The Carnelian Tyranny: Savino’s Revenge (22 page)

Her uncle’s eyes widened when he turned and saw Ma
risa.

“Uncle Al, just listen,” she began, putting her finger to her lips and motioning for him to remain silent. “Savino can’t see or hear me because I’m wearing Eman’s amulet. Talvan is helping me and we’re gonna get you
out.”

Alessio’s eyes flitted over to Talvan and then back to hers again in bewilderment. Meanwhile, Savino ranted on, his hand waving circles in the
air.

“But somebody must have seen them somewhere! We know from our spies that she was here in the castle as late as yesterday after
noon.”

Talvan shrugged. “It is entirely possible, Sire, that she has accompanied Prince Darian to Abb
adon.”

“Nonsense! My cousin would have never taken a woman on such a dangerous journey. He must have hidden her somewhere, but the question is where?” He turned to the prisoner, his face reddening. “I am only going to ask you one more time. Where is she, Ale
ssio?”

“As I’ve already told you, when we escaped from Beauriél, we were split up. I haven’t spoken to her since the night we were captured and I swear that is the absolute t
ruth.”

Savino eyed him suspiciously. “But where else could she have gone? We tracked her to the shepherd’s house, but she was not there. My men have even been back there twice to c
heck.”

Alessio’s gaze dropped to the floor but said not
hing.

Savino stood, moving over to examine a painting on the wall as the red fog in the air around him grew thicker. “No matter, for Darian shall be dead by morning and she shall return to the anonymity from which she
came.”

“No!”
Marisa screamed, lunging toward Savino. Talvan quickly grabbed her arm, pulling her back against his c
hest.

“Darian dead?” Alessio’s voice was s
haky.

“You still have not figured it out, eh?” Savino turned to him with a sly smile. “We took Crocetta Castle just a little too easily, did we not? And now my cousin is walking straight into a trap. More of an ambush, re
ally.”

“You wouldn’t
dare!”

“Oh, yes; I would,” he said calmly. “You see my cousin has always had one major flaw. And that is his tendency to act rashly. I knew that by kidnapping his loved ones he would come after me with everything and everyone at his disp
osal.”

“Your plan will never suc
ceed.”

Savino ignored Alessio’s comment. “It is, however, unfortunate that your niece has escaped our capture, but I suppose that, for the moment, she is not neces
sary.”

“She will never give up the th
rone.”

“Perhaps not, but she will die eventually,” he said smugly, in obvious enjoyment of the anguish he was inflic
ting.

Alessio gritted his teeth. “What trap are you referrin
g to?”

“Prince Darian and his men will never reach Abbadon,” Savino declared, displaying a wicked smile. “My best warriors are lying in wait at the Mychen Forest and, very soon now, they shall take down the sum total of Crocetta’s Crimson Knights just as easily as if they were shooting big, fat, lazy fish in a tiny
pond.”

“No!”
she shouted, slumping onto the floor in des
pair.

Watching his niece collapse in agony, her uncle’s temper flared. “Savino da Rocha, you are an evil, wicked man and will perish in the end. Whether you die soon or are spared long enough to die an old man, one day you shall receive your just punishment from G
aron.”

“Your god is a myth,” he spat. “There is no Garon. He is nothing but a fabrication, concocted by weaklings such as yourself to force others into submission. I make my own destiny just as my father made his. I answer to no
one.”

At this, Marisa lifted her head, watching in horror as yellow-orange flames erupted from his mouth. His eyes were no longer sparkling blue, but blazing, fiery red as he seethed in a
nger.

“Once Marcus and Adalina have been killed, I shall be crowned Supreme Ruler. Maraya will be rendered obsolete once and for all. You shall kneel before your king in two days’ time or you shall die. Your ch
oice.”

“Do you dare threaten me?” Alessio shouted. “The grandson of King Stephano Mac
ario?”

“Consider it a warning,” he answered calmly, waving to dismiss him. “We are finished
here.”

As Talvan opened the door to escort Alessio outside, Marisa wiped her eyes with her sleeve and followed them out. All three trudged up the stairs and past the guards in silence. Talvan unlocked the door to Alessio’s chambers, shutting it behind them so the guard outside couldn’t
hear.

“Talvan, is it true that they are walking into a trap?” she pleaded. “What else do you
know?”

“Alas, it is true, Your Highness. I tried to convince Savino that this was not a good plan of attack, but he would not yield. The men have been ordered not to touch Matilda, but to kill everyone
else.”

She fell onto the bed, sob
bing.

Her uncle sat down, laying his arm across her shoulders. “All is not lost yet. Let’s pray now for his safety.” He bowed his
head.

CHAPTER 22

MASSACRE

The mood among the Crocine army was somber as it snaked its way along the road toward Abbadon. The layer of snow was deeper in the Mychen Valley than what they had seen the day before, making it more difficult for the men to navigate the narrow, rocky
path.

