Broken Forest: Book One of the Daath Chronicles (11 page)

I knew he referred to Jericho, and Derrick was right: we couldn’t trust him, at least not yet. I had to remind myself who this man was—Jeslyn’s kidnapper.

I wanted to thrust my sword into Gerard’s pitiful face. “I hope you have a very good explanation as to why my entire caravan is missing!”

He knelt. “We were attacked just before dawn. Lady Lucy informed us she had taken care of our pursuers. We were unprepared.”

I walked down the red carpet and thought about slicing off his head. “Do not blame Lucy for your incompetence. You are the captain.” I glared down in disgust. The males of this race served little purpose, and they smelled like a mule. “Where are the rest of your men?”

Gerard clenched his fist. “Most of them were killed during the attack. I assume the rest fled. They caught one of the guards, but I made sure he would not be able to speak. Daath’s location is safe.”

“What else do you have to say for your failure?”

“When I realized the battle was lost, I escaped with one of the girls. She… .”

Before the words had left his lips, my foot snapped out, nearly breaking the ribs of his frail weasel-like chest. “Coward! You think a girl would redeem you?” I drew my sword. Enough of this.

He buckled, gasping for air. “She is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. She would make the perfect bride.”

Now, that was interesting. “All right, Gerard. Let’s see this little treasure you’ve brought me. If she is what you say she is, you get to live.” Slowly, I slid the sword back into its gold sheath, accentuating the sound of its keening blade; a melody that reminded Gerard his folly would not be tolerated. “Take me to her.”

A slow drip echoed off the stone walls. I curled into a ball on the hard wooden cot, trying to convince myself it was all a long dream, one from which I couldn’t wake. They’d put me in a horrid room, covered in dark stone with only a wash pan and a small round window well out of reach. When the suns disappeared, I lay in darkness, listening to the murmurs and cries of other prisoners and waiting for the rays of dawn.

The guards refused to answer any of my questions, and I still didn’t know why I was taken. I wanted Mother and Father, but most of all I wanted Derrick and wished he would come crashing through the door, rescuing me.

Questions circled my mind. What had happened to Derrick? And my brother? For where one is, so is the other.

Footsteps sounded outside the door, followed by the twist of a key. I rolled over and faced the wall. The guards enjoyed staring, and I refused to give them any attention.

The door creaked open.

“Hello, my lady,” a refined voice said.

This wasn’t one of the guards. Curious, I turned to acknowledge my visitor. I didn’t expect a handsome boy. He stared at me with deep sapphire eyes. His shoulder length hair color reminded me of the pale yellow honeysuckles back home. His chiseled features resembled a stone statue, perfectly carved. My gaze drifted to his long velvet robe decorated with intricate gold symbols. Beneath the brocade vest he wore a silk shirt and from his neck hung a gold medallion of a snake eating its tail.

He glided towards me like a swan on water. I combed my fingers through my hair, smoothing out the wild strands. He sat down on the cot. I was surrounded by the scent of cold winter air.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

I should have replied, but fear closed my throat.

He smiled and held out his hand. “My name is Lucino.”

“Jeslyn.” I placed my hand in his, anxious and uncertain.

He gently kissed my hand. I shivered. No man had ever looked at me with such desire—not even Derrick—and it frightened me.

“Hello, Jeslyn.” His smooth voice rang with power.

My hands trembled, and I dug them into my tattered dress.

“Are you feeling well?”

It angered me that he acted so frivolous. I wanted to scream and cry. Did he not realize I was a prisoner?

“I know you’re frightened. I’m not going to harm you.” He peered at my arm. “That’s quite the cut. May I?”

He didn’t wait for an answer and gently lifted my arm, examining the deep scratch running across it. I thought back to my blinded journey, and the trembling fear came flooding back.

“Who did this to you?”

“A man blacker than night. He was in charge of the men who stole me.”

Lucino’s brows slanted down. “Did he do anything else to you?”

I nodded, remembering the last time I saw Derrick, back at the wagon. A single tear slid down my cheek.

“He hit me.”

Lucino wiped my tear. More followed. “Jeslyn, please—be calm. You have nothing to fear from me.”

His pupils dilated, and in their center swirled something like a hurricane. I leaned forward, not trusting my own eyes.

