Sea of Starlight (The Riven Kingdoms #2) - Shari L. Tapscott Page 0,52

wrist, he leads the guards from the room.

“Edwin!” I demand as soon as they’re gone, turning my attention on my brother. “Do something.”

Angry, my brother gestures to the room. “I tried to do something, Cassia. But you refused to listen to me.”

My chin begins to wobble, but I won’t cry in front of him. I turn, hoping he can’t see how my shoulders shake.

Edwin turns to leave. “I’ll…I don’t know. I’ll talk to Father, see if I can sort this mess out.”

“Thank you,” I whisper softly.

Instead of answering, Edwin steps into the hall, closing the door behind him.

28

I try to think of all the things I’m grateful for: the floor is dry, and the smell isn’t too awful. The rats are shy, there are no windows, and a torch glows outside the cell, hopefully keeping out anything monstrous.

Oh, and I have Cassia’s dagger. They didn’t think to search me, and why would they? How would I have obtained a weapon? Not that I’ve had much practice with it.

Weapons, sparring—those are Keir’s pastimes. I always preferred reading to fighting.

But how hard can it be? If I’m attacked, the pointy end goes into the monster.

I sit on the rough stone floor, my head in my hands, thinking of Cassia. How much trouble has she found herself in? How steep will her punishment be for visiting the prisoner?

I shouldn’t have hugged her. What was I thinking?

But I can’t bring myself to regret it.

Despite my surroundings, not yet too hungry or sore, I smile as I think of the princess. With nothing better to do, I imagine taking her back to Renove. I’d show her a real forest—and a meadow lush with bright green grass and wildflowers.

I’d take her to see fireflies. And as soon as pears are in season, I would find her one.

For a moment—just one fleeting moment—I think of her next to me on the throne.

It’s a ridiculous notion. I barely know her. If I’ve developed feelings for the princess, it’s only because of my isolation. Because she’s been kind and warm, and there’s something about her face that captivates me.

At least, that’s what my father would tell me. He’d also tell me our people would never accept a Draeganish queen.

I sigh, resting my head against the wall, watching the firelight flicker on the stone. We must be far underground. The room is cool, but not too cold, even though it’s the dead of night.

My guard sleeps outside my cell. His snores echo in the outside hall, occasionally punctuated with a smattering of gibberish he mutters in his sleep.

A shadow passes over the light for a moment, but the guard remains still. I turn my head toward the bars, instantly on alert. My hand finds Cassia’s dagger. Completely still, I wait for something to make itself known.

But there’s nothing there.

I relax, wondering if I started to doze. Maybe I dreamt the shadow?

Just when I’m about to stretch out on the hard stone floor, a cloaked figure steps in front of the bars and blocks the light.

“I tried to snatch the keys from the guard to let you out for a bit,” Cassia says from under her hood, her voice barely a whisper in the night. She kneels, meeting me at eye level. “But he’s sleeping on them.”

Immediately, I turn to her, grasping the bars. “What are you doing here?”

“You missed dinner.” From her cloak, the princess produces a plate. “I thought you’d be hungry. And besides…we always meet in the evening. I’m just a little later than usual.”

Laughing under my breath, terrified to make a noise lest she’ll be caught, I accept the small loaf of bread, cheese, and a chicken drumstick one by one through the bars. “You shouldn’t be here. You’ll get in trouble if your father finds you.”

“I’m already in trouble,” she says, grinning. “Father was livid.”

I go cold. “He didn’t hurt you, did he?”

“Me?” She laughs. “No, never. You’d never guess it, but he’s actually a kind man at heart.”

“You’re right,” I deadpan. “I never would have guessed.”

She smiles, sitting cross-legged on the floor and adjusting the skirt around her. “Mother’s illness has taken a toll on him. He’s not the man he used to be.”

“Your mother is sick?” I ask, taking a bite of the bread.

Apparently I was hungrier than I thought because my stomach growls with approval.

Cassia nods as she watches me eat. “She has been for years. I was hoping that if I went into Renove, one of your doctors might know of a