Chapter 20

Prince Tobias

Once Queen Courtney was safely in her room, Tobias wasn't sure what to think or what to do. He trusted Levi; he knew his brother would never betray him, but at the same time…

His brother's wife spoke with such intensity and seriousness that he couldn't turn around and ignore her either. What had gotten into her? Had she drunk something she shouldn't have?

But he shook his head, realizing that she'd spoken to him in all her wits. There was nothing wrong with the mind. What had she wanted from him? She said she wanted him to check the dungeons and look for Princess Kathleen, but his duty said he needed to talk to Levi and tell him everything Courtney had said.

But she said before that he needed to check the dungeons! Why should he trust a girl he barely knew over his brother, who he had known all his life, who had always been there for him? But what would it hurt either if he looked for the girl? Levi had said Courtney was innocent, so there was no danger.

He'd check for Kathleen first, and then he'd report to Levi and have him deal with his wife. It was odd for him to take orders from a girl and ignore his brother, but he needed to see for himself.

Of course, she was wrong, so why did her words leave a bitter taste in his mouth? He hurried down the stairs of the castle, down more flights of stairs, until he finally reached the entrance to the dungeons.

The dungeons were generally only used for high treason prisoners or those who had committed severe crimes. Very few had committed crimes in Thraas for a while…except King Derek…who had sent an assassin to poison his father.

He clenched his fists, knowing that they'd be thrown into this dungeon if he caught either one. When he walked inside, he saw no one, and he was about to turn around, but just to humor Queen Courtney, he continued to a lower section of the dungeon. At last, he saw a guard, and the guard noticed him and bowed.

"Forgive me, prince, but we weren't expecting you," the guard said. Tobias looked around.

"I didn't expect to come down here either." He swallowed, not sure what to say.

"I'd like to see the prisoners." He said.

"Are you sure? It's dismal down here," the guard said.

"I'm sure. I want to see the prisoners," Tobias said. "I order you as prince of Thraas. Show me your prisoners." The guard seemed somewhat uneasy.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Show me now," Tobias said.

"Your highness, we don't have many prisoners being kept here. We can report who is down here if it pleases," the guard said.

Tobias looked around, hating where he was. Did anyone deserve to live in these dark halls? His face hardened; murderers deserved it, especially murderers that had betrayed friends.

"Take me to all the prisoners," Tobias ordered. "I don't want to be down here any more than I need to be. Take me now."

The guard was obliged to lead Tobias down the dark corridor, deeper into the prison. It stank in there, and the mote smelled rotting. As they got deeper, Tobias was able to see a few dirty faces peeking out at him, but there weren't many.

"Has your curiosity been met?" The guard asked. "Keep walking," Tobias said.

His stomach twisted nervously. He hated being down there and wanted to go back up, but he was determined to get to the end.

And finally, they were more profound than he'd ever been before, but he spotted a small prison cell and could very clearly hear shallow breathing. His heart sank, but he said boldly: "What is that?" Tobias asked.

"You're imagining things," the guard said quickly. "There's nothing here." The guard said.

"What is that?" Tobias shouted. He shoved the guard against the wall, and the guard coughed. "Who is in that prison cell? Tell me!" He exclaimed, but the guard didn't need to answer.

He could make tiny footsteps, and he released the man when he saw, just as Courtney had said, a girl with auburn hair that couldn't be any older than eight, walking toward the bars and halted right there. Her eyes were blue, and something about her face shape reminded him of Courtney. She was filthy, and her hair hung in tangles.

"Princess…Kathleen…?" Tobias said.

Even covered in filth, she managed a curtsy worthy of any princess. "I am Princess Kathleen of Glidonia, daughter of the late King Randolph. It's a pleasure to meet you," she said.

"What is your name?" She asked him.

"Tobias," he answered, staring at her as if she wasn't real. "Who did this to you…?" he asked her.

"You're Prince Tobias?" Kathleen asked. She wasn't frightened and regarded him with a boldness that wasn't typical of a child her age, especially in her position.

"You are Prince Levi's younger brother. Does that mean I am in Thraas?" she asked. He couldn't believe that she didn't even know where she was.

"Y-yes," Tobias said. Had Courtney spoken the truth? But did that mean that Levi had really killed their father?

"Do you remember anything?" he asked her.

"They put a bag over my head when they snatched me," she said. "My father was poisoned, and then we were attacked, and I was snatched. I don't know anything. When they took the bag off to feed me, it was always in locations I couldn't see. Do you know my sister Courtney?" She said as a lump rose in his throat, but he pushed it down.