“You are safe,” he said.

Suddenly the fear subsided, the storm from his eyes gone. My stomach grumbled. It had been awhile since I’d last eaten.

He stood, offering his arm. “Come with me. You can eat and bathe. This is no place for a beauty like you. There’s much we need to discuss.”

I agreed, eager to leave this room, eager to bathe. Once I left this prison, I could think of a way to escape.

Outside the enormous wooden structure in which I’d been housed a black carriage waited, led by two magnificent white horses. I spotted the captain standing next to it and huddled closer to Lucino, seemingly far saner than the dark beast who’d dragged me here.

“Please, wait inside, my lady.” Lucino hoisted me into the carriage, and I climbed in. He closed the door, and I peered through the window. He gestured the captain away.

“Kneel!” Lucino ordered.

The captain knelt and bowed his head. Lucino took out his sword and slashed it across the captain’s face. It happened so quickly, I almost missed it.

“That is so you remember how to properly treat a lady.” Lucino kicked him in the chin, sending him backward.

My heart hammered as I watched Lucino defend my honor, but why would he be so angry with his own man? Did he not order him to take me?

Lucino motioned for the two nearest soldiers and whispered to them. Their expressions turned to shock.

“Yes, Master,” they said, picking up their comrade while Lucino walked back to me.

Upon entering the carriage, Lucino snapped his fingers. The driver whipped the reins, and the horses trotted up the winding road.

I peered at the passing scenery with wide eyes. “Where are we?” I asked.

“Daath.”

All my life I’ve dreamed of it being real. Mother had told me the old stories. Daath is the birthplace of our world, a magical paradise. No one else believed Mother’s old tales, not even Calli and especially not Avikar, but I did.

Lush vegetation, greener than a shining emerald, surrounded us. Exotic birds chirped from the brush. Prancing unafraid alongside the carriage was a creature that resembled a deer but smaller and snow white. Delicate flowers larger than a melon weaved with the grass. In the trees lurked black crescent-browed monkey creatures. I pressed against the glass. My breath fogged my view, and I rubbed it away.

I could feel Lucino’s eyes observing me in silence. I shifted in the seat.

“I’m sorry if I stare,” he said. “I have never seen anyone quite as exquisite as you. You are extremely beautiful.”

“Th … thank you.”

“You must have some questions you’d like to ask?”

I slid back in the seat and folded my hands in my lap. “Why am I here?”

He sighed and glanced out the window. “It was not supposed to be like this, but my Council is desperate for me to have a wife. You see, I’m reaching that age when a boy becomes a man and I need to be married. Sadly, I haven’t found the perfect girl, and I ceased searching. At the age of twenty-one, I must be wed. It is tradition. Unfortunately, my birthday is in a few weeks. My Council was running out of options and acted hastily. Many girls were taken from their homes.” He looked at me, genuine concern on his face, and leaned forward. “I am sorry you were kidnapped. If I had known what was happening, I never would have allowed it. They figured if they found girls outside of Daath, one of them might pique my interest. ”

I debated the truth of his words.

“The girls were going to be presented to me at the upcoming ball, and I’d have to choose one. I overheard the men talk about you and knew I had to release you from that prison.” He leaned closer and grabbed both my hands.

I wanted to pull them away, but was afraid to anger him. I’d play along, for now.

“All this, anything you seek, could be yours if you marry me, my lady. I don’t need to see any other girls. I know you’re the one.”

With no food in my stomach—and the constant fear and anxiety, I felt dizzy and lightheaded. My mind could not take in a lord’s proposal.

Our destination came into view: a four story white-stoned mansion with spiraled pillars and arched windows. The narrow driveway was set against a perfectly manicured lawn broken with grey statues and geometric bushes. Gardeners tended potted flowers and multi-colored rose arches decorating a myriad of walkways. The workers bowed their heads as we rolled by.

“Welcome to my home,” he said, sweeping his arm out towards the scenery.

When we stopped, the driver opened Lucino’s door. Lucino exited and stretched out his hand to me. I grabbed it and swayed. Bright sunlight beamed down at me, and the heat made my stomach roll. Lucino asked a question, his voice muffled. Brown spots clouded my vision. I gripped Lucino’s hand harder. He said my name, and then I fell.