborn child and the twins needed to come first. “Get us to the stables,” she ordered.

It took a good quarter of an hour to reach the horses. Only a few soldiers and stable boys were on duty at this time of night. Empress Crael watched Prince Salren try to pay them for their silence. When they saw her, they refused and turned to fetch the horses without any further delay. It was heart-warming to know that the everyday folk in the palace still supported her.

Empress Crael’s favorite horse was saddled and prepared. It had been a good seven or eight months since she had ridden the beautiful creature. They secured their small travel bags and ensured their water sacks were full. Empress Crael mounted first and helped Lana to gain a secure seat on the horse behind her. She then looked down at Prince Salren.

“What about you?” she asked. “What will you do now? You’re in just as much danger as us.”

Prince Salren looked up at the Empress and Lana. “Don’t worry about me,” he told them. “If your hunt for your children comes up empty-handed, you may travel to Ventia and reside in my palace until they are found.”

Empress Crael was surprised. “Thank you, Prince Salren,” she told him, and she really meant it. In all her life, she had never expected Prince Salren to come to her support. “Once I have found my children and ensure their safety, I will also work to free Jale.”

“As you wish,” Prince Salren responded. “Ride safely.”

Empress Crael nodded and without another word, she guided her horse to the palace gates. In the thick of night, in all its darkness, Empress Crael and Lana rode through the palace gates and into the city beyond.