"I know her. She is my queen." He told her.

"Tell her I'm alright." The princess smiled sweetly, revealing a mouth with baby teeth in it. Tobias spun around, facing the guard.

"Why is a child in here? What could she have possibly done?" "I received orders to keep her here," the guard said.

"He's not usually the one here," Kathleen spoke up.

"Who gave the order?" Tobias shouted.

"I did." They all shifted and saw standing their none other than Levi, arms crossed and staring straight at Tobias.

Kathleen seemed somewhat confused by his sudden appearance, but Tobias and the guard weren't as confused, though Tobias felt horribly betrayed.

"I brought her down here to use as a pawn," Levi said, striding toward them. "Did my wife tell you about her? You actually listened to her, I see. You didn't come to your brother. That would make you traitorous." Exclaimed Levi.

"What have you done, Levi?" Tobias's voice cracked. The guard bowed his head respectfully. "Why have you kidnapped a little girl? Do you want war with Glidonia?" he asked his brother.

"I'm doing what's best for our country," Tobias said.

"It's something you don't understand, but yes, I want war with Glidonia." Exclaimed Levi.

"You captured me!" Kathleen cried indignantly.

"Silence!" Levi screamed at the girl. "I told your sister if she ever went against me, I'd punish you for it, and I can see she went against me just now –" said Levi but was cut off by Tobias.

"Stop!" Tobias shouted and pushed Levi out of the way. Levi hadn't expected anything and hit the ground.

"Guards!" Levi shouted. Before Tobias could react, three guards appeared and grabbed him by the arms, making him unable to move.

Levi got up in his face. "I don't know what my lovely wife told you, but since you listened to her and believed her, I'm afraid that you must suffer accordingly." He sneered.

"I want him locked in the dungeons. I can't have a traitorous brother strutting around the castle." The guard who'd led Tobias down to the prison began opening the cell next to Kathleen's.

Just as the others were about to shove Tobias inside, Kathleen cried out: "King Levi, if you imprison your brother, your people will become suspicious and demand answers!" exclaimed Kathleen.

Though she was but a child, everyone focused on her. "I don't need a child telling me how to run my kingdom," Levi said.

"My sister has probably already reported my absence, and I don't know if anything links me to you, but if your brother disappears, someone might make the connection," she said.

"I don't know what your plans are or why you're even doing this, but if you leave Prince Tobias here, then it's too risky. Besides…you said my sister told him that I was down here. If Courtney already revealed that secret once, who's to say she won't do it again?" said Kathleen.

Then what do you propose I do?" Levi snarled.

"Do to him what you did to my sister," Kathleen said. "You must keep him in the picture but hold some threat over his head." Said Kathleen as Levi started laughing.

"You're smarter than most of your sisters," he said scathingly. "Much smarter than Courtney or Fallon anyway. I believe you are right. Guards take him back up. I'll follow." Kathleen's quick thinking had saved Tobias. The guards pushed him toward the dungeon exit.

Then Levi followed, and they left Kathleen alone again. The whole walk, Tobias fought back the tears his brother had betrayed them. He'd killed their father... He'd killed Courtney's father too.

When they got out of the dungeons, Levi ordered the guards to hand over Tobias and leave them. Staring at Levi caused Tobias's throat to clog with hatred and sorrow. His own brother had betrayed him. His own brother had betrayed their entire country.

Suddenly Levi held up a hand. "Attack me, and I will have guards take you away," Levi said.

"Now… I admit this is partially my mistake. I never imagined that my dear wife would tell you that I was holding her sister as a prisoner." Said Levi.

"That's why she never said anything. You were blackmailing her," Tobias said.

"And I'll have to threaten you too," Levi said.

"I poisoned our father. It was easy, and I could poison anyone else, really. So, I'll make this simple. You will not tell anyone about my plans. You will not work against me. If I get wind of this, I may just slip and poison someone's soup at dinner. Consider my words, brother. I would kill someone, and it would be because of you." Said Levi.

"You'd kill your own people?" Tobias growled.

"A mere sacrifice," Levi said.

"But would you kill your own people? Because if you work against me, little brother, then that's exactly what will happen, and it will be on your conscious." There was nothing that Tobias could do. He gritted his teeth, knowing that Levi had the upper hand.

"You're a monster," Tobias said.

"Yes, you and Courtney have more in common than I originally thought," Levi said. He smiled cruelly and walked off, leaving behind a disgusted Tobias.