Daughters of Ruin - K. D. Castner Page 0,82

them empty (which meant only that Declan had a prison elsewhere). The hour was approaching sunrise.

Suki would have given up, but the evidence (no guards lurking, no one tending the sconces) meant they had it wrong.

Endrit opened the map (Suki was the one who’d discovered it (she’d idly mentioned that the entire keep was connected by the underground burrows (Declan could have spied on them, even in their privacy (and that led Endrit to the Protectorate wing, where each of the young queens had her own chamber (and below that, a training room (and below those . . . ? (the map showed only hidden stairs, leading farther down))))))).

In the black, black, black.

Was it forever black?

With her hand on the slime stonewall.

Hand at her hip, hand groping in front.

With his hand. His fingers.

Waist-high in wastewater.

Tola.

She was always kept just a few hundred feet below in a dank, black hole.

So very close she could have shouted or howled and haunted the keep.

But never did.

For fear or for desolation.

Made silent.

Made animal.

When they descended to the lowest level on the map and came finally to a great circular room (under the Protectorate dining hall) that branched out in several directions (like a wagon wheel), Endrit stopped to check the map (and guards poured in from behind all the doors (even the one they had entered from (which meant they were followed (expected)))).

Suki thrashed like a cat in a burlap sack. Endrit lifted his ax (and a sword in the other hand) but took a hard armored fist to the back of the head. They surrounded him on the ground (kicked at his ribs and face).

Suki broke her dagger (she thrust it backward over her shoulder at the guard holding her (impaled his mouth (he clenched his jaw (she yanked it out (but left the tip snapped off in his bone))))).

He fell and let go.

Suki almost fainted (from the rush of pain (from the guard clamping on her wounded shoulder (and then releasing it as he fell))).

The moment’s dizziness was enough (another guard swung her spear handle and smashed it into Suki’s ear).

The floor was smooth bedrock.

(The guard said, “Yield or die” (as if she were playing in a yard game (she had her spear at the ready (so Suki yielded))).)

Declan was there later (walked in like it was another day at his own court (with Rhea flapping at his heels (and the king’s dragoons (real soldiers (oath and honor-bound (trained not to eat daggers)))))).

A smug man (probably supposing that he’d won (again)).

(Torches at every door.)

(One hundred feet of rock above their heads.)

(Above that, another dungeon (where they’d all grown up).)

(The broken dagger at her feet.)

Endrit was held up by two guards (one stupid enough to keep her nose directly behind him (a snap back would drop her (later) (after Declan said what he said (and the killing started)))).

Declan approached Suki in the half-light (unbothered by the dead guard at her feet (squinting a bit)). “That’s her,” he confirmed (which meant he’d come to make sure the prisoner was the heir to Tasan (dressed in farm clothes)).

“Where’s my mother?” said Endrit.

(He got punched in the kidney for the impertinence, but Declan smiled (still while looking at Suki).) “You’ll all join her tomorrow.”

Before (or after) he said it, Suki turned to Rhea and spat, “Traitor. Turncoat. Loser. Whore.” (Anything she could think of.)

“I didn’t say anything!” said Rhea. (Meaning she wasn’t the turncoat whore who pretended to help the plan by being a distraction, only to tell the guards exactly where they were.)

Even Endrit’s faith in her seemed shaken (he wouldn’t look at her (which was something deep, because she had hooks the size of her legs around him)). “I didn’t—” (Rhea exclaimed again, but a dragoon grabbed her by the arm to keep her in place) “—let go of me! Father!”

“Don’t call me that,” said Declan (stuttering with anger). “I had one child.” (He whipped around (all smugness and calm suddenly gone and the frayed edges beginning to show).) “I had one perfect child, and all of this was for him.”

(He’d intended Rhys to be king.)

“But look at us now.” The soldiers all widened the circle (like spooked sheep). “We’re stuck with you.”

Rhea’s face was twisted and breaking.

“So obviously less than. So weak that one sister leads you, one teaches and outsmarts you, and this one”—pointing to Suki—“even disdains you. You were the last of four. How could you ever rule Pelgard? I put my blood in the cup only to see it disappear.