Darian kept one eye on the distant silhouettes of Matilda and Bruno near the front of the formation as he discussed his battle strategy with Porfiro. At the very front, Lord Domenico’s dark form led the company toward the edge of the Mychen Fo
rest.

Remembering the last time he had been there, Darian’s heart beat a little faster. Ahead of them was the spot where he had warned Marisa about the
rijgen
just before they had entered the forest. He was glad that they were in hibernation and that his men would not have the additional concern of fighting off those hairy be
asts.

His ears suddenly perked up. Something was w
rong.

While the others kept moving, he stopped Obsidian and listened. Shifting uncomfortably in his saddle, he surveyed the high, rocky terrain above. His eyes made a complete circle, scanning the forest and back around to the road behind them. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, he couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched. Porfiro stopped just ahead of
him.

“Something wrong, Your High
ness?”

Darian lifted a hand to silence him, continuing his sweep of the rocky cliffs above them. A flash of metal caught his eye. Then it disappeared. His eyes moved again until he saw another flash of metal. Spotting a third flash, he swallowed hard. They were walking right into a trap.
“Reeeee—treat!”
he sho
uted.

It was too
late.

Flocks of arrows shot across the canyon, descending on them in multiple waves. When at least half of the arrows speared their intended targets, the horses responded in a panic, rearing and bucking their ri
ders.

Darian lifted his shield just in time, ducking under it. He traced the source of the arrows high up on the cliffs where hundreds of warriors were poised to attack. His eyes darted around the quickly scattering company, but there was no sign of Mattie or Bruno in the pandemonium that ensued. He dug his heels in hard, charging forward into the c
haos.

Dodging the bodies of his men tumbling to the ground at an alarming rate, he yanked Obsidian’s reins back and forth to avoid treading them under his horse’s hooves. Arrows whizzed past his ear as he ducked, wondering morbidly how long he would last before one of them finally found its
mark.

Nearing the front of the formation, Darian suddenly spotted Lord Domenico. He was several paces to the right, holding his shield in front of him and maneuvering his stallion around the bodies of their fallen
men.

A fresh wave of arrows flew in a long arc through the air, pelting the ones still trying to escape. A few seconds later, two arrows pierced Domenico’s chest and side, causing him to tumble from his horse. He fell onto the ground, his body lying still as the snow around him quickly turned sca
rlet.

“Noooo!”
Darian screamed at the top of his lungs. He jumped down from Obsidian and rushed over, protecting him from more arrows with his shield. “Luca, no,” he cried, lifting his head, shaking him gently to rouse
him.

Domenico stirred. “My time has come,” he said, his voice r
aspy.

“No, Luca! I can still get you out of
here!”

He shook his head, swallowing hard. “No, Your Highness. I shall not be leaving with you t
oday.”

“Come!” Darian urged, ducking down as arrows pelted his shield and men around him fled. But when he saw the color drain from Luca’s face and the blood pouring from his wounds, he knew it was no
use.

“Promise me…” Luca began we
akly.

“Anything,” he replied, tears flooding his
eyes.

“I never found a Wounded Heart. I never found my heart’s desire.” He coughed, laboring with every br
eath.

“No.” Darian shook his head sadly. “You did
not.”

“…you must love her twice as much. For me also.” Luca closed his eyes, his chest hea
ving.

“I shall, my brother.” Darian gave him a squeeze. “I s
hall.”

“Go
—now.”

Luca exhaled his final breath. Immediately, his head grew heavy in Darian’s hand as his spirit left his
body.

Darian glanced around at the soldiers fleeing around him, feeling helpless in the pandemonium. The men who were still alive wouldn’t survive much longer in that narrow canyon. When the warriors discovered they had killed the wrong leader, they would come looking for him. He had to get out of there—and
fast.

Gently resting Luca’s head back down on the ground, he jumped to his feet, hastily mounting his horse. With nowhere else to go but into the woods, he kicked Obsidian’s belly, racing toward the cover of the forest. Spotting only a thin layer of snow underneath the forest canopy, he knew that if they could gain a good amount of distance, the warriors would not be able to track them as easily through the t
rees.

He shouted at the men, ordering them to get off the main path and retreat into the forest. It was their only chance of escaping the bloodbath caused by Savino’s gargantuan army. Those still able galloped their horses into the trees as fast as they c
ould.

With hooves of thunder, Obsidian raced through the woods while Darian defended them with his sword. The warriors continued their pursuit on horseback, slashing at knights and common men alike as both continued to fall around
them.

Darian scanned the area, his concern mounting when he did not see Bruno or Mattie anywhere. As another wave of arrows rained down around them, he ducked under his shield, pushing his horse as fast as he coul
d go.

It wasn’t fast en
ough.

