Chapter 17

In the early hours of the morning, she awoke to the sound of her father’s coughing. She moved over to the bed and sat down beside her father.

“Daddy?”

Andy looked up at Shay from the bed weakly, his face red from coughing. Shay fetched him a glass of water from the far side of the room and handed it to him. He drank thirstily and Shay fetched him another glass.

She cursed herself for falling asleep. Time was of the essence and she had fallen asleep when she should have been looking for information. Beyond the window, Shay could see a tinge of orange blossom on the horizon. She did not know what time it was exactly but it was obvious that dawn was approaching and with it the wedding.

Then the chamber doors opened and a man entered whom Shay had not seen previously. He approached the bed and stopped next to Shay.

Shay could smell him. He was fresh as if he had just bathed. His face was hard and his expression cold.

“Good morning,” he said sprightly. “Let me introduce myself although I believe that I need no introduction to your father here. I am Algwad.”

Shay sensed her father tense and she glanced at him quickly. Fear registered on his face. Shay did not understand how Algwad knew her father although she knew who he was. Was this something else he had simply forgotten to tell her about?

“That’s right. Maica’s lover. Or is it your wife’s lover? Whichever you prefer it makes no difference to me. It seems the two of you were in the middle of a rather interesting discussion and I am guessing that I arrived not a moment too soon or too late.”

Shay sensed that Algwad was dangerous. His absolute arrogance made it clear he was untouchable and that he had the situation under control. Seeing the puzzlement on Shay’s face he elaborated.

“Your father’s study, two nights ago?”

Shay felt her blood run cold.

Her father’s attacker. She tried to back away but Algwad had anticipated her reaction and in a flash, he reached out and grabbed her arm. He twisted her arm behind her back.

Andy struggled to get up but he was still not well enough and Algwad laughed at him. “Stay where you are you pathetic fool.”

Andy stopped. There was nothing he could do.

The book had fallen from Shay’s hand when Algwad had grabbed her and she kicked it under the bed now. Algwad had not noticed thankfully.

“Did you really think you could come in here and stop what is happening? I understand though that you only have your father to thank.” Algwad smiled and held up another copy of Andy’s book briefly before he pocketed it.

Shay realized it was Rhian’s book. She felt her anger rising again. So her mother had sent this man back to attack her father and maybe even kill him? Was there no end to what her mother would do?

“I cannot have anyone standing in the way of our plans. I have come to finish what I failed to do at your home.”

“You do not dare,” Shay spoke to Algwad angrily struggling against him.

“Oh, but he does.”

Shay turned to the voice and saw her mother. She watched in angry silence as she approached.

“But don’t worry Shay, my dear. You are safe for now. I have a different fate arranged for you. I was very displeased to hear of your arrival, worried even, but then I devised the perfect plan which will see you hang for your role in killing the king today. That is of course if you do not die in the panic and confusion following the king’s murder. Perhaps the least I could do is let you choose how you prefer to die.”

Fear coursed through Shay. She was in danger. They were in danger. Despite her trying to protect them by lying to Fiere they faced a bigger threat. Right here. Right now.

“What has become of you Rhian?” Andy interjected weakly.

“You tell me, Andy. You brought me to this world. I intend to make the best of it. And my plans do not include you.”

“How could you?” Shay asked disgustedly.

“Easy,” her mother smiled. “It was all given to me on a plate by your father here. If you need someone to blame, blame him. He created this situation.”

“Damn you, mother!” Shay raised her voice, her anger turning to hatred. Algwad clamped his hand over her mouth to prevent her from screaming.

Maica smiled. “Maybe someday you will understand. Maybe I will be kind enough to tell you today even before this is all over and you can no longer escape. But for now, you are going to get dressed and go to the wedding. Daddy is going to stay right here and if my spies send word to Algwad that you have attempted to disrupt what I am doing, Daddy here will die. Do you understand?”

Shay stared at her mother hatefully but her face paled with fear.

“I can’t hear you,” Maica sang glaring at Shay. “Do you understand?”

Shay nodded. Algwad’s hand was still clamped over her mouth.

“And do not try to inform your new boyfriend of any of this or Daddy will die too. His life is in your hands now.”

Maica turned to Algwad. “See that she gets dressed and gets out of here before Fiere gets here. He is to be informed by the guards that Shay has moved to other chambers so her father can be left undisturbed by her wedding preparations and that she will also be assisting me with my wedding preparations. Tell him she has been excused from the wedding ceremony in the cathedral as she is troubled by her father who appears to have taken a turn for the worse. Then we move to the next step. Where is Elnen?”

As if on cue another man stepped into the room. He greeted Algwad and Maica then moved over to where Shay was being restrained by Algwad.

Elnen was slim but his arms were strong. Shay could see well-defined muscles beneath the skin and almost no fat. Shay guessed he was in his forties. His eyes were dark. Little black bottomless pits that seemed to have no end. His hair looked as if it was wet and just combed over his head. He smiled down at her with the look of a torturer Shay had seen in movies so often and she was more afraid than she had ever been. His gaze was chilling and his voice a hiss.

“Get dressed.”

Algwad removed his hand from her mouth and released her arm from behind her back. At the same time, he shoved her toward Elnen who caught her. Angrily Shay freed herself of his hands and moved to the screen where she could get changed privately. She took the gown the chambermaids had delivered the night before and dressed behind the screen.

She heard Algwad and Elnen make small talk while she dressed and brushed her hair. When she was finished she stepped out from behind the screen.

Both Elnen and Algwad leered at her and Shay felt sick.

“Take her with you Elnen,” Algwad ordered.

“Wait! I want to see my father first.”

“Very well,” Algwad sighed. “It’s probably the last time anyway.”

Shay walked over to where her father lay. He looked up at her apologetically. She knew he had never intended for any of this to happen.

She leaned over and kissed him. “I’m sorry for my anger Dad. I know you only had the best of intentions.”

Andy managed a weak smile. “Thanks, baby. I’ll fix this. I promise.”

She hugged him then and they embraced for a while.

“Ok, ok. Time to go!” Elnen hissed.

Shay stood and let herself be escorted from the room by Elnen. She looked over her shoulder at her father and blew him a kiss before she left the room.