A sharp pain tore through his right thigh. He looked down and saw an arrow lodged in his leg, blood seeping through his clothing. An excruciating pain radiated outwards from the wound and down the entire length of his leg, all the way to his a
nkle.

He glanced over his shoulder and spied a group of warriors chasing him, their swords drawn. While searching for a way of escape, he spotted a small group of his men on their horses just ahead in the dist
ance.

Dodging trees, stumps and bushes, Darian took off after them as fast as Obsidian could carry him. He prayed for their safety as he spotted more of his men charging through the forest, running for their l
ives.

Alessio crossed his arms, eyeing Marisa sternly. “I don’t care what Savino is threatening—you’re not going after Da
rian.”

“But I’ve got to at least try,” she said, throwing items into her satchel. “Siena is fast. Maybe there’s still time to warn
him.”

Gently he took her bag from her, set it down on the bed and grabbed her by the shoulders. “Risa, it’s too
late.”

“But I c
an’t—”

“He’s a skilled warrior. If anyone can survive, it’s him. All we can do now is pray for his sa
fety.”

“I can’t take this anymore,” she whispered, covering her face with her hands. “Not knowing if he’s dead or alive is driving me c
razy.”

“You’re not crazy.” He engulfed her in a warm hug. “That’s just the frustration tal
king.”

“I hate Sa
vino.”

“
Shhh.”

She collapsed into a chair, wiping her eyes. “Well, then, I guess I’ll have to hide here, with
you.”

“You know you can’t stay in the castle. Sooner or later Savino’s gonna find you, da
rlin’.”

“But I have nowhere else t
o go!”

“Your Royal Highness,” he began in a stern voice. “You are the Princess Regent and, as such, you must remove yourself from here for your own safety. You’re no use to any of us if you’re
dead.”

“But where am I supposed to go?” she demanded. “Celino, Adalina and Mark have already set sail and there’s no one I can trust. Darian is gone and I’m all a
lone…”

“You’re not a
lone.”

She bent her head and wept so
ftly.

“You need to be strong. Everyone is looking to you
now.”

“But what about Da
rian?”

Alessio lifted her chin, meeting her gaze. “We can pray for Darian’s safe return, but we can’t depend on him anymore to save us. Do you understand what I’m s
ayin’?”

“I never asked for any of this,” she whispered. “None of
this.”

“No, you didn’t. But in His infinite wisdom, Garon decided that you could handle it, otherwise He never would have given it to
you.”

“But how can I be expected to lead when I’ve never been prepared for something like
this?”

“No one is ever prepared for something like this. But you are not alone. You have Garon, you have your faith, and you hav
e me.”

She smiled weakly at him. “Thanks for always being there for me. I don’t know what I would have done without you—especially since Dad
died.”

“Well, in spite of the mess we’re in, I wouldn’t have it any other way. You’ve got your father’s wit and your mother’s brains. Don’t worry; you’ll figure this
out.”

She nodded, wiping the tears from her ch
eeks.

The horrible premonition that she’d had just before Darian left was coming true. Now that she knew about the ambush, she suddenly feared the worst. “I just can’t help but think that he might be dying at this very mo
ment.”

“Let’s not focus on the negative. Talvan said that he was able to get Mark, Celino and Adalina onto a ship sailing on the afternoon tide. Knowing Bertoldo, he’ll be all too eager to leave his palace and venture abroad with his army. We just have to sit tight and hold our own until he arr
ives.”

“But what do I do in the meantime? I can’t skip town while that monster of a man is holding everyone hos
tage.”

“You’re lookin’ mighty pale, Marisa. When was the last time you got some s
leep?”

“It’s been a while,” she admi
tted.

“Why don’t you rest here tonight? Don’t worry about going anywhere—you can hide out here in my room. I’ll keep watch.” He cleared his robes off the bed and tossed them into the closet. Then he pulled the blankets back and fluffed up the pi
llow.

“It looks tempting.” She stood up, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. After removing her cloak, her eyes dropped to the amulet, watching as it glowed so
ftly.

“That’s quite a piece of jewelry you got there,” he rema
rked.

“It’s given me fresh courage each time I’ve worn it. And the best part is that I can see people for what they truly
are.”

“Well, keep it safe. It could come in handy.” He eased back into a chair near the window, rubbing his temples. “By the way, just how
did
you escape from Beau
riél?”

“After I closed the trap door behind you, my mind just sort of froze. A warrior came into the bedroom and looked right at me, but he didn’t see me. Then I waited until they left before running to Eman’s house, but the warriors tracked my footprints in the snow. They came into his house and grabbed him, but fortunately, they didn’t see me sitting there. That’s when I saw you and Mark sitting in the w
agon.”

He nodded. “We couldn’t figure out where they were taking us at first. I finally realized that they were just going around in circles, hiding from Crocine scouts and stalling for time. Savino knew Darian would come to get us at Abbadon, so he ordered his men to delay their attack until our defenses were at our wea
kest.”